Leuzinger v. County of Lake

253 F.R.D. 469, 20 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1420, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58930, 2008 WL 2693624
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. California
DecidedJuly 7, 2008
DocketNo. C 06-00398 SBA
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 253 F.R.D. 469 (Leuzinger v. County of Lake) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Leuzinger v. County of Lake, 253 F.R.D. 469, 20 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1420, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58930, 2008 WL 2693624 (N.D. Cal. 2008).

Opinion

ORDER

SAUNDRA BROWN ARMSTRONG, District Judge.

REQUEST BEFORE THE COURT

Before the Court is plaintiff Sharon Leuzinger’s Motion for a Writ of Mandate to Compel Defendant County of Lake to Satisfy Judgment (“the Motion”) [Docket No. 213] and Memorandum in Support of the Motion (the “Memorandum”) [Docket No. 214], defendant’s Opposition to the Motion [Docket No. 220], plaintiffs Reply to the Opposition (the “Reply”) [Docket No. 222], defendant’s Sur-Reply in Opposition to the Motion (the “Sur-Reply”) [Docket No. 223], plaintiffs Motion to Strike the Sur-Reply (the “Motion to Strike”) [Docket No. 224], and defendant’s Motion to Withdraw and Re-File the SurReply (the “Motion to Withdraw and ReFile”) [Docket No. 225].

In her Motion, Leuzinger seeks, under Federal Rules of Procedure 62(d) and 69(a)(1) and under section 970.2 of the California Government Code, to execute by writ of mandate the Court’s judgment of approximately $1.7 million, awarded to her in this matter, on October 31, 2007, plus costs and interest. In its Opposition, the County argues, under sections 917.1(a), 917.1(a)(1), 995.210(b), 995.220, and 1049 of the California Civil Procedure Code, execution must wait until this matter is finally determined on appeal. In Reply, Leuzinger argues these sections are preempted by Rule 62(d) which provides for execution once ten days have elapsed after entry of judgment. As an additional matter, the County has requested the Court allow it to file a sur-reply, on the grounds Leuzinger allegedly first raised preemption under Rule 62(d) in her Reply, and not in her Memorandum.

The Court finds this matter suitable for disposition without a hearing, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 78(b), and for the reasons discussed below, GRANTS Leuzinger’s Motion, as Rule 62(d) preempts sections 917.1(a), 917.1(a)(1), 995.210(b), 995.220 and 1049. Further, although Leuzinger did put forth a Rule 62(d) argument in her Memorandum, the Court nonetheless GRANTS the County’s Motion to Withdraw and Re-File, and DENIES plaintiffs Motion to Strike.

BACKGROUND

Leuzinger sued the County on January 20, 2006, alleging, inter alia, it terminated her employment because she had breast cancer, in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Cal. Gov. Code § 12940 et seq. See Docket No. 1. On October 31, 2007, after a jury awarded her $1,679,001, the Court entered this amount as her judgment. See Docket No. 117. On February 5, 2008, the Court awarded her costs of $24,324.54. See Docket No. 171. This same day, the Court denied the County’s renewed motion for judgment as a matter of law or alternatively for a new trial. See Docket No. 170. On March 3, 2008, the County appealed. See Docket No. 190.

On April 30, 2008, Leuzinger’s counsel sent a letter to the County, noting it had not filed a bond of supersedeas, quoting Rule 62(d) in full. Docket No. 215, Ex. “C” at 1 paras. 1-3 (the “Letter”). The letter also advised Rule 62(e), which exempted the United States from having to post a bond pending an appeal, did not apply to the County. Id. at 1 para. 4. And, the letter advised that section 995.220 of the California Civil Code, which exempts public entities from having to post a bond pending an appeal, was preempted by Rule 62(d), citing Vacation Village, Inc. v. Clark County, Nevada, 497 F.3d 902, 914 (9th Cir.2007). Letter at 2 para. 2. In closing, counsel asked the County to indicate whether it would post a bond or pay the judgment, and if it did neither, advised that Leuzinger would execute her judgment. Id. at 2 para. 3. Leuzinger’s counsel waited until June, but the County never responded. Docket No. 215,115.

On June 3, 2008, Leuzinger filed her Motion and Memorandum, seeking to execute her judgment, and obtain costs and post-judgment interest, by a writ of mandate. See Mem. at 4:19-24. Specifically, she argues Rule 62(a) and (d) allow her to enforce her judgment while the County’s appeal is pending, as the County has not filed a supersedeas bond. Mem. at 4:1-4. She also argues, under Rule 69(a), which defers to California’s execution laws, she may proceed to execute her judgment by a writ of mandate, [471]*471under section 970.2 of the California Government Code. Mem. at 4:11-18. She also argues, under section 970.4 of the Government Code, the County must pay within one fiscal year of judgment, to the extent funds are available, which they are as the County is insured. See Mem. at 4-5.

On June 17, 2008, the County filed its Opposition, in which it agreed, under Rule 69(a), that California law governs the execution of Leuzinger’s judgment. Opp’n at 2:8-16. The County argues, however, under sections 917.1(a), 917.1(a)(1), 995.210(b), 995.220, and 1049 of the California Civil Procedure Code, she is barred from executing her judgment until a final determination of the County’s appeal. Opp’n at 4-7. On June 23,2008, Leuzinger filed her Reply, arguing Rule 62(d) preempted these sections, as it provides for execution once ten days have elapsed after entry of judgment. Reply at 6:14-8:22.

On June 25, 2008, the County filed its SurReply, providing a 2007 Ninth Circuit case, allegedly in opposition to Leuzinger’s Reply. Supp. Mem. at 1-3. This same day, Leuzinger filed her Motion to Strike, on the grounds the County failed to seek leave of Court to file its Sur-Reply, under Civil Local Rule 7-3(d). Mot. to Strike at 1. The next day, the County filed its Motion to Withdraw and ReFile. See Mot. to Withdraw at 1. In it, the County asks to withdraw its Sur-Reply, but also asks for leave to re-file it, on the grounds Leuzinger engaged in a “bait-and-switch” by allegedly waiting to first raise her Rule 62(d) argument in her Reply. Mot. to Withdraw & Re-File at 1-3.

ANALYSIS

I. Under Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 54, 58, 62, and 69, Leuzinger may execute her judgment, now.

A. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 54 and 58 preempt section 1049 of the California Civil Procedure Code, and Leuzinger’s judgment was thus final when entered on October 31, 2007.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54 defines what constitutes a “final judgment.” Under Rule 54, a “‘judgment’ as used in [the Rules of Civil Procedure] includes a decree and any order from which an appeal lies.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 54(a); Credit Suisse First Boston Corp. v. Grunwald, 400 F.3d 1119, 1123 n. 6 (9th Cir.2005). “Thus, the word ‘judgment’ encompasses final judgments and appealable interlocutory orders.” U.S. v. Martin, 226 F.3d 1042, 1048 (9th Cir.2000) (quoting Balla v. Idaho State Bd. of Carr.,

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Bluebook (online)
253 F.R.D. 469, 20 Am. Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 1420, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58930, 2008 WL 2693624, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leuzinger-v-county-of-lake-cand-2008.