Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3

CourtCalifornia Court of Appeal
DecidedMay 16, 2014
DocketG048199
StatusUnpublished

This text of Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3 (Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3, (Cal. Ct. App. 2014).

Opinion

Filed 5/16/14 Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION THREE

PAULA C. VILLMER,

Plaintiff and Respondent, G048199

v. (Super. Ct. No. 30-2011-00450304)

SILVER OAK REAL ESTATE OF OPINION ORANGE COUNTY et al.,

Defendants and Appellants.

Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of Orange County, Jamoa A. Moberly, Judge. Reversed and remanded. Law Office of Paul S. Sienski and Paul S. Sienski for Defendants and Appellants. Law Office of Robert A. Von Esch IV and Robert A. Von Esch IV, for Plaintiff and Respondent. Paula C. Villmer (Villmer) purchased a home (the Property) in Anaheim, California. She sued the seller’s real estate agent, Karyn Schonherz, and broker, Silver Oak Realty of Orange County dba Prudential California Real Estate (collective referred to in the singular as Silver Oak unless the context requires otherwise), for failing to disclose government plans to build a street on the unimproved public easement located behind the Property. Silver Oak filed a cross-complaint against Villmer’s real estate agent and broker and obtained a default. Before trial, the parties agreed Villmer would dismiss the lawsuit if Silver Oak paid $24,815 and assigned its rights to the default judgment that would soon be entered on the cross-complaint. Silver Oak paid the money owed, but the assignment did not proceed as planned. Villmer moved to enforce the settlement under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6.1 The court granted the motion, awarding Villmer an additional $24,815, plus the attorney fees and costs incurred to enforce the settlement. We reverse the judgment. The parties did not agree to a monetary judgment as an alternative to the assignment. Moreover, the terms of the assignment were too uncertain and unenforceable. I In 2011, Villmer filed a complaint against Silver Oak for failing to disclose the government’s plans to build a road that would substantially reduced the value of the Property. Silver Oak filed a cross-complaint against Villmer’s agent, Joseph Ginel, and real estate broker, Dove Capital Corporation (collectively referred to in the singular as Ginel), for comparative indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief. After Ginel failed to file an answer to the cross-complaint, a default was entered against him.

1 All further statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure, unless otherwise indicated.

2 On July 9, 2012, Villmer and Silver Oak informed the trial court the case was “essentially” settled. Silver Oak’s counsel explained the settlement included the assignment of the default taken with respect to Ginel and “that requires not only an assignment by [Silver Oak], but also by the insurance company [Great American E&S Insurance Company (Great American)].” Counsel requested a short continuance, explaining Great American’s coverage counsel was busy and it would take several weeks. Villmer agreed to a continuance of the trial date, acknowledging the settlement was “cash plus the assignment of the default judgment.” The court continued the matter to August 6. On August 5, 2012, Villmer and Silver Oak executed a written settlement agreement (hereafter Settlement Agreement). The following day, August 6, Villmer filed a notice of settlement of the entire case. The notice stated the Settlement Agreement conditioned dismissal on the satisfactory completion of certain terms, and a dismissal would be filed “no later than” November 1, 2012. The court set an order to show cause (OSC) regarding dismissal for December 3, 2012. In the Settlement Agreement, Silver Oak agreed to the following terms: (1) pay Villmer $24,815 on or before August 16, 2012; and (2) assign to Villmer all its rights and interest in the default judgment against Ginel. The Settlement Agreement stated the terms of the assignment were contained in the parties’ separate “Assignment of Claim and Judgment” (hereafter Assignment Agreement), attached as exhibit 1. The Settlement Agreement expressly stated the court would retain jurisdiction to enforce the agreement under section 664.6. Paragraph 15 stated the Settlement Agreement was enforceable under section 664.6 because, “Notwithstanding the dismissal of the [c]omplaint if any [party] fails to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the [c]ourt shall retain jurisdiction to enforce the terms and conditions and rights and obligations of the [c]ontracting [p]arties and their insurance carriers, if

3 applicable, under this [s]tipulation in accordance with . . . section 664.6 and all other applicable code sections and precedent and will do so on ex parte application.” Paragraph 15.1 clarified the parties agreed that for the court to retain jurisdiction under section 664.6 following dismissal of the lawsuit, they were required to enter into a separate written stipulation executed by the parties (not their counsel or agents) requesting retention of jurisdiction. The Settlement Agreement stated the separately executed stipulation and subsequent court order would be attached as exhibit 2 to the agreement. Villmer agreed to dismiss the case after she received those documents. Villmer, Schonherz, and Brad Pearson (Silver Oak’s vice president) all signed the Settlement Agreement. Silver Oak’s insurer, Great American, was not a party to the Settlement Agreement and did not sign it. However, Great American was included in the first draft of the Assignment Agreement that specified it was one of the assignors. The Assignment Agreement stated it was made between Villmer “on one part[,]” Great American “on the second part[,]” and Silver Oak “on the third part.” The Assignment Agreement explained, “Villmer settled her claim against Silver Oak . . . for $24,815[] with Silver Oak paying $15,000[] and Great American $9,815[]. The $24,815[] settlement and Silver Oak’s . . . costs in defending the [c]omplaint and the [c]ross-[c]omplaint are recoverable against . . . Ginel in a default judgment. Silver Oak will be filing the necessary documents with the court to enter judgment on the default against . . . Ginel [‘Judgment’]. [¶] . . . Great American [and] Silver Oak . . . desire to assign their rights to collect the Judgment to Villmer.” The Assignment Agreement added, “In consideration for the release and dismissal as set forth in the Settlement Agreement . . . Silver Oak . . . and Great American sell, transfer, and assign all of their rights, title and interest in the [c]ross-[c]omplaint to Villmer. Silver Oak . . . will file the necessary pleadings for a default judgment in the

4 amount of settlement money paid by Silver Oak . . . and/or its insurance company, Great American E&S Insurance Company--$24,815.00--and costs.” The Assignment Agreement acknowledged Silver Oak would file default judgment papers within 14 days, and promised that within 60 days of the court entering a default judgment it would file and serve an “acknowledgement of assignment of judgment, per . . . section 673 . . . .” The Assignment Agreement provided Villmer was solely responsible to pay any attorney fees and costs incurred to recover the money due under the default judgment, and clarified Silver Oak and Great American would have no control over Villmer’s collection efforts. The assignment was “intended to convey” all Silver Oak’s and Great American’s interests in the cross-complaint. All did not proceed as planned.

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Bluebook (online)
Villmer v. Silver Oak Real Estate CA4/3, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/villmer-v-silver-oak-real-estate-ca43-calctapp-2014.