Bee Sweet Citrus v. Style-Line Construction CA5 ( 2022 )

Filed 12/6/22 Bee Sweet Citrus v. Style-Line Construction CA5
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
BEE SWEET CITRUS, INC.,
F081905
Plaintiff;
(Super. Ct. No. 13CECG02757)
STYLE-LINE CONSTRUCTION, INC.,
Cross-complainant and Appellant, OPINION
v.
KINGSPAN INSULATED PANELS, INC.,
Cross-defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Fresno County. Donald S.
Black and Tyler D. Tharpe, Judges.
Heath & Yuen, APC and Stephen B. Heath for Cross-complainant and Appellant.
Futterman Dupree Dodd Croley Maier LLP, Daniel A. Croley and Katherine
O’Neal; Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios PLLP and Peter G. Callaghan for Cross-
defendant and Respondent.
-ooOoo-
INTRODUCTION
This case involves construction defect claims in connection with cross-
complainant and appellant Style-Line Construction, Inc.’s (Style-Line) construction of a
cold storage facility for plaintiff Bee Sweet Citrus, Inc. (Bee Sweet) using roof panels
manufactured by cross-defendant and respondent Kingspan Insulated Panels, Inc.
(Kingspan).
Style-Line appeals from two judgments: (1) an April 28, 2017 judgment of
dismissal entered in favor of Kingspan and against Bee Sweet on Bee Sweet’s third
amended complaint after the trial court granted Kingspan’s motion for summary
judgment (2017 summary judgment); and (2) an August 4, 2020 judgment of dismissal
entered in favor of Kingspan and against Style-Line on Style-Line’s first amended cross-
complaint after the court granted Kingspan’s motion for judgment on the pleadings (2020
judgment on pleadings).
We affirm the 2017 summary judgment and affirm, in part, and reverse, in part,
the 2020 judgment on pleadings.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
I. Factual Background
On December 24, 2009, Style-Line issued a bid proposal to construct a cold
storage facility and 28-foot wide, 42-foot long, and 20-foot high canopy (consisting of
two bays) for Bee Sweet in the City of Fowler, California. Bee Sweet accepted the bid
proposal on December 28, 2009. Bee Sweet agreed to the use of “five (5) inch thick
R-41 insulated panels” for the roof of the facility.
Kingspan, the supplier of the roof panels, shipped the panels to the construction
site at “the end of April 2010.” Style-Line completed the installation of the roof panels
before June 30, 2010.
During the “winter of 2010/2011 the roof of the cold storage building began to
leak during rain storms.” At the time, Style-Line was still on site and was performing
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other projects for Bee Sweet. Bee Sweet was aware of the defective condition of the roof
of the project before December 31, 2010 and “immediately notified the Style-Line
representatives on site of the leaks.” Style-Line undertook multiple attempts to repair the
roof but was unsuccessful. The roof continued to leak whenever it rained.
Style-Line contends its President and Chief Executive Officer, Francisco J.
Rodriguez (CEO), notified Kingspan of the problems with the roof panels but could not
state when he notified Kingspan “other than it was after the ‘problems’ were discovered
by [Bee Sweet].”
On April 10, 2013, Kingspan had one of its field representatives inspect the roof
leaks. On April 15, 2013, Kingspan issued a report of its field representative’s findings
and made recommendations to remedy the leaks and any related complaints. However,
by the time the report was issued, Style-Line had already performed repairs to the cold
storage roof.
II. Procedural Background
A. The Original Complaint and Cross-Complaint Did Not Name Kingspan
as a Party.
On September 4, 2013, Bee Sweet filed a complaint against Style-Line for breach
of contract and general negligence in connection with Style-Line’s installation of roof
panels on the cold storage facility. Bee Sweet alleged Style-Line improperly installed the
roof panels, leaving gaps between them; and the improper installation of the roof panels
resulted in leaks in the roof, the build-up of condensation between the roof panels, and an
inability to efficiently control the temperature of the cold storage facility.
On November 4, 2013, Style-Line answered the complaint and filed a cross-
complaint against Bee Sweet for breach of the cold storage construction contract and
other contracts, alleging Style-Line fully performed its contractual obligations and that
Bee Sweet breached the contracts by failing to make full payment.
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Kingspan was not named as a defendant in Bee Sweet’s original complaint or as a
cross-defendant in Style-Line’s original cross-complaint.
B. Kingspan Was First Added as a Defendant in 2014, and as a Cross-
defendant in 2015.
On January 6, 2014, Bee Sweet filed a first amended complaint and added
Kingspan, the manufacturer of the roof panels, as a defendant. This was the first time
Kingspan was named as a party to the action. As to Kingspan, Bee Sweet alleged a
single negligence cause of action for alleged breach of duties to “provide materials free of
defects” and to “train and supervise the installers and installation [of roof panels] by
Style-Line.”
On May 4, 2015, Kingspan moved for summary judgment or, alternatively,
summary adjudication, of Bee Sweet’s first amended complaint and each of the claims
therein.
On June 25, 2015, Style-Line moved for leave to file an amended cross-complaint
to add Kingspan as a defendant under several new causes of action.
On July 14, 2015, while Kingspan’s earlier summary judgment/adjudication
motion on Bee Sweet’s first amended complaint was still pending, Bee Sweet applied ex
parte for an order shortening time for a motion for leave to file a second amended
complaint.
On July 21, 2015, the trial court issued a tentative ruling covering all pending
motions and subsequently adopted its ruling as the order of the court on July 22, 2015.
The trial court treated Kingspan’s motion for summary judgment/adjudication as a
motion for judgment on the pleadings, and granted the motion. In ruling in Kingspan’s
favor, the court noted Bee Sweet failed to allege facts demonstrating “that a duty existed,
i.e. there is no allegation that Kingspan offered, contracted or undertook to train the
installers [i.e., Style-Line].” The trial court further ruled that “because [Bee Sweet] has
not alleged damages to person or property, it cannot recover economic damages in the
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form of increased electricity costs in a negligence cause of action.” The court granted
Bee Sweet’s motion for leave to file a second amended complaint and Style-Line’s
motion to file a first amended cross-complaint.
On July 28, 2015, Style-Line filed its first amended cross-complaint. Style-Line
realleged its contract causes of action against Bee Sweet, and alleged causes of action for
equitable indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief against Kingspan. Style-Line
alleged it was entitled to “equitable indemnity [against Kingspan] including under the tort
of another doctrine codified at [Code of Civil Procedure] section 1021.6.” 1 It sought
indemnification for its costs in defending against Bee Sweet’s claims, and in prosecuting
its amended cross-complaint; and “contribution from all persons who are obligated to
reimburse, and to compensate Style-Line.” Style-Line also sought a judicial declaration
as to its alleged rights of defense, indemnity and contribution from Kingspan.
C. Bee Sweet Filed a Second Amended Complaint Adding Warranty Claims
Against Kingspan.
On August 3, 2015, Bee Sweet filed its second amended complaint. Among other
things, Bee Sweet added a cause of action against Kingspan for breach of the implied
warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, and added various allegations against
Kingspan including, without limitation, that Kingspan breached a duty to Bee Sweet by
recommending repairs that made the condition of the cold storage roof worse.
D. Bee Sweet Filed the Governing Third Amended Complaint.
On May 3, 2016, Bee Sweet filed its third amended (and governing) complaint. In
it, Bee Sweet reasserted a cause of action for general negligence against Style-Line and
Kingspan. Bee Sweet alleged that Style-Line and Kingspan “held themselves out to the
1 Style-Line referenced “Civil Code section 1021.6” in its first amended cross-
complaint. That reference appears to be in error. We presume the intended reference
was to Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.6 which codifies the tort of another doctrine
in cases involving implied indemnity.
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public as experts in the manufacture and construction of cold storage materials and cold
storage facilities”; and that “[d]efendants owed [Bee Sweet] a duty to manufacture,
design and provide materials free of defects, … to design and construct” the cold storage
facility “as contracted and advertised,” and to “train installation personnel in the
installation and repair of insulated cold storage panels.” Bee Sweet alleged ,
“[d]efendants each agreed that any defective work or materials or workmanship would be
corrected promptly at no cost to [Bee Sweet].”
Bee Sweet further alleged Kingspan breached its duty to Bee Sweet by (1) failing
to “adequately train and supervise” Style-Line in the installation and repair of Kingspan
roof panels; (2) by supplying defective roof panels; (3) “by supplying shop drawings that
were defectively designed”; (4) “by directing Style-Line to improperly install the
insulated roof panels”; and (5) by “recommending specific repairs … [that] made the
defective condition of the insulated roof panels even worse.” Bee Sweet contends it “did
not learn of the defective roof panels or recommended repairs until after May 27, 2015”
when it received related discovery responses from Style-Line. Similarly, Bee Sweet
contended it did not learn Kingspan had “prepared shop drawings for the layout and
installation” of materials supplied by Kingspan until February 2016. Bee Sweet alleged
Kingspan failed to inform it of numerous details during discovery including, without
limitation, defects Style-Line had identified, the results of Kingspan’s own inspection of
the roof, and the existence of the shop drawings. It alleged Kingspan failed to produce
the shop drawings in response to discovery until 2016.
Bee Sweet also included a cause of action for breach of express warranty against
Kingspan, alleging Kingspan “expressly warranted by contract that it would replace all
faulty materials and workmanship for a period of one year following purchase of its
insulated roof panels, and failed to do so when requested by Style-Line.” Bee Sweet
alleged it was a “beneficiary of that warranty and relied on it in approving Kingspan as
the supplier for its cold storage building.”
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Finally, Bee Sweet added a cause of action against Kingspan for breach of the
implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Specifically, Bee Sweet alleged that
Kingspan knew the roof panels were to be used to construct a cold storage building, and
knew Bee Sweet was relying on Style-Line’s and Kingspan’s “skill, judgment and
reputation in the construction and insulated panel industries”; that Bee Sweet justifiably
did so rely; and that the roof panels were “not suitable for the particular purpose as an
insulated roof.”
E. In 2017, the Trial Court Granted Kingspan’s Motion for Summary
Judgment Against Bee Sweet.
On November 14, 2016, Kingspan moved for summary judgment or, alternatively,
summary adjudication of claims and issues of duty in connection with Bee Sweet’s third
amended complaint. In its motion, Kingspan contended (1) any remedy against it was
limited to replacement of roof panels or refund of the purchase price for defective panels;
(2) Bee Sweet’s cause of action for general negligence was barred by the statute of
limitations; (3) Kingspan owed no duty to Bee Sweet sufficient to support its claim of
general negligence; (4) Bee Sweet had no evidence Kingspan breached any duty of care
in recommending how to repair the roof; (5) Bee Sweet had no evidence Kingspan’s
repair recommendations were the proximate cause of Bee Sweet’s damages; (6) Bee
Sweet’s third cause of action for breach of express warranty was barred by the limitation
period in the contract between Style-Line and Kingspan; and (7) Bee Sweet’s fifth cause
of action for breach of implied warranty was barred by the statute of limitations.
Both Bee Sweet and Style-Line opposed Kingspan’s motion for summary
judgment/adjudication.
On February 9, 2017, the trial court granted Kingspan’s motion for summary
judgment. The court declined to consider Kingspan’s contention that any remedy against
Kingspan was limited to replacement of the panels or refund of the panels’ purchase
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price, ruling the issue did not present an issue of duty and would not otherwise result in
the disposal of the cause of action.
As to Bee Sweet’s general negligence cause of action, the trial court determined
Kingspan established it owed or breached no duty to Bee Sweet to repair roof panels, that
Bee Sweet and Style-Line both conceded there was no contractual duty in that regard,
and that there were no promises made outside the written contract. The court rejected
Bee Sweet’s contention that Kingspan voluntarily assumed a duty to train and supervise
Style-Line employees on how to undertake Kingspan’s repair recommendations. The
court further determined the statute of limitations bars the remaining general negligence
claims asserted by Bee Sweet. It further rejected Bee Sweet’s contentions that the
delayed discovery rule postponed the commencement of the limitations period, and that
the limitations period should be equitably tolled due to Kingspan’s alleged concealment
of facts during discovery relevant to its alleged liability.
As for Bee Sweet’s express warranty claims against Kingspan, the trial court
determined the warranty was limited in duration to one year and no warranty claim had
been made within that time period. The court also rejected Bee Sweet’s contention that
Kingspan was on earlier notice of its warranty claims against Kingspan, finding that
Style-Line “accept[ed] the panels as shipped and install[ed] them in an altered sequence”
rather than making a warranty claim. Because Bee Sweet was asserting rights as a
beneficiary of the Kingspan/Style-Line contract, the court concluded Bee Sweet must
take the contract under the terms and conditions agreed to between Kingspan and Style-
Line.
As to Bee Sweet’s claims for breach of the implied warranty of fitness for a
particular purpose, the trial court found the Kingspan/Style-Line contract disclaimed the
warranty, and Bee Sweet lacked the necessary “vertical privity” to bring the claim.
On April 28, 2017, the trial court entered a judgment of dismissal in favor of
Kingspan and against Bee Sweet (i.e., the 2017 summary judgment).
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F. Style-Line Prematurely Appealed the 2017 Summary Judgment.
On June 12, 2017, Style-Line appealed the 2017 summary judgment.2 On
January 3, 2020, this court dismissed the appeal on Kingspan’s motion, concluding the
2017 summary judgment was not a final appealable judgment due to the continued
pendency of Style-Line’s cross-complaint against Kingspan.
G. In 2020, the Trial Court Granted Kingspan’s Motion for Judgment on the
Pleadings Against Style-Line.
On April 27, 2017, Kingspan moved for judgment on the pleadings with respect to
Style-Line’s first amended cross-complaint. The trial court ruled the action was stayed
due to Style-Line’s then pending appeal of the 2017 summary judgment. On January 8,
2020, following dismissal of Style-Line’s premature appeal of the 2017 summary
judgment, Kingspan renewed its motion for judgment on the pleadings as to Style-Line’s
first amended complaint.
On July 2, 2020, the trial court granted Kingspan’s motion. In its order, the court
stated, “Kingspan contends that because there is no claim by Bee Sweet against it [due to
entry of the 2017 summary judgment], Kingspan has no liability for indemnity or
contribution as a joint tortfeasor with Style-Line.”
In granting the motion, the trial court noted this court’s statement in its order
dismissing Style-Line’s earlier appeal that “the mere grant of summary judgment in favor
of Kingspan on Bee Sweet’s complaint would not, by itself, necessarily result in Style-
Line losing all right to seek equitable indemnity against Kingspan under the [first
amended] cross-complaint as a matter of law. The ‘no liability, no indemnity’ rule would
not apply to the extent that any of Bee Sweet’s negligence theories against Kingspan
were adjudicated by the trial court solely on statute of limitation grounds. [Citations.]”
In its order granting the motion, the trial court stated the 2017 summary judgment was
2 Style-Line Construction, Inc. v. Kingspan Insulated Panels, Inc., case No.
F075770.
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not premised solely on statute of limitation grounds as to Bee Sweet’s claims against
Kingspan and found “the motion for summary judgment would have been granted even if
the statute of limitations had not expired.” The court ruled , “[j]udgment on the pleadings
[was] still warranted on the basis that Style-Line has no right to indemnity in the first
place, because Kingspan cannot be held jointly liable in tort to Bee Sweet.”
The trial court also noted Style-Line’s claim that “equitable indemnity can be
based on strict and negligent products liability” under the theory that “ ‘a
defendant/indemnitee may in an action for indemnity seek apportionment of the loss on
any theory that was available to the plaintiff upon which the plaintiff would have been
successful’ ” but also noted that neither Bee Sweet nor Style-Line ever asserted a claim
for strict liability.
The trial court then turned to the question of whether Style-Line should be
permitted “to amend to allege a theory of strict or negligent product liability.” It found
that “strict liability, like all tort liability, applies only if the allegedly defective product
caused injury to persons or damage to property other than the allegedly defective product
itself.” The court determined economic loss without physical injury would not support a
negligence or strict liability cause of action. It further found Kingspan would be
prejudiced if Style-Line were permitted to amend because Style-Line has known of the
roof leaks since 2010, the action has been pending since 2013, and the parties have
completed voluminous discovery which would have to be repeated.
The trial court ruled Style-Line’s contribution cause of action failed as a matter of
law because “Style-Line d[id] not, and cannot, allege that a money judgment ha[d] been
entered and paid by Style-Line.” Finally, the court ruled that Style-Line’s declaratory
relief cause of action was not viable because it was derivative of Style-Line’s other
claims against Kingspan which had no viability.
On August 4, 2020, the trial court entered the 2020 judgment on pleadings in favor
of Kingspan.
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Notice of entry of the 2020 judgment on pleadings was served on August 26,
2020.
On October 13, 2020, Style-Line timely appealed both the 2017 summary
judgment and the 2020 judgment on pleadings.
Additional facts will be discussed below as necessary to address Style-Line’s
claims of error.
DISCUSSION
I. Style-Line’s Challenge to the 2017 Summary Judgment
A. Standard of Review for the 2017 Summary Judgment
“The purpose of the law of summary judgment is to provide courts with a
mechanism to cut through the parties’ pleadings in order to determine whether, despite
their allegations, trial is in fact necessary to resolve their dispute.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic
Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843.) The trial court is required to grant the motion
“ ‘if all the papers submitted show’ that ‘there is no triable issue as to any material fact’
([Code Civ. Proc.,] § 437c, subd. (c)) … and that the ‘moving party is entitled to a
judgment as a matter of law.’ ” (Ibid.)
“In making its determination, ‘the court may not weigh the plaintiff’s evidence or
inferences against the defendants’ as though it were sitting as the trier of fact, [but] it
must nevertheless determine what any evidence or inference could show or imply to a
reasonable trier of fact.’ [Citation.] The evidence must be viewed in the light most
favorable to the nonmoving party.” (Central Laborers’ Pension Fund v. McAfee, Inc.
(2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 292, 313, italics omitted.)
“On appeal from a summary judgment, we ‘examine the record de novo, liberally
construing the evidence in support of the party opposing summary judgment and
resolving doubts concerning the evidence in favor of that party.’ ” (Central Laborers’
Pension Fund v. McAfee, Inc., supra, 17 Cal.App.5th at p. 313.) “We exercise our
independent judgment as to the legal effect of the undisputed facts [citation] and must
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affirm on any ground supported by the record.” (Jimenez v. County of Los Angeles
(2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 133, 140.)
B. Style-Line’s Contentions in Appealing the 2017 Summary Judgment
Style-Line does not challenge the trial court’s rulings with respect to its summary
adjudication of Bee Sweet’s causes of action for breach of express warranty and breach
of the implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. Style-Line’s appeal of the
2017 summary judgment is directed solely to Bee Sweet’s cause of action for general
negligence.
Style-Line contends the trial court erred in granting the 2017 summary judgment
by: (1) applying a two-year limitation period to Bee Sweet’s negligence claims against
Kingspan; (2) finding accrual of Bee Sweet’s claims began in 2010; (3) finding equitable
tolling did not extend the limitation periods applicable to Bee Sweet’s claims; (4) finding
Kingspan was not equitably estopped from asserting a statute of limitations defense; and
(5) holding Kingspan owed no duty to Bee Sweet with regard to roof repairs due to an
absence of privity of contract.
C. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Determining Bee Sweet’s Negligence
Cause of Action (as it Related to Kingspan Supplying Materials and
Providing Installation Instructions) Was Barred by the Limitations
Period.
Style-Line contends Bee Sweet’s negligence claims are subject to a three-year
statute of limitations for “ ‘injury to real property’ or ‘personal property’ ” under Code of
Civil Procedure section 338, subdivisions (b) and (c). Style-Line notes that Bee Sweet
alleged damages consisting of damage to “stored fruit” and the “roof itself.” Style-Line
contends this satisfies Code of Civil Procedure section 338 and that the court erred by
applying a two-year limitation period.
In response, Kingspan notes that neither Style-Line nor Bee Sweet argued that a
three-year limitation period applied to Bee Sweet’s negligence claims; that the argument
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has been forfeited; and that, in any event, even under a three-year limitation period, the
claim is time barred. We agree with Kingspan.
1. Style-Line Forfeited Its Argument that a Different Statute of
Limitations Should Apply to Bee Sweet’s Negligence Cause of
Action.
“Failure to raise specific challenges in the trial court forfeits the claim on appeal.
‘ “ ‘[I]t is fundamental that a reviewing court will ordinarily not consider claims made for
the first time on appeal which could have been but were not presented to the trial court.’
Thus, ‘we ignore arguments, authority, and facts not presented and litigated in the trial
court. Generally, issues raised for the first time on appeal which were not litigated in the
trial court are waived. [Citations.]’ ” [Citation.] “Appellate courts are loath to reverse a
judgment on grounds that the opposing party did not have an opportunity to argue and the
trial court did not have an opportunity to consider. [Citation.] In our adversarial system,
each party has the obligation to raise any issue or infirmity that might subject the ensuing
judgment to attack….” [Citation.] ’ ” (Premier Medical Management Systems, Inc. v.
California Ins. Guarantee Assn. (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 550, 564, italics added (Premier
Medical).)
Kingspan is correct that neither Style-Line nor Bee Sweet argued that a three-year
limitation period applied to Bee Sweet’s negligence claims. Reviewing the parties’ briefs
in support and opposition to Kingspan’s motion for summary judgment, we note that
Kingspan expressly contended that the two-year limitation period under Code of Civil
Procedure section 339, applied to the claims. The opposition briefs filed by Style-Line
and Bee Sweet failed to challenge this assertion. Rather, like Kingspan, they analyzed
Bee Sweet’s negligence claims under the two-year limitation period. In that regard, Bee
Sweet argued the limitation period was tolled or, alternatively, Kingspan was estopped
from asserting the defense. Similarly, Style-Line argued the limitation period was
“equitably tolled” for the period of time it was making efforts to repair the roof leaks.
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Neither Bee Sweet nor Style-Line ever challenged application of the two-year limitation
period asserted by Kingspan.
By failing to raise a challenge in the trial court to Kingspan’s assertion that a two-
year limitation period applied under Code of Civil Procedure section 339, Style-Line has
forfeited the claim on appeal. (Premier Medical, supra, 163 Cal.App.4th at p. 564.) In
any event, as discussed further below, all of Bee Sweet’s causes of action against
Kingspan (with the exception of those based on the theory of alleged negligence in
providing repair instructions in or about 2013) would also be untimely under an assumed
three-year limitation period.
2. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Finding a Two-Year Limitation
Period Applied.
Style-Line relies on Gilbert Financial Corp. v. Steelform Contracting Co. (1978)
82 Cal.App.3d 65 (Gilbert) for its contention that a three-year limitation applies to Bee
Sweet’s negligence claims against Kingspan.
In Gilbert, a bank contracted with a contractor for the construction of a bank
records storage building. (Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at p. 67.) The contractor, in
turn, subcontracted with the defendant to “furnish materials and perform the construction
of the roof” and other building components. (Ibid.) Soon after completion, the roof
began to leak “causing damage to the contents of the building and to the building itself.”
(Ibid.) Over the next three years and five months, the contractor attempted to repair the
leak but was unsuccessful. (Ibid.) The bank sued the defendant, alleging causes of action
for negligence and breach of implied warranty. (Id. at p. 68.) The defendant moved for
judgment on the pleadings, contending the defects were not latent and that the negligence
cause of action was barred by the three-year limitations period under Code of Civil
Procedure section 338. (Gilbert, at p. 68.) The trial court agreed. (Ibid.)
On appeal, the Gilbert court reversed. (Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at p. 71.)
However, it did so on grounds that the allegations were sufficient to allege that the
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defendant had permitted the contractor to act as its “agent to bind [the defendant] to
correct their defective work”; that the contractor had, through its efforts to repair the leak,
induced the bank not to sue earlier; and that the limitations period was tolled as a result.
(Id. at p. 69.) None of the parties in Gilbert challenged the propriety of applying the
three-year limitations period, and the court did not actually consider whether Code of
Civil Procedure section 338 applied. “ ‘[A]n opinion is not authority for a proposition
not therein considered.’ ” (Dobbins v. San Diego County Civil Service Com. (1999) 75
Cal.App.4th 125, 129.)
Our review of the governing complaint reveals that “damage to stored fruit” was
alleged only in connection with Bee Sweet’s breach of contract cause of action to which
Kingspan was not a named defendant. The allegation was not incorporated into any of
Bee Sweet’s other causes of action. “[T]he pleadings define the issues to be considered
on a motion for summary judgment.” (Christina C. v. County of Orange (2013) 220
Cal.App.4th 1371, 1383.) Accordingly, the trial court was permitted to disregard that
allegation in considering the applicable limitation period—especially in light of the fact
that none of the parties challenged application of the two-year limitation period. As for
the alleged damage to the roof, the evidence does not appear to support a claim of
damages to anything other than the roof panels themselves.
We conclude the trial court did not err in applying a two-year limitation to Bee
Sweet’s negligence claims against Kingspan.
3. Bee Sweet’s Negligence Cause of Action (as it Related to
Kingspan Supplying Materials and Providing Installation
Instructions) Accrued by the End of 2010 and Would Be Barred
Even Under a Three-Year Limitation Period.
Style-Line argues the trial court “erred by finding accrual began in 2010.”
Kingspan argues Bee Sweet’s negligence claims, to the extent they relate to the supplying
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of materials and installation instructions, accrued “no later than late 2010.” We agree
with Kingspan.
“[T]he common law rule, that an action accrues on the date of injury [citation],
applies only as modified by the ‘discovery rule.’ ” (Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co. (1988) 44
Cal.3d 1103, 1109.) It is well established “that ignorance of the legal significance of
known facts or the identity of the defendant would not delay the running of the statute—
only ignorance of one or more ‘critical facts’ could have that effect.” (Id. at p. 1110.) In
Jolly v. Eli Lilly & Co., our high court stated, “[u]nder the discovery rule, the statute of
limitations begins to run when the plaintiff suspects or should suspect that her injury was
caused by wrongdoing, that someone has done something wrong to her…. [T]he
limitations period begins once the plaintiff ‘ “ ‘has notice or information of circumstances
to put a reasonable person on inquiry ….’ ” ’ [Citation.] A plaintiff need not be aware of
the specific ‘facts’ necessary to establish the claim; that is a process contemplated by
pretrial discovery. Once the plaintiff has a suspicion of wrongdoing, and therefore an
incentive to sue, she must decide whether to file suit or sit on her rights. So long as a
suspicion exists, it is clear that the plaintiff must go find the facts; she cannot wait for the
facts to find her.” (Id. at pp. 1110–1111, fn. omitted.)
Here, it is undisputed that Kingspan supplied roof panels for the project before the
end of April 2010.3 Moreover, in its separate statement in opposition to Kingspan’s
motion for summary judgment/adjudication, Style-Line indicated the following facts
were undisputed for purposes of the motion: (1) “In or about February or March 2010,
Kingspan provided Style-Line with a proposed layout plan … to confirm how many
3 Bee Sweet did not dispute this fact. Although Style-Line indicated in its separate
statement in opposition to Kingspan’s motion that this fact was disputed, Style-Line did
not meaningfully dispute the fact. Instead, Style-Line merely contended that Kingspan
also “designed and specified the number, lengths and installation of the panels” and
“instructed Style-Line on the installation.”
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panels were needed … and generally how the panels were to be installed”; (2) “In about
March 2010, Kingspan provided Style-Line with … shop drawings … showing how the
panels should be installed”; (3) “The drawings … were approved by Style-Line without
modification or comment”; (4) “In the spring of 2010, while installing the roof panels on
the north side of the Project’s roof, Style-Line determined that is was not able to perform
Kingspan’s standard left to right installation sequence, which it had used on the south
side, due to the irregular shape of the roof”; (5) Style-Line contacted Kingspan in the
spring of 2010 to seek assistance in resolving installation questions for the north side of
the roof; (6) Kingspan advised Style-Line it could install the roof panels from “right to
left instead of the left to right method used on the south side”; (7) Style-Line accepted the
recommendations of Kingspan in that regard; (8) Style-Line believed the “changes to the
layout sequence” would “not compromise the integrity of the roof”; (9) “Style-Line did
not ask Kingspan to replace the panels for the north side of the roof”; (10) “Style-Line
completed installing the roof panels before June 30, 2010”;4 (11) Bee Sweet “discovered
4 In support of its argument on appeal, Style-Line contends the evidence shows its
CEO and project foreman were present during the “installation of the … panels at the Bee
Sweet facility in or about April 2012.” A declaration from Style-Line’s CEO states that
the “[CEO] was present for and saw along, with [his] foreman …, the installation of the
Kingspan panels at the Bee Sweet facility in or about April, 2012.” However, Style-Line
admitted it “completed installing the roof panels before June 30, 2010.”
Kingspan states Style-Line is conflating two separate projects for Bee Sweet—the
cold storage facility, and a “ ‘de-greening’ room” that also used panels manufactured by
Kingspan. Kingspan contends Style-Line is trying to “create the impression that relevant
dates for statute-of-limitations purposes are in 2012, when in fact they are in 2010 as the
trial court found.” It is undisputed that Style-Line successfully remediated the leaks in
the degreening room roof following Kingspan’s advice.
Notably, the declaration from Style-Line’s CEO does not indicate the installation
he witnessed in 2012 was for the cold storage facility. Moreover, Style-Line’s project
manager, Nathan Montalvo, noted that the roof panels were being installed in the “spring
of 2010”; that Kingspan and Style-Line discussed the solution of installing the panels
“backwards”—i.e., rotated 180 degrees—versus having Kingspan replace the panels; that
Kingspan represented it would take 14 weeks to manufacture and supply replacement
17.
the defective condition of the roof … following the first rain after construction was
complete in June, 2010”; (12) Bee Sweet “was aware of the defective condition of the
roof … before December 31, 2010”; (13) Bee Sweet “did not file a claim of any kind
against Kingspan until January 2014”; and (14) Bee Sweet “did not file a claim against
Kingspan for negligent manufacture of the panels until July 2015,” and “did not file a
claim against Kingspan for negligent design … until May 3, 2016.” 5
The undisputed facts demonstrate Bee Sweet was on notice of the roof’s leaky
condition by the fall or winter of 2010. Bee Sweet’s employee, Martin Guzman, testified
that Style-Line came out to Bee Sweet’s facility “around twenty” times during 2010 to
repair the roof problems.
panels, but that “[d]ue to the very tight timeline available to complete the construction of
the cold storage building,” the parties decided “to reverse the installation process and
install the panels in a right to left, clockwise orientation….”; Mr. Montalvo then relates
that “[i]n late 2010 or early 2011, [he] was contacted by Bee Sweet regarding leaks in the
roof of the cold storage building.” Mr. Montalvo further confirmed Style-Line
constructed the degreening building for Bee Sweet in 2012.
The only fair inference from Style-Line’s CEO’s statement that he was present for
the installation of the panels “at the Bee Sweet Facility in or about April, 2012” is that the
installation was in connection with a separate project. Any other interpretation would be
inconsistent with Style-Line’s admission that installation of the cold storage roof panels
was completed before June 30, 2010.
5 In its separate statement, Bee Sweet took the position these facts were in dispute.
However, it did not meaningfully dispute them. Rather, Bee Sweet clarified “[t]he cause
of the leak, the defective panels and layout[,] were not known in 2010,” (italics added)
and that the cause of the leak was not discovered until Kingspan provided discovery
responses in April and May of 2015. Bee Sweet also provided facts demonstrating
(a) wall panels supplied by Kingspan were “too short to reach the interior roof of
the … building”; (b) Kingspan “promptly manufactured” replacement [wall] panels
which were delivered to the job site “as a warranty item” free of charge; (c) the roof
panels “were delivered next”; (d) Kingspan sent an employee to “instruct Style-Line’s
employees how to properly remove the protective coating from each of the panels”;
(e) Style-Line met with Kingspan representatives to discuss the change in the sequencing
of the panel installation (i.e., right to left versus left to right); (f) Style-Line made
multiple, unsuccessful repair attempts; and (g) Kingspan sent a representative out to
inspect the project who subsequently issued a report of his findings.
18.
Bee Sweet also alleged in its third amended complaint that Kingspan “expressly
warranted” its materials “for a period of one year following purchase of its insulated roof
panels” and that Bee Sweet “relied on [the warranty] in approving Kingspan as the
supplier for its cold storage building.” (Italics added.) Allegations in Bee Sweet’s
complaint constitute judicial admissions and “ ‘are conclusive concessions of the truth of
a matter and have the effect of removing it from the issues.’ ” (Castillo v. Barrera (2007)
146 Cal.App.4th 1317, 1324.) “ ‘ “While inconsistent theories of recovery are permitted
[citation], a pleader cannot blow hot and cold as to the facts positively stated.” ’ ” (Ibid.)
Thus, the evidence establishes that, at a minimum, Bee Sweet knew there was a
leakage problem with the roof in 2010; it had notified Style-Line of the problem; Style-
Line came out approximately 20 times to attempt to remedy the problem in 2010 alone;
and Style-Line was unsuccessful in its attempts. Bee Sweet’s allegations in its third
amended complaint demonstrate it was aware Kingspan would be the supplier of the roof
panels prior to construction of the roof (i.e., it relied on Kingspan’s warranty in
approving Kingspan as supplier). Moreover, Bee Sweet’s employee, Martin Guzman,
averred he knew the installation was being performed by Style-Line in accordance with
the information Kingspan provided Style-Line on “how to install the panels.”
Kingspan likens this case with that in Mills v. Forestex Co. (2003) 108
Cal.App.4th 625 (Mills). In Mills, the plaintiffs hired a contractor to build them a house
in 1990, and hired him again the following year to build a garage. (Id. at p. 633.) The
siding for the house and garage were manufactured by Forestex Company (Forestex).
(Ibid.) Within a year of both buildings being completed, the siding started to warp and
buckle. (Ibid.) The contractor’s efforts to remedy the problem were unsuccessful.
(Ibid.) By 1993, paint on the siding began to peel and the nails securing the siding began
to back out. (Ibid.) The plaintiffs finally contacted Forestex in 1996 to come out to
inspect. (Ibid.) Forestex determined the siding was not installed properly by the
19.
contractor. (Ibid.) In 2000, the Mills plaintiffs filed suit against Forestex and the
contractor. (Ibid.)
The Mills plaintiffs alleged, among other things, causes of action for violation of
the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act,6 breach of express warranty, and construction
defect sounding in strict liability. (Mills, supra, 108 Cal.App.4th at pp. 634–635.)
Forestex demurred on several grounds including that the claims were barred by
applicable statutes of limitation. (Id. at p. 636.) The plaintiffs opposed and argued “they
had been in discussions with Forestex in the 14 months between their discovery of the
siding problem in May of 1996 and their final rejection of the siding in July of 1997” and
that the “limitations period therefore was equitably tolled during this period, and Forestex
should be estopped” from asserting the limitations defense because Forestex “had
induced them thereby to postpone filing their complaint.” (Ibid.) The court allowed the
plaintiffs to amend to state those facts. (Ibid.)
Forestex then moved for summary judgment or, alternatively, summary
adjudication, on the ground the claims were barred by the applicable statute of
limitations. (Mills, supra, 108 Cal.App.4th 625, 638.) The court noted that “ ‘[r]epair
suggests discovery of a latent defect and commencement’ ” of the limitation period. (Id.
at p. 649.) The court concluded “as a matter of law that the siding problem on the
[plaintiff’s] house was sufficiently appreciable no later than the summer of 1993 to put
them on notice to pursue their remedies, and consequently to start the … statutes of
limitation to run.” (Id. at p. 650.) The Mills court stated the rule that “a cause of action
accrues when the plaintiff discovers, or has the opportunity to discover, the necessary
facts underlying his or her claim.” (Ibid.)
We conclude the problems with the leaky roof were “sufficiently appreciable” to
Bee Sweet by late 2010. By that time, Bee Sweet knew that the roof was leaking, and
6 Civil Code section 1790 et seq.
20.
that Style-Line’s multiple efforts to repair the roof had been unsuccessful. As mentioned,
Bee Sweet also knew that Kingspan had provided the panels and information on how to
install the panels.
To be timely under a two-year statute of limitations, Bee Sweet would have had to
file any claims attributable to the original manufacture and installation of the panels by
no later than the end of 2012. Moreover, even if we were to assume a three-year statute
of limitations, Bee Sweet would have had to file any such claims no later than the end of
2013. Bee Sweet did not sue Kingspan until January 8, 2014. Under either circumstance,
Bee Sweet’s negligence claims related to Kingspan’s supplying materials and installation
instructions were untimely.
4. Bee Sweet’s Claims Against Kingspan Were Not Equitably
Tolled.
Style-Line contends the trial court erred by finding the statute of limitations was
not tolled as a result of Kingspan providing it with repair instructions. We disagree.
“Equitable tolling is a judge-made doctrine ‘which operates independently of the
literal wording of the Code of Civil Procedure’ to suspend or extend a statute of
limitations as necessary to ensure fundamental practicality and fairness.” (Lantzy v.
Centex Homes (2003) 31 Cal.4th 363, 370 (Lantzy).) Courts have applied the doctrine
“in carefully considered situations to prevent the unjust technical forfeiture of causes of
action, where the defendant would suffer no prejudice.” (Ibid.) “[T]he effect of
equitable tolling is that the limitations period stops running during the tolling event, and
begins to run again only when the tolling event has concluded. As a consequence, the
tolled interval, no matter when it took place, is tacked onto the end of the limitations
period, thus extending the deadline for suit by the entire length of time during which the
tolling event previously occurred.” (Id. at pp. 370–371.)
“[T]he party invoking equitable tolling bears the burden of proving its
applicability.” (Long v. Forty Niners Football Co., LLC (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 550, 555,
21.
citing In re Marriage of Zimmerman (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 900, 912.) Because
Kingspan presented evidence demonstrating the limitation period on Bee Sweet’s cause
of action for negligent supply of materials and installation instructions had run, it was
Style-Line’s burden to produce evidence demonstrating the limitation period had been
tolled. (See Mills, supra, 108 Cal.App.4th at pp. 650–651.)
In support of its tolling argument, Style-Line relies on Addison v. State of
California (1978) 21 Cal.3d 313, 318–319 (Addison).
In Addison, the “[p]laintiffs originally filed a tort action against [the] defendants,
the State of California and the County of Santa Clara, in federal court, alleging violations
of both state and federal law.” (Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 315.) The action was
timely under the six-month statute of limitations for claims against public entities. (Id. at
pp. 315–316; Gov. Code, § 945.6.) However, after the expiration of the six-month
limitation period, the defendants successfully moved to dismiss the suit based on a lack
of federal jurisdiction. (Addison, supra, at pp. 315–316.) The federal court dismissed the
suit without prejudice to a possible state court action based on the same claims. (Id. at
p. 316.) When the plaintiffs filed their state court action, the defendants demurred
arguing the filing was untimely because it was not brought within the six-month
limitation period. (Ibid.) The trial court sustained the demurrer and the plaintiffs
appealed. (Ibid.)
Our high court “appl[ied] the well established doctrine of ‘equitable tolling’ ” in
holding the six-month limitation period was suspended during the time the plaintiffs were
pursuing their claims in federal court. (Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 316.) In doing so,
the court addressed the purpose of statutes of limitation and the policy of applying
equitable tolling under certain circumstances. It wrote:
“It is fundamental that the primary purpose of statutes of limitation is to
prevent the assertion of stale claims by plaintiffs who have failed to file
their action until evidence is no longer fresh and witnesses are no longer
available. ‘[T]he right to be free of stale claims in time comes to prevail
22.
over the right to prosecute them.’ [Citations.] The statutes, accordingly,
serve a distinct public purpose, preventing the assertion of demands which
through the unexcused lapse of time, have been rendered difficult or
impossible to defend. However, courts have adhered to a general policy
which favors relieving plaintiff from the bar of a limitations statute when,
possessing several legal remedies he, reasonably and in good faith, pursues
one designed to lessen the extent of his injuries or damage.” (Addison,
supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 317.)
The Addison court cited to Elkins v. Derby (1974) 12 Cal.3d 410 (Elkins) and
Bollinger v. National Fire Ins. Co. (1944) 25 Cal.2d 399 (Bollinger) as examples of
where the equitable tolling doctrine has been employed. (Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at
pp. 318–319.) The court noted that, in Elkins, it held “the statute of limitations on a
personal injury action is tolled while [the] plaintiff asserts a workers’ compensation
remedy against [the] defendant.” (Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 318.) It further noted
that, in Bollinger, the “plaintiff had filed in a timely manner a previous action against an
insurer but the action had been improperly dismissed as premature under the terms of the
insurance policy” and that the “[p]laintiff promptly filed a new action, but by then the
period of limitations had run.” (Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 318.) Our high court
“allowed the action, based upon the broad policy … permitting the plaintiff to file a new
action within one year if a judgment in his favor is reversed on appeal.” (Ibid.)
The Addison court wrote: “As demonstrated by Bollinger and Elkins, application
of the doctrine of equitable tolling requires timely notice, and lack of prejudice, to the
defendant, and reasonable and good faith conduct on the part of the plaintiff.” (Addison,
supra, 21 Cal.3d at p. 319.) Style-Line includes the above quotation in its opening brief
(without including the clause referencing Bollinger and Elkins) to argue that equitable
tolling should apply in the case before us.
Addison provides that the equitable doctrine may be employed when, among other
required elements, the plaintiff reasonably and in good faith pursues other legal remedies.
(Addison, supra, 21 Cal.3d at pp. 317–319.) Here, there is no evidence that Bee Sweet
(or Style-Line, for that matter) pursued other legal remedies against Kingspan. Similarly,
23.
there is no evidence that Kingspan was timely notified of the problems. Bee Sweet was
aware of the roof leaks in 2010. Bee Sweet indicated it “immediately notified” Style-
Line of the leaks. Yet, the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to Bee Sweet and
Style-Line, indicates Kingspan was not notified of these problems until some unspecified
date in 2012.
Style-Line further argues broadly that “in a construction defect case, a statute of
limitations is tolled when a defendant represents it would cure the defects,” citing
Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at pp. 68–69.
As mentioned previously, Gilbert involved the construction of a records storage
facility for the owner/bank by a contractor using roofing and other materials supplied by
the defendant manufacturer. (Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at p. 67.) The roof leaked
and over the course of more than three years, the contractor attempted to correct the
problem. (Ibid.) The owner/bank then sued the defendant manufacturer and others. (Id.
at p. 68.) The trial court granted defendant manufacturer’s motion for judgment on the
pleadings as to the owner/bank’s negligence cause of action on the ground the action was
barred by the statute of limitations. (Ibid.) The appellate court determined this was error.
(Id. at p. 69.)
Specifically, the Gilbert court found that the pleadings were adequate to allege
equitable tolling of the statute of limitations as to the defendant manufacturer. The court,
quoting Witkin, noted that equitable tolling will occur “ ‘where the defendant makes
representations to the effect that he will perform his contractual obligation, and the
plaintiff, in reliance thereon, forbears to sue in time.’ ” (Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at
pp. 68–69.) The court then wrote:
“[The owner/bank] relies on article 9 in the contract with [the contractor] to
state a cause of action against [the defendant manufacturer] under this rule
of law. Article 9 is somewhat ambiguous. It could be interpreted to mean
that [the contractor] has assumed the responsibility to correct its
subcontractors’ defective work on its own, or that [the contractor] had an
24.
arrangement with its subcontractors that permitted it to act as the
subcontractors’ agent to bind them to correct their defective work. In any
event, it is sufficiently ambiguous to allow evidence on its meaning or
application. The burden of proof on [the owner/bank] may be substantial
but it is entitled to offer it. The court erred in dismissing this cause of
action.” (Gilbert, supra, 82 Cal.App.3d at p. 69, fn. omitted.)
Thus, in Gilbert the action was allowed to proceed against the defendant manufacturer on
the theory that equitable tolling applied because the defendant manufacturer had
appointed the contractor to act as its agent and to bind the defendant manufacturer to
correct defective work.
Here, there is no evidence that Kingspan authorized Style-Line to bind it in
connection with repairs to Bee Sweet’s roof. Similarly, there is no evidence that
Kingspan made any representations to Bee Sweet that it would repair the roof, or that
Kingspan was under any contractual duty to make such repairs.
In rejecting Style-Line’s equitable tolling argument, the trial court relied on
Montoya v. Regents of University of Cal. (S.D. Cal. 2010) 2010 WL 2731767, at page *5
and Huynh v. Chase Manhattan Bank (9th Cir. 2006) 465 F.3d 992, 1004 for the
proposition that “ ‘the plaintiff bears the burden of establishing (1) that he has been
pursuing his rights diligently; and (2) that some extraordinary circumstances stood in his
way and prevented timely filing.’ ” Even under this formulation of the doctrine, Style-
Line’s argument must be rejected. There is no evidence that Bee Sweet (or Style-Line,
for that matter) diligently pursued their rights against Kingspan or that extraordinary
circumstances prevented them from timely filing their claims against Kingspan.
We conclude Style-Line did not produce evidence sufficient to create a triable
issue as to whether the limitations period was subject to equitable tolling.
5. Kingspan Was Not Equitably Estopped From Asserting a
Statute of Limitations Defense.
Style-Line contends Kingspan was equitably estopped from asserting a statute of
limitations defense. We disagree.
25.
“One aspect of equitable estoppel is codified in Evidence Code section 623, which
provides that ‘[w]henever a party has, by his own statement or conduct, intentionally and
deliberately led another to believe a particular thing true and to act upon such belief, he is
not, in any litigation arising out of such statement or conduct, permitted to contradict it.’
[Citation.] But ‘ “[a]n estoppel may arise although there was no designed fraud on the
part of the person sought to be estopped. [Citation.] To create an equitable estoppel, ‘it
is enough if the party has been induced to refrain from using such means or taking such
action as lay in his power, by which he might have retrieved his position and saved
himself from loss.’ … ‘ … Where the delay in commencing action is induced by the
conduct of the defendant it cannot be availed of by him as a defense.’ ” ’ ” (Lantzy,
supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 384.)
“Accordingly, (1) if one potentially liable for a construction defect represents,
while the limitations period is still running, that all actionable damage has been or will be
repaired, thus making it unnecessary to sue, (2) the plaintiff reasonably relies on this
representation to refrain from bringing a timely action, (3) the representation proves false
after the limitations period has expired, and (4) the plaintiff proceeds diligently once the
truth is discovered [citation], the defendant may be equitably estopped to assert the
statute of limitations as a defense to the action.” (Lantzy, supra, 31 Cal.4th at p. 384.)
Style-Line argues the first element is met because “[Kingspan] conceded it
provided negligent instructions, which ultimately failed.” Style-Line’s contention is not
borne out by the record. Style-Line cites to the trial court’s statement that, “ ‘[i]t is
undisputed that the panels were sold in April 2010, installation was completed by June,
and problems arose (leaks, accumulation of condensation) before the end of the
year….’ ” and its statement that “ ‘Kingspan concedes that the allegedly negligent repair
instructions given in April 2013 would be within the limitations period if there was a duty
in that regard.’ ”
26.
The trial court’s adopted tentative ruling is not evidence submitted in support of,
or opposition to, Kingspan’s motion for summary judgment/adjudication. Moreover,
even if the statements constituted such evidence, they do not stand for the proposition
that Kingspan represented all actionable damage has been, or will be, repaired. The
statements do not reference any representations made by Kingspan to Bee Sweet—let
alone any statements from which Bee Sweet might reasonably conclude it was
unnecessary to sue Kingspan. Likewise, because there is no evidence of any such
representations by Kingspan to Bee Sweet, there is no evidence Bee Sweet justifiably
relied on any such representations.
We conclude Kingspan was not equitably estopped from asserting a statute of
limitations defense.
D. The Trial Court Did Not Err in Determining Kingspan Owed Bee Sweet
No Duty With Regard to Alleged Repair Recommendations and Training.
Style-Line further argues the trial court erred in finding Kingspan owed no duty to
Bee Sweet with regard to alleged repair recommendations and training. We disagree.
The trial court found “Kingspan has established that it owed or breached no duty
with regard to the repairs of the roof panels. Contractually, there was no such obligation
or duty. [Bee Sweet] concedes this point. There is nothing in the Kingspan/Style-Line
contract that obligates Kingspan to train or to supervise Style-Line’s employees…. There
is also no evidence that Kingspan made any promise outside of this contract.… Style-
Line admits in discovery responses that Kingspan did not owe such a [contractual] duty.”
The trial court further found Bee Sweet was relying on the “voluntary undertaking
or Good Samaritan doctrine, contending that Kingspan assumed a duty to Style-Line and
to [Bee Sweet] when it voluntarily undertook to provide recommendations for repairs …
referencing [undisputed material facts] 14–20.” We agree Bee Sweet is relying on the
doctrine. In that regard, the Restatement Second Torts, section 324A provides:
27.
“One who undertakes, gratuitously or for consideration, to render services
to another which he should recognize as necessary for the protection of a
third person or his things, is subject to liability to the third person for
physical harm resulting from his failure to exercise reasonable care to
protect his undertaking, if [¶] (a) his failure to exercise reasonable care
increases the risk of such harm, or [¶] (b) he has undertaken to perform a
duty owed by the other to the third person, or [¶] (c) the harm is suffered
because of reliance of the other or the third person upon the undertaking.”
(Rest.2d Torts, § 324A.)
Our courts adhere to this principle of potential liability. (See Paz v. State of
California (2000) 22 Cal.4th 550, 553.)
In moving for summary judgment/adjudication, Kingspan asserted that “[Bee
Sweet’s] contention that Kingspan had a duty to train Style-Line personnel regarding
repairs to the roof of the [cold storage building] is based on: (a) the April 15, 2013 report
prepared by Craig Storch and (b) ‘repair recommendations’ Bee Sweet claims an
unidentified employee of Kingspan provided for a different building in 2012.” Both Bee
Sweet and Style-Line indicated that this alleged fact was disputed.
Kingspan also asserted as undisputed facts that (1) the April 2013 report “did not
obligate Kingspan to train Style-Line personnel regarding how to repair the roof”;
(2) “[t]he 2010 contract between Style-Line and Kingspan did not obligate Kingspan to
train Style-Line” with regard to the repairs; (3) that Style-Line did not request such
training; and (4) that no written or oral promises were made with regard to repairs.
Kingspan asserted similar undisputed facts with respect to any alleged duty to supervise
repairs to the roof and any alleged duty to provide repair recommendations.
On appeal, Style-Line contends contractual privity is unnecessary to establish a
duty, and that “ ‘courts have found in a variety of circumstances that builders,
contractors, and architects owe a duty of care to third parties,’ ” quoting Beacon
Residential Community Assn. v. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (2014) 59 Cal.4th 568,
573 (Beacon). Style-Line is correct. In Beacon, our high court provided an extended
discussion of the “declining significance of privity” in various areas of law including,
28.
without limitation, construction law. (Beacon, supra, 59 Cal.4th at p. 574.) However, for
reasons discussed below, the trial court’s determination must be upheld.
A review of the underlying evidence cited by Bee Sweet and Style-Line reveals
that Style-Line relied on prior advice given by a Kingspan employee in connection with a
separate order and separate project (i.e., repairs to the degreening room roof) in order to
make repairs to the cold storage roof. The repairs to the degreening room were
successful in solving the condensation problems in the degreening room. Because they
were successful, Style-Line’s CEO admitted they had no reason to believe the solution
would be any different with respect to repairs to the cold storage building, and “had no
reason to contact Kingspan” with regard to repairs to the cold storage building.
According to Style-Line, it had already completed repairs to the cold storage roof (based
on Kingspan’s prior successful recommendations with regard to the repairs to the
degreening room roof) by the time Kingspan issued its April 2013 report and
recommendations. Style-Line did not meaningfully dispute that it “did not make any
additional repairs to the roof based on the any [sic] recommendations contained in the
[April 2013] Storch Report.” Notably, in attempting repairs to the roof of the cold
storage building, Style-Line used a different product (i.e., different pressurized foam) to
seal gaps upon the recommendation of a third party.
The evidence establishes that Style-Line did not rely on any repair instructions
given with respect to the cold storage facility. Rather, it utilized the same method that it
successfully used in correcting condensation problems associated with the degreening
room using a different product.
We conclude Kingspan did not have, assume, or breach a duty with regard to
repair of the cold storage roof.
29.
II. Style-Line’s Challenge to the 2020 Judgment on Pleadings
A. Standard of Review for the 2020 Judgment on Pleadings
“ ‘ “The standard of review for a motion for judgment on the pleadings is the same
as that for a general demurrer: We treat the pleadings as admitting all of the material
facts properly pleaded, but not any contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law
contained therein.... We review the complaint de novo to determine whether it alleges
facts sufficient to state a cause of action under any theory.” ’ ” (Tarin v. Lind (2020) 47
Cal.App.5th 395, 403–404.)
B. Style-Line’s Contentions in Appealing the 2020 Judgment on Pleadings
In appealing the 2020 judgment on pleadings, Style-Line confines its argument to
challenging the trial court’s dismissal of its claim for equitable indemnity and its decision
to deny Style-Line leave to amend to allege a theory of strict product liability against
Kingspan. We liberally construe this argument to also include a challenge to the court’s
dismissal of the declaratory relief cause of action (to the extent it is derivative of Style-
Line’s equitable indemnity claim).
Style-Line does not present any arguments or authority to challenge the trial
court’s dismissal of its cause of action for contribution.
C. Because There Was No Duty With Regard to Alleged Repair
Recommendations and Training, the Trial Court Did Not Err in Granting
Judgment on the Pleadings With Respect to Those Claims.
“Equitable indemnity, which ‘requires no contractual relationship,’ ‘ “is premised
on a joint legal obligation to another for damages” ’; it is ‘subject to allocation of fault
principles and comparative equitable apportionment of loss.’ [Citation.] ‘ “The elements
of a cause of action for [equitable] indemnity are (1) a showing of fault on the part of the
indemnitor and (2) resulting damages to the indemnitee for which the indemnitor is ...
equitably responsible.” ’ ” (C.W. Howe Partners Inc. v. Mooradian (2019) 43
Cal.App.5th 688, 700.)
30.
“[A]n action for equitable indemnity is premised upon a joint legal obligation to
another for damages. [Citation.] As against the indemnitee, the indemnitor may invoke
any substantive defense to liability that is available against the injured party. (Ibid.)
Thus, concerning matters of substantive law, an action for equitable indemnity is ‘wholly
derivative and subject to whatever immunities or other limitations on liability [that]
would otherwise be available. [Fn. omitted.]’ [Citation.] ‘[I]f the evidence establishes
that a defendant is not a concurrent tortfeasor responsible in any way for the plaintiff ’s
injuries, another defendant may not pursue a claim for indemnity against that defendant.’
[Citation.] This principle is often expressed in the shorthand phrase ‘… there can be no
indemnity without liability.’ ” (Children’s Hospital v. Sedgwick (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th
1780, 1787, italics omitted.)
Because we have concluded that Kingspan owed no duty to Bee Sweet in
connection with the attempted repairs to the cold storage facility, there could be no joint
liability between Style-Line and Kingspan with regard to such repairs. The trial court did
not err in granting judgment as to that claim.
D. The Trial Court Did Not Abuse Its Discretion in Denying Style-Line
Leave to Amend.
Style-Line contends the trial court should have allowed it to amend its cross-
complaint to allege Kingspan’s liability under a strict products liability theory.
We review the court’s determination to deny leave to amend for abuse of
discretion. (Berman v. Bromberg (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 936, 945.) “ ‘An abuse of
discretion occurs if, in light of the applicable law and considering all of the relevant
circumstances, the court’s decision exceeds the bounds of reason and results in a
miscarriage of justice.’ ” (Safeco Ins. Co. of America v. Superior Court (2009) 173
Cal.App.4th 814, 832.)
Style-Line argues that even assuming Kingspan owed Bee Sweet no duty, the
court below still erred in granting judgment on the pleadings because Bee Sweet could
31.
have asserted a claim for strict product liability against Kingspan and Style Line “may in
an action for indemnity seek apportionment of the loss on any theory that was available
to the plaintiff upon which the plaintiff would have been successful,” citing GEM
Developers v. Hallcraft Homes of San Diego, Inc. (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 419, 430 (GEM
Developers).
In GEM Developers, the court noted that the strict products liability theory “was
adopted because sales warranty theory, developed to meet the needs of commercial
transactions and requiring a showing of privity, was inadequate to protect consumers.
[Citation.] ‘The doctrine … was developed primarily to protect individual consumers,
users, and, to some extent, bystanders who are in no position to protect themselves from
defective products’ rather than to protect commercial entities.” (GEM Developers, supra,
213 Cal.App.3d at p. 425.) The court noted that caselaw “hold[s] that when a lawsuit
arises in a commercial setting between two businesses and involves only a business loss,
the parties should use normal commercial remedies (e.g., the Uniform Commercial Code)
rather than a theory developed for the benefit of consumers (i.e., strict products
liability).” (Id. at p. 426.) However, the court also determined that where the underlying
loss was suffered by a consumer, and a commercial entity was held liable for the
consumer’s loss, the commercial entity could seek indemnity from other potentially
responsible commercial entities if the injured consumer could have prevailed against
them on a strict products liability theory. (Id. at p. 429.)
Here, the situation is different from that involved in GEM Developers. The injury
suffered by Bee Sweet was a business loss—not a consumer loss. “[T]he doctrine of
products liability does not apply as between parties who: (1) deal in a commercial
setting; (2) from positions of relatively equal economic strength; (3) bargain the
specifications of the product; and (4) negotiate concerning the risk of loss from defects in
it.” (Kaiser Steel Corp. v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp. (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 737, 748,
superseded by statute on another ground as stated in Barnett v. American-Cal Medical
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Services (1984) 156 Cal.App.3d 260.) The transaction at issue was between commercial
parties. Neither Style-Line nor Bee Sweet contended that any of the parties were of
disparate economic strength. Moreover, the parties bargained for the specifications of the
roof panels in their respective contracts and negotiated the risk of loss in agreeing to, and
relying on, the warranties supplied by Kingspan.
The trial court did not err in determining the strict products liability theory was
unavailable to Bee Sweet.
In addition, the trial court determined Kingspan would be prejudiced by the
assertion of a new theory of liability. We agree. Style-Line and Bee Sweet knew of the
roof leaks since 2010. Bee Sweet filed suit in 2013 and Style-Line cross-complained in
2013. Neither party asserted any claims against Kingspan at that time. Bee Sweet first
named Kingspan as a defendant in 2014. Style-Line first named Kingspan as a cross-
defendant in 2015. None of the parties asserted a strict products liability theory against
Kingspan in their pleadings. Noting that the parties had engaged in extensive discovery
and that the discovery would have to be repeated to address such a claim, the trial court
denied leave to amend.
The trial court’s ruling did not exceed the bounds of reason. We conclude the
court did not abuse its discretion in denying Kingspan leave to amend.
E. The Trial Court Erred In Granting Judgment on the Pleadings in
Connection With Style-Line’s Causes of Action for Indemnity and
Declaratory Relief With Regard to Kingspan Supplying Materials and
Installation Instructions.
We next consider whether the trial court erred in granting judgment on the
pleadings on Style-Line’s cause of action for equitable indemnity and declaratory relief in
connection with Kingspan’s supplying materials and installation instructions in 2010.
We conclude the trial court did err in this regard.
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An “indemnity action, unlike the plaintiff’s claim, does not accrue for statute of
limitations purposes when the original accident occurs, but instead accrues at the time
that the tort defendant pays a judgment or settlement as to which he is entitled to
indemnity. [¶] Moreover, the controlling precedents also teach that a tort defendant does
not lose his right to seek equitable indemnity from another tortfeasor simply because the
original plaintiff’s action against the additional defendant may be barred by the statute of
limitations. The defendant’s equitable indemnity action is independent of the plaintiff’s
action and a defendant is entitled to pursue his own indemnity action so long as the
statute of limitations on [the equitable indemnity action] has not expired.” (People ex rel.
Dept. of Transportation v. Superior Court (1980) 26 Cal.3d 744, 748.)
In its respondent’s brief, Kingspan notes, “a claim for equitable indemnity
‘requires a determination of fault on the part of the alleged indemnitor’ ” and contends,
“here the trial court correctly held that Kingspan owed no duty (and therefore had no
liability for negligence) to Bee Sweet…. Without it, Style-Line’s equitable indemnity
claim fails as a matter of law.”
Kingspan’s characterization of the trial court’s ruling on summary judgment is
broader than the ruling itself. In granting summary judgment in favor of Kingspan and
against Bee Sweet, the trial court determined that Bee Sweet’s claims with regard to
matters involving the initial supplying and installation of the cold storage roof were
barred by the statute of limitations. It did not find that Kingspan did not owe Bee Sweet
a duty with regard to such matters. The court’s ruling reads, in relevant part: “the court
finds that Kingspan owed no duty with regard to repairs, or if it did, Kingspan did not
breach the duty of care in that regard. [¶] The remainder of the second cause of action
lacks merit because the statute of limitations has expired.” (Italics added.) Thus, to the
extent Style-Line’s claims of indemnity were related to the “remainder of the second
cause of action” [i.e., Kingspan’s alleged negligence in supplying materials and
installation instructions in 2010], the trial court’s summary adjudication of those claims
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was based solely on the ground the limitations period had expired and does not preclude
Style-Line from seeking equitable indemnity on those claims from Kingspan.
In its general negligence cause of action, Bee Sweet alleged “[d]efendants owed
[Bee Sweet] a duty to manufacture, design and provide materials free of defects ….” It
further alleged Kingspan breached a duty of care by “supplying insulated roof panels
which were defectively manufactured, by supplying shop drawings that were defectively
designed, [and] by directing Style-Line to improperly install the insulated roof
panels ….” With regard to these claims arising out of the initial construction of the cold
storage roof, Kingspan’s motion for summary judgment/adjudication was directed only at
whether such claims were barred by the statute of limitations, and whether Kingspan had
a duty to supervise or train Style-Line on installation—not whether there was a duty with
regard to the manufacture of the product or Kingspan’s recommendations regarding the
reverse sequence installation procedure employed by Style-Line. Kingspan did not meet
its burden on summary judgment/adjudication of demonstrating there was no duty with
regard to these latter two claims—whether by voluntary assumption or otherwise.
As a result, the trial court’s grant of summary judgment against Bee Sweet did not
preclude Style-Line from seeking declaratory relief and indemnity from Kingspan in
connection with the supplying of materials and the reverse sequence installation
procedure it recommended. Those claims were not resolved by either motion. In so
concluding, however, we express no opinion on whether Kingspan owed Style-Line a
duty in that regard, on the merits of Style-Line’s indemnity and related declaratory relief
claims, or on whether Style-Line may be limited in its recourse against Kingspan should
Style-Line prevail on the merits.
III. Summary
The trial court did not err in granting summary judgment in favor of Kingspan and
against Bee Sweet. In appealing the summary judgment, Style-Line only challenged the
summary adjudication of Bee Sweet’s negligence cause of action. As for that challenge,
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we conclude the trial court correctly determined Kingspan owed no duty to Bee Sweet or
Style-Line in connection with repairs to the cold storage roof, and correctly determined
that “[t]he remainder of the second cause of action lacks merit because the statute of
limitations has expired on any claim for negligence.”
With regard to the judgment on pleadings, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying Style-Line leave to amend to premise its causes of action for
indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief based on a strict products liability theory.
Moreover, the court did not err in granting judgment on the pleadings to the extent Style-
Line’s causes of action were premised on Kingspan’s alleged negligence in connection
with repairs to the cold storage roof.
However, we conclude the court did err in granting judgment on the pleadings
with respect to Style-Line’s indemnity and declaratory relief claims as they related to
allegations that Kingspan supplied defective materials, and provided negligent
instructions for installing the roof panels.
DISPOSITION
The 2017 summary judgment in favor of Kingspan and against Bee Sweet is
affirmed in its entirety.
The 2020 judgment on pleadings in favor of Kingspan and against Style-Line is
reversed to the extent the trial court ruled Style-Line was barred from seeking indemnity
(and related declaratory relief) in connection with Kingspan supplying roof panels for the
cold storage building, and supplying instructions for the initial construction of the roof in
or about 2010. In all other respects, the 2020 judgment on pleadings is affirmed.
36.
In the interests of justice, each party shall bear its own costs on appeal. (Cal.
Rules of Court, rule 8.278(a)(5).) The case is remanded to the trial court for further
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
LEVY, Acting P. J.
WE CONCUR:
FRANSON, J.
SMITH, J.
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