Adler v. City of National City CA4/1 ( 2016 )

Filed 4/21/16 Adler v. City of National City CA4/1
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
BENJAMIN ADLER, D067885
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2013-00077889-
CU-WM-CTL )
CITY OF NATIONAL CITY,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County,
Richard E. L. Strauss, Judge. Affirmed.
Law Offices of Donald D. Beury and Donald D. Beury for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Daley & Heft, Lee H. Roistacher, Mitchell D. Dean and Heather E. Paradis for
Defendant and Respondent.
Benjamin Adler appeals a judgment of dismissal following National City's (City)
successful motion for judgment on the pleadings. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
McDini's Restaurant Corporation does business as McDini's Irish Cantina
(McDini's) and is located at 105 E. 8th Street in National City (Property). Charlton Adler
is the president, secretary and stockholder of McDini's. The Howard Adler Trust owns
the Property.
Prior to 2010, McDini's was operating under conditional use permit (CUP)
2009-09, which allowed McDini's to operate as a restaurant and bar under certain
conditions, including limiting live entertainment to Thursday through Saturday before
midnight with professional security provided.
In 2010, the City brought a nuisance abatement action in San Diego County
Superior Court against Adler, Charlton Adler, McDini's, and the Adler Howard Trust,
entitled People v. Adler, San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2010-00092488-CU-
MC-CTL (Abatement Action). The Abatement Action was based, in part, on the
defendants' failure to comply with CUP 2009-09's live entertainment conditions.
On December 17, 2010, the court in the Abatement Action entered a stipulated
judgment requiring McDini's to immediately cease all operations. The judgment was
conditionally stayed provided, among other things, that McDini's applied for a new CUP
within 60 days and in the interim ceased all live entertainment. The stipulated judgment
provided that the City could seek enforcement of it by ex parte application for failure to
comply with its terms.
McDini's applied for and was granted CUP 2010-33 by National City's planning
commission, which the City Council approved in February 2012 through City council
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resolution 2012-49, and live entertainment was again allowed at McDini's subject to a
number of specific conditions. McDini's permission to have live entertainment was
subject to revocation by the City, if, among other things, the chief of police determined
that the reinstatement of live entertainment resulted in or significantly contributed to a 10
percent increase in the demand for police services at McDini's between the hours of
5:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m.
On March 27, 2012, the December 17, 2010 stipulated judgment in the Abatement
Action was amended to allow for live entertainment at McDini's provided McDini's
operated in compliance with resolution 2012-49's conditions. The March 27, 2012
amended stipulated judgment further allowed the City to proceed by ex parte application
to reinstitute the December 17, 2010 stipulated judgment's prohibition of live
entertainment for McDini's failure to comply with resolution 2012-49's conditions.
In March 2013, the planning commission undertook an annual review of CUP
2010-33. After concluding that McDini's failed to comply with resolution 2012-49's
conditions, and finding there was more than a 10 percent increase in the demand for
police services, the planning commission set a revocation hearing. A public revocation
hearing was held on June 17, 2013, after which the planning commission revoked CUP
2010-33, which had the effect of barring live entertainment at McDini's. The planning
commission's decision was appealed and upheld by the City council pursuant to
resolution 2013-132.
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Based on McDini's failure to comply with resolution 2012-49's conditions and the
resulting revocation of CUP 2010-33, the City applied ex parte on September 12, 2013 to
reinstate the prohibition of live entertainment at McDini's.
On September 12, 2013, over Adler's opposition, the court in the Abatement
Action ordered the immediate reinstitution of the stipulated judgment's prohibition of live
entertainment at McDini's. Adler did not appeal this order.
On December 2, 2013, Adler filed a petition for writ of administrative mandamus
under Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5. Alleging McDini's compliance with
resolution 2012-49's live entertainment conditions, Adler sought a court order
overturning resolution 2013-132, which affirmed the planning commission's preclusion
of live entertainment at McDini's through revocation of CUP 2010-33. In essence, Adler
sought a court order allowing live entertainment at McDini's.
The City moved for judgment on the pleadings, which included a request for
judicial notice. The City argued Adler lacked standing because the Howard Adler Trust,
as the owner of the Property, was the proper party to challenge the City council's
affirmation of the planning commission's revocation of CUP 2010-33. The City
additionally argued that the stipulated judgment and order in the Abatement Action
precluding live entertainment at McDini's was res judicata to the issues Adler raised in
his writ petition.
On February 6, 2015, the trial court granted the City's request for judicial notice as
well as the City's motion for judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend. Adler
timely appealed the ensuing judgment.
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DISCUSSION
On appeal, the judgment of the trial court is presumed to be correct. (Denham v.
Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564 (Denham).) All intendments and presumptions
are made to support the judgment on matters as to which the record is silent. (Ibid.)
An appellant has the burden to provide an adequate record and affirmatively show
reversible error. (Ballard v. Uribe (1986) 41 Cal.3d 564, 574.) Further, it is the
appellant's duty to support arguments in his or her briefs by references to the record on
appeal, including citations to specific pages in the record. (Duarte v. Chino Community
Hospital (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 849, 856 (Duarte).) "Appellate briefs must provide
argument and legal authority for the positions taken. 'When an appellant fails to raise a
point, or asserts it but fails to support it with reasoned argument and citations to
authority, we treat the point as waived.' " (Nelson v. Avondale Homeowners Assn. (2009)
172 Cal.App.4th 857, 862 (Nelson).) "We are not bound to develop appellants' argument
for them. [Citation.] The absence of cogent legal argument or citation to authority
allows this court to treat the contention as waived." (In re Marriage of Falcone & Fyke
(2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 814, 830.)
As a threshold matter, we observe that Adler's opening brief is not a model of
clarity. He begins by telling us he is appealing "the granting of a Motion for Summary
Judgment holding that an Ex-Parte Motion being granted in a companion case barred a
subsequent evidentiary hearing." However, the instant appeal actually concerns a
judgment of dismissal following a successful motion for judgment on the pleadings.
Thus, from the outset, Adler does not even properly frame the issues before us.
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An appellant's opening brief must provide "a summary of significant facts limited
to matters in the record." (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(2)(C).1) Here, Adler has
included a section entitled "Statement of the Facts" in his opening brief, but he fails to
cite to the record to support any of the facts. This is improper. (Duarte, supra, 72
Cal.App.4th at p. 856.)
Also, the superior court granted the City's motion for judgment on the pleadings
on the grounds that Adler lacked standing and the petition was barred by res judicata.
Adler does not address these issues adequately. He ignores the res judicata issue, and
argues that he is the appropriate person to appear on behalf of McDini's. Unfortunately,
this argument is not supported by citations to the record or any legal authority. Adler
therefore has waived this argument. (Nelson, supra, 172 Cal.App.4th at p. 862.)
Moreover, Adler's contention misses the mark. The court found that Adler lacked
standing because he is not the owner of the Property. Here, Adler does not dispute this
fact, but instead, insists that he "will move this court to designate McDini's Restaurant
Corp. as the real party in interest." Again, Adler fails to address the reasoning of the
court's order and does not explain why the court's finding that he lacked standing was in
error. These shortcomings also are fatal to Adler's appeal. (See In re Marriage of
Falcone & Fyke, supra, 164 Cal.App.4th at p. 830.)
Further, Adler did not file a proper appellant's appendix in the instant matter. Rule
8.124(b)(1)(B) requires an appellant to include in the appendix any document filed in the
1 Further citation to the rules or rule are to the California Rules of Court.
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trial court necessary for this court to resolve the issues raised on appeal. Because Adler's
argument is that the superior court erred in granting the City's motion for judgment on the
pleadings, it logically follows that Adler would include the City's motion, Adler's
opposition to the motion, and any other pleadings the court considered in ruling on the
motion. However, Adler did not include any of the briefing on the motion he now claims
was improperly granted. He thus cannot establish error. (Hernandez v. California
Hospital Medical Center (2000) 78 Cal.App.4th 498, 502 [appellant failed to meet
burden to establish error in granting respondent's motion to strike by omitting the motion
to strike, opposition, and the court's order].)
Although all the above deficiencies are sufficient grounds on which to affirm the
judgment, even if we were to reach the merits of this appeal, we would affirm the
judgment in any event.
Judgment on the pleadings is similar to a demurrer and is properly granted when
the "complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against [the]
defendant." (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c)(1)(B)(ii); Shea Homes Limited
Partnership v. County of Alameda (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 1246, 1254.) We
independently review the superior court's ruling on a motion for judgment on the
pleadings to determine whether the complaint states a cause of action. In so doing, we
accept as true the plaintiff's factual allegations and construe them liberally. (Rolfe v.
California Transportation Com. (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 239, 242-243.) If a judgment on
the pleadings is correct upon any theory of law applicable to the case, we will affirm it
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regardless of the considerations used by the superior court to reach its conclusion.
(Schabarum v. California Legislature (1998) 60 Cal.App.4th 1205, 1216.)
In his petition for writ of administrative mandamus, Adler asks the court to order
the City to set aside resolution 2013-132, which affirmed the planning commission's
revocation of CUP 2010-33. In other words, Adler wants the court to reinstate CUP
2010-33 that would allow live entertainment at McDini's. However, he lacks standing to
request such relief.
A CUP is not a personal interest. Instead, it runs with the land upon which the use
is allowed. (Anza Parking Corp. v. City of Burlingame (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 855, 858.)
Logically, the owner of the subject property would be the party with standing to
challenge the revocation of the CUP. It is not disputed that Adler does not own the
Property. He makes no such allegation in his petition. Accordingly, we agree with the
superior court that Adler lacks standing to bring the petition to reinstate CUP 2010-33.2
In addition, we conclude that Adler's petition was barred by res judicata. The
doctrine of res judicata gives preclusive effect to a prior, final judgment involving the
same controversy between the same parties or those in privity. (Boeken v. Philip Morris
USA, Inc. (2010) 48 Cal.4th 788, 797 (Boeken).) It consists of two related aspects: claim
preclusion and issue preclusion. Claim preclusion provides that "a valid, final judgment
on the merits precludes parties or their privies from relitigating the same 'cause of action'
in a subsequent suit." (Le Parc Community Assn. v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. (2003)
2 We note Adler offered no argument in his opening brief addressing the standing
issue.
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110 Cal.App.4th 1161, 1169.) Issue preclusion, or collateral estoppel, " 'precludes
relitigation of issues argued and decided in prior proceedings.' " (Mycogen Corp. v.
Monsanto Co. (2002) 28 Cal.4th 888, 896.)
"For purposes of collateral estoppel, an issue was actually litigated in a prior
proceeding if it was properly raised, submitted for determination, and determined in that
proceeding." (Hernandez v. City of Pomona (2009) 46 Cal.4th 501, 511.) Thus, " ' "the
prerequisite elements for applying the doctrine to either an entire cause of action or one
or more issues are the same: (1) A claim or issue raised in the present action is identical
to a claim or issue litigated in a prior proceeding; (2) the prior proceeding resulted in a
final judgment on the merits; and (3) the party against whom the doctrine is being
asserted was a party or in privity with a party to the prior proceeding." ' " (Boeken,
supra, 48 Cal.4th at p. 797; Pitzen v. Superior Court (2004) 120 Cal.App.4th 1374,
1381.)
In the Abatement Action, the parties (which included Adler) entered into a
stipulated judgment on December 17, 2010 requiring McDini's to cease all operations,
including live entertainment. The stipulated judgment was amended on March 27, 2012
to allow live entertainment provided McDini's complied with certain conditions. In
addition, the amended stipulated judgment provided: "In the events Defendants do not
comply with any terms of this Amendment to the Stipulated Judgment, the City can
proceed by Ex Parte Application to reinstitute the prohibition of live entertainment at
McDini's . . . ." By way of the amendment to the stipulated judgment, the parties
(including Adler) agreed to a quick, efficient mechanism to revoke the allowance of live
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entertainment if the defendants did not comply with certain terms. That mechanism was
an ex parte application. Adler does not dispute that the amended stipulation provided that
expedited process.
"In a stipulated judgment . . . litigants voluntarily terminate a lawsuit by assenting
to specified terms, which the court agrees to enforce as a judgment." (California State
Auto. Assn. Inter-Ins. Bureau v. Superior Court (1990) 50 Cal.3d 658, 663.) A stipulated
judgment has the same effect as if the action were tried on the merits. (Avery v. Avery
(1970) 10 Cal.App.3d 525, 529; Villacres v. ABM Industries, Inc. (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th
562, 596.) A stipulated judgment is res judicata as to those issues it embraces,
(California State Auto., supra, at p. 664; Villacres, supra, at p. 596), including those that
were raised or could have been raised (Gates v. Superior Court (1986) 178 Cal.App.3d
301, 309; Avery, supra, at p. 529).
Here, it is undisputed that the City applied ex parte, under the amended stipulation,
to reinstitute the prohibition of live entertainment at McDini's. Over Adler's opposition,
the court entered the City's requested order. Adler did not appeal that order.
Instead, over two months later, Adler brought the instant petition, contending that
live entertainment must be permitted at McDini's. Moreover, he argues that the reasons
supporting the City's decision to reinstate the prohibition of live entertainment are false.
In doing so, however, Adler is seeking to relitigate the exact same issue that was resolved
in the Abatement Action, in which he was a party. Thus, res judicata precludes Adler
from relitigating the same issues in his writ proceeding. (See O'Hagen v. Board of
Zoning Adjustment (1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 151, 155-157 [judgment in nuisance abatement
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action brought by City against permitee for violations of a CUP precludes relitigating
same issues in writ proceeding by permitee challenging revocation of use permit].)3
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed. The City is awarded its costs on appeal.
HUFFMAN, J.
WE CONCUR:
McCONNELL, P. J.
McDONALD, J.
3 In his opening brief, Adler maintains his due process rights were violated because
he was not permitted to have a full hearing on the issues. However, his argument is
aimed at the amended stipulation allowing the City to seek an ex parte order to reinstate
the prohibition of live entertainment. Put differently, Adler is attempting to challenge the
ex parte order in the Abatement Action. He needed to do so in that action by writ or
appeal. In addition, Adler specifically agreed to the expedited procedure and now cannot
modify that procedure through his petition. (Cf. Bernardi v. City Council (1997) 54
Cal.App.4th 426, 440.)
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