Timothy Moser v. Encore Capital Group, Incorpor

455 F. App'x 745
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedOctober 26, 2011
Docket10-55236, 10-55238
StatusUnpublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 455 F. App'x 745 (Timothy Moser v. Encore Capital Group, Incorpor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Timothy Moser v. Encore Capital Group, Incorpor, 455 F. App'x 745 (9th Cir. 2011).

Opinion

AMENDED MEMORANDUM **

Timothy W. Moser (“Moser”) appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment for Encore Capital Group (“Encore”), Triare Company (“Triare”) and individual appellees Carl C. Gregory, III (“Gregory”), Barry Barkley (“Barkley”), Brandon Black (“Black”), Alexander Le-mond (“Lemond”) and ERic D. Kogan (“Kogan”). We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291. We reverse and remand the district court’s determination that Moser’s contractual damages are not cognizable, but affirm in all other respects.

We review a grant of summary judgment de novo. Bamonte v. City of Mesa, 598 F.3d 1217, 1220 (9th Cir.2010). We consider “whether, with the evidence viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party, there are no genuine issues of material fact, so that the moving part[ies are] entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Id. (internal quotations and citations omitted). We may affirm the district court on any basis supported by the record. Satey v. JPMorgan Chase & Co., 521 F.3d 1087, 1091 (9th Cir.2008).

*747 The district court erred in relying on new evidence submitted by Encore while rejecting rebuttal evidence submitted by Moser. Provenz v. Miller, 102 F.3d 1478, 1483 (9th Cir.1996). We have considered Moser’s rebuttal evidence on appeal.

The registration statement containing the disclosure was published on or before September 26, 2003. See Kanarek v. Bugliosi, 108 Cal.App.3d 327, 166 Cal.Rptr. 526, 529-30 (1980). Moser’s defamation claims against Encore, Gregory, Barkley, Black, Lemond, Kogan and Brian Schorr (“Schorr”) are time-barred. Cal.Civ.Proc. Code § 340(c); Shively v. Bozanich, 31 Cal.4th 1230, 7 Cal.Rptr.3d 576, 586, 80 P.3d 676 (2003). Moser also has failed to meet his weighty burden of offering substantial and credible evidence that a conspiracy existed. Choate v. County of Orange, 86 Cal.App.4th 312, 103 Cal.Rptr.2d 339, 353 (2000); Kidron v. Movie Acquisition Corp., 40 Cal.App.4th 1571, 47 Cal.Rptr.2d 752, 758 (1995).

The district court properly applied California’s Uniform Single Publication Act to bar Moser’s other tort claims against Encore, Gregory, Barkley, Black, Lemond, Kogan and Schorr. Cal. Civ.Code § 3425.3; Strick v.Super. Court, 143 Cal.App.3d 916, 192 Cal.Rptr. 314, 319-20 (1983), superceded on other grounds by Cal. Civ. Proc.Code § 437c(f). Moser’s claims for intentional interference with contract and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress are untimely, to the extent they are based on the publication of the disclosure. Strick, 192 Cal.Rptr. at 319-20.

The district court properly applied the litigation privilege to statements made at the January 20, 2005 meeting. Silberg v. Anderson, 50 Cal.3d 205, 266 Cal.Rptr. 638, 641-42, 786 P.2d 365 (1990); Cal. Civ. Code § 47(b)(2).

The district court erred in finding that Moser’s contractual damages were not cognizable. Moser has pointed to some ambiguity as to whether the settlement agreement contained a conditional release. Solis v. Kirkwood Resort Co., 94 Cal.App.4th 354, 114 Cal.Rptr.2d 265, 269 (2001); Cal. State. Auto. Ass’n Inter-Ins. Bureau v. Superior Court, 177 Cal.App.3d 855, 223 Cal.Rptr. 246, 247 n. 1 (1986). The proper measure of damages is closely tied to whether the release was conditional. Therefore, we “reverse and remand to the district court in order to give [Moser] an opportunity to present evidence as to the intention of the parties in drafting the contract.” Trident Ctr. v. Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co., 847 F.2d 564, 570 (9th Cir.1988) (construing Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. G.W. Thomas Dray age & Rigging Co., 69 Cal.2d 33, 37-38, 69 Cal.Rptr. 561, 442 P.2d 641 (1968)). Moser’s declarations, even if self-serving, contain admissible facts relevant to whether Moser’s release was conditional and, relatedly, to the appropriate measure of damages for breach of the agreement. United States v. Shumway, 199 F.3d 1093, 1104 (9th Cir.1999); see also Solis, 114 Cal.Rptr.2d at 269 (holding that “where the extrinsic evidence ... is contested, an issue of fact arises”). Moser has raised a triable issue of material fact regarding whether his contractual damages are cognizable.

The district court did not err with respect to rescission. Moser did not identify a statutory basis for rescission. Cal. Civ.Code § 1689. He also failed, “upon discovering the facts which entitle him to rescind,” to give notice of rescission and to restore the money Encore paid him pursuant to the settlement agreement. Cal. Civ. Code § 1691; see also Myerchin v. Family Benefits, Inc., 162 Cal.App.4th 1526, 76 Cal.Rptr.3d 816, 822-23 (2008) (rejecting rescission after plaintiff received settlement funds, continued with litigation and did not return money), overruled on other grounds by Vill. Northridge Homeowners *748 Ass’n v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 50 Cal.4th 913, 114 Cal.Rptr.3d 280, 237 P.3d 598 (2010). Moser also did not seek rescission in his complaint. Cal. Civ.Code § 1691.

The district court did not err in granting summary judgment for Schorr. As discussed, Moser’s defamation claim against Schorr was untimely. Kanarek, 166 Cal.Rptr. at 529-30. Moser’s claims for intentional interference with contract and intentional infliction of emotional distress merge with the defamation claim and are untimely. Cal.Civ.Proc.Code § 340(c); Shively v. Bozanich, 31 Cal.4th 1230, 7 Cal.Rptr.3d 576, 586, 80 P.3d 676 (2003). Moser also has failed to prove a conspiracy. Choate, 103 Cal.Rptr.2d at 353; Kidron, 47 Cal.Rptr.2d at 758.

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455 F. App'x 745, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/timothy-moser-v-encore-capital-group-incorpor-ca9-2011.