Stennis v. Davis (In re Davis)

486 B.R. 182
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. California
DecidedJanuary 23, 2013
DocketBankruptcy No. 10-74245 MEH; Adversary No. 11-04066 AH
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 486 B.R. 182 (Stennis v. Davis (In re Davis)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy 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
Stennis v. Davis (In re Davis), 486 B.R. 182 (Cal. 2013).

Opinion

AMENDED MEMORANDUM DECISION

M. ELAINE HAMMOND, Bankruptcy Judge.

On September 10, 2012 the court held a hearing on the motions for summary judgment filed by each party on August 8, 2012. Subsequently, the court issued its Memorandum Decision granting Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment in part and denying it in part and denying Defendant’s motion for summary judgment (docket no. 143). The Memorandum Decision, issued October 12, 2012, found that the evidence presented to the court was insufficient to determine whether a portion of the attorney fee award was attributable to those claims found to be nondischargeable.

The court then received briefing by the parties on the attorney’s fee issue and a further hearing was held January 14, 2013.

Here, the court amends its October 12, 2012 Memorandum Decision and determines that Defendant’s obligation to Plaintiff Zelma Stennis in the amount of $270,648.18 is nondischargeable.

A. Background

Plaintiff Zelma Stennis filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Defendant. Her third amended complaint included causes of action for fraud, violation of Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, conversion, intentional and negligent tortious interference with prospective economic relations, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress, injunctive relief, quiet title, cancellation of instrument, declaratory relief/setoff, and injunctive relief.

In her complaint Plaintiff Zelma Stennis alleged that Defendant, while not a real estate agent or broker, requested that she allow him to find a buyer for her Los Angeles property. For a period of 18 months Defendant did not secure a buyer and Plaintiff Zelma Stennis hired a licensed real estate broker. Aside from ordering a temporary rental fence at $115/ month for 4 months, Defendant had not improved the property, but placed and recorded a mechanics lien on the property on December 18, 2006.

The Superior Court conducted a jury trial. Following trial, the jury returned a verdict in Plaintiff Zelma Stennis’ favor; issuing a special verdict on July 22, 2010.

The Superior Court further awarded Plaintiff Zelma Stennis attorney fees and costs in the amount of $213,499.62. Defendant did not appeal the judgment or the fee order.

Defendant filed his petition under Chapter 7 on December 13, 2010. Plaintiffs timely filed their complaint to determine dischargeability and object to discharge. They subsequently amended it twice. The third amended complaint (“Complaint”) was filed December 15, 2011.

[188]*188This court has subject matter jurisdiction of this proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 1334. This is a core proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(2)®.

B. Discussion

1. Summary Judgment Standard

Summary judgment is appropriate when there exists “no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.CivJP. 56(c); see also Fed. R. Bankr.P. 7056 (establishing that Rule 56 applies to adversary proceedings).

The Supreme Court discussed the standards for summary judgment in a trilogy of cases, Celotex Corporation v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 327, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986), Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986), and Matsushita Electrical Industry Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). A fact is material if it might affect the outcome of a proceeding under the governing substantive law. In a motion for summary judgment, the moving party bears the initial burden of persuasion in demonstrating that no issues of material fact exist. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. A genuine issue of material fact exists when the trier of fact could reasonably find for the non-moving party. Id. at 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The court may consider pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories and any affidavits. Celotex, 477 U.S. at 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548. Where the movant bears the burden of persuasion as to the claim, it must point to evidence in the record that satisfies its claim. Id. at 252, 106 S.Ct. 2505. In determining whether the movant has met its burden, the court should consider all reasonable inferences in a light most favorable to the non-movant. Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 588, 106 S.Ct. 1348.

2. Plaintiffs’ Motion For Summary Judgment

Plaintiffs claim that they are entitled to summary judgment based on collateral es-toppel of the state court judgment obtained by Plaintiff Zelma Stennis.

Collateral Estoppel Standard

The doctrine of collateral estop-pel applies in bankruptcy dischargeability proceedings. Grogan v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 285 n. 11, 111 S.Ct. 654, 112 L.Ed.2d 755 (1991). In determining whether a party should be estopped from relitigating an issue decided in a prior state court action, the bankruptcy court must look to that state’s law of collateral estoppel. Gayden v. Nourbakhsh (In re Nourbakhsh), 67 F.3d 798, 800 (9th Cir.1995).

Under California law, collateral es-toppel requires that (1) the issue sought to be precluded from litigation must be identical to that decided in the former proceeding; (2) the issue must have been actually litigated in the former proceeding; (3) the issue must have been necessarily decided in the former proceeding; (4) the decision in the former proceeding must have been final and on the merits; and (5) the party against whom preclusion is sought must be the same as, or in privity with, the party to the former proceeding. In re Harmon, 250 F.3d 1240, 1245 (9th Cir.2001) (citation omitted).

Collateral Estoppel Argument Does Not Apply To Plaintiff Kevin Stennis

The Complaint seeks a determination of non-dischargeability as to costs awarded to Kevin Stennis by the state court. The Superior Court’s September 6, 2011 minute order indicates that $610 in costs were awarded to Kevin Stennis for defending against Defendant’s cross-corn-[189]*189plaint that was voluntarily dismissed on October 14, 2008.

Plaintiff Kevin Stennis was not a party to the underlying state court action commenced by Plaintiff Zelma Stennis that constitutes the basis for Plaintiffs’ collateral estoppel argument.

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Bluebook (online)
486 B.R. 182, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stennis-v-davis-in-re-davis-canb-2013.