Mecchi v. Mecchi CA3 ( 2022 )

Filed 12/14/22 Mecchi v. Mecchi CA3
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
(Shasta)
----
JANET CAROL MECCHI, as Trustee, etc., C095550
Plaintiff and Respondent, (Super. Ct. No. 29935)
v.
JEFFREY DONALD MECCHI,
Defendant and Appellant.
In 2005, plaintiff Janet Carol Mecchi and her husband, Donald Edward Mecchi,
created the Mecchi Revocable Trust Agreement (the Trust). Donald died in 2010. In
2012, Jeffrey Donald Mecchi, Janet and Donald’s son and one of the remainder
beneficiaries of the Trust, filed a petition to remove trustee, and, in response, Janet filed a
petition to terminate, reform, or modify the Trust.1 Ultimately, the parties entered into a
1 We refer to the Mecchis individually by their first names due to their shared
surname and for the sake of clarity.
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stipulation and order pursuant to which they agreed to the dismissal of their petitions with
prejudice. In 2019, Jeffrey again sought the removal of Janet as trustee. Janet, in turn,
filed a petition seeking amendment to the Trust, for instructions authorizing sale of real
property, and for an award of attorney fees. The trial court granted Janet’s petition to
amend the Trust. Jeffrey appealed the order, but this court dismissed his appeal based on
his failure to pay the statutory filing fee. He then filed in the trial court a motion to set
aside the order as void pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (d)
on the ground that Janet’s 2019 petition was barred by res judicata, the court therefore
lacked jurisdiction, and the order was void as a result.2 The trial court denied Jeffrey’s
motion, concluding he failed to establish one of the elements necessary for res judicata to
apply.
On appeal, Jeffrey asserts the order denying his motion pursuant to section 473 to
set aside the prior order granting Janet’s 2019 petition must be reversed because the latter
order was void for lack of jurisdiction based on the effect of res judicata. We affirm.
Regardless of whether res judicata applied, the order granting Janet’s 2019 petition was
not a void order. As such, Jeffrey was not entitled to relief pursuant to section 473,
subdivision (d).
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The Trust
Janet and Donald executed the Trust in 2005. They were trustees as well as
settlors. The remainder beneficiaries, entitled to equal shares of the trust estate following
the death of the surviving settlor, after payment of all obligations, were the settlors’
children, Jeffrey and his sister. The parties detail various provisions of the Trust.
However, for purposes of resolving this appeal, it is sufficient to state that, in sections
2 Further undesignated statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
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2.4, 2.5, and 2.6, the Trust contemplated that, following the death of the first settlor to
die, the remaining settlor/trustee, in the fashion of an “A/B trust” and for the purpose of
favorable estate tax treatment, would allocate trust assets to an “Exemption Trust” and a
“Survivor’s Trust,” both of which would become irrevocable. Section 2.7 included
language stating the surviving “Trustee may not sell any real property that may be in the
Exemption Trust Estate without the written consent of both of the children of Trustor
who are alive at the time of the sale.” Section 4.3 provided, in part, that the “primary
purpose of the Trustors in establishing this trust is to benefit the Trustors during their
lifetime and their beneficiaries thereafter. The Trustee shall not be answerable to any
remainder beneficiary for anything done in favor of the Trustors during their lifetime.”
The Prior Litigation and the Resulting Stipulation and Order
In 2012, Jeffrey filed a petition to remove trustee. The petition noted that Donald
died in 2010. Among other things, Jeffrey asserted Janet had allowed property to be
wrongfully removed from the trust estate. In response, Janet filed a petition to terminate,
reform, or modify the Trust.
In a 2016 stipulation and order, Janet, as trustee, agreed to dismiss her petition
with prejudice, and Jeffrey agreed to dismiss his petition with prejudice. The stipulation
provided that Janet would file biannual accountings. Additional matters were resolved in
a statement of decision.
The Current Litigation, the Order Granting Janet’s Petition, and the Initial Appeal
On August 13, 2019, apparently in response to a petition for approval of a third
account, Jeffrey filed a cross-petition seeking, among other things, the removal of Janet
as trustee. Jeffrey alleged Janet had violated her fiduciary duties by, among other things,
improperly transferring real property in Tahoe from the Trust to herself individually.
Exhibit B to the cross-petition was a quitclaim deed in which Janet as trustee quitclaimed
title in certain real property in Tahoma, El Dorado County, to herself individually.
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On September 17, 2019, Janet, as trustee, filed a petition seeking amendment to
the Trust, for instructions authorizing sale of real property, and for an award of attorney
fees. Janet sought the elimination of sections 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 from the Trust as legally
superfluous, financially unnecessary, and without purpose following amendments to the
estate tax laws.
In his opposition, Jeffrey asserted the relief Janet sought was precluded by res
judicata and collateral estoppel because “the relief sought has already been resolved by
way of prior litigation between these parties that was resolved on its merits when
competing cross-petitions . . . were dismissed with prejudice several years ago.”
The trial court granted Janet’s petition to amend the Trust and ordered the Trust
amended in several respects. The trial court concluded that res judicata and collateral
estoppel did not apply as a result of the prior stipulation and order. The court concluded
that, in the prior litigation, there had been no adjudication on the merits of the petitions.
According to the court, the stipulation was only binding as to those matters the parties
expressly agreed to.
Jeffrey filed a notice of appeal on December 31, 2020. On February 19, 2021, this
court dismissed the appeal based on Jeffrey’s failure to pay the statutory filing fee as
required by California Rules of Court, rule 8.100(b)(1). The remittitur issued on
April 23, 2021.
Motion to Set Aside the Order as Void
On June 3, 2021, Jeffrey filed a motion in the trial court pursuant to section 473,
subdivision (d) to set aside the order granting Janet’s 2019 petition. In a declaration, an
attorney for Jeffrey asserted that, based on the 2016 stipulation, the trial court lacked
jurisdiction “to decide the same issues in 2020.” In Jeffrey’s memorandum in support, he
asserted the 2016 stipulation “became a valid order that governs the future administration
of the Trust,” and that, “[o]nce the court signed the 2016 Order, it lost personal and
subject matter jurisdiction over the issues raised in the 2012 Petition because the order
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dismissed those requests with prejudice.” Therefore, according to Jeffrey, Janet could
not raise “those same issues, and a court would be without jurisdiction to rule on those
same issues.” According to Jeffrey, Janet’s 2019 petition sought the same relief based on
the same facts between the same parties. Jeffrey also asserted the 2016 order dismissed
Janet’s claims with prejudice, and, as such, contrary to the trial court’s prior
determination, amounted to a decision on the merits and was therefore a bar to further
litigation on the same subject between the same parties.
In its ruling, on the issue of res judicata, the court first stated, contrary to its earlier
determination, that the stipulation did constitute a final judgment on the merits. The
court stated the same parties were involved in both litigations. The court then turned to
whether the claims or issues raised in the present action were identical to those litigated
in the prior proceeding. For a number of reasons we need not set forth here, the court
determined the claims were not identical and thus res judicata did not apply. The court
concluded: “Since the issue decided in the [2012] petition was distinct, the dismissal
with prejudice of the [2012] petition did not bar Janet from filing the [2019] petition, nor
did it deprive this Court of jurisdiction to hear the matter.” Accordingly, the court denied
Jeffrey’s motion to set aside the order. In an order filed November 18, 2021, the court
denied Jeffrey’s motion for the reasons set forth in its ruling.
DISCUSSION
I
Appealability
A. Effect of Dismissal of Prior Appeal
Janet asserts this appeal is precluded by the dismissal of Jeffrey’s prior appeal
from the underlying order. We disagree. Jeffrey did appeal from the order that granted
Janet’s 2019 petition and that appeal was dismissed in case No. C093360. As a general
matter, that sequence of events would preclude our review of that order. (See § 913.)
However, on appeal, Jeffrey challenges the subsequent order denying his motion pursuant
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to section 473, subdivision (d) to set aside the prior order as void. An order denying such
a motion would constitute “an order made after a judgment made appealable by
paragraph (1)” of section 904.1, subdivision (a) (§ 904.1, subd. (a)(2)), and would be an
appealable order (Doppes v. Bentley Motors, Inc. (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 1004, 1008-
1009 [“ ‘ “While a denial of a motion to set aside a previous judgment is generally not an
appealable order, in cases where the law makes express provision for a motion to vacate
such as under . . . section 473, an order denying such a motion is regarded as a special
order made after final judgment and is appealable under . . . section 904.1, subdivision
[(a)(2)]” ’ ”; “ ‘If a judgment is void, an order giving effect to the void judgment is
subject to appeal even if the underlying judgment was also appealable’ ”]).
B. Appealability and Section 1008
Janet also asserts Jeffrey’s motion pursuant to section 473, subdivision (d) was in
reality a disguised and untimely motion for reconsideration pursuant to section 1008.
The trial court appeared to agree. The court stated: “[T]his is actually a petition for
reconsideration, asking the Court to simply address a legal argument that was not raised
at the time. Technically, as there [are] no new facts, law, or circumstances, simply a
variation of the legal argument on res judicata/collateral estoppel that Jeffrey neglected to
make, a petition for reconsideration would not lie, therefore, counsel is attempting to
have the Court re-visit this issue based on a different procedural device. This is, in effect,
an attempt at a second bite at the apple, as the appeal from the Court’s prior ruling was
dismissed for Jeffrey’s failure to pay the filing fee.” The court nevertheless denied
Jeffrey’s motion after considering the merits of Jeffrey’s res judicata argument.
Section 1008, authorizing motions for reconsideration, provides, in part: “When
an application for an order has been made to a judge, or to a court, and refused in whole
or in part, or granted, or granted conditionally, or on terms, any party affected by the
order may, within 10 days after service upon the party of written notice of entry of the
order and based upon new or different facts, circumstances, or law, make application to
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the same judge or court that made the order, to reconsider the matter and modify, amend,
or revoke the prior order.” (§ 1008, subd. (a).) With regard to courts’ jurisdiction to
consider motions for reconsideration, section 1008 provides: “This section specifies the
court’s jurisdiction with regard to applications for reconsideration of its orders and
renewals of previous motions, and applies to all applications to reconsider any order of a
judge or court, or for the renewal of a previous motion, whether the order deciding the
previous matter or motion is interim or final. No application to reconsider any order or
for the renewal of a previous motion may be considered by any judge or court unless
made according to this section.” (§ 1008, subd. (e).) As for appealability, section 1008
provides: “An order denying a motion for reconsideration made pursuant to subdivision
(a) is not separately appealable. However, if the order that was the subject of a motion
for reconsideration is appealable, the denial of the motion for reconsideration is
reviewable as part of an appeal from that order.” (§ 1008, subd. (g).)
The denial of a motion for reconsideration, if that was the nature of Jeffrey’s
motion, would not be separately appealable (§ 1008, subd. (g)), and, in this scenario,
Jeffrey’s appeal from “the order that was the subject of a motion for reconsideration” was
dismissed (ibid.). Thus, if the motion was indeed one pursuant to section 1008, review
would be foreclosed. (§ 1008, subd. (g).) We turn to the nature and circumstances of
Jeffrey’s motion.
In his motion, Jeffrey asserted Janet’s 2019 petition was barred by res judicata and
collateral estoppel. He did not assert that the court lacked jurisdiction to rule on the
petition. He sought the denial of the petition. He did not seek to have the petition
dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. It was only after his appeal from the order granting
the petition was dismissed that Jeffrey raised his claim that the trial court lacked
jurisdiction to rule on the petition based on res judicata. In other words, Jeffrey only
raised his jurisdictional argument pursuant to section 473 after the 10-day period for
seeking reconsideration had expired (§ 1008, subd. (a)), and after the opportunity to
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challenge the underlying order on direct appeal was no longer available to him. These
circumstances suggest the possibility that Jeffrey was improperly attempting to seek
reconsideration through the procedural mechanism provided in section 473. (See
generally Gilberd v. AC Transit (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 1494, 1501 [“To hold, under the
circumstances presented in this case, that the general relief mechanism provided in
section 473 could be used to circumvent the jurisdictional requirements for
reconsideration found in section 1008 would undermine the intent of the Legislature as
specifically expressed in section 1008, subdivision (e)”].) Jeffrey’s emphasis in reply
that he did not assert any new facts or law is not so much proof that this was a proper
section 473 motion as an indication he would not have been able to assert a viable motion
for reconsideration pursuant to section 1008.
In any event, even if we take Jeffrey’s motion at face value as one to set aside a
void order pursuant to section 473, subdivision (d), he is not entitled to relief. As we next
discuss, the underlying order was not a void order.
II
Motion to Set Aside Void Order – Section 473, Subdivision (d)
Jeffrey asserts the order denying his motion pursuant to section 473, subdivision
(d) to set aside the order granting Janet’s 2019 petition must be reversed because the
underlying order was void for lack of jurisdiction. According to Jeffrey, the court lacked
jurisdiction to rule on the 2019 petition based on the effect of res judicata. Jeffrey
maintains that he demonstrated the existence of each of the three elements necessary for
the applicability of res judicata.
Section 473, subdivision (d) provides: “The court may, upon motion of the
injured party, or its own motion, correct clerical mistakes in its judgment or orders as
entered, so as to conform to the judgment or order directed, and may, on motion of either
party after notice to the other party, set aside any void judgment or order.” (Italics
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added.) Under the italicized provision, a party is only entitled to relief from a void
judgment or order.
“ ‘A judgment is void if the court rendering it lacked subject matter jurisdiction or
jurisdiction over the parties.’ ” (Doe v. Regents of University of California (2022)
80 Cal.App.5th 282, 295 (Doe).) “A judgment is ‘void’ only when the court entering that
judgment ‘lack[ed] jurisdiction in a fundamental sense’ due to the ‘ “entire absence of
power to hear or determine the case” ’ resulting from the ‘ “absence of authority over the
subject matter or the parties.” ’ ” (People v. The North River Ins. Co. (2020)
48 Cal.App.5th 226, 233, quoting People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. (2004)
33 Cal.4th 653, 660.) “ ‘When a court lacks jurisdiction in a fundamental sense, an
ensuing judgment is void, and “thus vulnerable to direct or collateral attack at any
time.” ’ ” (Doe, at p. 295, quoting People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co., at
p. 660.)
“[J]urisdictional errors can be of two types. A court can lack fundamental
authority over the subject matter, question presented, or party, making its judgment void,
or it can merely act in excess of its jurisdiction or defined power, rendering the judgment
voidable.” (In re Marriage of Goddard (2004) 33 Cal.4th 49, 56.) “Only void judgments
and orders may be set aside under section 473, subdivision (d); voidable judgments and
orders may not.” (People v. The North River Ins. Co., supra, 48 Cal.App.5th at p. 234.)
“The determination whether an order is void is a question of law, which we review de
novo.” (Doe, supra, 80 Cal.App.5th at p. 295.)
Jeffrey’s argument is that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to enter the order
granting Janet’s 2019 petition because the matters in that petition were barred by res
judicata, the order granting that petition was therefore void, and thus the trial court erred
in declining to set aside that order as void pursuant to section 473, subdivision (d).
However, “res judicata is a defensive plea and does not affect the court’s jurisdiction.”
(Howard Greer Custom Originals v. Superior Court of Los Angeles County (1948)
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87 Cal.App.2d 816, 817; accord, Imperial Beverage Co. v. Superior Court of Alameda
County (1944) 24 Cal.2d 627, 634 [while “the plea of res judicata may be a good defense
to an action in which it is interposed, it does not deprive the court of jurisdiction over the
action nor does it deprive the court of jurisdiction to pass upon and decide a motion after
it has previously decided a like motion”]; Lincoln v. Superior Court (1943) 22 Cal.2d
304, 308 [res judicata, which is a bar to a later action if properly pleaded and proved,
does not deprive the court of jurisdiction], disapproved on another ground in Robinson v.
Superior Court (1950) 35 Cal.2d 379, 386-387; see also Busick v. Workmen’s Comp.
Appeals Bd. (1972) 7 Cal.3d 967, 977 [“res judicata is not a jurisdictional defense”];
Briley v. City of West Covina (2021) 66 Cal.App.5th 119, 131, fn. 6 [same]; David v.
Hermann (2005) 129 Cal.App.4th 672, 683 [same].) Because res judicata does not
deprive a court of jurisdiction, whether or not res judicata applied, the resulting order
would not constitute a void order.
We thus need not decide whether res judicata should have operated as a bar to the
granting of Janet’s 2019 petition based on the stipulation that resolved her earlier petition.
Had Jeffrey fully prosecuted his appeal from the order granting Janet’s 2019 petition, he
would have had the opportunity to litigate the merits of whether the trial court properly
concluded res judicata was not a bar to Janet’s 2019 petition. However, that appeal was
dismissed, and Jeffrey thereafter sought relief in the trial court pursuant to section 473,
subdivision (d). The relief available under the relevant provision of that subdivision was
to set aside “any void judgment or order.” (§ 473, subd. (d).) As stated, whether or not
res judicata applied, the underlying order granting Janet’s 2019 petition was not void.
Rather than concluding res judicata would not result in a void order, the trial court
considered Jeffrey’s res judicata argument on its merits. However, “[w]e may affirm a
trial court judgment on any basis presented by the record whether or not relied upon by
the trial court.” (State of California ex rel. Metz v. CCC Information Services, Inc.
(2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 402, 412; accord, Shaw v. County of Santa Cruz (2008)
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170 Cal.App.4th 229, 269 [“we will affirm a judgment correct on any legal basis, even if
that basis was not invoked by the trial court”; there “can be no prejudicial error from
erroneous logic or reasoning if the decision itself is correct”].) The trial court did not err
in declining to set aside the order granting Janet’s 2019 petition as void due to lack of
jurisdiction. (See § 473, subd. (d).)
DISPOSITION
The order is affirmed. Janet shall recover her costs on appeal. (Cal. Rules of
Court, rule 8.278(a)(1), (2).)
/s/
HOCH, J.
We concur:
/s/
HULL, Acting P. J.
/s/
MAURO, J.
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