Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire v. Pointe San Diego Residential Community CA4/1

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: January 13, 2015
• Docket: D064907
• Status: Unpublished

Opinion

Filed 1/13/15 Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire v. Pointe San Diego Residential Community CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION ONE

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THORSNES BARTOLOTTA MCGUIRE, D064907 LLP,

Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 37-2013-00038631- v. CU-PA-CTL)

POINTE SAN DIEGO RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY, LP et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, William R.

Nevitt, Jr., Judge. Affirmed.

McKenna Long & Aldridge and Charles A. Bird for Defendants and Appellants.

Law Offices of Martin N. Buchanan and Martin N. Buchanan for Plaintiff and

Respondent.

Pointe San Diego Residential Community, LP, Gosnell Builders Corporation of

California, and Pointe SDMU, LP (collectively Pointe) hired the law firm of Thorsnes

Bartolotta McGuire, LLP (TBM) on a contingency basis to assist in prosecuting a legal malpractice action. After the malpractice case settled, the parties disputed how much

Pointe owed TBM pursuant to their fee agreement. The parties attended binding

arbitration to resolve the fee dispute, and the arbitrators ruled in favor of TBM. Pointe

filed a petition to vacate the arbitration award, which was denied by the trial court.

On appeal, Pointe contends the arbitrators exceeded their authority by denying

Pointe access to TBM's time records shortly before the arbitration commenced. Pointe

also contends the arbitrators denied Pointe a fair hearing by refusing to hear material

evidence and insisting on a one-day arbitration hearing. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. The Parties' Agreement

In 2004, Pointe and its CEO, Robert Gosnell (Gosnell), filed a legal malpractice

action against the law firm currently known as Procopio. Attorney Michael Vivoli

(Vivoli) initially represented Pointe in that action. In May 2011, Vivoli contacted TBM

partner Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr. (Bartolotta) about engaging TBM as Pointe's co-counsel.

Prior to retaining TBM, Pointe and Procopio had participated in two unsuccessful

mediations with retired Justice Howard B. Wiener: one in August 2008 and another in

September 2011. In December 2011, Pointe and TBM began negotiating the terms of a

retainer agreement.

At a meeting on February 28, 2012, Gosnell and Bartolotta reached an agreement.

They orally agreed TBM would receive a five percent contingency fee for the mediation

and a 20 percent fee if the mediation was unsuccessful. The increase would occur 10

days after "the mediation."

2 The parties subsequently executed a legal services contract (contract) to

memorialize the terms of their agreement. The contract stated TBM's contingency fee

would be calculated as follows: "Five percent (5%) of all amounts recovered by way of

compromise up until ten days after the mediation. After that time, twenty percent (20%)

of all amounts recovered." Primary to the issue at hand, the contract does not define what

it meant by the words "the mediation." The contract provided for binding arbitration of

any dispute by Judicate West.

On May 2, 2012, Vivoli and TBM represented Pointe in mediation with Justice

Wiener. Justice Wiener recommended Gosnell not attend based on his prior experience

mediating the case. The mediation was unsuccessful, and the case did not settle within

the next 10 days.

Thereafter, TBM prepared for trial. TBM's preparation included drafting an

opening statement; conducting expert depositions; creating direct and cross-examination

outlines; preparing voir dire questions; drafting in limine motions; and organizing

roughly 3,000 exhibits. Justice Wiener stayed involved with settlement negotiations

during this time. On August 16, 2012, four days before trial was set to begin, the

malpractice action settled for $12.2 million. After Pointe received the settlement, TBM

requested its 20 percent contingency fee, or roughly $2.4 million. Pointe disputed the

amount owed.

B. Arbitration Proceedings

Though the contract provided for arbitration by Judicate West, Pointe requested

arbitration with the San Diego County Bar Association's Fee Arbitration Committee

(Committee). TBM agreed and filed on September 24, 2012 a request for arbitration of a

3 fee dispute with the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA). After the request was

made, Pointe claims it received an information packet from the Committee entitled "What

Can the Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program Do for Me?"1 The packet allegedly

contained various questions and answers, one of which supposedly guaranteed Pointe "a

copy of [its] entire file in the attorney's possession[,] including, but not limited to: (a) all

time sheets or time records relating to the services performed by the attorney in the

matter in which the fee dispute arose . . . ." Eventually, the parties signed an arbitration

agreement providing for binding arbitration "in accordance with [SDCBA] Rules."

On December 3, 2012, the Committee notified the parties of the arbitrators

assigned to their case. On January 8, 2013, lead arbitrator Dale Larabee (Larabee)

informed the parties that the matter was scheduled for February 19, 2013. Larabee told

each side it would have 2.5 hours to present its case. No party then objected to the time

limit.

On February 11, 2013, attorney R. Keith McKellogg (McKellogg) sent a letter to

the arbitrators and TBM informing them that he would represent Pointe in the arbitration.

In the letter, McKellogg requested a subpoena to compel production of TBM time records

from February 26, 2012 through execution of the settlement agreement in August 2012,

pursuant to rule 10.6 of the SDCBA Fee Arbitration and Mediation Local Rules (SDCBA

Local Rules). He also asked the arbitrators to consider extending the arbitration to a

second day.

1 Pointe acknowledges "[t]he brochure was not included in the evidence." We note Pointe did not rely on the information packet in either the arbitration proceedings or its initial petition to vacate the award. The quoted material is also not in the record before us. 4 In a reply email to the parties, Larabee told McKellogg the arbitrators scheduled

the arbitration for one day and intended to complete it on that day. In a follow-up letter

dated February 13, 2013, McKellogg acknowledged the arbitrators' decision to complete

the arbitration in one day. McKellogg also sent the arbitrators several follow-up letters

prior to the arbitration regarding his subpoena request. On February 18, 2013, arbitrator

Jonathan Montag told the parties McKellogg's subpoena request would be considered on

the day of arbitration.

The arbitration was held on February 19, 2013. At the outset, Larabee stated the

key question was whether TBM was entitled to a five or 20 percent contingency fee,

which in turn depended on the meaning of the words "the mediation" in the contract. In

response to McKellogg's subpoena request for TBM's time records, Larabee explained

they were irrelevant because TBM was entitled to a percentage of the settlement (i.e.,

either five or 20 percent). Larabee also indicated McKellogg's request for a subpoena

was "late." At the end of the arbitration, Larabee reiterated the panel's initial opinion as

to TBM's time records: "We . . . have decided we don't want any time records from the

Bartolotta firm." The record shows no party sought additional time to present its case

before the close of the arbitration.

On February 27, 2013, the arbitrators issued their decision. They ruled TBM was

entitled to a 20 percent contingency fee, or roughly $2,440,000. The panel wrote: "The

May 2, 2012 mediation was 'the mediation' referred to in the parties' contract. The

mediation did not result in settlement. More than 10 days passed before the case settled.

TBM is entitled to its fee 20% of all amounts collected."

5 C. Superior Court Proceedings

Following the panel's decision in TBM's favor, TBM filed a petition to confirm the

arbitration award, and Pointe filed a petition to vacate the award. The trial court granted

TBM's petition to confirm the award and denied Pointe's petition to vacate it. Final

judgment was entered in TBM's favor for $2,562,855.13, the award amount plus interest

and costs. Pointe timely appealed.

DISCUSSION

I.

Pointe first contends the arbitrators exceeded their authority by denying them

access to TBM's time records. We disagree.

A.

California favors finality in arbitration proceedings for public policy reasons.

(Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase (1992) 3 Cal.4th 1, 9.) Arbitration offers "'a speedy and

relatively inexpensive means of dispute resolution.'" (Ibid.) "Ensuring arbitral finality

thus requires that judicial intervention in the arbitration process be minimized." (Id. at p.

10.) "[I]t is the general rule that, with narrow exceptions, an arbitrator's decision cannot

be reviewed for errors of fact or law." (Id. at p. 11.) In addition, "discovery orders in

arbitration [are] subject to the same limited judicial review as other arbitration orders."

(Alexander v. Blue Cross of California (2001) 88 Cal.App.4th 1082, 1090.) Thus, even

"'an error of law apparent on the face of the [discovery order] that causes substantial

injustice does not provide grounds for judicial review.'" (Id. at p. 1091.)

Courts recognize an arbitrator may make a mistake. However, this is acceptable

for two reasons. "First, by voluntarily submitting to arbitration, the parties have agreed to

6 bear that risk in return for a quick, inexpensive, and conclusive resolution to their

dispute." (Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 11.) Second, any such risk

is reduced because the law provides for "judicial review in circumstances involving

serious problems with the award itself, or with the fairness of the arbitration process."

(Id. at p. 12.) Code of Civil Procedure section 1286.2, subdivision (a) provides grounds

for vacating an arbitration award as "an exception to the general rule precluding judicial

review." (SWAB Financial, LLC v. E*Trade Securities, LLC (2007) 150 Cal.App.4th

1181, 1196.)

Whether an arbitrator exceeded his or her authority is a question of law we review

de novo. (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. v. Intel Corp. (1994) 9 Cal.4th 362, 376, fn. 9;

Hoso Foods, Inc. v. Columbus Club, Inc. (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 881, 888.)

B.

As a preliminary note, we observe that Pointe's argument in its petition to vacate

the arbitration award in the trial court was premised on Code of Civil Procedure section

1286.2, subdivision (a)(5).2 There, Pointe argued the arbitrators' refusal to hear material

evidence warranted its petition to vacate. As TBM correctly points out, Pointe has

chosen to forego this argument on appeal, instead contending the arbitrators exceeded

their authority under subdivision (a)(4) of this same statute by not issuing a subpoena for

2 Subdivision (a)(5) requires a court to vacate an award where the "rights of the party were substantially prejudiced by the refusal of the arbitrators to postpone the hearing upon sufficient cause being shown therefor or by the refusal of the arbitrators to hear evidence material to the controversy or by other conduct of the arbitrators contrary to the provisions of this title." 7 TBM's time records. Nonetheless, as we explain below, subdivision (a)(4) of Code of

Civil Procedure section 1286.2 also does not provide Pointe relief.

Pointe argues the arbitrators exceeded their authority by denying them access to

TBM's time records. Code of Civil Procedure section 1286.2, subdivision (a)(4) requires

an arbitration award be vacated when "[t]he arbitrators exceeded their powers and the

award cannot be corrected without affecting the merits of the decision upon the

controversy submitted."

"'The powers of an arbitrator derive from, and are limited by, the agreement to

arbitrate.'" (Gueyffier v. Ann Summers, Ltd. (2008) 43 Cal.4th 1179, 1185.) "An

arbitrator exceeds his [or her] powers where he [or she] acts without statutory or

contractual authority." (Hoso Foods, Inc. v. Columbus Club, Inc., supra, 190

Cal.App.4th at p. 890.) However, "[a]n arbitrator ordinarily has broad discretion with

respect to the procedures and law governing the arbitration." (Sanchez v. Western Pizza

Enterprises, Inc. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 154, 177.) Subdivision (a)(4) of Code of Civil

Procedure section 1286.2 "does not supply the court with a broad warrant to vacate

awards the court disagrees with or believes are erroneous." (Gueyffier v. Ann Summers,

Ltd., supra, at p. 1184.)

Here, the arbitrators did not exceed their powers. The arbitrators' denial of

Pointe's request for TBM's time records was well within its authority. The contract

provided for binding arbitration in which the "arbitrator will resolve any discovery

disputes." Later, at Pointe's request, TBM filed a request for binding arbitration with the

Committee. The parties signed an arbitration agreement that provided for binding

arbitration "in accordance with [the Committee's] rules." SDCBA Local Rules, rule 10.6

8 provides: "The sole or presiding arbitrator, upon written application and for good cause

shown, may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of

relevant documents." (Italics added.) This rule does not guarantee Pointe a right to

subpoena TBM's records but rather grants arbitrators discretion on whether to issue

subpoenas for relevant material. SDCBA Local Rules, rule 14.4 further provides in part

that the "parties shall be permitted to present testimony and documentary evidence, which

is relevant to the issues to be decided." (Italics added.) "The sole or presiding arbitrator

shall preside at the hearing and shall rule on the admission and exclusion of

evidence . . . ." (Ibid.)

Here, lead arbitrator Larabee ruled that TBM's time records were not relevant to

the proceedings. As lead arbitrator, we conclude it was within his and the Committee's

authority to decide whether to admit or exclude evidence, including the time records. In

light of the issue in the arbitration, namely whether TBM was entitled to five or 20

percent of the settlement, we discern no abuse of discretion by the Committee in refusing

to admit the TBM billing records. But even assuming arguendo the Committee had

erroneously refused Pointe's subpoena request, it did not exceed its powers. (Evans v.

CenterStone Development Co. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 151, 164 ["Even had the

arbitrator's ruling [quashing discovery request subpoenas] been incorrect . . . it certainly

was not because he exceeded his power"].)

SDCBA Local Rules, rule 2.0 states that the local rules were developed and

adopted to comply with sections 6200 through 6206 of the California Business and

Professions Code. Pursuant to section 6200, subdivision (g)(3) of the Business and

Professions Code, "[i]n the conduct of arbitrations under this article the arbitrator or

9 arbitrators may . . . [i]ssue subpoenas for . . . the production of books, papers, and

documents pertaining to the proceeding." (Italics added.) Again, this provision in our

view supports the conclusion that the arbitrators had the discretionary authority to rule on

Pointe's subpoena request for the TBM billing records.

As noted ante, Pointe claims an information package received from the Committee

guaranteed it access to TBM's time records. However, as Pointe itself concedes, the

information "was not included in the evidence" and thus is not part of the record on

appeal. Pointe nonetheless directs us to two different websites with similar content,

though neither contains the material cited in its opening brief. As TBM correctly notes,

Pointe did not reference or rely on the information package in either the arbitration

proceedings or its initial motion to vacate the award, and, therefore, Pointe has forfeited

the issue. (See Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase, supra, 3 Cal.4th at p. 31 ["Failure to raise

[a] claim before the arbitrator . . . waives the claim for any future judicial review"].)

In sum, the arbitrators acted well within their discretion and authority in denying

Pointe's subpoena request. This authority arose from the parties' contract executed in

February 2012, the parties' arbitration agreement executed in September 2012, SDCBA

Local Rules, rule 10.6, and Business and Professions Code section 6200, subdivision (g).

Accordingly, on this record we conclude the arbitrators did not exceed their powers.

II

Pointe next contends it was deprived of a fair hearing for multiple reasons, each of

which we will address in turn.

"[A]rbitration procedures that interfere with a party's right to a fair hearing are

reviewable on appeal." (Hoso Foods, Inc. v. Columbus Club, Inc., supra, 190

10 Cal.App.4th at p. 888.) "Arbitration procedures violate the common law right to a fair

hearing 'only in the clearest of cases, i.e., when the applicable procedures essentially

preclude the possibility of a fair hearing.'" (Sanchez v. Western Pizza Enterprises, Inc.

(2009) 172 Cal.App.4th 154, 177.)

Pointe argues the "client files are the repository of powerful evidence for

interpreting the parties' fee agreement because they document the course of performance

before any dispute arose." While this may be true, the files would not speak to the

parties' intent at the time the fee agreement was signed in February 2012. In this regard,

"it is fundamental that a contract must be so interpreted as to give effect to the intent of

the parties at the time the contract was entered into." (Oakland-Alameda County

Coliseum, Inc. v. Oakland Raiders, Ltd. (1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 1049, 1057, italics added;

see Civ. Code, § 1636 ["A contract must be so interpreted as to give effect to the mutual

intention of the parties as it existed at the time of contracting"].)

Similarly, Pointe argues that the "materials in the files could be evidentiary

admissions" that "the mediation" was never meant to refer to a "single scheduled session"

but rather an ongoing event, complete "only when [the parties] mutually agreed the

mediation was complete." However, as we have concluded, the arbitrators acted within

their discretion to deny Pointe's subpoena request. Based on the information before them,

the arbitrators deemed the files irrelevant, which they were entitled to do.

Pointe contends the lead arbitrator's "insistence on a one-day hearing demonstrated

prejudging the issues and constrained the panel from giving Pointe a fair hearing." We

reject this argument. In an email sent to both parties on January 14, 2013, lead arbitrator

Larabee stated he would "allow each side 2.5 hours to present their case." In a letter to

11 Larabee dated February 11, 2013, McKellogg opined the arbitration "may require more

than a single day" and requested the arbitrators "consider providing for a second day of

arbitration . . . if deemed necessary." In a reply email, Larabee told McKellogg that

"[w]e have scheduled one day and we intend to complete the arbitration in one day."

McKellogg acknowledged the arbitrators' decision in a letter dated February 13, 2013: "I

understand your decision regarding completion of the arbitration in one day, and we will

tailor The Pointe presentation accordingly." Pointe therefore knew about and agreed to

abide by the one-day time frame set by the arbitrators. Pointe also did not request more

time or object on timing grounds before the case was submitted at arbitration. Thus,

Pointe has failed to show how the arbitrators' decision to give each side equal time to

present its case constitutes "prejudging the issues."

Pointe also argues "the arbitrators violated the public policy supporting the

Mandatory Fee Arbitration Act [Bus. & Prof. Code, § 6200 et seq.] by denying a client

access to relevant, forum-promised evidence." Yet, as we already noted, the information

package cited by Pointe was not addressed during the arbitration or in its initial petition

to vacate the award. It is also not in the record before us. Moreover, Business and

Professions Code section 6200, subdivision (g)(3) provides that "[i]n the conduct of

arbitrations under this article the arbitrator or arbitrators may . . . [i]ssue subpoenas for

. . . the production of books, papers, and documents pertaining to the proceeding."

(Italics added.) This provision provides arbitrators with discretionary authority to issue

subpoenas. Pointe has not shown how the arbitrators' proper exercise of this authority

contravenes public policy.

12 DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed. TBM to recover its costs of appeal.

BENKE, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

HUFFMAN, J.

McDONALD, J.