Lewis v. Wren CA4/2

Filed 10/21/13 Lewis v. Wren CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
ROBERT R. LEWIS et al.,
Plaintiffs and Appellants, E054520
v. (Super.Ct.No. CIVRS1103414)
CHRIS WREN et al., OPINION
Defendants and Respondents.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of San Bernardino County. David A. Williams,
Judge. Affirmed.
The La Cues Law Group and Jerry La Cues for Plaintiffs and Appellants.
Musick, Peeler & Garrett and Robert G. Warshaw for Defendants and
Respondents Stocker and Lancaster, LLP and Jay F. Stocker.
Stocker & Lancaster and Jay F. Stocker for Defendants and Respondents Chris
Wren and Nancy Wren.
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I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs Robert R. Lewis and Linda Lewis appeal from the dismissal of their
action against defendants and respondents Chris Wren, Nancy Wren, Stocker &
Lancaster, LLP, and Jay F. Stocker for negligent infliction of emotional distress and
malicious prosecution following the trial court‟s granting of defendants‟ special motion
to strike (anti-SLAPP1 motion) under Code of Civil Procedure2 section 425.16. The
Lewises contend they made a prima facie showing of facts to sustain a favorable
judgment, and the trial court therefore erred in granting the special motion to strike. The
Lewises also contend the trial court erred in ruling on the admissibility of evidence. We
affirm.
II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
A. Background
On March 7, 2002, the Wrens and the Lewises entered into an agreement by which
the Wrens agreed to purchase residential property (the property) from the Lewises for
$350,000. Escrow on the sale of the property closed on June 4, 2002.
Before June 2000, the Lewises had been involved in a dispute with Cox PCS
Assets, LLC, (Cox) and Sprint (collectively referred to herein as Sprint)3 regarding the
1
The acronym SLAPP stands for strategic lawsuit against public participation.
(Jarrow Formulas, Inc. v. LaMarche (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 728, 732, fn. 1.)
2 All further statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
3 At some point, Cox assigned its rights to or changed its name to Sprint.
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property. Sprint had apparently been entering the property to access a cellular telephone
tower or equipment on adjacent property. In June 2000, the Lewises filed a verified
complaint against Sprint and others. The Lewises alleged Sprint had trespassed on the
property, including excavating, constructing a utilities trench over 300 feet of the
property, using the property for ingress and egress, and allowing other parties to use the
property for ingress and egress. The complaint sought damages and an injunction against
Sprint‟s use of the property and requiring Sprint to remove the utilities trench.
Meanwhile, during negotiations for the Wrens‟ purchase of the property, the
Lewises provided a multipage disclosure statement that the Wrens initialed in March
2002.4 The preliminary title report the Wrens obtained disclosed certain public utility
easements but did not disclose an easement in favor of Sprint or the litigation between the
Lewises and Sprint. The Lewises did not update the disclosure statement at any time
before the close of escrow.
The Lewises continued negotiating with Sprint and other defendants in the
Lewises‟ action for trespass and eventually entered into a settlement agreement under
which Sprint was granted an easement over the property, and Sprint agreed to pay the
Lewises an initial sum of $28,000 and monthly payments thereafter of $800. The
agreement provided: “The compensation for the use of the easements granted herein is
set forth in a separate agreement. The compensation shall be paid to Grantor [the
4 The Lewises assert it was undisputed that the statement disclosed the easement;
however, the relevant handwritten portions of the document the Lewises have provided to
support that assertion are illegible.
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Lewises] notwithstanding the Grantor transferring ownership of the subject property to a
third party. The right to compensation is the personal right of the Grantor and shall not
inure to the benefit of any future owner, transferee or encumbrancer.” The Lewises
executed the settlement agreement on June 3, 2002. The same day, which was one day
before the close of escrow on the sale of the property to the Wrens, counsel for Sprint
sent the escrow company a letter stating: “By means of this letter, please be advised and
instructed that the Mutual Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims documents
currently in your possession (two Agreements originally executed by Sprint) are not to be
reviewed by you or by members of Somerset Escrow, nor photocopied, as they are for the
eyes of Attorney Jerry LaCues and/or his clients, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis only, and are to be
given directly to Mr. or Mrs. Lewis or Mr. LaCues at this time. They are confidential in
nature and were provided in the same envelope to you on Friday, May 31, 2002, for the
convenience of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis only . . . .”
Escrow for the sale of the property closed on June 4, 2002. The grant of easement
to Sprint was recorded seconds before the grant deed for the sale of the property; the
recording time for both documents was shown as 3:00 p.m., and the recording number for
the grant of easement is one digit before that for the grant deed.
B. Underlying Action
On March 25, 2009, the Wrens filed a complaint against the Lewises, Sprint, and
others for fraud and deceit, breach of fiduciary duties, continuing trespass and nuisance,
quiet title, cancellation of written instrument, constructive trust, declaratory relief, and
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accounting (the underlying action). Stocker & Lancaster, LLP and Jay F. Stocker
(collectively referred to herein as Stocker) represented the Wrens in the underlying
action. The gravamen of the complaint (and the later-filed first amended complaint) in
the underlying action was that the Lewises had improperly concealed (1) their actions,
(2) the agreement granting Sprint an easement over the property, and (3) Sprint‟s
continuing payments to the Lewises for the easement. Thereafter, the Wrens entered into
settlement agreements with all the defendants5 in the underlying action except the
Lewises. The Wrens‟ settlement with Sprint provided for an unrecorded easement in
favor of Sprint and for Sprint to provide the Wrens with indemnity protection.
Stocker filed a request for dismissal of the underlying complaint on September 17,
2010, as to the Lewises. The Lewises thereafter filed a motion for attorney fees on the
ground they were the prevailing parties in the underlying action. The trial court denied
the motion after finding there had been no prevailing party. The Lewises filed a request
for reconsideration of that ruling, which the trial court denied.
On April 6, 2011, the Lewises filed a complaint for malicious prosecution against
defendants. On June 13, 2011, the Wrens and Stocker filed special motions to strike.
The trial court found that the Lewises had met their initial burden of showing that
their action arose from their right to petition or to free speech under section 425.16. The
court further found, however, that the Lewises had failed to meet their burden of
establishing a reasonable probability they would prevail on the merits. Specifically, the
5 Those defendants included Sprint and the real estate agents and brokers who had
represented the Lewises in connection with the 2002 sale of the property.
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court found they had failed to establish a reasonable probability they could show that the
underlying action was terminated in their favor as to the Wrens, that the underlying
action was initiated or maintained by Stocker without probable cause or malice, or that
Stocker was liable for the claims of negligent infliction of emotional distress. The court
therefore granted the special motions to strike for Stocker and for the Wrens.
III. DISCUSSION
A. Overview of Anti-SLAPP Motions
The anti-SLAPP statute authorizes a defendant to file a special motion to strike
any cause of action arising from an act in furtherance of the defendant‟s constitutional
rights of free speech or petition for redress of grievances. (§ 425.16; Flatley v. Mauro
(2006) 39 Cal. 4th 299, 311-312 (Flatley).) The purpose of the statute is to prevent the
chilling of the valid exercise of these rights through “abuse of the judicial process” and,
to this end, is to “be construed broadly.” (§ 425.16, subd. (a); Flatley, supra, at pp. 312-
313.)
The anti-SLAPP statute establishes a two-step procedure under which the trial
court evaluates the merits of a plaintiff‟s cause of action at an early stage of the litigation.
(Flatley, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 312.) First, the defendant must show that the cause of
action arose from protected activity, i.e., activity in furtherance of the defendant‟s
constitutional rights of petition or free speech. (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1); Equilon
Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002) 29 Cal. 4th 53, 67.) Second, if the trial court
determines the defendant has made such a showing, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to
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demonstrate a reasonable probability of prevailing on the merits of his or her cause of
action. (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1); Equilon, supra, at p. 67.)
We review de novo the trial court‟s order granting or denying a motion to strike
under section 425.16. (Flatley, supra, 39 Cal.4th at p. 325.)
B. Act in Furtherance of Rights of Petition or Free Speech
The trial court found that the Lewises had met their initial burden of showing that
their action arose from their rights to petition or to free speech under section 425.16.
That finding is not challenged on appeal.
C. Probability of Prevailing on Merits
The trial court found that the Lewises had not met their burden of showing a
reasonable probability of prevailing on the merits. To demonstrate a reasonable
probability of prevailing on the merits at trial (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1)), “the plaintiff must
show both that the claim is legally sufficient and there is admissible evidence that, if
credited, would be sufficient to sustain a favorable judgment.” (McGarry v. University of
San Diego (2007) 154 Cal. App. 4th 97, 108-109.) On appeal, “„[w]e consider “the
pleadings, and supporting and opposing affidavits . . . upon which the liability or defense
is based.” (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(2).) However, we neither “weigh credibility [nor]
compare the weight of the evidence. Rather, [we] accept as true the evidence favorable
to the plaintiff [citation] and evaluate the defendant‟s evidence only to determine if it has
defeated that submitted by the plaintiff as a matter of law.”‟ [Citation.] If the plaintiff
„can show a probability of prevailing on any part of its claim, the cause of action is not
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meritless‟ and will not be stricken; „once a plaintiff shows a probability of prevailing on
any part of its claim, the plaintiff has established that its cause of action has some merit
and the entire cause of action stands.‟” (Oasis West Realty, LLC v. Goldman (2011) 51
Cal. 4th 811, 820.)
D. Sufficiency of Prima Facie Showing
The Lewises contend they made a prima facie showing of facts to sustain a
favorable judgment, and the trial court therefore erred in granting the special motion to
strike. In their complaint, the Lewises alleged causes of action for malicious prosecution
and negligent infliction of emotional distress. On appeal, they do not raise any argument
to challenge the trial court‟s ruling as to the cause of action for negligent infliction of
emotional distress, and we therefore do not address that cause of action herein.
E. Cause of Action for Malicious Prosecution
To establish a cause of action for malicious prosecution, a plaintiff must prove
that: (1) the prior action was commenced by or at the direction of the defendant and was
terminated in the plaintiff‟s favor; (2) the prior action was initiated or continued without
probable cause; (3) the prior action was initiated with malice; and (4) the plaintiff
suffered damage or injury as a result. (Sheldon Appel Co. v. Albert & Oliker (1989) 47
Cal. 3d 863, 871-872.) We will focus our discussion on the elements of probable cause
and malice.
The Lewises argue, among other things, that the underlying action was initiated
and continued without probable cause. We will focus our analysis on that element.
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The Lewises assert the underlying action lacked probable cause because it was
“undisputed that the [Wrens] signed a disclosure statement during the course of escrow
for the sale of the Property wherein the Easement was disclosed” and other evidence and
documents substantiated the disclosure of the easement. We disagree that the evidence of
disclosure was undisputed. First, the handwritten portions of the disclosure document to
which the Lewises cite are largely illegible. They have thus failed to provide an adequate
record on appeal to support their assertion. (See, e.g., Kashmiri v. Regents of University
of California (2007) 156 Cal. App. 4th 809, 849.) Second, the Lewises define the
easement as “a settlement agreement whereby [the Lewises] granted [Sprint] an easement
for access and utilities . . . .” That settlement agreement was executed on June 3, 2002,
the day before escrow closed, and was recorded on June 4, 2002, seconds before the
recordation of the grant deed for the sale of the property. The Wrens thus could not have
been provided a conformed copy of the easement before escrow closed. Moreover, the
purported disclosure statement was dated on March 6, 2002, almost three months before
the settlement agreement that created the easement, and it was logically impossible for
the disclosure statement to disclose an easement that did not yet exist.
The Lewises further assert that a 2002 letter written to the Wrens‟ real estate agent
reflected conversations between the Lewises‟ and Wrens‟ agents regarding the easement,
and that letter proves that the easement was disclosed. Again, the evidence on the issue
was by no means undisputed. First, the escrow company was expressly instructed not to
review or copy the documents connected to the easement or to disclose them to anyone
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but the Lewises‟ attorney. Second, both Wrens executed declarations stating that no
easement documents had been delivered to them through escrow. They declared they
were never informed of the easement or of the continued payments to the Lewises. The
Wrens declared they discovered the easement after March 2006 when someone came to
the property with the intent of using the easement and showed them the document
granting the easement. They declared that their real estate agent never disclosed a Sprint
easement or any documents related to such an easement. Third, the Wrens‟ real estate
agent left them a recorded telephone message on September 23, 2008, in which he stated:
“But as I kind of put the docs together, I think the Lewises are being so tight-lipped right
now because it‟s a legal document. It [the Sprint easement] was recorded before we
closed, and the last one that was signed on the 3rd, we closed on the 4th. [¶] . . . [¶] So
whatever money he‟s made from them after the 3rd, actually is to go to you. I think
that‟s why he‟s being so tight-lipped, because technically you can sue him for that money
that he received that was supposed to go to you. [¶] . . . [¶] So I think he knows that he
got caught, and he owes you money. So, not that you‟ll ever collect it, but at least you
kind of know what he did, because its [sic] sounds like he did something pretty
underhanded.” (Underlining omitted.)
In Jarrow Formulas, Inc. v. LaMarche, supra, 31 Cal. 4th 728, the court upheld the
trial court‟s grant of the defendant‟s anti-SLAPP motion to strike the plaintiff‟s action for
malicious prosecution. The court held that the plaintiff had failed to produce sufficient
evidence to support its claim that the underlying action was not arguably meritorious
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when pled, and there was no evidence that the defendant‟s subjective state of mind was
malicious. With respect to the requirement of probable cause to bring a lawsuit, the court
stated: “„“Counsel and their clients have a right to present issues that are arguably
correct, even if it is extremely unlikely that they will win . . . .”‟ [Citations.]
Accordingly, there is probable cause if, at the time the claim was filed, „any reasonable
attorney would have thought the claim tenable.‟ [Citation.] Plainly, a claim that appears
„arguably correct‟ or „tenable‟ when filed with the court may nevertheless fail . . . for
reasons having to do with the sufficiency of the evidence actually adduced as the
litigation unfolds. As defendants point out, every case litigated to a conclusion has a
losing party, but that does not mean the losing position was not arguably meritorious
when it was pled.” (Id. at pp. 742-743, fn. omitted.)
As to Stocker, an attorney may be liable for malicious prosecution if he lacked
probable cause to initiate the action or continued to prosecute the action after discovering
the action lacked probable cause. (Zamos v. Stroud (2004) 32 Cal. 4th 958, 970.) Stocker
provided a declaration stating that before initiating the underlying action, he had
interviewed both Wrens and their real estate agents and had obtained and reviewed the
offers and counteroffers for the purchase of the property, the disclosure statement, the
title report, escrow instructions and correspondence, and the deed for the Sprint
easement. Stocker declared he had spoken with counsel for the Lewises and had
conducted legal research and analysis regarding the claims alleged. The Wrens had been
referred to him as clients, and he had no prior relationship with them or with the Lewises.
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As to Nancy Wren, the Lewises argue that she was not a record owner of the
property because she quitclaimed her interest in the property to her husband, and she thus
lacked standing as a plaintiff in the underlying action. However, in the underlying action,
Nancy‟s claim asserted that the Lewises made misrepresentations and concealed facts
during the course of the real estate transaction. Those claims did not depend upon her
being an owner of record of the property.
In light of the disputed material evidence relating to disclosure of the easement,
we conclude the Lewises have failed to show that probable cause was lacking to bring the
underlying action.
F. Evidentiary Rulings
The Lewises contend the trial court erred in ruling on the admissibility of
evidence. Specifically, the Lewises contend the trial court improperly took judicial
notice of the contents of documents in the record.
A court may take judicial notice of the existence of documents in a court file, but
may not take judicial notice of the contents of such documents other than orders, findings
of fact and conclusions of law, and judgments. (Day v. Sharp (1975) 50 Cal. App. 3d 904,
914.) However, to support their argument on appeal that the trial court‟s taking judicial
notice was improper, the Lewises merely cited pages 509 to 570 of the clerk‟s transcript
and listed some 20 exhibits by number. They completely failed to identify the specific
contents of any such documents or any specific facts or propositions of which the trial
court purportedly took improper judicial notice. It was the Lewises‟ responsibility, not
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this court‟s, to identify and explain alleged errors. (Overhill Farms, Inc. v. Lopez (2010)
190 Cal. App. 4th 1248, 1271 [parties‟ failure to “specifically quote or otherwise fully
identify the evidence they refer to” amounted to a waiver of their contention that the trial
court erred in its evidentiary rulings].) We conclude the Lewises have forfeited their
challenge to the trial court‟s evidentiary rulings. To the extent the Lewises base other
arguments on the excluded evidence, those arguments are likewise forfeited.
IV. DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed. Respondents shall recover their costs on appeal.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
HOLLENHORST
Acting P. J.
We concur:
RICHLI
J.
CODRINGTON
J.
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