Kroopf v. Guffey

183 Cal. App. 3d 1351, 228 Cal. Rptr. 807
California Court of Appeal·Decided August 4, 1986·No. B014977·Published·Cited by 26 cases

Opinion

183 Cal.App.3d 1351 (1986)
228 Cal. Rptr. 807

PHILIP KROOPF, Plaintiff and Appellant,
v.
ALFRED M. GUFFEY, Defendant and Respondent.

Docket No. B014977.

Court of Appeals of California, Second District, Division Three.

August 4, 1986.

*1354 COUNSEL

Philip Kroopf, in pro. per., and William J. Glucksman for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Lebovits & David and Moses Lebovits for Defendant and Respondent.

OPINION

KLEIN, P.J.

Plaintiff and appellant Philip Kroopf (Kroopf) appeals from an order granting the motion to quash service for lack of personal jurisdiction of defendant and respondent Alfred Guffey (Guffey).

Because there was no substantial evidence to support the trial court's ruling, the order is reversed.

PROCEDURAL AND FACTUAL BACKGROUND

This action concerns whether a Connecticut resident who formerly lived in California and allegedly committed some offending acts during his stay, is subject to jurisdiction under California's "long arm" statute.

In February 11, 1984, Kroopf filed a complaint against Connecticut resident Guffey alleging, inter alia, causes of action for breach of express contract based on an oral agreement, breach of implied contract, declaratory relief, intentional and negligent misrepresentation based on the contract, and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

The complaint alleged the two men entered in an oral agreement in California in 1976 that during the time they lived together they would combine their skills, efforts, labor and earnings and share any property thereby acquired. Kroopf gave up his job to become Guffey's confidante, companion, and business and personal advisor. The contract was alleged to *1355 have been performed from late 1976 to March 1982, at which time Guffey, who was then residing in Connecticut, refused to convey to Kroopf his share of the acquired property.

In March 1985 Guffey made a special appearance to quash service for lack of personal jurisdiction.[1] In his affidavit, Guffey stated he had lived in California from 1977 to 1979 only, and since then had lived in Connecticut. He admitted meeting Kroopf in New York but denied entering into a contract with him in California or any other state. Guffey further denied having conducted any business, or having any business contacts, in California.

Kroopf filed opposition to the motion to quash, together with his affidavit. He averred he met Guffey in New York in 1971, and in 1975 Guffey moved to California, renting a townhouse at 360 South Roxbury Drive, Beverly Hills. In 1976, Guffey asked Kroopf to live with him in California and enter into the theatrical business. In the summer of 1976, Kroopf moved to California and entered into an oral agreement with Guffey. The California part of the contract was "performed" while Kroopf and Guffey lived in the Beverly Hills townhouse through 1980.

Kroopf's affidavit further states that after leaving Beverly Hills in December 1980, Guffey and Kroopf moved to a house in Connecticut. But in 1981 and the beginning of 1982, Kroopf spent most of his time in Los Angeles because of his mother's illness and his brother's death. In March 1982, Guffey telephoned Kroopf informing him he was not entitled to his share of the earnings and property and that he should remain in California. In June 1983, Kroopf contacted Guffey in Connecticut requesting the return of his late brother's ashes. Guffey refused, causing Kroopf to suffer mental and physical distress.

Lastly, Kroopf declared he was familiar with Guffey's signature and handwriting because he handled most of Guffey's banking. Kroopf attached copies of receipts from purchases, rent, bank statements, and IRS documents from December 1975 to the fall of 1980, showing Guffey's address in Beverly Hills.

On April 20, 1985, based on the two affidavits, the trial court granted Guffey's motion to quash without comment. Kroopf filed the instant appeal.[2]

*1356 CONTENTION

Kroopf contends the trial court erred in granting Guffey's motion to quash based on lack of personal jurisdiction.

DISCUSSION

1. Scope of review.

(1a) "The applicable standard of review [of a motion to quash] was set forth in Arnesen v. Raymond Lee Organization, Inc. (1973) 31 Cal. App.3d 991, 994-995 [107 Cal. Rptr. 744], wherein it is stated: `We test [the] record in light of the principles that: (1) where a defendant properly moves to quash out of state service of process for lack of jurisdiction, the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff to establish the facts of jurisdiction by a preponderance of the evidence (Wilson v. Eddy [(1969)] 2 Cal. App.3d 613, 617 [82 Cal. Rptr. 826]; Martin Bros. Elec. Co. v. Superior Court [(1953)] 121 Cal. App.2d 790, 794 [264 P.2d 183]; Briggs v. Superior Court [(1947)] 81 Cal. App.2d 240, 251 [183 P.2d 758]); (2) evidence of those facts or their absence may be in the form of declarations ... (Atkins, Kroll & Co. v. Broadway Lbr. Co. [(1963)] 222 Cal. App.2d 646, 654 [35 Cal. Rptr. 385, 12 A.L.R.3d 880]); [fn. omitted] (3) where there is a conflict in the declarations, resolution of the conflict by the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal if the determination of that court is supported by substantial evidence (Vibration Isolation Products, Inc. v. American Nat. Rubber Co. [(1972)] 23 Cal. App.3d 480, 482 [100 Cal. Rptr. 269]; Atkins, Kroll & Co. v. Broadway Lbr. Co., supra, 222 Cal. App.2d 646, 654); ...'" (Evangelize China Fellowship, Inc. v. Evangelize China Fellowship (1983) 146 Cal. App.3d 440, 444 [194 Cal. Rptr. 240].) (2) "`Substantial evidence'" is not "`"deemed synonymous with `any' evidence[,]"'" but rather "`of ponderable legal significance, ... reasonable in nature, credible, and of solid value.'" (Bowers v. Bernards (1984) 150 Cal. App.3d 870, 873 [197 Cal. Rptr. 925], original italics deleted.)

2. Guffey has sufficient contacts with California to satisfy personal jurisdiction.

a. General rules for in personam jurisdiction.

California's "long arm" statute provides "[a] court of this state may exercise jurisdiction on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution of this state or of the United States." (Code Civ. Proc., § 410.10.)

*1357 (3) In a line of cases beginning with Internat. Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945) 326 U.S. 310 [90 L.Ed. 95, 66 S.Ct. 154, 161 A.L.R. 1057], the United States Supreme Court has defined the parameters of the states' power to compel nonresidents to defend suits brought in state courts. Generally, the forum state may exercise jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant where the defendant has had "certain minimum contacts with [the forum state] such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend `traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.'" (Id., at p. 316 [90 L.Ed. at p. 102].)

The critical inquiry concerns the character of the defendant's activities within the forum state, whether the cause of action arises out of, or has substantial connection with

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Kroopf v. Guffey, 183 Cal. App. 3d 1351, 228 Cal. Rptr. 807 (Cal. Ct. App. 1986).

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