M.N. v. Morgan Hill Unified School Dist. ( 2018 )

Filed 1/24/18; pub. order 2/20/18 (see end of opn.)
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
M.N., H043343
(Santa Clara County
Plaintiff and Appellant, Super.Ct.No. 1-15-CV285644)
v.
MORGAN HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
In March 2015, the principal of Martin Murphy Middle School (School) in
Morgan Hill recommended that M.N. (then, a 13-year-old boy in the seventh grade) be
expelled. The recommendation was based upon allegations that M.N. had committed
sexual assault or sexual battery upon a 13-year-old female student (Victim) on multiple
occasions while the two of them were riding on a School bus.1 An administrative panel
of the Morgan Hill Unified School District (District) conducted an evidentiary hearing
and recommended that M.N. be expelled from the District for one calendar year, finding
that he had committed or attempted to commit sexual assault or committed sexual battery,
and also committed sexual harassment. The District’s Governing Board (Board) adopted
the panel’s recommendation. M.N.’s administrative appeal to the Santa Clara County
Board of Education (County Board) was denied.
1
We use the term “Victim” to identify the girl as a matter of convenience and
because her identity has not been, and should not be revealed in the record. In doing so,
we do not prejudge the merits of the administrative findings that are the subject of this
appeal.
M.N. filed a petition for writ of mandate challenging the expulsion decision. On
December 7, 2015, the superior court concluded there was substantial evidence to support
the administrative finding that M.N. had committed sexual battery under which the
District was required by statute to expel the student for one year. The court nonetheless
granted a peremptory writ and remanded the case to the District to consider the sole issue
of whether the evidence justified it exercising its statutory discretion to suspend the order
of expulsion.
M.N.’s primary contention on appeal is that the superior court erred in finding
there was substantial evidence to support the District’s finding that M.N. had committed
misdemeanor sexual battery, a finding that carried with it mandatory expulsion. He
asserts that the District’s sexual battery finding was unsupported by any competent
evidence of the element of specific intent—i.e., that M.N.’s unwanted touching of an
intimate part of Victim was “for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual
gratification, or sexual abuse” (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1)). He contends that proof
of such specific intent was based entirely upon hearsay.
We conclude that there was substantial evidence—including competent,
admissible, nonhearsay evidence—to support the District’s finding that M.N. committed
a sexual battery. And, as discussed below, we reject M.N.’s remaining claims of error
that (1) the District’s decision cannot stand because it failed to make factual findings, and
(2) the superior court’s decision upholding the District’s sexual battery finding was
allegedly based on the court’s conclusion that M.N.’s awareness of the harmfulness of his
actions satisfied the specific intent element of that offense. Accordingly, we will affirm
the judgment.
2
I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Administrative Proceedings
On or about March 5, 2015,2 School Principal Heather Griffin suspended M.N.
She stated in the notice of suspension that under Education Code section 48915,
subdivision (c), M.N. was subject to mandatory expulsion for “[s]exual assault or sexual
battery (commit or attempt to commit).”3 On March 6, Principal Griffin made an
expulsion recommendation to the director of student services based upon M.N.’s
violations of section 48915, subdivision (c)(4), and section 48900, subdivisions (k), (n),
and (t)(2); she specifically stated that M.N. had committed sexual battery upon another
student.
In her March 6 discipline incident report, Principal Griffin summarized that she
was informed before school commenced on March 5 that a female student had been
tripped by boys on the bus on March 4, and the bus driver, upon speaking with the female
student, was concerned that multiple boys had touched her inappropriately. The female
student, when interviewed by Griffin and a Morgan Hill Police Officer, stated she had
asked the boys, including M.N., numerous times to stop touching her, but they did not
comply with her requests. As further reported by Griffin in her discipline incident report,
M.N. was called in as a potential suspect and admitted that on a “handful” of occasions,
he had “touch[ed] the female student on her breasts and buttocks [and had made]
comments of a sexual nature towards her.”
2
All dates hereafter are 2015 unless otherwise specified.
3
All further statutory references are to the Education Code unless otherwise
stated.
3
On March 9, M.N.’s parents were provided with a notice of an administrative
hearing. On the same date, the District provided M.N.’s parents with, inter alia, the
documents to be presented at the expulsion hearing.
The matter then proceeded to hearing on June 11 before a three-member
administrative hearing panel (Panel). Both the District and M.N. were represented by
counsel. Three witnesses testified in the proceedings: Principal Griffin, M.N., and
M.N.’s mother. Additionally, the Panel received certain documents: the expulsion
recommendation, discipline incident report, a discipline incident list and incident
summary, the notice of suspension, student statements, attendance report, and teacher
observation checklists.4 On or about June 12, the Panel recommended to the District that
M.N. be expelled from the District for one calendar year based upon his commission of
acts of sexual battery (violation of §§ 48900 and 48915, subd. (c)(4)) and sexual
harassment (violation of § 48900.2). The Board adopted the Panel’s recommendation on
June 23. M.N. appealed the Board’s decision. The County Board heard the case on
August 12, and it issued a written decision on August 18 denying M.N.’s appeal.
B. Court Proceedings
On September 15, M.N. filed a petition in the court below under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1094.5 for writ of administrative mandamus (writ petition) against the
District and County Board. He alleged that the expulsion decision was invalid because
the District and County Board, in finding he had committed sexual battery, had relied
exclusively upon hearsay evidence to prove that M.N.’s specific intent was sexual in
nature. The finding, M.N argued, therefore ran afoul of section 48918, subdivision (f)(2),
4
Although it was not formally introduced at the commencement of the hearing,
M.N.’s counsel referred extensively to a 16-page “Incident Report” (police report)
prepared by Officer Jeff Brandon of the Morgan Hill Police Department. M.N.’s counsel
provided a copy of the police report to the Panel at the hearing.
4
which provides that “no evidence to expel shall be based solely upon hearsay evidence.”
M.N. submitted a declaration attaching a number of documents from the administrative
proceedings, including the transcript of the hearing before the Panel.
The District and the County Board filed answers to the writ petition, and the
District filed a memorandum in opposition to the relief sought in the writ petition.5 After
a hearing, the court issued its order on December 7. The court concluded there was
substantial nonhearsay evidence in the administrative record to support the finding that
M.N. had committed misdemeanor sexual battery under Penal Code section 243.4,
subdivision (e). The court held further that the record did not contain substantial
evidence to support the District’s finding supporting expulsion that “ ‘due to the nature of
the act, the presence of the pupil causes a continuing danger to the public safety of the
pupil or others.’ ” The court therefore ordered that a peremptory writ be “granted on the
basis that the findings were inadequate on the sole issue of punishment of the Petitioner
and the matter is remanded to the agency to prepare additional and adequate findings on
that issue after reopening the proceedings in their entirety.”
The District filed a motion for reconsideration or for clarification of the order
pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1008. It argued that remand was
unnecessary and inappropriate because of the court’s finding that there was substantial
evidence supporting the District’s conclusion that M.N. had committed sexual battery in
violation of section 48900, subdivision (n). The District contended that such a violation
carries with it mandatory expulsion under section 48915, subdivisions (c) and (d).
Therefore (it argued), the District’s secondary findings that M.N.’s presence “cause[d] a
continuing danger to the public safety of the pupil and others”—specified in section
5
Although the County Board was a respondent below, it did not elect to
participate in this appeal by submitting a respondent’s brief.
5
48915, subdivision (e)(2) for offenses (such as sexual harassment) for which the
punishment of expulsion is discretionary—were unnecessary to the outcome of the case.
After extensive briefing and argument, on February 10, 2016, the court denied the
motion for reconsideration, but it modified and clarified its prior order. It held that “the
explained grounds for its original order were incomplete, if not erroneous” in that the
court had failed to acknowledge that expulsion for a violation of section 48900,
subdivision (n) is mandatory. But the court recited that under section 48917, subdivision
(a), the governing board has the discretion to suspend the enforcement of its expulsion
order for not more than one calendar year, and there was nothing in the record suggesting
that the Board considered suspending the expulsion. The court therefore modified and
clarified the original order on the writ petition to provide that the Board on remand must
consider whether there was evidence justifying suspension under section 48917,
subdivision (a) of the expulsion order. M.N. filed a timely notice of appeal.6
II. DISCUSSION
A. Administrative Mandamus & Standard of Review
Review of an administrative decision by mandamus is appropriate where the
hearing in the underlying administrative proceeding was mandatory, evidence was
required to be taken in the proceeding, and there was discretion vested in the body
determining the matter in deciding contested factual issues. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5,
subd. (a).) A court reviewing an agency’s decision under Code of Civil Procedure
section 1094.5 is guided by the following: “The inquiry in such a case shall extend to the
questions whether the respondent has proceeded without, or in excess of jurisdiction;
6
In its appellate brief, the District explained that “[t]he parties agreed to stay and
not proceed with [the superior court’s directed] limited remand unless or until final
resolution of this appeal.” M.N. does not challenge this assertion in his reply brief, and
we therefore accept the District’s representation of the procedural status of the case.
6
whether there was a fair trial; and whether there was any prejudicial abuse of discretion.
Abuse of discretion is established if the respondent has not proceeded in the manner
required by law, the order or decision is not supported by the findings, or the findings are
not supported by the evidence.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5, subd. (b).)
A challenge to a decision that the findings are not supported by the evidence in the
administrative record is reviewed by the trial court under either the substantial evidence
standard or the independent judgment standard. (Strumsky v. San Diego County
Employees Retirement Assn. (1974) 11 Cal. 3d 28, 32 (Strumsky); see Code Civ. Proc.,
§ 1094.5, subd. (c).)7 Subdivision (c) of Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5 does not
identify the cases in which the independent judgment standard, rather than the substantial
evidence standard, applies. (Fukuda v. City of Angels (1999) 20 Cal. 4th 805, 811
(Fukuda).) But our high court has held that the independent judgment standard applies to
cases in which “an administrative decision affects a right which has been legitimately
acquired or is otherwise ‘vested,’ and when that right is of a fundamental nature from the
standpoint of its economic aspect or its ‘effect . . . in human terms and the importance . . .
to the individual in the life situation.’ ” (Strumsky, supra, at p. 34, quoting Bixby v.
Pierno (1971) 4 Cal. 3d 130, 144 (Bixby).) If the decision “substantially affect[s]” that
fundamental vested right, the trial court reviews the decision for legal errors and conducts
a limited trial de novo of the evidence presented in the administrative proceeding and any
evidence wrongfully excluded by the agency. (Bixby, supra, at pp. 143-144 & fn. 10.)
7
“Where it is claimed that the findings are not supported by the evidence, in cases
in which the court is authorized by law to exercise its independent judgment on the
evidence, abuse of discretion is established if the court determines that the findings are
not supported by the weight of the evidence. In all other cases, abuse of discretion is
established if the court determines that the findings are not supported by substantial
evidence in the light of the whole record.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5, subd. (c).)
7
M.N. did not assert below that the independent judgment standard applied. Nor
does he make that claim on appeal. The District, however, on appeal asserts that the
superior court, based upon a finding that a fundamental vested right was substantially
affected, exercised independent judgment to review the administrative decision. But the
record does not support this contention. Rather, the court stated that in reaching its
decision, it “consider[ed] whether there is substantial evidence in light of the whole
record to support the [District’s] findings.” The substantial evidence standard is the
appropriate standard of review here. (See Helena F. v. West Contra Costa Unified
School Dist. (1996) 49 Cal. App. 4th 1793, 1800 [Constitutional right to free education
does not encompass right to attendance at school of pupil’s choice or the one
“geographically convenient to the parent”].)
Under this standard, the trial court will affirm the administrative decision if it is
supported by substantial evidence from a review of the entire record, resolving all
reasonable doubts in favor of the findings and decision. (Committee to Save
Hollywoodland Specific Plan v. City of Los Angeles (2008) 161 Cal. App. 4th 1168, 1182
(Committee to Save Hollywoodland).) The court must “accept all evidence which
supports the successful party, disregard the contrary evidence, and draw all reasonable
inferences to uphold the [administrative decision]. [Citation.] Credibility is an issue of
fact for the finder of fact to resolve [citation], and the testimony of a single witness, even
that of a party, is sufficient to provide substantial evidence to support a finding of fact.
[Citation.]” (Doe v. Regents of the University of California (2016) 5 Cal.App.5th 1055,
1074 (Doe).) Issues of law related to the administrative decision, such as interpretation
of statutes and regulations, are addressed de novo by the court. (Hoitt v. Department of
Rehabilitation (2012) 207 Cal. App. 4th 513, 522.) Under this “deferential” standard, the
court presumes the correctness of the administrative ruling. (Patterson Flying Service v.
California Dept. of Pesticide Regulation (2008) 161 Cal. App. 4th 411, 419 (Patterson
8
Flying Service); see also Doe, supra, at p. 1073 [substantial evidence standard is
“extremely deferential standard of review”].)
Review by the appellate court of such matters is governed by the same substantial
evidence standard, irrespective of whether the controversy involves a fundamental vested
right. (Fukuda, supra, 20 Cal.4th at p. 824.) Where the trial court properly applies the
substantial evidence standard, “ ‘the appellate court focuses on the findings made by the
agency rather than on findings made by the superior court.’ [Citation.]” (MHC
Operating Limited Partnership v. City of San Jose (2003) 106 Cal. App. 4th 204, 218
(MHC Operating).) We will therefore—contrary to the District’s urging that the proper
focus is “whether substantial evidence supports the Superior Court’s decision” (original
italics)—consider whether substantial evidence supported the District’s decision.
B. Public School Disciplinary Proceedings
The rights of students and staff to a safe school environment is embedded in our
state’s Constitution: “[T]he right to public safety extends to public and private primary,
elementary, junior high, and senior high school, and community college, California State
University, University of California, and private college and university campuses, where
students and staff have the right to be safe and secure in their persons.” (Cal. Const., art.
I, § 28, subd. (a)(7); see also In re William G. (1985) 40 Cal. 3d 550, 563 [“school
premises . . . must be safe and welcoming”].) This constitutional provision confers a duty
upon school officials “to protect students from foreseeable injury at the hands of third
parties acting negligently or intentionally.” (C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School
Dist. (2012) 53 Cal. 4th 861, 870, fn. omitted; see also id. at p. 870, fn. 3.) As
summarized by one court, “A special relationship is formed between a school district and
its students resulting in the imposition of an affirmative duty on the school district to take
all reasonable steps to protect its students.” (M.W. v. Panama Buena Vista Union School
Dist. (2003) 110 Cal. App. 4th 508, 517.) A school district thus has the power to suspend
9
or expel students in order to maintain discipline in schools. (Abella v. Riverside Unified
Sch. Dist. (1976) 65 Cal. App. 3d 153, 167; see also Fremont Union High Sch. Dist. v.
Santa Clara County Bd. of Education (1991) 235 Cal. App. 3d 1182, 1187 [“[e]xpulsion is
an administrative penalty designed to promote student safety”].)
We provide an overview of the statutory framework governing student disciplinary
proceedings in public schools, relying upon a decision of the Fourth District, Division
One (with updates for statutory revisions). “The Legislature has developed a
comprehensive statutory scheme governing the suspension and expulsion of students.
Education Code section 48900 states a student may be ‘suspended from school or
recommended for expulsion’ for committing one of [20] identified offenses.[8] Three
other statutes provide additional grounds for expulsion: section 48900.2 (‘sexual
harassment’); section 48900.3 (‘hate violence’); and section 48900.4 (‘harassment,
threats, or intimidation’).) These three statutes, together with section 48900, establish the
exclusive grounds for which a student may be suspended or expelled. [Citations.]” (T.H.
v. San Diego Unified School Dist. (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 1267, 1276, fns. omitted
(T.H.).)
8
The current version of section 48900 reads in relevant part: “A pupil shall not be
suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the
school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that
the pupil has committed an act as defined pursuant to any of subdivisions (a) to (r),
inclusive: [¶] . . . [¶] (n) Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in
Section 261, 266c, 286, 288, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed a sexual
battery as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code. [¶] . . . [¶] (s) A pupil shall not be
suspended or expelled for any of the acts enumerated in this section unless the act is
related to a school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the
jurisdiction of the superintendent of the school district or principal or occurring within
any other school district. . . .”
10
“Another statutory provision, section 48918, sets forth mandatory procedures that
a school district must follow before the district may expel a student who has committed
one of these identified expulsion offenses. . . . Every student is entitled to a hearing to
‘be held within 30 schooldays after the date the principal or superintendent of schools
determines that the pupil has committed any of the acts’ permitting expulsion. [(§ 48918,
subd. (a)(1).)] At the hearing, the school district must permit the student and parent to
appear, be represented by legal counsel or a nonattorney adviser, obtain copies of all
documents to be presented, [confront and question any witnesses presented at the
hearing,] and present oral and documentary evidence. (§ 48918, subd. (b)(5).)” (T.H.,
supra, 122 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1276-1277.) And “[t]echnical rules of evidence shall not
apply to the hearing, but relevant evidence may be admitted and given probative effect
only if it is the kind of evidence upon which reasonable persons are accustomed to rely in
the conduct of serious affairs.” (§ 48918, subd. (h)(1).) An expulsion decision must be
“supported by substantial evidence showing the pupil committed any of the acts
enumerated in Section 48900.” (Ibid.)
Although the governing school board is charged with conducting expulsion
hearings (§ 48918, subd. (c)(1)), it may delegate this function to a panel of three or more
certificated, impartial persons. (§ 48918, subd. (d).) The panel must determine within
three school days after the hearing whether to recommend the expulsion of the pupil to
the governing board. (§ 48918, subd. (e).)
Irrespective of whether the hearing is conducted by the governing board, a hearing
officer, or an administrative panel, the expulsion of a student may occur only through
final action taken in a public hearing by the governing board. (§ 48918, subd. (j).) A
final notice of expulsion must include notice of the right to appeal the decision to the
county board of education. (§ 48918, subd. (j)(1).)) The school board’s expulsion
decision “shall be based upon substantial evidence relevant to the charges adduced at the
11
expulsion hearing,” and except as specifically provided in section 48918, “no evidence to
expel shall be based solely upon hearsay evidence.” (§ 48918, subd. (f)(2).))
“[T]he Legislature [has also] specified the circumstances for triggering an
expulsion hearing and the findings that must be made at these hearings. These
circumstances—grouped in three primary categories—are set forth in section 48915.”
(T.H., supra, 122 Cal.App.4th at p. 1277.) We are concerned here with only the first of
those categories described in T.H. “[W]ith respect to certain very serious offenses, the
Legislature provided that ‘[t]he principal or superintendent of schools shall . . .
recommend expulsion of a pupil that he or she determines has committed any of the
[specified] acts at school or at a school activity off school grounds.” (Id. at pp. 1277-
1278, citing § 48915, subd. (c), original italics.) One such very serious offense requiring
the recommendation of expulsion is the offense charged here, namely, committing a
sexual battery as defined in section 48900, subdivision (n). (§ 48915, subd. (c)(4).) The
governing board is required to expel the student if there is a finding that he or she
committed one of the offenses enumerated in subdivision (c). (§ 48915, subd. (d).)
C. Sufficiency of the Evidence Supporting Administrative Decision
1. Introduction
M.N. contends that the District’s decision that he committed sexual battery was
without support because there was no competent evidence to support the specific intent
element of the crime, i.e., the act was committed “for the specific purpose of sexual
arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse.” (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1).) He
acknowledges that he admitted at the administrative hearing the other elements of the
offense—i.e., that he touched an intimate part of another person against her will (Pen.
Code § 243.4, subd. (e)(1)). But, M.N. contends, he specifically denied in his testimony
at the hearing that he acted with the requisite specific intent. He asserts that “the only
evidence that [the District] presented of M.N.’s purpose in touching the young woman
12
was written hearsay,” and this was wholly insufficient to support a finding that he had
committed a sexual battery warranting expulsion.
The District responds that M.N. has effectively argued that the District was
required to establish specific intent through direct evidence of the actor’s “intent to insult,
humiliate, or intimidate the victim,” and that such a position is contrary to established law
that intent may be “proven by surrounding circumstances.” The District responds further
that M.N. “attempts to sell the position that only non-hearsay evidence may support a
decision to expel.”
The Education Code, as M.N. acknowledges, does not require the District to base
its decision to expel a student strictly upon rules of evidence governing a trial.
“Technical rules of evidence shall not apply to the hearing.” (§ 48918, subd. (h)(1).) The
statute goes on to provide: “[B]ut relevant evidence may be admitted and given probative
effect only if it is the kind of evidence upon which reasonable persons are accustomed to
rely in the conduct of serious affairs.” (Ibid.; cf. Gov. Code, § 11513, subd. (c) [hearings
under Administrative Procedures Act “need not be conducted according to technical rules
relating to evidence and witnesses . . . . Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is
the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct
of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which
might make improper the admission of the evidence over objection in civil actions”].)
Further, under subdivision (f)(2) of section 48918, subject to certain exceptions not
relevant here, “no evidence to expel shall be based solely upon hearsay evidence.” And
an expulsion decision by the governing board of a school district is subject to the
overarching requirement that it be “supported by substantial evidence showing the pupil
committed any of the acts enumerated in Section 48900.” (§ 48918, subd. (h)(1); see also
id., subd. (f)(2) [board’s expulsion decision “shall be based upon substantial evidence
relevant to the charges adduced at the” hearing].)
13
M.N., as noted, argues that the only evidence supporting the District’s position
that he acted with the specific intent “of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual
abuse” (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1)) was hearsay that is traditionally inadmissible in
court proceedings. And M.N.’s key argument presented below was that the statutory
provision that “no evidence to expel shall be based solely upon hearsay evidence”
(§ 48918, subd. (f)(2)) “requires that non-hearsay [evidence] support each element of the
offense.” (Footnote omitted.)
As we discuss below, there was substantial evidence supporting the Board’s
decision that M.N. should be expelled for sexual battery. This evidence included both
nonhearsay evidence and hearsay evidence showing that M.N. acted “for the specific
purpose of . . . sexual abuse” of the victim. (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1).) We will
therefore reject M.N.’s sufficiency-of-the-evidence challenge, founded upon the position
that the only evidence of specific intent supporting the District’s position was hearsay
that would traditionally be inadmissible in court proceedings. Moreover, because we
conclude there was nonhearsay evidence of specific intent, we may assume for purposes
of our analysis only—but do not decide the merits of—M.N.’s claim that under
subdivision (f)(2) of section 48918, there must be some nonhearsay evidence of each
element of a charged offense to support an expulsion decision. (See Benach v. County of
Los Angeles (2007) 149 Cal. App. 4th 836, 845, fn. 5 [appellate courts will not address
issues whose resolution is unnecessary to disposition of appeal].)
2. Sexual Battery
Before reviewing the evidence presented to the Board, we describe the elements of
the offense at issue in this appeal that was one of the grounds for the expulsion order,
14
namely, misdemeanor sexual battery. This review will focus upon the specific intent
element contested by M.N.9
Misdemeanor sexual battery is defined as follows: “(1) Any person who touches
an intimate part of another person, if the touching is against the will of the person
touched, and is for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual
abuse, is guilty of misdemeanor sexual battery, punishable by a fine not exceeding two
thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six months,
or by both that fine and imprisonment. . . . [¶] (2) As used in this subdivision, ‘touches’
means physical contact with another person, whether accomplished directly, through the
clothing of the person committing the offense, or through the clothing of the victim.”
(Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e).) Sexual battery is a specific intent crime. (People v.
Chavez (2000) 84 Cal. App. 4th 25, 29.)
As argued by the parties both below and on appeal, the specific intent element
under Penal Code section 243.4, subdivision (e)(1) at issue here is “for the specific
purpose of . . . sexual abuse.” The court in In re Shannon T. (2006) 144 Cal. App. 4th 618
(Shannon T.) addressed the meaning of “sexual abuse” in this context. There, the minor
(14 years old) approached a 16-year-old girl at school, directed that she get off the phone,
9
The District found that M.N. violated section 48900 because he (1) committed or
attempted to commit a sexual assault (as defined under several specified sections of the
Penal Code), or committed a sexual battery under Penal Code 243.4, and (2) committed
sexual harassment as defined under section 212.5. Unlike sexual battery, which carries
with it a mandatory punishment of expulsion (see § 48915, subds. (c), (d)), sexual
harassment is one for which a student may be subject to a discretionary punishment of
expulsion (see §§ 48900.2, 48915, subd. (e)). M.N. challenged the entire decision in his
writ petition, including the finding that he had committed sexual harassment. But the
superior court in its order did not address the District’s sexual harassment finding, and
M.N. does not include that District finding in his challenge on appeal. Accordingly, the
District’s sexual battery finding is the only one with which we are concerned here.
15
called her “ ‘[his] ho,’ ” and then after the girl walked away from him, saying “
‘whatever,’ ” slapped her face, grabbed her arm, and pinched her breast, causing her to
cry and leaving a large bruise. (Id. at p. 620.) The minor challenged the juvenile court’s
sexual battery finding, arguing there was no specific intent because he and the victim had
simply been “engaged in ‘playful hitting’ of each other.” (Id. at p. 621.) After observing
that the statute did not define “ ‘sexual abuse’ ” and that no published case had addressed
the issue (ibid.), the appellate court concluded that “ ‘sexual abuse’ includes the touching
of a woman’s breast, without consent, for the purpose of insulting, humiliating, or
intimidating the woman, even if the touching does not result in actual physical injury.”
(Id. at p. 622, fn. omitted.) The court affirmed the juvenile court’s finding and
dispositional order, concluding that “the minor’s purpose in pinching the victim’s breast
[could] be inferred from the act itself together with its surrounding circumstances
[citation]” (ibid.), and that the “circumstances support[ed] a conclusion that the minor
pinched the girl’s breast for the specific purpose of insulting, humiliating, intimidating,
and even physically hurting her.” (Id. at pp. 623.)
The principle enunciated by the court in Shannon T. that the actor’s purpose may
be inferred from the act itself and the surrounding circumstances is based upon the well-
recognized proposition that “as to the specific intent prong . . . [,] ‘[i]ntent is rarely
susceptible of direct proof and usually must be inferred from the facts and circumstances
surrounding the offense.’ [Citation.] ‘Evidence of a defendant’s state of mind is almost
inevitably circumstantial, but circumstantial evidence is as sufficient as direct evidence to
support a conviction.’ [Citation.]” (People v. Rios (2013) 222 Cal. App. 4th 542, 567-568
(Rios).) Specific intent may be proved from inferences drawn from the facts and
circumstances surrounding the offense in a variety of contexts—including, as noted in
Shannon T., supra, 144 Cal.App.4th at page 622, sexual battery. (See, e.g., People v.
Holt (1997) 15 Cal. 4th 619, 669-670 [entering premises with specific intent to commit
16
felony or theft, i.e., burglary]; In re Gary H. (2016) 244 Cal. App. 4th 1463, 1478
[loitering on school grounds with specific intent to commit an assault]; People v. Lopez
(2015) 240 Cal. App. 4th 436, 453 [threat made with intent of placing victim in imminent
fear of own safety or family’s safety, i.e., stalking]; People v. Misa (2006) 140
Cal. App. 4th 837, 842 [infliction of great bodily injury with specific “ ‘intent to cause
cruel or extreme pain and suffering for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or
for any sadistic purpose,’ ” i.e., torture].)
3. Evidence Presented at Administrative Hearing
a. Griffin Testimony
On March 2, Susan Becerra began driving a new bus route—one identified by
witnesses as “bus route number 8.” Becerra had been warned that there was a group of
students from the Diana Avenue stop who, because of their chronic misbehavior, had
been instructed by the previous driver to sit in the front of the bus. On two successive
days, she observed a girl, Victim, trip as she and other girls got off the bus. Thereafter,
on March 5, Becerra talked to the girls as they exited the bus. After identifying Victim as
the girl who had been tripped, she told Becerra that she had tripped because multiple
boys, including M.N., had been touching her inappropriately.
Thereafter and immediately before class started that day at the School, Becerra
approached Principal Griffin and informed her that a female student accompanying her,
Victim, had been subjected to inappropriate treatment on the bus. Griffin then took
Victim to her office and contacted the Morgan Hill Police Department. From Griffin’s
observation, Victim was very scared; she was “shaking, sad, and withdrawn.” Victim
was concerned about what would happen to her at school. Griffin testified “there were
some comments at certain points that were made to her by these boys that it was not in
her best interests to be telling on them.” Victim said she was afraid of the boys.
17
Victim told Principal Griffin that over the course of a few months, three boys, one
being M.N., had touched her inappropriately while she was riding the bus. They
intentionally tripped her so that they could touch her while she was on the bus floor. The
boys, on some occasions when they touched her, made moaning noises. Victim said that
she had asked the boys, including M.N., repeatedly to stop, saying, “ ‘It hurts me,’ ” but
they would not stop. Victim also said there were times after she exited the bus that they
boys would make gestures and comments about her breasts, including comments about
how “it felt so good” and they intended to touch her again. Victim said that she asked her
female friends to sit next to her on the bus or walk with her to create a barrier between
her and the boys.
After Principal Griffin spoke briefly with Victim and notified the police, she asked
Victim to write a statement. The statement by Victim read in part: “Whenever I get on
the bus, I always get grabbed by three boys [name redacted], [M.N.], and sometimes
[name redacted]. [T]hey usually grab me all the time and I tell them not to and the[y’re]
always grabbing me in the boobs, or the butt and onetime [sic] one of them grabbed me
or touched my private part. I always tell them to stop but they never do and sometimes
when they grab me I fall or trip and I always end up [scraping] my knee[;] it hurts a lot
when they do that and they just tell me [‘]it feels so good[’] but it hurts me and they don’t
seem to really care . . . . Also it makes me feel bad because they won’t listen or stop.
Yesterday, they grabbed my butt and my boobs but I don’t know which one grabbed
which. They usually say [‘]but the[y’re] so big[’] or they say [‘]it feels so good[’] or they .
. . make moaning noises sometimes. They knock on the window sometimes after I leave
and they . . . make their hands under to show that I have big boobs. [T]hey usually look
for me and say ‘is she here’ and if [I] am they say [‘]get ready.[’] . . . [T]hey start to grab
me once I get off and they make . . . weird faces at me. [T]hey make hand gestures as if
the[y’re] grabbing my boobs.”
18
Principal Griffin was also present on March 5 when the police interviewed four
witnesses and when each wrote statements that day. Witness 110 said she had witnessed
three boys, including M.N., touching Victim inappropriately on her buttocks and breasts.
Witness 1 said the boys tried to sit next to Victim so that they could grab her, and they
also grabbed her when she exited the bus. Witness 1 also stated that she had heard
Victim say “no” to them, but they ignored her. Victim asked Witness 1 and another
person to walk with her on the bus so that the boys could not touch her.
Witness 2 stated he had seen two boys, including M.N., grabbing Victim’s
buttocks and breasts, and that they did so once or twice a week even though Victim told
them to stop. Witness 2 said the boys laughed when Victim walked off the bus. Witness
2 also stated that Victim did not want to get off the bus and that she was afraid of the
boys. He said a third boy had grabbed Victim’s buttocks on one occasion, on March 4.
Witness 3 stated that for a few weeks, she had witnessed three boys, including
M.N., grabbing Victim’s buttocks and breasts, and laughing after doing so. Witness 3
said the boys would comment on Victim having “big boobs and a big butt” and Witness 3
said they would “squeeze [Victim’s buttocks] and . . . pok[e] it.” Witness 3 also stated
that when Victim fell down, the boys touched her again. Witness 3 said she overheard
the boys planning what they were going to do when Victim got off the bus.
Witness 4 stated that since November 2014, she had witnessed students tripping
Victim and grabbing her buttocks and breasts when she got off the bus. Witness 4 said
she would regularly overhear the students planning to grab Victim after confirming that
she was on the bus. Witness 4 noted further that the students told Victim that “she has
big boobs and a big butt,” made gestures when Victim left the bus as “if [they] were
10
The witnesses are identified as numbers one through four, based upon the order
in which they were mentioned in the testimony of Principal Griffin.
19
grabbing her boobs,” laughed and waved at her, and commented that “this feels good” as
they grabbed her breasts. Witness 4 said that Victim had asked her sometimes to walk
behind her so the students wouldn’t grab Victim. Although not mentioned in Witness 4’s
written statement, according to Griffin’s testimony, Witness 4 told the police that M.N.
was one of the students involved in the conduct toward Victim.
Principal Griffin was also present when the police interviewed the three accused
boys, including M.N., on March 5. One of the boys, Boy 1, admitted having grabbed
Victim’s buttocks and breasts, as well as her crotch. He also admitted laughing, having
tripped and harassed Victim when she got off the bus, and having made hand gestures
concerning her breasts. Boy 1 also said that M.N. had grabbed Victim’s buttocks, and
that M.N. had participated in conversations when Victim got on and off the bus.
Boy 2 admitted to the police that he had tripped Victim and touched her buttocks
one time. He said he had participated with M.N. in conversations about Victim’s breasts
and they had laughed and made gestures when Victim left the bus. Boy 2 also said that
M.N. had grabbed Victim’s buttocks.
Principal Griffin testified that when the police questioned M.N., he was not
initially forthcoming. She testified “[i]t took a significant time for [M.N.] to tell the
truth.” Griffin said that later in the interview after M.N. admitted having touched Victim,
he tried “to justify his behavior,” and showed less remorse than the two other boys had
shown. During the police interview—as Griffin confirmed later in her written discipline
incident report—M.N. admitted that on a handful of occasions, he had touched Victim’s
buttocks and breasts and had made sexual comments directed toward her. Griffin
testified that when M.N. gave his statement to the police, he did not mention that his
20
being bullied or teased by the other boys was the cause of his inappropriate touching of
Victim.11
Principal Griffin did not personally view videotape footage from the bus obtained
by the police. But Griffin was advised by School Resource Officer Brandon, who also
authored the police incident report—and Griffin had heard testimony at other hearings—
that the videotape footage confirmed that M.N. was a participant with other boys in
laughing and joking, in tripping Victim, and in harassing her from bus windows.
Principal Griffin testified that she was familiar with Victim’s ongoing issues
resulting from the incidents on the bus. Victim required a significant amount of support
from the District, in addition to private therapy, and she continued to manifest fear.
b. M.N. Testimony
M.N. testified at the hearing that he first saw another boy on the bus touching
Victim’s breasts approximately two months before March 5. He observed a second
incident involving another boy about one week later. There continued to be incidents in
which boys touched Victim inappropriately that occurred sometimes twice a week or
every other week. M.N. knew what they were doing was wrong, but he did not report
what was happening to anyone. He was uncertain whether Victim ever told any of the
boys to stop.12 Victim had told him, however, sometime before the inappropriate
touching began that she did not like the “Diana bus kids,” and she found them to be
11
Griffin acknowledged on cross-examination by M.N.’s counsel that it was
recited in the police report describing the interview with M.N. that he “admitted he had
touched [Victim’s] buttocks approximately 5 times over the last couple of weeks. He
said he did it because the other boys were pressuring him to do it and said they would call
him a ‘chicken or pussy’ if he didn’t.” But Griffin stood by her testimony that M.N. did
not tell the police he had been bullied or teased into touching Victim.
12
M.N.’s response to a panel member to his question on this issue was: “I don’t
know. Maybe. I don’t know if she—not that I know of—.”
21
“ ‘really annoying.’ ” M.N. denied that he laughed during these incidents, testifying,
“Well, I was laughing, not because they were touching her. Maybe because somebody
said something funny.”
Approximately one month before March 5, at the urging of other boys, M.N.
touched Victim’s buttocks. “just grabbed her and slapped her . . . basically lightly
touched her.” M.N. estimated that he touched Victim on no more than 10 occasions. He
testified that he admitted to the police that he had touched Victim’s buttocks and one time
on the breasts. (He testified he touched Victim on the breasts because another boy
grabbed his hand and placed it on her.) He testified that he told the police he had touched
Victim “because these boys on the bus were bullying [him] and pressuring [him] to do
it.”
M.N. testified that he knew what he was doing was wrong. M.N. denied that he
laughed after he touched Victim because he had touched her. He admitted he laughed
about what someone had said, but did not recall the substance of what was said. He
testified that Victim never told M.N. to stop. But whether Victim was addressing him
directly to him or not, M.N. may have heard her say something like, “ ‘Don’t touch me.’
” He testified that “it was something that was going through [his] head.” He explained:
“But she—this is going to sound offensive[—] but it seemed like she sort of didn’t care.”
M.N. testified that he did not touch Victim because he wanted to be sexually
aroused. He said that he had had no sexual motive at all. The first time he touched
Victim, he did so because he was pressured by a group of boys, who said, “ ‘Hey, so if
you guys don’t do this, especially [M.N.] . . . , we’re going to call you names or beat you
up after you get off the bus.’ ” M.N. testified that the boys made these comments every
time M.N. touched Victim. M.N. never reported to the bus driver or any teacher at
school that he was being bullied by the boys on the bus. And none of the boys ever beat
M.N. up or struck him. Sometime before M.N. began touching Victim, one or more of
22
the boys knocked the lunch out of M.N.’s hands at School; M.N. did not report the
incident.
M.N. testified at the hearing that he has arthritis in his knee, and that for his whole
life, he has been teased and called names by his peers. The students who tease him
include those who ride the bus with him to School. M.N.’s mother also testified that his
medical condition causes him to limp, and that he has had a harder time particularly in
the past school year (seventh grade) with students teasing and bullying him. Neither
M.N.’s mother nor father ever reported any of this bullying to the School. Principal
Griffin confirmed in her testimony that she had never received a report from M.N., his
family, or other students that M.N. had been the subject of bullying.
4. Substantial Evidence Supported District’s Decision
As noted, M.N.’s challenge is limited to the finding that he committed a sexual
battery within the meaning of Penal Code section 243.4, subdivision (e)(1) because he
committed his admitted acts involving Victim “for the specific purpose of . . . sexual
abuse.” Our focus is therefore whether, viewing the entire record, there was substantial
evidence before the District that M.N. touched Victim inappropriately “for the purpose of
insulting, humiliating, or intimidating [her], even if the touching [did] not result in actual
physical injury.” (Shannon T., supra, 144 Cal.App.4th at p. 622, fn. omitted.) And in
conducting this analysis, we address M.N.’s claim that there was only hearsay that would
traditionally be inadmissible in court proceedings that supported this specific intent
element.
There was a wealth of evidence—disregarding for the moment whether it was
nonhearsay or hearsay—that M.N. acted “for the specific purpose of sexual abuse.” (Pen.
Code § 243.4, subd. (e)(1).) Focusing first on nonhearsay evidence, we disagree with
M.N. that his testimony at the hearing must be viewed exclusively as negating a finding
of specific intent. To be sure, M.N. testified that he did not touch Victim for the purpose
23
of sexual arousal or for any other sexual motive. Rather, he said he did so because he
was pressured by other boys’ threats of ridicule and physical reprisal. While the District,
as trier of fact, may have believed M.N., it is equally possible that it did not. M.N.’s
testimony concerning the boys’ alleged threats was conclusory and provided nothing by
way of specifics other than that they were made by unspecified individuals each time he
inappropriately touched Victim. He never reported the threats to anyone and was in fact
never beaten up or struck by anyone. Further, although M.N. testified that he told the
police his actions were motivated by the boys’ pressuring and bullying, Principal Griffin
disputed this testimony. She testified that when the police interviewed M.N. in her
presence, he did not mention that he had inappropriately touched Victim because he had
been repeatedly bullied or teased by other boys.13 And there was evidence that M.N. was
not initially forthcoming in his interview with the police, that he attempted to justify his
behavior, and he showed little remorse. The District was therefore free to discount, or
even dismiss, M.N.’s testimony that in touching Victim, he did not have the requisite
specific intent under Penal Code section 243.4, subdivision (e)(1) because he was
motivated only by fear of ridicule or physical harm. (Doe, supra, 5 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 1073, 1074 [reviewing court defers to trier of fact concerning witness credibility
issues].)
There was additional nonhearsay evidence at the hearing—chiefly from M.N.’s
own testimony—supporting the inferred finding that he acted “for the specific purpose
of . . . sexual abuse.” (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1).) First, M.N. admitted that he
touched Victim on the buttocks, and that he did so as many as 10 times. Second, he
13
We note further that although there is a reference in the police report to M.N.
saying that other boys told him they would call him names if he did not touch Victim,
there is no indication in the report that he told the police that other boys had threatened to
physically harm him.
24
admitted he knew what he was doing was wrong and was hurtful to Victim. It may be
inferred from the circumstances that M.N., by touching Victim while others on the bus
witnessed it, knew that his actions would be humiliating and insulting to Victim. Third,
prior to M.N. inappropriately touching Victim, he had witnessed multiple acts of sexual
battery upon Victim by other boys on the bus. He knew that their actions were wrong,
but he did nothing to stop them and did not report the actions to anyone. Fourth, M.N.
admitted laughing during the incidents in which either he or other boys inappropriately
touched Victim. Although he denied that his laughter was related to the inappropriate
touching, he could not identify what had caused him to laugh. Fifth, although M.N.
testified that he never heard Victim tell the other boys or him to stop touching her, the
testimony was equivocal. He testified that “[m]aybe” Victim told other boys to stop, and
“it was something going through [his] head” that Victim may have said something like “
‘Don’t touch me.’ ”
And perhaps most significantly, Principal Griffin testified that M.N., in her
presence, admitted to the police on March 5 that in addition to touching Victim’s
buttocks and breasts, he had directed sexual comments toward her. Plainly, this
evidence, had it been offered in court, would have been admissible as a recognized
exception to the Hearsay Rule. (See Evid. Code, § 1220.)14
M.N.’s purpose was properly “inferred from the [repeated] act[s them]sel[ves]
together with [their] surrounding circumstances.” (Shannon T., supra, 144 Cal.App.4th
at p. 622.) Here, based solely upon the above-recited nonhearsay evidence (and evidence
constituting an exception to the Hearsay Rule), there was substantial evidence from
14
“Evidence of a statement is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule when
offered against the declarant in an action to which he is a party in either his individual or
representative capacity, regardless of whether the statement was made in his individual or
representative capacity.” (Evid. Code, § 1220.)
25
which the District could infer that M.N. committed the acts “for the specific purpose
of . . . sexual abuse.” (Pen. Code, § 243.4, subd. (e)(1).) Such an inference that he had
“the purpose of insulting, humiliating, or intimidating [Victim]” (Shannon T., supra, at p.
622) could be properly made from M.N.’s acts of repeatedly touching Victim’s intimate
parts without her consent, and the circumstances surrounding those acts—including his
knowledge that what he and the other boys were doing was wrong, his permitting the
misconduct to go on for months without reporting it, his laughing while the conduct
occurred, and his making sexual comments toward Victim. (See Rios, supra, 222
Cal.App.4th at pp. 567-568 [state of mind generally proved by circumstantial evidence,
and therefore intent is ordinarily inferred from facts and circumstances surrounding the
offense].) The additional hearsay evidence—including the statements of Victim, four
witnesses, and the two other accused boys—while corroborative, was not essential to the
District’s inferred finding that M.N. acted for the specific purpose of sexual abuse.
M.N. relies on John A. v. San Bernardino City Unified School District (1982) 33
Cal. 3d 301 (John A.) in support of his claim that the District’s decision was based
entirely upon hearsay and cannot be sustained. He urges that in John A., the Supreme
Court “recognized that a school may not rely solely upon written statements from
witnesses, which are hearsay and untested by cross-examination, when those witnesses
are available to testify live. [Citation.]” In John A., the student was expelled based upon
the allegation that he assaulted and injured without provocation two other students during
an on-campus fight after a football game. (Id. at p. 304.) At the expulsion hearing, the
school district presented no witnesses, but instead relied upon a school administrator’s
report and signed witness statements. (Id. at p. 305.) The student denied striking either
student, but admitted holding one of them, and “characterized the entire incident as ‘play
boxing’ such as often took place after football practice or games.” (Ibid.) The
administrative panel found that the student had committed an unprovoked attack and
26
recommended expulsion, which recommendation the school board adopted. (Id. at
p. 306.)
The Supreme Court considered whether the expulsion was improper under
relevant provisions of the Education Code, specifically, what are currently subdivision
(b)(5) of section 48918 (affording the student the right “to confront and question all
witnesses who testify at the hearing”), and subdivision (h)(1) of the same statute
(“[t]echnical rules of evidence shall not apply at the hearing, but evidence may be
admitted and given probative effect only if it is the kind of evidence upon which
reasonable persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs”). (John A.,
supra, 33 Cal.3d at p. 307.) It explained that “[t]he evidence at the hearing was in sharp
dispute,” and while the student denied striking or kicking the two injured students,
neither complainant testified, and the district relied solely on the administrator’s report
and written witness statements. (Id. at p. 308.) The Supreme Court held that under the
circumstances, the evidence did not meet the requirements of the statute that the school
district show a basis “for expulsion by a preponderance of the evidence upon which
reasonable persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs.” (Id. at
p. 308.) The high court reasoned: “While reasonable persons often rely on statements
and reports [citation], a reasonable person in the conduct of serious affairs will not rely
solely on written statements but will demand that witnesses be produced so that their
credibility may be tested and their testimony weighed against conflicting evidence when
their testimony appears readily available and there is no substantial reason why their
testimony may not be produced. By placing the power of expulsion in the governing
board rather than the administrators, the Legislature has manifested its intent that the
board not merely review the administrator’s decision but determine credibility and weigh
evidence. It may not rely on administrative reports when evidence is conflicting and
witnesses are readily available.” (Id. at pp. 307-308.)
27
The circumstances here are distinguishable from those addressed in John A. In
this case, unlike in John A., the evidence was not “in sharp dispute.” (John A., supra, 33
Cal.3d at p. 308.) The District claimed that M.N. had engaged in multiple acts of
unwanted touching of intimate parts of Victim, and M.N. admitted he had done so, both
in statements to the police and at the hearing. Further, M.N. admitted at the hearing that
he had observed multiple acts of inappropriate touching of Victim by other boys on the
bus, knew it was wrong, and had not reported it. He also admitted at the hearing that he
knew his actions were wrong, and that he laughed on occasions when both he and the
other boys touched Victim inappropriately. And he admitted during the interview with
the police attended by Principal Griffin that he had made comments of a sexual nature to
Victim. Thus, as discussed above, the District relied upon nonhearsay evidence (and
evidence subject to an exception to the Hearsay Rule), in addition to hearsay statements
traditionally inadmissible in court proceedings but admissible in expulsion hearings
pursuant to section 48918, subdivisions (f)(2) and (h)(1), to support its conclusion that
M.N. had committed sexual battery because he had the requisite specific intent when he
inappropriately touched Victim. The circumstances here are therefore in contrast to John
A., where the Supreme Court held that the cause for expulsion was not based upon a
preponderance of the evidence because “a reasonable person in the conduct of serious
affairs will not rely solely on written statements.” (John A., supra, at p. 307, italics
added.)
In reviewing a sufficiency-of-the-evidence claim, we presume that the
administrative decision is correct. (Patterson Flying Service, supra, 161 Cal.App.4th at
p. 419.) As the party challenging the administrative decision, it is M.N.’s burden to
establish that the District abused its discretion by rendering a decision not supported by
substantial evidence. (JKH Enterprises, Inc. v. Department of Industrial Relations
(2006) 142 Cal. App. 4th 1046, 1062) Based upon our review of the entire record,
28
resolving doubts in favor of the respondent (see Committee to Save Hollywoodland,
supra, 161 Cal.App.4th at p. 1182), we conclude there was substantial evidence to
support the administrative decision of the District that M.N. committed sexual battery for
which expulsion is the required statutory punishment.
D. Other Arguments Presented by M.N.
M.N. makes two additional arguments in support of his claim of error. He argues
that the District’s decision was without support because the District failed to make factual
findings as required by section 48918, subdivision (f)(1).15 M.N. contends further that
the court erred in upholding the District’s finding that M.N. had committed a “sexual
battery on the theory that he was aware that his actions were harmful and that this
knowledge satisfied the sexual battery statute’s third intent prong for sexual abuse.”
(Original italics.) M.N. cannot prevail based upon either contention.
We observe that M.N. did not raise below the argument that the District failed to
make required factual findings. He did not assert it in his writ petition, the notice of
motion, or in the two memoranda of points and authorities filed in support of the petition.
Moreover, M.N. did not make the contention in his counsel’s lengthy argument presented
at the hearing on the writ petition.
“ ‘An appellate court will ordinarily not consider procedural defects or erroneous
rulings, in connection with relief sought or defenses asserted, where an objection could
have been but was not presented to the lower court by some appropriate method . . . .
The circumstances may involve such intentional acts or acquiescence as to be
appropriately classified under the headings of estoppel or waiver . . . . Often, however,
15
“If the hearing officer or administrative panel recommends expulsion, findings
of fact in support of the recommendation shall be prepared and submitted to the
governing board of the school district. All findings of fact and recommendations shall be
based solely on the evidence adduced at the hearing . . . .” (§ 48918, subd. (f)(1).)
29
the explanation is simply that it is unfair to the trial judge and to the adverse party to
take advantage of an error on appeal when it could easily have been corrected at the trial.’
[Citation.]” (Doers v. Golden Gate Bridge etc. Dist. (1979) 23 Cal. 3d 180, 184-185, fn.
1, original italics (Doers); see also Nelson v. Avondale HOA (2009) 172 Cal. App. 4th 857,
863.) As stated by one court, if the forfeiture doctrine were not applied to claims
unasserted at the trial level, losing parties “could attempt to embed grounds for reversal
on appeal into every case by their silence.” (Saville v. Sierra College (2005) 133
Cal. App. 4th 857, 873.) Appellate courts have applied the doctrine of forfeiture to a
variety of challenges not raised until the time of appeal. (See, e.g., In re Marriage of
Arceneaux (1990) 51 Cal. 3d 1130, 1133-1134 [objection to ambiguities in proposed
statement of decision]; K.C. Multimedia, Inc. v. Bank of America Technology &
Operations, Inc. (2009) 171 Cal. App. 4th 939, 949-950 [objection to pretrial procedure
used by trial court to dispose of claims barred by preemption]; Broden v. Marin Humane
Society (1999) 70 Cal. App. 4th 1212, 1226, fn. 13 [challenge to sufficiency of
declaration].) Application of the forfeiture doctrine is equally appropriate in the context
of an appeal taken from an order granting or denying a writ petition. (See Zubarau v.
City of Palmdale (2011) 192 Cal. App. 4th 289, 306 [respondent forfeited statute of
limitations argument in opposition to writ petition by failing to raise it at trial level].)
As noted, M.N. failed to assert below that the District’s decision failed to meet
statutory requirements for findings of fact. He has therefore forfeited the challenge on
appeal. (Doers, supra, 23 Cal.3d at pp. 184-185, fn. 1.)
M.N.’s argument that the trial court erred in allegedly basing its decision on the
theory that M.N. was aware that his actions were harmful also fails for two reasons.
First, in asserting this position, M.N. looks to one sentence of the order, and in doing so
ignores the rest of the paragraph in which the court explained there were several reasons,
including M.N.’s knowledge of the conduct’s harmfulness, that the evidence supported a
30
finding that M.N. committed the actions for the purpose of sexual abuse.16 In viewing the
record, we do not agree with M.N. that the court based its finding upon an erroneous
legal standard. Second, even were we to credit M.N.’s argument, any alleged error in
reasoning by the superior court is of no consequence here. As noted, ante, our duty is to
review the findings of the District to determine whether they “were based on substantial
evidence in light of the entire administrative record. [Citations.]” (Desmond v. County of
Contra Costa (1993) 21 Cal. App. 4th 330, 335; see also MHC Operating, supra, 106
Cal.App.4th at p. 218.)
III. DISPOSITION
The judgment entered on the order of December 7, 2015, concerning the petition
for writ of mandate, as modified and clarified by the order of February 10, 2016, is
affirmed.
16
The court’s order reads in part: “Here, M.N. had observed a long history of the
abuse the victim had suffered at the hands of others—the taunting she had experienced
and the gestures and words of others. M.N. states that before he became involved, the
assaults would occur as often as twice a week for almost two months. He knew that his
actions were witnessed by others so that the victim would be humiliated or insulted. It
makes no difference that the actions which humiliated the victim were primarily
motivated by M.N.’s avoidance of his own potential embarrassment by failing to
participate in the activity. He admits that after his touching, he would join the other boys
in laughing at the event. While M.N. insists that the victim appeared ‘not to care’ what
was happening to her, he also admits that the only time she ever spoke to him was when
she confided in him that she did not like the Diana Avenue boys. Perhaps most
importantly, M.N. knew what he and the other boys were doing was wrong. In
conclusion, there is substantial non-hearsay evidence of the sexual abuse element found
in misdemeanor sexual battery.”
31
____________________________
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.
WE CONCUR:
________________________
ELIA, ACTING P.J.
________________________
MIHARA, J.
M.N. v. Morgan Hill Unified School Dist. et al.
No. H043343
32
Filed 2/20/18
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
M.N., H043343
(Santa Clara County
Plaintiff and Appellant, Super. Ct. No. 1-15-CV285644)
v. ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION
FOR PUBLICATION
MORGAN HILL UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT et al.,
Defendants and Respondents.
THE COURT:
The opinion in the above-entitled matter filed on January 24, 2018, was not
certified for publication in the Official Reports. Respondent Morgan Hill Unified School
District and the California School Boards Association’s Education Legal Alliance have
separately requested the opinion be certified for publication. Under California Rules of
Court, rules 8.1105(c), the opinion is ordered published.
_________________________________________
BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J.
__________________________________________
ELIA, ACTING P.J.
___________________________________________
MIHARA, J.
Trial Court: Monterey County Superior Court
Superior Court No.: M116436
Trial Judge: Hon. James L. Stoelker
Attorneys for Plaintiff and Lindsay Marie Cooper
Appellant: Jeffrey William Nardinelli
M.N. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP
Attorneys for Defendant and Sloan Robert Simmons
Respondent: Steve Ngo
Morgan Hill Unified School Lozano Smith
District
Attorney for Defendant and Robert M. Coelho
Respondent: Office of the Monterey County Counsel
Santa Clara County Office of
Education
M.N. v. Morgan Hill Unified School District et al.
H043343