Torrey Pines Bank v. Superior Court

216 Cal. App. 3d 813, 265 Cal. Rptr. 217, 1989 Cal. App. LEXIS 1288

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: December 15, 1989
• Docket: D010931
• Status: Published

Opinions

Opinion

KREMER, P. J.

Petitioner Torrey Pines Bank (the Bank) seeks mandate directing the superior court to vacate its ruling denying the Bank’s motion for summary judgment on its complaint against real party in interest William White. We find the Bank is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because the affirmative defenses asserted in White’s answer to the Bank’s complaint are barred under principles of res judicata.

I

Facts

For purposes of the Bank’s motion for summary judgment, the following facts are undisputed: In February 1984 White executed a written continuing guaranty unconditionally guaranteeing prompt payment of all current or later-incurred indebtedness of Mesa Circuits, Inc. (Mesa), to the Bank.

In June 1984 White executed a Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranty as a part of a SBA guaranteed term loan agreement under which the Bank disbursed $550,000 to Mesa.

In June 1986 the Bank extended to Mesa a $500,000 line of credit under a loan agreement.

In February 1987 the Bank informed White that Mesa was in default on both the Bank loan and the SBA loan.

During 1987 Mesa’s assets were liquidated and its subsidiary sold. The Bank received sums satisfying portions of the principal of Mesa’s debts to the Bank.

White did not pay the Bank anything required under his continuing guaranty agreement or his SBA guaranty agreement.

II

Pleadings

In December 1987 in San Diego Superior Court case number N38961, the Bank filed a “complaint by creditor against guarantors on guaranties” against White and Rudolph Shaffer. The Bank’s complaint’s first cause of action seeks to enforce White’s continuing guaranty, favoring the Bank, securing debt incurred by Mesa. The second cause of action seeks to enforce White’s SBA guaranty favoring the Bank.

In April 1988 in San Diego Superior Court case number 597676, Mesa filed a complaint against the Bank and its oificers for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation and negligence.

Later in April 1988 the parties stipulated in case number N38961 that White and Shaffer would file separate answers without cross-complaints or cross-claims. Also during April 1988 White answered the Bank’s complaint in case number N38961 and asserted 13 aifirmative defenses.¹

In July 1988 White and Shaffer individually and as Mesa’s guarantors filed a first amended complaint against the Bank and its oificers in case number 597676. The first amended complaint deleted Mesa as plaintiff and asserted causes of action for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation and negligence. The first amended complaint alleged the Bank misrepresented the terms of an offer by Mesa to the SBA to restructure the Bank loan and the SBA loan.

In February 1989 under Code of Civil Procedure section 581, White filed a dismissal with prejudice of his lawsuit in case number 597676.²

III

The Bank’s Motion for Summary Judgment

In August 1989 the Bank sought summary judgment or alternatively summary adjudication of 11 issues against White in case number N38961.³ The Bank did not seek summary judgment against Shaffer.

In September 1989 after hearing, the court granted summary adjudication of issues numbers 3 and 4. The court denied the Bank’s motion for summary judgment and summary adjudication of the remaining issues as the court found “the retraxit doctrine does not bar the affirmative defenses asserted by defendant White in this separate proceeding and that there is a triable issue of fact re: whether the plaintiff’s alleged injury is a result of its own negligence and whether Civil Code Sections 2819 and 2845 provide defendant with a defense per White’s responses to interrogatories, numbers 11 and 12.⁴

The Bank seeks mandate under section 437c, subdivision (/), directing the superior court to grant its motion for summary judgment against White on the entire action.

IV

Discussion

The Bank Is Entitled to Summary Judgment

The record contains undisputed evidence White guaranteed payment of Mesa’s indebtedness to the Bank, Mesa defaulted on its loans, the Bank notified White of Mesa’s defaults, and White did not remit any funds to the Bank under his two guaranty agreements. Thus, the Bank established the material elements of its causes of action against White in case number N38961. That evidence was also sufficient to overcome White’s affirmative defense that the Bank’s complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

White’s other affirmative defenses are barred under principles of res judicata. Such affirmative defenses assert the same nucleus of operative facts and raise the same legal issues as those alleged in White’s first amended complaint in case number 597676. White’s voluntary dismissal with prejudice of his lawsuit in case number 597676 constituted a retraxit and determination on the merits invoking the principles of res judicata barring relitigation of those issues as affirmative defenses in case number N38961. (Cf. Roybal v. University Ford (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 1080, 1085 [255 Cal.Rptr. 469].)

A

White’s Voluntary Dismissal Constitutes a Retraxit

“ ‘A retraxit has always been deemed a judgment on the merits against the plaintiff, estopping him from subsequently maintaining an action for the cause renounced.’ (2 Freeman, A Treatise on the Law of Judgments (1925) § 757, p. 1595.)” (Roybal v. University Ford, supra, 207 Cal.App.3d at p. 1086.) A retraxit is equivalent to a judgment on the merits and as such bars further litigation on the same subject matter between the parties. (Gates v. Superior Court (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d 301, 311 [223 Cal.Rptr. 678]; Rodriguez v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. (1983) 142 Cal.App.3d 46, 54 [190 Cal.Rptr. 705], disapproved on another point in Moradi-Shalal v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Companies (1988) 46 Cal.3d 287 [250 Cal.Rptr. 116, 758 P.2d 58]; Wouldridge v. Burns (1968) 265 Cal.App.2d 82, 85 [71 Cal.Rptr. 394]; Sylvester v. Soulsburg (1967) 252 Cal.App.2d 185, 189 [60 Cal.Rptr. 218]; Datta v. Staab (1959) 173 Cal.App.2d 613, 621 [343 P.2d 977].)

A dismissal with prejudice is the modern name for a common law retraxit. (Robinson v. Hiles (1953) 119 Cal.App.2d 666, 672 [260 P.2d 194].) Dismissal with prejudice under section 581 “has the same effect as a common law retraxit and bars any future action on the same subject matter. (Wouldridge v. Burns (1968) 265 Cal.App.2d 82, 84 [71 Cal.Rptr. 394]; Ghiringhelli v. Riboni (1950) 95 Cal.App.2d 503, 506 [213 P.2d 17].)” (Roybal v. University Ford, supra, 207 Cal.App.3d at p. 1087; accord Kronkright v. Gardner (1973) 31 Cal.App.3d 214, 218-219 [107 Cal.Rptr. 270].) Dismissal with prejudice is determinative of the issues in the action and precludes the dismissing party from litigating those issues again. (Gagnon Co., Inc. v. Nevada Desert Inn (1955) 45 Cal.2d 448, 455 [289 P.2d 466]; Roybal v. University Ford, supra, at pp. 1085-1087; Palmquist v. Palmquist (1963) 212 Cal.App.2d 340, 343 [27 Cal.Rptr. 756]; Datta v. Staab, supra, 173 Cal.App.2d at p. 621; Sears v. DeMota (1958) 157 Cal.App.2d 216, 220 [320 P.2d 579]; Ghiringhelli v. Riboni (1950) 95 Cal.App.2d 503, 506 [213 P.2d 17].) “Relevant language providing for a plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal with prejudice was introduced into section 581 to limit the plaintiff’s leeway to abandon a case and then refile it. (Stats. 1947, ch. 990, § 1, p. 2256; Howell, The Work of the 1947 California Legislature (1947) 21 So.Cal.L.Rev. 1, 8-9.) The statutory term ‘with prejudice’ clearly means the plaintiff’s right of action is terminated and may not be revived.” (Roybal v. University Ford, supra, at pp. 1086-1087.)

The dismissal with prejudice terminated White’s action and affected the parties’ rights. The dismissal with prejudice was a final judgment favoring the Bank. (Gagnon Co., Inc. v. Nevada Desert Inn, supra, 45 Cal.2d at p. 455; Roybal v. University Ford, supra, 207 Cal.App.3d at p. 1086; Kronkright v. Gardner, supra, 31 Cal.App.3d at p. 218.) “The bar raised by a dismissal with prejudice is equal, under the doctrine of res judicata, to the bar raised by a judgment on the merits.” (Sears v. DeMota, supra, 157 Cal.App.2d at p. 222.) Thus, White’s dismissal with prejudice of his lawsuit in case number 597676 constituted a final judgment invoking the bar of res judicata. (Roybal v. University Ford, supra, at p. 1087.)

B

Res Judicata Bars White’s Affirmative Defenses

White’s dismissal with prejudice in case number 597676 barred another action by White against the Bank based on the same factual grounds alleged in his first amended complaint. We hold White’s dismissal with prejudice also precluded him from asserting those identical facts as affirmative defenses to the Bank’s complaint in case number N38961.

“Under traditional rules of res judicata, a party may be barred (‘collaterally estopped’) from relitigating issues that were previously adjudicated in an earlier proceeding.” (Wittman v. Chrysler Corp. (1988) 199 Cal.App.3d 586, 591 [245 Cal.Rptr. 20].) The rule of res judicata “ ‘is to prevent vexatious litigation and to require the parties to rest upon one decision in their controversy.’ (Miller & Lux Inc. v. James, 180 Cal. 38, 44 [179 P. 174].) ‘[A] final judgment on the merits in a prior action is conclusive between the same parties in a subsequent action involving the same subject matter.’ (Hamilton v. Carpenter, 15 Cal.2d 130, 133 [98 P.2d 1027].)” (Boucher v. Kriehn (1947) 80 Cal.App.2d 437, 441 [182 P.2d 218].) Res judicata bars “not only the reopening of the original controversy, but also subsequent litigation of all issues which were or could have been raised in the original suit. [Citations.]” (Gates v. Superior Court, supra, 178 Cal.App.3d at p. 311.)

In Hamilton v. Carpenter (1940) 15 Cal.2d 130 [98 P.2d 1027], defendants in a real estate foreclosure action alleged affirmative defenses that they entered the underlying transaction in reliance on the plaintiff’s fraudulent misrepresentations. In light of a final adjudication on the fraud issue against defendants in an earlier action between the parties commenced by those defendants, the trial court declined to permit defendants to introduce any evidence addressed to the fraud allegations of their affirmative defenses. In affirming, the appellate court stated: “Examination of the allegations in the complaint for damages for fraud in the earlier action, and of those relied on by the defendants here in their third and fourth affirmative defenses, discloses that they are substantially identical, and we have no hesitancy in declaring that if a final adjudication thereof was had in the earlier action it is res judicata, and this, even though a few additional alleged misrepresentations are here set forth, for, obviously, a litigant may not split his cause of action, advancing a portion at a time to the harassment of his adversary.” (Id. at p. 132.) The appellate court also stated: “It is the general rule, applicable to the facts of this case, that a final judgment on the merits in a prior action is conclusive between the same parties in a subsequent action involving the same subject matter. Such a judgment was tendered in bar of the present affirmative defenses based on the issues thereby determined. When received in evidence it was conclusive between the parties hereto upon those same matters. [Citations.] The issues of fraud very definitely were litigated by these parties in the prior action, both in the trial court and on appeal, and the court properly refused to receive evidence on the same issues alleged in the affirmative defenses of the defendant herein. Its finding on the issue of res judicata is supported by the judgment roll in the former action which was introduced in evidence in the present action.” (Id. at p. 133.) Similarly, the final judgment on the merits favoring the Bank against White in case number 597676 was conclusive between the same parties in the Bank’s action against White in case number N38961. The earlier judgment barred White’s present affirmative defenses on the issues determined by the judgment.

The fact the judgment favoring the Bank in case number 597676 was entered after a voluntary dismissal instead of after a full trial does not compel a result contrary to the holding in Hamilton v. Carpenter, supra, 15 Cal.2d 130. The dismissal with prejudice was a retraxit constituting a decision on the merits invoking the principles of res judicata. (Gagnon Co., Inc. v. Nevada Desert Inn, supra, 45 Cal.2d 448, 455; Roybal v. University Ford, supra, 207 Cal.App.3d at p. 1085; Gates v. Superior Court, supra, 178 Cal.App.3d at p. 311; Rodriguez v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., supra, 142 Cal.App.3d at p. 54; Wouldridge v. Burns, supra, 265 Cal.App.2d at p. 85; Sylvester v. Soulsburg, supra, 252 Cal.App.2d at p. 189; Palmquist v. Palmquist, supra, 212 Cal.App.2d at p. 343; Datta v. Staab, supra, 173 Cal.App.2d at p. 621; Sears v. DeMota, supra, 157 Cal.App.2d at p. 220; Ghiringhelli v. Riboni, supra, 95 Cal.App.2d at p. 506.)

C

Stipulation Is Irrelevant to Retraxit

In April 1988 the parties executed the following stipulation in case number N38961: “This Amended Stipulation supersedes all prior stipulations entered into between Plaintiff Torrey Pines Bank and Defendants William A. White and Rudolph B. Shaffer, Jr. regarding the vacating of defaults against Defendants and the setting of time for filing of answers by Defendants, and accurately reflects the agreements between Plaintiff and Defendants expressed herein. This Amended Stipulation is entered into in order to correct any inaccuracies or ambiguities in prior stipulations covering the matters expressed herein and to record the agreements reached by the parties.

“Plaintiff Torrey Pines Bank, by and through its attorney of record, John J. Chung, Esq. of DEWEY, BALLANTINE, BUSHBY, PALMER & WOOD, and Defendants William A. White and Rudolph B. Shaffer, Jr., by and through their attorney of record, BUFORD B. WILEY, JR., ESQ., hereby stipulate and agree that the Plaintiff’s Requests to Enter Default on William A. White and Rudolph B. Shaffer, Jr. are hereby withdrawn and the defaults entered herein are vacated.

“Said parties further stipulated and agreed that Defendants William A. White and Rudolph B. Shaffer, Jr. would file separate answers without cross-complaints or cross-claims to Torrey Pines Bank’s Complaint and that such answers would be filed on or before April 12, 1988. Said parties further stipulated and agreed that if such answers were not filed on or before April 12, 1988, said parties would stipulate and agree to an entry of default and default judgment against Defendant William A. White and/or Rudolph B. Shaffer, Jr.”

White contends the doctrine of retraxit should not apply here because the Bank stipulated he could answer the Bank’s complaint without cross-complaint or cross-claim. White asserts application of the doctrine of retraxit would not be appropriate because after the stipulation was filed he simply decided to dismiss his lawsuit in case number 597676 and rely on his answer filed months earlier in case number N38961. However, assuming the parties’ stipulation was properly in evidence, we find nothing in the stipulation’s language suggesting that applying the doctrine of retraxit would be inappropriate. White could have avoided retraxit simply by dismissing his lawsuit without prejudice. Further, where as here two separate actions are concurrently pending involving the same issues and parties “it is the first final judgment, even though rendered in the second action, that renders the issue res judicata in the other action.” (First N.B.S. Corp. v. Gabrielsen (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 1189, 1195 [225 Cal.Rptr. 254].)

D

Conclusion

“The doctrine of collateral estoppel obviates the need to relitigate issues in a second action already adjudicated in the first action. (Lockwood v. Superior Court (1984) 160 Cal.App.3d 667, 671 [206 Cal.Rptr. 785].) There are three prerequisites which must be shown before the doctrine will be applied: (1) the issue in the second action must be identical to the issue adjudicated in the first action; (2) the first action must have proceeded to a final judgment on the merits; and (3) the party against whom the collateral estoppel is to be asserted must have been a party, or in privity with a party, to the first action. (Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd. (1962) 58 Cal.2d 601, 603-604 [25 Cal.Rptr. 559, 375 P.2d 439].)” (Tushinsky v. Arnold (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 666, 672 [241 Cal.Rptr. 103].) All three prerequisites are present here. The issues raised by White’s affirmative defenses in case number N38961 are identical to the issues adjudicated in case number 597676. Case number 597676 proceeded to a final judgment on the merits. White was a party to both lawsuits.

“If the same primary right is involved in two actions, judgment in the first bars consideration not only of all matters actually raised in the first suit but also all matters which could have been raised [citation].” (Eichman v. Fotomat Corp. (1983) 147 Cal.App.3d 1170, 1174-1175 [197 Cal.Rptr. 612].) “ ‘ “It is the title, right or obligation sought to be established or enforced, not the remedy or the relief sought, which determines the nature and substance of the cause of action. When this has once been adjudicated it cannot be relitigated upon any grounds that were or that could have been determined in the former action.’”” (Kronkright v. Gardner, supra, 31 Cal.App.3d at pp. 216-217, quoting Owl Drug Co. v. Bryant (1953) 115 Cal.App.2d 296, 302 [252 P.2d 69]; accord Neil Norman, Ltd. v. William Kasper & Co. (1983) 149 Cal.App.3d 942, 947 [197 Cal.Rptr. 198].)

The superior court should have granted the Bank’s motion for summary judgment against White. Further, the Bank is entitled to costs and attorney fees from White. (§ 1021.)

Disposition

Let mandate issue directing the superior court to enter summary judgment favoring the Bank against White. On proper application, the superior court shall also determine the amount of costs and attorney fees due the Bank from White.

Todd, J., concurred.

1 White’s affirmative defenses: (1) the Bank’s complaint’s did not state a cause of action; (2) equitable estoppel; (3) unclean hands; (4) comparative negligence; (5) failure of consideration; (6 and 7) waiver; (8) White’s full performance; (9) justification; (10) failure to mitigate damages; (11) breach of fiduciary duties; (12) fraud; and (13) misrepresentation.

White’s 13 th affirmative defense specifically alleged he did not perform the guaranty’s conditions because “plaintiff [the Bank] prevented performance under the guarantee by misrepresentation of the offer of plaintiff’s sureties to retire one of the other respective loans. Plaintiff willfully and intentionally withheld information from the federal guarantee agency, namely, the SBA for their [s/c ] own benefit. At all times relevant herein mentioned, defendant [White] was and is ready, willing and able to perform the aforementioned condition, but plaintiff has prevented and continues to prevent defendant’s performance.”

2 Code of Civil Procedure section 581 provides in relevant part: “(b) An action may be dismissed in any of the following instances: [j[] (1) With or without prejudice, upon written request of the plaintiff to the clerk, filed with papers in the case, or by oral or written request to

the court at any time before the actual commencement of trial, upon payment of the costs, if any.

“

“(c) A plaintiff may dismiss his or her complaint, or any cause of action asserted in it, in its entirety, or as to any defendant or defendants, with or without prejudice prior to the actual commencement of trial.”

Code of Civil Procedure section 581d provides in relevant part: “A written dismissal of an action shall be entered in the clerk’s register and is effective for all purposes when so entered.”

All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise specified.

3 The Bank sought summary adjudication of the following issues against White:

“1. That William A. White’s continuing guaranty is valid and enforceable;

“2. That William A. White’s SBA Guaranty is valid and enforceable;

“3. That the Bank made two loans amounting to $1,050,000 to Mesa Circuits, Inc. (‘Mesa’) in reliance on and in consideration for the aforementioned guaranties;

“4. That Mesa defaulted on both loans;

“5. That the Bank has performed all acts required of it by both loan agreements and both of White’s guaranties, entitling it to White’s performance;

“6. That White breached his agreements to guarantee Mesa’s debts;

“7. That as a result of White’s breach of the guaranties, the Bank has been damaged in the principal amount of $514,438.06, plus accrued interest;

“8. That the Bank is entitled to recover from White costs of suit and attorneys’ fees;

“9. That White’s voluntary dismissal with prejudice of San Diego Superior Court Case No. 597676 constitutes a judgment on the merits of the claims and issues stated therein;

“10. That such dismissal, as a matter of law, collaterally estops White in this action from raising [the second through ninth and eleventh through thirteenth affirmative defenses]; and

“11. That White has failed to raise issues of material fact in support of [the first and tenth affirmative defenses] . . . .”

4 In his answers to the Bank’s interrogatories, White stated in part: “The principal reason for the default of Mesa Circuits was interference by the Plaintiff [the Bank] in the process of refinancing from alternate sources that destroyed the capacity of the primary borrower to repay its loan. . . . Plaintiff bank undertook to convey an offer of settlement on a significant portion of the indebtedness. This offer was changed by Plaintiff in such a way as to induce the Small Business Administration to deny the requested refinancing and was delayed in such a way as to preclude further negotiation. ...[]]]... It is my contention that any amounts due and owing from [Mesa] are not payable by me by virtue of discharge based on material breach of the guarantee agreement. Plaintiff breached the underlying implied term of cooperation and lack of prevention by interference with the capacity of the primary borrower to repay. At the same time Plaintiff concealed the extent of liability on my part. The plaintiffs did so by agreeing to transmit an offer of a payment on a loan subject to SBA guarantee. Following agreeing to do so, the Plaintiffs changed our offer and acted to materially interfere with the capacity of the primary borrowers [Mesa and its subsidiary] to repay. Further, this concealment, in breach of the guarantee agreement, deprived me of knowledge concerning the growing depth of my obligation for several months despite the fact that such knowledge was material to my decision to allow further credit to be extended by Plaintiff.”

Civil Code section 2819 provides: “A surety is exonerated, except so far as he may be indemnified by the principal, if by any act of the creditor, without the consent of the surety the original obligation of the principal is altered in any respect, or the remedies or rights of the creditor against the principal, in respect thereto, in any way impaired or suspended.”

Civil Code section 2845 provides: “A surety may require the creditor, subject to Section 996.440 of the Code of Civil Procedure, to proceed against the principal, or to pursue any other remedy in the creditor’s power which the surety cannot pursue, and which would lighten the surety’s burden; and if the creditor neglects to do so, the surety is exonerated to the extent to which the surety is thereby prejudiced.”