Hustle Zombies Entertainment v. Collins CA2/6

Filed 6/15/15 Hustle Zombies Entertainment v. Collins CA2/6
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for
publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.111.5.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION SIX
HUSTLE ZOMBIES ENTERTAINMENT 2d Civil No. B259430
LLC, (Super. Ct. No. 56-2012-00448397-CU-
CO-VTA)
Plaintiff and Appellant, (Ventura County)
v.
JOSEPH COLLINS,
Defendant and Respondent.
Appellant, Hustle Zombies Entertainment LLC, appeals from an order
granting defendant's, Joseph Collins, motion to vacate a default and $2+ million
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default judgment. (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b).) We reverse because Collins
failed to make any evidentiary showing of inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or
mistake, which is a predicate for granting section 473 relief. (Kendall v. Barker
(1988) 197 Cal. App. 3d 619, 624.)
Facts and Procedural History
On February 5, 2014, appellant sued Punch Television Network, Inc.
(Punch) and its chief executive officer, Joseph Collins, for contract and tort damages
based on appellant's contract to produce Ratchet Queens, a television reality show.
The contract provided that Punch would pay appellant $2.1 million for the exclusive
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All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
right to distribute three seasons of the television reality show. Collins signed the
contract on behalf of Punch.
The complaint alleges that Punch defaulted on the first installment
payment after appellant took out a $25,000 bridge loan, hired Tiffany Pollard to star in
the series, incurred substantial production expenses, and produced the first television
episode. The second and third causes of action for fraud and negligent
misrepresentation allege that Collins and Punch fraudulently promised to pay $50,000
per episode, took a 15-day extension on the first installment payment, and never paid
appellant.
Punch and Collins were personally served with the summons and
complaint on March 5, 2014. Collins did not respond. After a default was entered on
April 21, 2014, appellant obtained a $2,208,598.92 default judgment against Punch
and Collins on May 27, 2014.
Acting in propria persona, Collins filed a June 13, 2014 motion to vacate
the default and default judgment based on inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or
mistake. (§ 473, subd. (b).) The motion states that Collins was "fully at fault and
takes full responsibility for his negligence, and his failure to file his
Answer . . . . " The moving papers, which lack a supporting declaration, state that
Collins was not a party to the contract and that he rescinded the contract after learning
that Tiffany Pollard was not under contract to star in the reality series. Appellant
opposed the motion on the ground that it lacked a supporting affidavit as required by
section 473, subdivision (b).
Granting the motion, the trial court vacated the default and default
judgment as to Collins only. The default judgment against Punch (the corporation)
was never set aside.
Discussion
"While section 473 authorizes a court to relieve a party from default
suffered through inadvertence, surprise, excusable neglect or mistake, 'these words are
not meaningless, and the party requesting such relief must affirmatively show that the
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situation is one which clearly falls within such category.' [Citation.]" (Kendall v.
Barker, supra, 197 Cal.App.3d at p. 624.) The burden of proof is on the moving party
who must establish his position by a preponderance of the evidence. (Luz v. Lopes
(1960) 55 Cal. 2d 54, 62.) "[I]f a party fails to show that a judgment has been taken
against him through his mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect the court
may not grant relief. It has no discretion." (Iott v. Franklin (1988) 206 Cal. App. 3d
521, 528.)
Collins argues that he promptly sought relief from default and that "very
slight evidence" is required to set aside the default judgment. (See Elston v. City of
Turlock (1985) 38 Cal. 3d 227, 233.) Collins, however, failed to file a supporting
declaration or submit any evidence in support of his motion. "Slight evidence" means
some evidence. Statements contained in a memorandum of points and authorities are
not evidence and do not provide an evidentiary basis for granting section 473 relief.
(See e.g., Smith, Smith & Kring v. Superior Court (Oliver) (1997) 60 Cal. App. 4th 573,
578 [motion to recuse counsel].) "Where the moving party is responsible for the
default, . . . declarations must be filed establishing that the 'mistake,' 'neglect,' etc. was
excusable." (Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide, Civil Procedure Before Trial (The
Rutter Group 2014) ¶ 5:390, p. 5-101.)
A trial court may not set aside a default or default judgment simply
because the opposing party has not been prejudiced. (Stafford v. Mach (1998) 64
Cal. App. 4th 1174, 1187.) "The burden of proof on such a motion is on the moving
party who must establish by a preponderance of the evidence. [Citations.]" (Luz v.
Lopes, supra, 55 Cal.2d at p. 62.) Collins' motion, which was filed in propria persona,
lacks a supporting declaration which is fatal to the motion and precludes section 473
relief. (Kendall v. Barker, supra, 197 Cal. App. 3d 619, 624; 8 Witkin, Cal Procedure
(5th. ed. 2008) Attack on Judgment in Trial Court, § 179, p. 779.) "The law does not
entitle a party to proceed experimentally without counsel and then turn back the clock
if the experiment yields an adverse result." (Hopkins & Carley v. Gens (2011) 200
Cal. App. 4th 1401, 1413.)
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The order vacating the default and default judgment is reversed.
Appellant is awarded costs on appeal.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED.
YEGAN, J.
We concur:
GILBERT, P.J.
PERREN, J.
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Harry Walsh, Judge
Superior Court County of Ventura
______________________________
Rene Tovar, David J. Cohen; Tovar & Cohen, for Appellant.
Joseph Collins, in pro per, Respondent.
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