Business Services Of America Ii v. Wafertech, Llc. ( 2014 )

2014 00T 21
STATE 1zp x (. 5
V TON
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHI(NGT
DIVISION II
BUSINESS SERVICES OF AMERICA II, Consolidated Nos. 45325 -8 -II
INC., 46138- 2- 11
Appellant,
v.
UNPUBLISHED OPINION
WAFERTECH LLC,
Respondent.
MAXA, J. — Business Services of America II, Inc. (BSofA) appeals the trial
court' s ( 1) grant of summary judgment to WaferTech LLC in BSofA' s lien foreclosure
action as assignee of a subcontractor wrongfully terminated on WaferTech' s construction
project, and ( 2) denial of BSofA' s motion under CR 60( a) to correct an alleged error in
its corporate name. In response, WaferTech argues that BSofA' s appeal must be
dismissed because a corporation called Business Services of America II, Inc. has never
existed, and therefore BSofA cannot be an aggrieved party entitled to seek review under
RAP 3. 1.
We hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying BSofA' s CR
60( a) motion, and therefore affirm that denial. However, the record does not allow us to
determine whether BSofA has any legal existence sufficient to allow BSofA to pursue its
appeal of the trial court' s summary judgment order. Therefore we must remand for the
trial court to determine BSofA' s legal status and BSofA' s ability to pursue its appeal
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against WaferTech. Because of this disposition, we do not reach the merits of the
summary judgment order.
FACTS
Lawsuit and Settlement
In early 1997, WaferTech hired Meissner + Wurst (M +W) as one of the prime contractors
involved in constructing WaferTech' s silicon wafer manufacturing plant. M +W subcontracted
with Natkin/ Scott to construct the facility' s " clean room." Natkin/ Scott performed some work
under the subcontract, but it was terminated by M +W in April 1998 for failing to follow safety
procedures. Natkin/ Scott subsequently filed a mechanic' s lien against WaferTech' s property in
the amount of $7, 654, 454.
In May 1998 Natkin/ Scott sued both M +W and WaferTech, alleging breach of contract,
wrongful termination, and quantum meruit against M +W and foreclosure of its construction lien
against WaferTech. M +W later asserted a cross -claim against WaferTech, alleging that if
Natkin/ Scott obtained a judgment against M +W, WaferTech would be obligated to indemnify
M +W for that judgment.
In March 2001 Natkin/ Scott agreed to resolve its claims against M +W. Under the
agreement, M +W paid Natkin/ Scott $2. 4 million to settle the claims against it. In addition,
M +W assigned its " pass- through" rights against WaferTech to Natkin/ Scott, allowing
Natkin/ Scott to directly assert M +W' s claims against WaferTech. Subsequently, M +W was
dismissed with prejudice from the lawsuit.
In May 2001, BSofA, as " the assignee of claims by Natkin/ Scott," substituted as plaintiff
in the action and filed a second amended complaint against WaferTech. Clerk' s Papers ( CP) at
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232. As an assignee, BSofA asserted M +W' s pass -through claims as well as Natkin/ Scott' s
original lien foreclosure claim. The second amended complaint alleged that on July 23, 1999
Natkin/ Scott and BSofA had entered into a sale and servicing agreement in which Natkin/ Scott
assigned its claims against WaferTech to BSofA.
Trial and Two Appeals
At trial in May 2002, the trial court dismissed all of BSofA' s claims based on a finding
that its assignor Natkin/ Scott was not a registered contractor when it contracted with M +W. The
trial court also awarded WaferTech over $850, 000 in attorney fees and costs in two separate
judgments.
On appeal, we held that Natkin/ Scott had substantially complied with the contractor
registration statute, and therefore we reversed the trial court' s dismissal of BSofA' s lien
foreclosure claim. See Bus. Servs. ofAm. II, Inc. v. WaferTech, LLC, noted at 120 Wn. App.
1042, 2004 WL 444724, at * 4 -5. However, we affirmed the trial court' s dismissal of the pass -
through claims and the award of attorney fees to WaferTech. Bus. Servs. ofAm. II, Inc., 2004
WL 444724, at * 8. In April 2005 WaferTech filed a satisfaction of judgment with respect to the
attorney fee judgments, which stated that the surety of a supersedeas bond BSofA posted had
paid the judgments.
After remand, very little appears to have happened in the case for four years. In
September 2009, the trial court granted WaferTech' s motion to dismiss the case because of
BSofA' s failure to timely prosecute. BSofA appealed, and we reversed. Bus. Servs. ofAm. II,
Inc. v. WaferTech LLC, 159 Wn. App. 591, 245 P. 3d 257 ( 2011). Our Supreme Court affirmed
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our decision, Business Services ofAmerica II, Inc. v. WaferTech LLC, 174 Wn.2d 304, 274 P. 3d
1025 ( 2012), and the case was mandated back to the trial court.
Dismissal Based on •Settlement Offset
Following remand, BSofA filed a third amended complaint asserting its only remaining
claim, Natkin/ Scott' s lien foreclosure claim. WaferTech moved for summary judgment, arguing
that M +W' s $ 2. 4 million settlement payment to Natkin/ Scott in March 2001 was a complete
offset against Natkin/ Scott' s$ 1. 5 million lien claim.' BSofA opposed the motion and filed a
cross- motion for summary judgment. In August 2013, the court granted WaferTech' s motion
and dismissed BSofA' s third amended complaint. The trial court subsequently awarded attorney
fees and costs to WaferTech in the amount of $430, 000. BSofA appealed.
BSofA' s Incorrect Corporate Name
On January 2, 2014, WaferTech filed a motion in this court to dismiss BSofA' s appeal
under RAP 3. 1 because there was no record that a Delaware corporation called Business Services
of America II, Inc. had ever existed. WaferTech stated it discovered this fact during attempts to
enforce the trial court' s judgment for attorney fees. A commissioner denied WaferTech' s motion
without prejudice to its right to raise the issue in its brief.
BSofA subsequently filed a motion with the trial court to correct an error in the final
judgment under CR 60( a). BSofA acknowledged that there is no registered corporation called
Business Services of America II, Inc. According to BSofA, the correct name of the corporation
is Business Service America II, Inc. (BSA II). BSofA explained that BSA II incorporated under
1
The trial court previously had reduced the lien to $ 1. 5 million.
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the laws of Delaware in July 1999, and the plaintiff was mistakenly stated as Business Services
QfAmerica II, Inc. when the second amended complaint was filed.
BSofA had no explanation for how the mistake was made. Counsel for BSofA stated in a
declaration that he drafted the second amended complaint, but he did not recall how he came to
identify the plaintiff as Business Services of America II Inc.
BSofA argued the name of the plaintiff judgment
/ debtor was erroneous and moved the
trial court to correct this mistake in the judgment. WaferTech objected to the motion to the
correct the judgment, arguing that ( 1) BSofA failed to show the modification of the judgment
debtor' s name was a clerical error, and ( 2) even if it was an amendable clerical error, BSA II
could not be substituted as a judgment debtor because BSA II was a void corporation that lacked
power to act under Delaware law.
The trial court denied the CR 60( a) motion without prejudice. BSofA moved for
reconsideration, submitting more extensive briefing on whether the court could correct the name
of the judgment debtor. BSofA argued that ( 1) the error in the judgment debtor' s name was a
misnomer correctable under CR 60( a), and ( 2) WaferTech would not be prejudiced by allowing
the alteration. The trial court again denied the motion. BSofA appealed this ruling.
ANALYSIS
A. CR 60( A) MOTION TO CORRECT PLAINTIFF' S CORPORATE NAME
BSofA argues that stating the wrong corporate name in its pleadings was an error caused
by oversight or omission, and that an error in a party' s name can be corrected under CR 60( a).
As a result, BSofA argues that the trial court erred in refusing to correct this error. We disagree
because there was conflicting evidence in the record as to whether BSofA or BSA II was the
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actual assignee of Natkin /Scott' s claims, and therefore the record was not clear on what entity
was the correct plaintiff. Therefore, we hold that the trial court acted within its discretion in
refusing to change the plaintiff' s name to BSA II.
1. Legal Principles
We review a trial court' s decision to grant or deny a CR 60( a) motion for an abuse of
discretion. Shaw v. City of Des Moines, 109 Wn. App. 896, 900, 37 P. 3d 1255 ( 2002); see also
Presidential Estates Apt. Assoc. v. Barrett, 129 Wn.2d 320, 325 -26, 917 P. 2d 100 ( 1996)
applying an abuse of discretion standard of review). " The decision will not be overturned on
appeal unless it plainly appears that the trial court exercised its discretion on untenable grounds
or for untenable reasons." Shaw, 109 Wn. App. at 901.
BSofA relies solely on CR 60( a) in arguing that the trial court should have corrected its
name.2 CR 60( a) provides:
Clerical mistakes in judgments, orders or other parts of the record and errors therein
arising from oversight or omission may be corrected by the court at any time of its
own initiative or on the motion of any party and after such notice, if any, as the
court orders. Such mistakes may be so corrected before review is accepted by an
appellate court, and thereafter may be corrected pursuant to RAP 7. 2( e). 3
This rule allows a trial court to correct an error that renders a judgment inconsistent with the trial
court' s intention, as expressed in the trial court record. Presidential Estates, 129 Wn.2d at 326.
The trial court under CR 60( a) can " correct[] language that did not correctly convey the intention
of the court, or suppl[ y] language that was inadvertently omitted from the original judgment."
2 BSofA asserts that it is not requesting a substitution of parties under CR 17.
3 RAP 7. 2( e) provides that the trial court has authority to decide certain matters despite a pending
appeal.
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Presidential Estates, 129 Wn.2d at 326. A trial court also can use CR 60( a) to clarify an
ambiguity in a judgment. Presidential Estates, 129 Wn.2d at 328 -29.
But CR 60( a) does not allow correction of a " judicial" error. Presidential Estates, 129
Wn.2d at 326. A judicial error is one that would require the trial court to amend the judgment to
reflect an intention that the trial court record does not support. Presidential Estates, 129 Wn.2d
at 326. In other words, CR 60( a) does not allow a trial court to " go back [ and] rethink the case."
Presidential Estates, 129 Wn.2d at 326. In addition, CR 60( a) does not allow for the correction
of a trial court' s intentional act, even if erroneous. Krueger Eng' g, Inc. v. Sessums, 26 Wn. App.
721, 723, 615 P. 2d 502 ( 1980).
Under certain circumstances, it is an abuse of discretion for the trial court to refuse to
grant a CR 60( a) motion to correct an error in a party' s name. In Entranco Engineers v.
Envirodyne, Inc., the plaintiff' s complaint named Envirodyne Industries Inc. as the defendant,
but the plaintiff served Envirodyne Engineers Inc. —the plaintiff' s intended defendant. 34 Wn.
App 503, 504, 662 P. 2d 73 ( 1983). In addition, " the complaint described only the activities of
Envirodyne] Engineers, the party served." Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 506. Following the entry
of a default judgment against Envirodyne Industries Inc., the plaintiff filed a CR 60( a) motion to
amend the default judgment to substitute in Envirodyne Engineers Inc. as the judgment debtor.
Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 505. The trial court denied the motion. Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 505.
On appeal, Division One of this court held the trial court abused its discretion in not
granting the plaintiff' s CR 60( a) motion. Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 506. The court stated that
naming the wrong party as the judgment debtor was not a judicial error because " the
commissioner intended to enter a default judgment against the party whose activities were
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described in the complaint." Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 507. The court concluded that the
misnomer of the party defendant in the judgment was an error arising from oversight or omission
that the trial court possessed authority to correct under CR 60( a). Entranco, 34 Wn. App at 507.
2. Existence of Error
BSofA argues that this case is similar to Entranco because here the trial court intended to
enter the judgment against the assignee of Natkin/ Scott' s claims, regardless of the name of that
assignee. Therefore, BSofA argues that entering the judgment against the wrong entity was a
clerical error and not a judicial error. But the question here is not whether entering judgment
against BSofA rather than BSA II was or was not a judicial error, but whether the trial court
made an error at all. Because the record was not clear that there actually was an error in the
judgment —that BSA II and not BSofA was the assignee of Natkin/ Scott' s claims —the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in denying BSofA' s CR 60( a) motion.
When considering the CR 60( a) motion, the trial court was faced with conflicting
evidence as to whether BSofA or BSA 1I was the actual assignee and therefore which entity was
the correct plaintiff. First, as noted above, the two amended complaints alleged that BSofA was
the assignee. Nothing in the trial court record before BSofA' s CR 60( a) motion suggested that
4
these allegations were erroneous. Specifically, the document in which Natkin/Scott assigned its
claim never was placed in the trial court record, either before or after the court entered final
judgment.
4 The only document where the name Business Service America II, Inc. appears is the settlement
agreement between Natkin/ Scott and M +W. But that agreement was executed before the second
amended complaint added BSofA as the plaintiff. The trial court could assume that the mistake
was in the settlement agreement, to which BSofA was not a party, not in the complaint.
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Second, BSofA was identified as the plaintiff in myriad pleadings, including in two
appeals before this court, since first joining the litigation in 2001. The trial court could infer that
if BSA II had been the actual assignee and therefore the correct plaintiff, BSofA would have
sought to correct the name long before final judgment was entered.
Third, earlier judgments for over $800, 000 in attorney fees against BSofA were paid.
Further, the satisfaction of judgment stated that payment was made by the surety for a
supersedeas bond posted-by BSofA. The record does not indicate whether BSofA or BSA II
reimbursed the surety for the payment, but the trial court could infer that the party against which
the judgment was entered ultimately paid that judgment. And even assuming BSA II paid the
judgment, the trial court could infer that if BSofA was not the correct party, BSA II would have
discovered that fact when paying out over $ 850, 000 on BSofA' s behalf.
Fourth, and most significantly, in June 2001 Joseph Guglielmo —the person who in 2014
identified himself as BSA II' s president —signed an acknowledgment that BSofA was the
assignee of Natkin/ Scott' s claims. And he signed that document as president of BSofA, not as
president of BSA II. Although the acknowledgement was not under oath, this document is
compelling evidence that BSofA was in fact the assignee.
The above evidence and inferences created a factual issue as to whether there actually
was an error in the judgment. If BSofA was the actual assignee, there was no error and CR 60( a)
by its terms would be inapplicable. In other words, BSofA' s CR 60( a) motion did not present a
simple correction of an obvious error in the plaintiff' s name. The trial court had to weigh the
evidence showing that BSofA was the assignee of Natkin/ Scott' s claims against Guglielmo' s
new contention, contradicting his assertion in 2001, that BSA II was the actual assignee. And
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the trial court had to make this factual determination without a copy of the document assigning
Natkin/ Scott' s claims, which could have clarified the issue.
Because of the factual uncertainty as to whether there was ar error in the judgment, the
trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to change the plaintiff' s name. Accordingly,
we hold that the trial court did not err in denying BSofA' s CR 60( a) motion. 5
B. ABILITY OF AN UNREGISTERED CORPORATION TO PURSUE APPEAL
Under the trial court' s CR 60( a) ruling and our affirmance of that ruling, BSofA remains
the appellant in this appeal. WaferTech argues that BSofA' s appeal must be dismissed because it
is a nonexistent entity. In response, BSofA argues that WaferTech is estopped from raising this
issue because it accepted the benefits of its 2002 judgment against BSofA. We must remand
because we cannot determine from the appellate record whether BSofA can pursue this appeal.
We also reject BSofA' s estoppel argument.
1. Applicability of RAP 3. 1
WaferTech argues that BSofA cannot pursue this appeal because it has no legal existence
and does not have the capacity to sue ( or be sued). Therefore, WaferTech argues that BSofA
cannot be an aggrieved party under RAP 3. 1. However, the appellate record does not allow us to
determine BSofA' s legal status. As a result, we must remand to the trial court to make this
determination.
WaferTech argues that even if the judgment is corrected to name BSA II as the judgment
debtor, BSA II could not pursue this appeal under Delaware law because BSA II is a void
corporation. We need not address this issue because we affirm the trial court' s refusal to correct
the judgment by naming BSA II as the judgment debtor.
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As a general proposition, WaferTech may be correct that an entity with no legal existence
cannot sue or be sued. See Roth v. Drainage Improvement Dist. No. 5 of Clark County, 64
Wn.2d 586, 590, 392 P. 2d 1012 ( 1964) ( drainage district that was overseen by the local county
could not be sued in its individual capacity because the drainage district had no separate
existence outside of the local county). But the record does not support WaferTech' s contention
that BSofA has no legal existence. WaferTech presented evidence that a corporation called
Business Services of America II, Inc. has never been registered with the Delaware Division of
Corporations. The fact that an entity has never been registered as a corporation in Delaware does
not necessarily mean that it has no legal existence. BSofA could be a corporation registered in
another state. In addition, even if BSofA is not a valid corporation it may have some other legal
status — as a partnership, sole proprietorship, or some other entity —by operation of law. On-the
other hand, WaferTech may be correct and BSofA may have no legal existence.
Based on the appellate record, we cannot determine BSofA' s legal status. The record
does not establish whether BSofA does or does not have any legal existence sufficient to allow
BSofA to pursue its appeal of the trial court' s summary judgment order. Accordingly, we
remand this case for the trial court to determine BSofA' s legal status and BSofA' s ability to
pursue its appeal against WaferTech.6
6 If BSofA has no legal existence, WaferTech' s judgment for attorney fees against BSofA may
be meaningless. However, we do not address this issue.
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2. Estoppel to Object to BSofA' s Legal Status
BSofA contends WaferTech is precluded under judicial estoppel from arguing that
BSofA is a non -existent legal entity because WaferTech accepted the benefits of a previous
judgment entered against BSofA.7 We disagree.
Judicial estoppel is an equitable doctrine that precludes a party from asserting one
position in a court proceeding and later seeking an advantage by taking a clearly inconsistent
position." Bartley—Williams v. Kendall, 134 Wn. App. 95, 98, 138 P. 3d 1103 ( 2006). We
examine whether the first position was accepted by the court, and " whether assertion of the
inconsistent positions results in an unfair advantage or detriment to the opposing party." First
Citizens Bank & Trust Co. v. Harrison, 181 Wn. App. 595, 600, 326 P. 3d 808 ( 2014). A court' s
application of judicial estoppel may be inappropriate " ` when a party' s prior position was based
on inadvertence or mistake.' " Arkison v. Ethan Allen, Inc., 160 Wn.2d 535, 539, 160 P. 3d 132007) ( quoting New Hampshire v. Maine, 532 U.S. 742, 750 -51, 121 S. Ct. 1808, 149 L. Ed. 2d
968 ( 2001)).
BSofA argues that judicial estoppel applies because WaferTech benefitted from its failure
to object to BSofA' s corporate status earlier in the litigation when it obtained a judgment against
BSofA for attorney fees and collected on that judgment. We reject BSofA' s argument for two
reasons. First, WaferTech never took a " position" that BSofA was a legal entity. The issue
never arose. In fact, WaferTech specifically denied BSofA' s allegations in its second and third
7 BSofA also argues in a footnote that equitable estoppel applies. However, we generally refuse
to address arguments raised only in a footnote. See Norcon Builders, LLC v. GMP Homes VG,
LLC, 161 Wn. App. 474, 497, 254 P. 3d 835 ( 2011); State v. Johnson, 69 Wn. App. 189, 194 n.4,
847 P. 2d 960 ( 1993)). Accordingly, we decline to address this issue.
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amended complaints that it was a Delaware corporation. To the extent WaferTech took a
position, WaferTech' s position derived from its reliance on BSofA' s own identification of itself.
Relying on BSofA' s own allegations is not a sufficient " position" to warrant the application of
the judicial estoppel doctrine.
Second, BSofA cites no authority for the proposition that once a party collects on a
judgment against an entity that is not a registered corporation, it is precluded from later arguing
based on newly discovered information that the entity has no legal existence and cannot pursue
litigation. In the absence of any authority, we decline to apply judicial estoppel in this situation.
BSofA cannot establish the elements of judicial estoppel. Accordingly, we hold that
judicial estoppel does not preclude WaferTech from challenging BSofA' s ability to pursue this
appeal.
C. EQUITABLE SETOFF AND ATTORNEY FEES
BSofA argues that the trial court erred in offsetting the $2. 4 million M +W
settlement against its $ 1. 5 million lien claim, which resulted in summary judgment in
favor of WaferTech. BSofA also challenges the trial court' s award of $430, 000 in
attorney fees to WaferTech under RCW 60. 04. 181( 3) as the prevailing party in a lien
foreclosure action. Because we remand for the trial court to determine whether BSofA
can pursue this appeal, we do not address these issues.
D. ATTORNEY FEES ON APPEAL
Both BSofA and WaferTech request reasonable attorney fees on appeal based on
RCW 60. 04. 181( 3), which allows the prevailing party in a lien foreclosure action to
recover attorney fees. WaferTech is the prevailing party on the CR 60( a) appeal, and
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BSofA is not the prevailing party on this issue. But because we do not address the merits
of the trial court' s dismissal of the lien foreclosure action, we cannot yet determine which
party is the prevailing party of the entire action. Accordingly, we do not award attorney
fees to either party.
We affirm the trial court' s denial of BSofA' s CR 60( a) motion, but we remand for
the trial court to determine BSofA' s legal status and BSofA' s ability to pursue its appeal
against WaferTech.
A majority of the panel having determined that this opinion will not be printed in the
Washington Appellate Reports, but will be filed for public record in accordance with RCW
2. 06. 040, it is so ordered.
We concur:
LEE, J.
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