Davis v. Purple Mountain Empire X CA4/1 ( 2014 )

Filed 12/15/14 Davis v. Purple Mountain Empire X 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NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
KEITH O. DAVIS, D065302
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2012-0088440-
CU-WT-CTL)
PURPLE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE X, LLC,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Judith F.
Hayes, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Offices of Peter C. Giffin, Peter C. Giffin, Rosa E. Shelton; Keith O. Davis,
in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Fitch Law Firm and Stephen J. Fitch for Defendant and Respondent.
Plaintiff Keith O. Davis filed a complaint against Purple Mountain Empire X, LLC
(PME X), alleging three causes of action. PME X demurred to each cause of action. The
trial court sustained the demurrer without leave to amend the complaint and dismissed the
action. Davis timely appeals from the order of dismissal. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 581d,
904.1, subd. (a)(1); Etheridge v. Reins Internat. California, Inc. (2009) 172 Cal.App.4th
908, 913 [signed order of dismissal constitutes a judgment for purposes of appeal].) We
will affirm.
I
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Davis I
Linda Greenberg and another plaintiff filed a lawsuit against Davis and others
(Greenberg v. Davis (Super. Ct. San Diego County, 2010, No. 37-2010-00105739)
(Davis I)). Davis named Greenberg and others1 in a cross-complaint in Davis I
(Cross-complaint).2
1 In addition to Greenberg and her husband Michael Sutherland, Davis named as
cross-defendants Purple Mountain Management LLC, Purple Mountain Empire I LLC,
Purple Mountain Empire II LLC, Purple Mountain Empire III LLC, Purple Mountain
Empire IV LLC, Purple Mountain Empire V LLC, Purple Mountain Empire VI LLC,
Purple Mountain Empire VII LLC, Purple Mountain Empire IX LLC, and
Herman 55 LLC (all Davis I entities together, Purple Mountain LLC's).
2 PME X asked the trial court to take judicial notice of the Cross-complaint, as well
as the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release (Release), in Davis I. Both the
Cross-complaint and the Release are contained in the court records in Davis I, and
PME X's request was based on Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (d)(1), which
allows the trial court to take judicial notice of "[r]ecords of . . . any court of this state."
Although the record on appeal does not contain an order on PME X's request, based on
the trial court's ruling on PME X's demurrer (discussed in the text, post), the court
necessarily granted PME X's request to take judicial notice. We know from Cantu v.
Resolution Trust Corp. (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 857, 877, that "appellate courts should
judicially notice any fact of which the trial court took proper judicial notice." At oral
argument, Davis questioned the propriety of taking judicial notice of the Release;
however, we do not consider issues that, although raised at oral argument, are not
2
In summary, in the Cross-complaint Davis alleged that Greenberg and the Purple
Mountain LLC's owned a number of real properties; beginning in 2001 Greenberg and
the Purple Mountain LLC's employed Davis, whose responsibilities included managing
the various real properties and Greenberg's personal, business, financial and other
pursuits; between 2003 and 2010, Davis's compensation with the various Purple
Mountain LLC's changed, increasing significantly; but, beginning in 2010, Davis (as the
employee) and Greenberg and the Purple Mountain LLC's (as the employers) disputed
the compensation to which Davis then was and previously had been entitled. Davis
further alleged that beginning in 2001 and continuing through early 2010, Greenberg
made unwelcomed sexual advances to him — many of which resulted in sexual
encounters. By 2010, Davis alleged, the professional and personal relationships between
Greenberg and Davis were strained. Greenberg then terminated Davis's employment in
early 2010, according to Davis's Cross-complaint, because of both their sexual
relationship and Greenberg's husband's knowledge of it.
adequately presented in the briefing. (AmeriGas Propane, L.P. v. Landstar Ranger, Inc.
(2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 981, 1001, fn. 4.) In any event, in Performance Plastering v.
Richmond American Homes of California, Inc. (2007) 153 Cal.App.4th 659, following
demurrer proceedings, on appeal the court determined third party beneficiary status in
underlying settlement agreements, ruling in relevant part: "We take judicial notice of the
[underlying] settlement agreements and consider their contents even though they are
outside the four corners of the complaint, as there is and can be no factual dispute
concerning the contents of the agreements." (Id. at p. 666, fn. 2.) Likewise, we will
determine whether PME X is a third party beneficiary in the Release, because as we
explain in the text, post, "there is and can be no factual dispute concerning the contents of
[Davis's releases] of the agreement[]." (Ibid.)
Accordingly, on our own motion, we, too, take judicial notice of the
Cross-complaint and the Release. (Evid. Code, § 459, subd. (a).)
3
In eight causes of action, Davis sought employment- and sexual harassment-
related money damages from Greenberg and the Purple Mountain LLC's. As particularly
relevant to this appeal, Davis alleged causes of action against Greenberg and each of the
10 Purple Mountain LLC's for (1) "Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy";
(2) "Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment"; and (3) "Hostile Work Environment Sexual
Harassment."3 The Purple Mountain LLC's cross-complained against Davis.
In the 10-page Release (see fn. 2, ante), Davis and related entities on the one hand
and Greenberg, Sutherland and each of the 10 Purple Mountain LLC's on the other hand
settled all claims by all parties in Davis I. The October 2012 Release applies to "all
disputes, claims, or demands which the Parties have or had against each other [in Davis I]
and any other disputes, claims, demands, judgments or rulings" and provides in relevant
part:
"NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree, represent and warrant as follows:
"1. For the promises contained in this Agreement by the parties and
without admitting liability, [Greenberg, Sutherland and the Purple
Mountain LLC's] agree:
"a. [To provide certain consideration to Davis and related entities.4]
3 The other five employment-related claims against Greenberg and the Purple
Mountain LLC's were for "Non-Payment of Wages," "Breach of Contract," "Intentional
Misrepresentation," "Negligent Misrepresentation," and "Retaliation." In a ninth cause of
action, Davis sought money damages from Sutherland (Greenberg's husband) for
"Interference with [Davis's] Contractual Relations" with Greenberg and the Purple
Mountain LLC's.
4 Although this paragraph has been redacted in the copy of the Release contained in
the record on appeal, paragraphs 10 and 20 refer to a payment that is to be made to Davis
and his related parties in this paragraph 1.
4
"b. Included in this Agreement is [sic] all past claims, judgments and
rulings by any Party against any other Party to this Agreement. Further
Davis as a result of this Agreement will make no further claim or assertion
as to being an employee of any [of the Purple Mountain LLC's].
"2. Except for the obligations created by or arising out of this
Agreement[, Davis and related parties] . . . hereby release, quitclaim, and
forever discharge [Greenberg, Sutherland and the Purple Mountain LLC's]
as well as their officers, directors, shareholders, members, managers,
agents, employees, attorneys, predecessors, successors, heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, and all other personals, firms,
corporations, associations or partnerships, or any other entity connected
therewith, both in their individual and representative capacities, from all
claims, demands, liabilities, damages, and causes of action arising out of
[Davis I, the Cross-Complaint or the Purple Mountain LLC's cross-
complaint] including any claims under similar laws of the United States of
America and the matters identified in Paragraph 1b, above ('Released
Matters'). The parties hereto understand and agree that this release and
the Released Matters shall include and be applicable to any and all known
and unknown claims that have arisen or may arise in connection with
[Davis I, the Cross-Complaint or the Purple Mountain LLC's cross-
complaint] or otherwise. [¶] . . . [¶]
"4. The parties hereto intend and agree that this Agreement shall be
effective as a full and final accord and satisfaction and general release of
and from all Released Matters. In furtherance thereof, the parties hereto
acknowledge that they are familiar with Section 1542 of the Civil Code of
the State of California, which provides as follows:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not
know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the
release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or
her settlement with the debtor.
"The parties . . . expressly waive and release any and all rights or benefits
which such parties have or may have with respect to the Released Matters
under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California and/or
similar Federal Statues [sic], any predecessor statute, or any similar law or
rule, of any other jurisdiction.
"In connection with such waiver and relinquishment, each party
acknowledges that such party is aware that claims or facts in addition to,
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or different from, those which such party presently knows or believes to
exist may be discovered and that this release herein shall be and remain in
effect as a full and complete release notwithstanding the discovery and
existence of any additional, new, or different claims or facts. [¶] . . . [¶]
"9. The parties . . . agree that they shall not, at anytime hereinafter
commence, maintain or prosecute any action, at law, or otherwise, or assert
any claim against the parties herein released for damages, losses or for
equitable relief relating to the matters herein released, which are defined in
paragraph 2 and 3 as 'Released Matters'. The releases contained in this
Agreement are to be broadly interpreted." (Italics added.)
Davis signed the Release, as did the others.
B. The Present Action
Davis filed the complaint in the underlying action less than three months after the
settlement that was effected by the Release in Davis I. He named PME X as the sole
defendant and alleged the following three causes of action: (1) "Wrongful Discharge in
Violation of Public Policy"; (2) "Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment"; and (3) "Hostile
Work Environment Harassment." In relevant part, Davis alleged that PME X owned real
property in Hawaii; Greenberg was the principal and owner of PME X; Greenberg and
PME X employed Davis, whose responsibilities included managing the Hawaii real
property and "perform[ing] various other functions for PME X, Greenberg, her other
entities and the Greenberg family"; PME X and/or Greenberg paid Davis; in and after
April 2007, Greenberg made unwelcomed, at times successful, sexual advances to him;
and Greenberg terminated Davis's employment as a result of Davis's insistence that the
sexual relationship end and Greenberg's unwillingness to pay him according to the terms
of his employment. (Italics added.)
6
PME X demurred to each cause of action in the complaint, arguing that the
Release barred Davis from pursuing the claims.5 The court sustained the demurrer
without leave to amend and dismissed the action. Davis timely appealed.
II
DISCUSSION
Davis argues that the trial court erred both in sustaining PME X's demurrer and in
denying him leave to amend. PME X argues to the contrary, and we agree with PME X.
A. Standards of Review
In reviewing the ruling on a demurrer, "we are guided by long-settled rules. 'We
treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions,
deductions or conclusions of fact or law. . . . We also consider matters which may be
judicially noticed.' . . . When a demurrer is sustained, we determine whether the
complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. . . . And when it is
sustained without leave to amend, we decide whether there is a reasonable possibility that
the defect can be cured by amendment: if it can be, the trial court has abused its
discretion and we reverse; if not, there has been no abuse of discretion and we affirm. . . .
The burden of proving such reasonable possibility is squarely on the plaintiff." (Blank v.
Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318, citations omitted; see Code Civ. Proc., § 430.30,
5 PME X also demurred on additional theories to each of the causes of action, but
because we will decide this appeal based on the preclusive effect of the Release, we need
not discuss PME X's other arguments, since the dismissal will be affirmed if any ground
stated in the demurrer is well-taken. (Aubry v. Tri-City Hospital Dist. (1992) 2 Cal.4th
962, 967.)
7
subd. (a).) The showing of such a " 'reasonable possibility' " can be made for the first
time on appeal. (Gomes v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 1149,
1153-1154.)
When interpreting written agreements, unless resolution depends on the credibility
of conflicting extrinsic evidence, the interpretation involves a question of law, which we
review de novo. (Parsons v. Bristol Development Co. (1965) 62 Cal.2d 861, 865-866.)
Here, on demurrer, because the trial court did not resolve credibility issues or otherwise
consider extrinsic evidence to interpret the Release, we exercise de novo review. (Mayer
v. C.W. Driver (2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 48, 57.)
B. The Release Bars Davis's Complaint
1. Law
A release agreement is governed under general principles of contract law.
(General Motors Corp. v. Superior Court (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 435, 439.) "The goal of
contractual interpretation is to determine and give effect to the mutual intention of the
parties." (Safeco Ins. Co. v. Robert S. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 758, 763; see Civ. Code,
§ 1636.) "Although the intent of the parties determines the meaning of the contract . . . ,
the relevant intent is 'objective' — that is, the objective intent as evidenced by the words
of the instrument, not a party's subjective intent. . . . The true intent of a contracting
party is irrelevant if it remains unexpressed." (Shaw v. Regents of University of
California (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 44, 54-55, italics added, citations & fn. omitted.)
"A contract, made expressly for the benefit of a third person, may be enforced by
him at any time before the parties thereto rescind it." (Civ. Code, § 1559.) Case law
8
applying this statute instructs that "[t]he third party need not be identified by name. It is
sufficient if the [third party] claimant belongs to a class of persons for whose benefit it
was made." (Principal Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Vars, Pave, McCord & Freedman (1998)
65 Cal.App.4th 1469, 1485.) Whether the contracting parties intended to benefit the third
party "must appear in the terms of the agreement." (Id. at p. 1486.) The intended
beneficiary bears the burden of proving the contracting parties intended to benefit it
specifically or "a class of which [it] is a member." (Neverkovec v. Fredericks (1999) 74
Cal.App.4th 337, 348-349.) In deciding this issue, we must "read the contract as a whole
in light of the circumstances under which it was made." (Id. at p. 349.)
2. Analysis
Davis emphasizes that the Release does not mention PME X, and his claims
against PME X arose following circumstances during which he "was independently
employed by and compensated by PME X," the entity (distinct from the Purple Mountain
LLC's) that he alleges wrongfully terminated him. However, Davis also acknowledges
that, under appropriate circumstances, a party like PME X can be a third-party
beneficiary of a settlement and release agreement like the Release. (See, e.g., Garcia v.
Truck Ins. Exchange (1984) 36 Cal.3d 426, 436; Hess v. Ford Motor Co. (2002) 27
Cal.4th 516, 524.) The issue for our determination, therefore, is whether, by his
agreements in the Release, Davis intended to release PME X from the claims he alleges
in the underlying complaint.
In Davis I, Davis settled with and released Greenberg "as well as . . . any other
entity connected" with her. (Italics added.) Based on the allegations in his complaint in
9
this action, Davis has established that, from his perspective, PME X is an "entity
connected" with Greenberg. In his five-page, 28-paragraph complaint, Davis
affirmatively asserts at least six times that Greenberg was the principal, the owner, the
managing member and/or the agent of PME X. In addition, Davis affirmatively
acknowledges that in the Release he settled with Greenberg's "other entit[ies]," but not
with PME X — thereby conceding that PME X is one of Greenberg's "entit[ies]."
On appeal, Davis now contends that, because PME X was not named in the
Release, he did not intend to benefit PME X. We reject this argument. "The law imputes
to a person an intention which corresponds to the reasonable meaning of his or her words
and acts. Thus, where a person's words or acts, judged by a reasonable standard, manifest
an intent to agree to a certain matter, that agreement is established, regardless of what
may have been the person's real but unexpressed state of mind on the subject." (Brinton
v. Bankers Pension Services, Inc. (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th 550, 560, italics added; see
Winet v. Price (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 1159, 1171-1172 [where there is no "ambiguity as to
the release's intended scope," we may interpret agreement as a matter of law]; Crow v.
P.E.G. Constr. Co. (1957) 156 Cal.App.2d 271, 278-279.) The only reasonable
interpretation of Davis's words establishes his intent to release — i.e., to benefit —
PME X in the Release: (1) Davis released Greenberg and "any entity connected with"
her, and (2) Davis affirmatively knew that Greenberg was "connected with" PME X.6
6 To the extent Davis's argument is intended to imply that he did not understand the
scope of the release, his express agreements in the Release dispel such a possibility:
"The terms of this Agreement have been negotiated by the parties"; "the language used in
10
Next, Davis contends that his "claims against PME X are patently distinct from
any claims he previously had and which claims he released." Because Davis provides no
argument or legal authority, however, he has forfeited his right to appellate review of this
contention. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(B) [An appellate brief must "support
each point by argument and, if possible, by citation of authority"]; In re Estate of Cairns
(2010) 188 Cal.App.4th 937, 949 [issue "waived" where party fails to cite authority or
present argument].) In any event, given the broad language of the Release, including the
Civil Code section 1542 waiver, the three causes of action in the underlying complaint
are included within the scope of the claims barred in the Release.
In the Release, the parties defined the "Released Matters" to include claims arising
out of or relating to those asserted in Davis I. Initially, we note the similarities between
Davis's Cross-complaint (in Davis I) and his complaint in this action. Both have causes
of action for "Wrongful Discharge in Violation of Public Policy," "Quid Pro Quo Sexual
Harassment" and "Hostile Work Environment Harassment," and both allege the same
general underlying facts: Davis was sexually harassed or discriminated against by
Greenberg in her capacity as "principal" or "owner" of a limited liability company that
owned real property during a time he was employed by the entity and/or Greenberg
personally (2001-2010 in the Cross-complaint, 2007-2010 in the underlying complaint);
and the named defendants were liable to Davis for money damages based on his
this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to
express their mutual intent"; he "fully understand[s] and appreciate[s] the foregoing
words and terms and their significance"; he "read the foregoing release and . . . had the
same explained to [him] by [his] attorneys"; and he "relied on the advice of counsel."
11
employment and the unwanted sexual advances from Greenberg.7 Finally, there is no
issue regarding when Davis first became aware of his claims against PME X, since in his
appellate briefing, he affirmatively acknowledges he was aware of his claims against
PME X at the time he signed the Release. Accordingly, either the underlying claims are
not "patently distinct from" those in the Cross-complaint and thus released as part of the
Released Matters,8 or the language associated with Davis's waiver of the benefits of Civil
Code section 1542 resulted in the release of the underlying claims.9
In sum, the trial court properly sustained PME X's demurrer. Because PME X is a
third party beneficiary of the Release, Davis's claims in the underlying complaint are
barred by the Release.
7 Indeed, other than the identity of the defendants — i.e., Greenberg and the Purple
Mountain LLC's in Davis I and PME X here — the three causes of action in the
Cross-complaint and the underlying complaint here contain almost verbatim allegations.
8 The Released Matters include "any and all known and unknown claims that have
arisen or may arise in connection with [Davis I, the Cross-complaint or Purple Mountain
LLC's cross-complaint] or otherwise." (Italics added.)
9 This language is found at paragraph 4 of the Release, which is set forth in full in
the text, ante. In part, Davis released unknown claims against Greenberg and any entity
connected with her by "acknowledg[ing]" that he "is aware that claims or facts in addition
to, or different from, those which such party presently knows or believes to exist may be
discovered and that this release herein shall be and remain in effect as a full and complete
release notwithstanding the discovery and existence of any additional, new, or different
claims or facts "
12
C. Davis Has Not Established That He Can Cure the Defects in His Complaint by
Amendment
1. Law
As part of a plaintiff's burden to establish in what manner he can amend his
complaint, he must show " 'how that amendment will change the legal effect of his
pleading.' " (Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 335, 349 (Goodman).) This
showing requires "a minimal factual showing to satisfy the court that such an amendment
is appropriate." (McAllister v. Los Angeles Unified School Dist. (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th
1198, 1214 (McAllister).) The showing also requires that the proposed amendment be
consistent with the plaintiff's theory of the case up to that point in time. (Dey v.
Continental Central Credit (2008) 170 Cal.App.4th 721, 731 (Dey).)
2. Analysis
We next consider whether Davis has shown that there is a reasonable probability
that he can cure the defects we have identified in part II.B., ante. Davis contends that he
can amend his complaint "to allege an additional cause of action for fraud" on the basis
"PME X has engaged in fraudulent activity which Mr. Davis discovered after he was
terminated." In the trial court, he asserted the same contention, suggesting that he had
only recently learned that Greenberg fraudulently entered into "this contract" with " 'a
management company' " because " '[she] wanted to be in control of the day-to-day
operations.' " Notably, Davis does not identify or further describe either the contract or
the management company.
13
We are aware of the rule that requires "[l]iberality in permitting amendment"
following the sustaining of a demurrer. (Angie M. v. Superior Court (1995) 37
Cal.App.4th 1217, 1227.) However, here Davis has not met his burden. First, he has not
alleged any facts that might support an amendment (McAllister, supra, 216 Cal.App.4th
at p. 1214); he only argues he could allege a "cause of action for fraud" based on
unidentified "fraudulent activity" by PME X (see Goodman, supra, 18 Cal.3d at pp. 349-
350 [the Supreme Court affirmed the denial of leave to amend to allege fraud where
appellants failed to indicate "any ability upon their part to plead and prove facts which
would . . . establish fraud," italics added]; Small v. Fritz Companies, Inc. (2003) 30
Cal.4th 167, 184 [" 'In California, fraud must be pled specifically; general and conclusory
allegations do not suffice.' "]). Further, Davis's showing does not establish that the
proposed claim for fraud is consistent with his prior theories of employment- and
harassment-based claims. (See Dey, supra, 170 Cal.App.4th at p. 731.) Finally, Davis
has not attempted to show — and without knowing more about the alleged cause of
action for fraud we are unable to discern — how the proposed claim would not be subject
to the releases agreed to in the Release.
For these reasons, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying leave to
amend.
14
DISPOSITION
The order of dismissal is affirmed.
IRION, J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, Acting P. J.
MCDONALD, J.
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