Hart v. Richardson

285 P.2d 685, 134 Cal. App. 2d 242, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1748
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedJuly 1, 1955
DocketCiv. No. 4886
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 285 P.2d 685 (Hart v. Richardson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Hart v. Richardson, 285 P.2d 685, 134 Cal. App. 2d 242, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1748 (Cal. Ct. App. 1955).

Opinion

BARNARD, P. J.

Alva E. Richardson, who will be referred to as the plaintiff, owned four lots in National City on which he operated a motel. On March 25, 1951, he and the defendant were married in Yuma, Arizona. On November 15, 1951, he deeded the motel property to the defendant and himself as joint tenants. On April 11,1952, the defendant filed an action for divorce, and another action for a partition of the motel property. The complaint in the divorce action alleged that the community property consisted of the furniture in the motel, and that the parties owned a motel business situated on property held by them in joint tenancy. The [244]*244prayer was for a divorce, for all of the community property, and for such other relief as the court deemed proper. Summons and a copy of the divorce complaint were served on this plaintiff on April 14, 1952.

On May 23, 1952, this defendant signed a deed reconveying her interest in the motel property to this plaintiff, and he executed and delivered to her a note for $13,375, secured by a trust deed on the property. This deed and trust deed were recorded on June 4, 1952. On the same day (May 23) this plaintiff also signed a stipulation, entitled in the divorce case, stating that said action might be heard on the complaint as a default matter and without notice to him, and further stipulating that a certain 1950 automobile and a certain note for $13,375 secured by trust deed on the motel property were this defendant’s separate property, and that there was no community property of the parties. This stipulation was filed in the divorce action on June 6, 1952. This defendant also dismissed her action for partition.

An interlocutory decree of divorce was entered on June 16, 1952, in which the court also found and adjudged that there was no community property, and that the 1950 automobile and this note for $13,375, secured by a trust deed, were, the separate property of this defendant.

On November 21, 1952, this plaintiff was adjudicated an incompetent person, and a guardian was appointed. On February 11, 1953, this action was filed. The complaint alleged that on May 23, 1952, the plaintiff owned this real estate as his separate property; that he was then, and for more than a year had been, incompetent; that on April 11, 1952, the defendant filed an action to partition said property, and an action for divorce; that on May 23,1952, the defendant threatened to place a receiver on this property, and supplied the plaintiff with liquor; that while the plaintiff was in an intoxicated and incompetent condition, which was known to the defendant, she caused him to sign a stipulation stating that the $13,375 note and trust deed, and the 1950 automobile, were her separate property; and that at the same time she fraudulently induced him to sign this note and trust deed. The prayer was for a cancellation of this note and trust deed, and this written stipulation.

The answer denied the material allegations of the complaint and alleged that on November 15, 1951, the parties became the owners of the real property as joint tenants; that on April 11, 1952, the defendant filed an action for [245]*245divorce, and another action for partition of the real property; that summons was served on April 14, 1952; that, thereafter, the defendant deeded her interest in the real property to the plaintiff in consideration of his assigning to her the automobile, and his execution and delivery to her of the note for $13,375 secured by a trust deed on the real property; that this consideration was reasonable and just; and that no offer has been made by anyone to restore to the defendant her interest in the real property. The answer further alleged the entry of the divorce decree in the other action decreeing that the automobile and note were her separate property; that said decree had become final; that said decree has become res judicata as to any issue in this action ;„ and that the plaintiff is estopped from seeking any cancellation of the documents mentioned in the complaint.

After a trial the court found that all of the material allegations of the complaint are untrue; that all of the denials and allegations in the answer are true; that the same issue of property rights as that here involved was presented and determined by the court in the divorce proceeding; that the court had jurisdiction in the divorce action to determine the right and title to the note and trust deed; that the plaintiff had due notice of said divorce action and the opportunity to be heard therein, and was then and there competent so to do; that he was not prevented in any manner from a full participation in said divorce action; and that no extrinsic fraud was used or practiced in the procurement of said divorce decree. A judgment was entered in favor of the defendant, from which the plaintiff has appealed.

It is first contended that the court erred in holding that the judgment of divorce was res judicata as to the issue in this action. It is argued that the issue of fraud was not a necessary issue in the other action, and that the adjudication in the divorce decree that the $13,375 note was the separate property of the wife exceeded the prayer of the complaint with respect to property rights, which was only that the court award her all of the community property. The general rule is that by a default judgment no relief can be given in excess of that demanded by the complaint. (Burtnett v. King, 33 Cal.2d 805 [205 P.2d 657, 12 A.L.R.2d 333].) In that case, it was stated that ‘ ‘ The essence of the policy underlying section 580 of the Code of Civil Procedure, supra, is that in default cases, defendant must be given notice of what judgment may be taken against him ...” In that case it was [246]*246further pointed out that no contention of estoppel had been made, and that there was nothing in the record from which it could be said that the doctrine of estoppel was applicable to the situation there involved. In the instant case, this plaintiff furnished a stipulation to the effect that there was no community property and that this note was the separate property of this respondent, which stipulation was used in the ease. In Capital Nat. Bank v. Smith, 62 Cal.App. 2d 328 [144 P.2d 655], the court said: “When a written stipulation of facts authorizes the rendering of judgment accordingly, that agreement should be construed with and it becomes controlling over the pleadings. It has been held .the stipulation merges with the pleadings and is controlling with respect to the agreed facts therein contained. ’ ’ In Morrow v. Morrow, 40 Cal.App.2d 474 [105 P.2d 129], it is said: “As a general rule, however, one may be estopped by an agreement or stipulation made in a judicial proceeding . . . The case for estoppel by stipulation is greatly strengthened, of course, where the stipulation has been acted upon and the adverse party would be injured if it were not given effect.” In accordance with the stipulation the court here found that there was no community property, for which the wife had prayed, and found that the note in question was her separate property. The situation was changed by the stipulation, and this plaintiff was not without notice of the form of judgment that might be expected. In effect, he consented to the judgment which was entered. He should be estopped from questioning the effect of his stipulation, and the court so found.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
285 P.2d 685, 134 Cal. App. 2d 242, 1955 Cal. App. LEXIS 1748, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/hart-v-richardson-calctapp-1955.