Universal Home Improvement v. Robertson CA1/2 ( 2014 )

Filed 1/28/14 Universal Home Improvement v. Robertson CA1/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
UNIVERSAL HOME IMPROVEMENT,
INC.,
Plaintiff and Respondent, A138995
v. (San Mateo County
JAMES ROBERTSON et al., Super. Ct. No. CIV495673)
Defendants and Appellants.
INTRODUCTION
Defendants and judgment debtors James and Katherine Robertson appeal from an
order of the San Mateo County Superior Court, denying James’s claim of exemption from
wage garnishment. Defendants contend the court erred in denying the claim of
exemption of earnings necessary for the support of the judgment debtor and his family.
(Code Civ. Proc., § 706.051, subd. (b).1) They contend that they complied with statutory
requisites by filing the claim of exemption and financial statement (§§ 706.105,
subd. (b)), that the only evidence in the record was the financial declaration of James in
support of the claim of exemption, and that the court was therefore required to apply the
presumption the judgment debtor fairly and honestly claimed the exemption in the
absence of evidence of fraudulent purpose. Finally, defendants contend that even if
plaintiff’s specific objections to particular expenditures were properly denied, they would
1
Unless otherwise indicated, statutory references are to the Code of Civil
Procedure, and citation references to “Rules” are to the California Rules of Court.
1
amount to only $210, so that even removing that amount, a shortfall of more than $1,800
between defendants’ income and expenses would make those items irrelevant.
Plaintiff Universal Home Improvement, Inc. argues that because the record before
us does not contain a reporter’s transcript of the hearing, defendants cannot challenge the
sufficiency of the evidence on appeal. Plaintiff further contends defendants have waived
the issues raised by this appeal by failing to first present them to the trial court.
Alternatively, plaintiff argues substantial evidence supports the order denying the claim
of exemption. Finally, plaintiff seeks sanctions for the filing of a frivolous appeal and for
defendants’ failure to include in the record a “register of actions” required by Rules
8.122(b)(1) and 8.124(b)2.)
We shall affirm the order and deny the request for sanctions.
BACKGROUND
On January 28, 2013,3 an amended judgment was entered in favor of plaintiff on
its third amended complaint for breach of contract against defendants. The judgment
awarded plaintiff a total of $5,230,014.62 (including a $40,000 punitive damages award,
costs and prejudgment interest), plus $472,840.50 in attorney fees. Various proceedings
in connection with enforcement of the judgment followed, including bench warrants
issued for the arrest of defendants (later recalled, and then reissued) for failing to appear
at examinations. On or about March 4, a writ of execution for money issued to Placer
County in the amount of $5,280,190.42.
On March 7, plaintiff filed a separate complaint to set aside fraudulent transfer, to
establish conspiracy, and to impose constructive trust against defendant Katherine
Robertson, contending that in April 2012, less than one month following trial and the
initial judgment in favor of plaintiff, she had transferred her real property in Mariposa
County to her sister, for no or inadequate consideration. (Universal Home Improvement,
2
We note that while defendants did not list the register of actions in their
designation of the record on appeal, the clerk’s transcript before us does contain a
“Register of Actions” for this case.
3
All dates hereafter are in 2013, unless otherwise indicated.
2
Inc. v. Katherine M. Robertson et al. (Super. Ct. Mariposa Co., 2013, No.CIV-10323.)
On June 24, after the court’s denial of defendants’ claim of exemption, plaintiff
dismissed this fraudulent conveyance action against Katherine Robertson, without
prejudice.
In mid-April, defendant James Robertson filed with the Placer County Sheriff a
claim of exemption (wage garnishment), accompanied by a financial statement that was
executed under penalty of perjury by both defendants. In the claim of exemption, James
stated under penalty of perjury that all earnings were needed to support himself and his
family. The accompanying financial statement reported defendants’ monthly take-home
pay (minus payroll deductions) as $2,195.73. Subsection (d) asking for “Other money I
get each month from (specify source)” was left blank. Defendants reported two older
cars valued at $3,800, cash as “0”, checking, savings and credit union accounts as “0”,
and real estate equity as “0”. They reported monthly expenses for defendants and other
dependents as $4,280. (Among other things, these expenses included $100 for “school,
child care,” $50 for “entertainment,” and $60 for “installment payments.” Defendants
failed to include the “creditor’s name” or the “balance owed” for the $60 monthly
installment payment.)
Plaintiff filed a notice of opposition to claim of exemption (wage garnishment)”
on April 26, stating the earnings were “partially exempt” and that the “amount not
exempt per month is: $548.93.” This sum equals 25 percent of defendants’ claimed
income. (California law limits the amount of earnings which may be garnished in
satisfaction of a judgment to no more than 25 percent of a worker’s “disposable
earnings.”) (§ 706.050; Barnhill v. Robert Saunders & Co. (1981) 125 Cal.App.3d 1, 6
and fn. 2; see also 15 U.S.C. § 1673.) Plaintiff specified in its notice of opposition that it
objected to the exemption because: “None of the alleged expenses are substantiated by
documentary evidence. In addition, considering that the debtor indicates that his spouse
is not employed, the purported child care expenses are not necessary. In addition, the
debtor’s unidentified installment payments and entertainment expenses are not necessary
for the support of the debtor and the debtor’s family.” On April 26, plaintiff filed and
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served defendants with a notice of motion for an order determining the claim of
exemption to be heard on May 22. Defendants failed to appear at the May 22 hearing.
The court denied the judgment debtors’ claim of exemption and directed the levying
officer to release any earnings held to the judgment creditor for payment on the
judgment. This timely appeal followed and we granted defendants’ motion for calendar
preference.
DISCUSSION
The parties dispute whether the record designated by defendants was adequate.
Plaintiff contends that in the absence of a reporter’s transcript of the hearing, defendants
may not mount a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, citing Maria P. v. Riles
(1987) 43 Cal.3d 1281, 1295-1296 [refusing to remand to the trial court to determine
whether the court used the lodestar method to determine attorney fees where the
complaining party failed to supply a reporter’s transcript or settled statement] and Estate
of Fain (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 973, 992 [“Where no reporter’s transcript has been
provided and no error is apparent on the face of the existing appellate record, the
judgment must be conclusively presumed correct as to all evidentiary matters. To put it
another way, it is presumed that the unreported trial testimony would demonstrate the
absence of error. [Citation.] The effect of this rule is that an appellant who attacks a
judgment but supplies no reporter’s transcript will be precluded from raising an argument
as to the sufficiency of the evidence. [Citations.]”].
Defendants counter that the issue is a matter of law, because plaintiff did not
present any evidence in support of its opposition to the claim of exemption and because
Rule 3.13064 requires with respect to motions that, “[e]vidence received at a law and
4
Rule 3.1306 “Evidence at Hearing” provides:
“(a) Restrictions on oral testimony. Evidence received at a law and motion
hearing must be by declaration or request for judicial notice without testimony or cross-
examination, unless the court orders otherwise for good cause shown.
“(b) Request to present oral testimony. A party seeking permission to introduce
oral evidence, except for oral evidence in rebuttal to oral evidence presented by the other
party, must file, no later than three court days before the hearing, a written statement
4
motion hearing must be by declaration or request for judicial notice without testimony or
cross-examination, unless the court orders otherwise for good cause shown.” (Rule
3.1306 (a).) The introduction of oral evidence (except in rebuttal to oral evidence
presented by the other party) requires prior notice and “a written statement stating the
nature and extent of the evidence proposed to be introduced . . . .” (Rule 3.1306 (b).)
A party’s request for judicial notice requires the party to “provide the court and each
party with a copy of the material. If the material is part of a file in the court in which the
matter is being heard, the party must: [¶] . . . Specify in writing the part of the court file
sought to be judicially noticed.” (Rule 3.1306 (c).)
We do not agree with defendants that no reporter’s transcript is required on
motions proceedings. (See Maria P. v. Riles, supra, 43 Cal.3d at pp. 1295-1296 [attorney
fee motion brought on declarations].) However, the absence of a reporter’s transcript of
the claim of exemption motion in this case is not necessarily fatal to defendants’
challenge. As stated above, the rules regarding hearings on motions generally require
that evidence be by declaration or request for judicial notice and that permission for oral
testimony must be secured in advance of the hearing through a written statement of the
nature and extent of the evidence proposed to be introduced. (Rule 3.1306.) Plaintiff
does not contend and the record does not indicate it either sought or obtained such
permission. The question, then, is whether resolution of the appeal requires consideration
of any part of the oral proceedings. (See Eisenberg et al., Civil Appeals and Writs (The
stating the nature and extent of the evidence proposed to be introduced and a reasonable
time estimate for the hearing. When the statement is filed less than five court days before
the hearing, the filing party must serve a copy on the other parties in a manner to assure
delivery to the other parties no later than two days before the hearing.
“(c) Judicial notice. A party requesting judicial notice of material under
Evidence Code sections 452 or 453 must provide the court and each party with a copy of
the material. If the material is part of a file in the court in which the matter is being
heard, the party must: [¶] (1) Specify in writing the part of the court file sought to be
judicially noticed; and [¶] (2) Make arrangements with the clerk to have the file in the
courtroom at the time of the hearing.”
5
Rutter Group 2013) ¶ 4:18, p. 4-6; Chodos v. Cole (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 692, 699-700;
Rule 8.120 (b).)
As Eisenberg explains: “If there was no testimonial evidence in the trial court
proceedings, it is usually unnecessary to designate a reporter’s transcript of oral argument
in connection with various motions. . . .” (Eisenberg et al., Civil Appeals and Writs,
supra, at ¶ 4:38, p. 4-10.) In other words, absent error on the face of the record, we
conclusively presume the judgment is correct as to all evidentiary matters—that is, that
the absence of error would have been shown by the unreported proceedings. (Id.
at ¶ 4:53, p.4-14.) However, where the claimed error does appear on the face of the
record, we will not presume that it was cured by some proceeding not appearing in the
transcript. (Id. at ¶ 4:54, p. 4-14.) We deny plaintiff’s invitation to dismiss this appeal or
to summarily affirm it on the basis of the absence of a reporter’s transcript. Still, we do
not agree with defendants that error appears on the face of the record or that the issues
presented here must be determined as a matter of law.
Defendants assert that absent additional evidence, the court was required to apply
the presumption that a judgment debtor honestly and fairly claims an exemption from
enforcement of a judgment. (Independence Bank v. Heller (1969) 275 Cal.App.2d 84,
87.) Two important caveats inform this rule. The first is that the burden of proof is upon
the party claiming the exemption (§ 703.580, subd. (b) [“At a hearing under this section,
the exemption claimant has the burden of proof”].) The second is that the presumption
only applies in the absence of a fraudulent purpose. In Independence Bank v. Heller, the
debtor claimed the property (luxurious furnishings) was exempt as “necessary household
furniture” under former section 690.2.5 (Id. at pp. 85-86.) The Court of Appeal affirmed
the order of the trial court that most of the furniture and furnishings were exempt and that
several statutes and pictures were subject to execution. (Id. at p. 86.) The appellate court
“presumed” the debtor “intended to pay the judgment . . . as soon as he was able to pay it;
he did not invest his money in the furniture for the purpose of putting it beyond the reach
5
Section 704.020 supersedes the first sentence of former Section 690.1. (Legis.
Com. com., West’s Ann. Code Civ. Proc. (2009 ed.) § 704.020, p. 61.)
6
of his creditors and had no intent or purpose to defraud them.” (Id. at p. 87.) It stated it
“must consider the foregoing as established facts under the presumption in favor of fair
and honest dealing and against fraud, in the absence of evidence contradictory of the
presumptions. It was not incumbent upon [the debtor] to introduce evidence that he had
honest intentions, and he introduced none; the bank introduced no evidence which tended
to prove that [the debtor] acted with a fraudulent purpose. [¶] In view of the presumed
good faith of [the debtor] and the court’s application of the law to the implied findings
upon the factual issue and because the exemption laws should be liberally construed we
have concluded the order should be affirmed.” (Id. at p. 87, italics added.) The appellate
court deferred to the trial court’s implied findings, recognizing that “the claim of
exemption created a purely factual question as to what [was] necessary household
furniture” (id. at p.89) and concluding it was proper for the trial court “to consider and
give due weight to the testimony of [the debtor] that he had furnished his apartment in a
manner to which he had been long accustomed” (id. at p. 88).
The court below was not required to make findings in support of its determination.
(§ 703.580, subd. (d).) Giving due deference to the determination of the trial court, we
conclude the record before us would support an implied finding that defendants acted
with a “fraudulent purpose” in submitting their claim of exemption, sufficient to rebut the
presumption that such claim was honestly and fairly presented. Plaintiff has provided no
authority for its assertion below that documentary evidence supporting defendants’ claim
of exemption was required to establish such claim.6 Nevertheless, the absence of any
documents substantiating defendants’ claim of exemption is a factor the court could
6
The statute anticipates that the court can make its determination solely on the
basis of the claim of exemption, the financial statement and the opposition. “The claim
of exemption is deemed controverted by the notice of opposition to the claim of
exemption and both shall be received in evidence. If no other evidence is offered, the
court, if satisfied that sufficient facts are shown by the claim of exemption (including the
financial statement if one is required) and the notice of opposition, may make its
determination thereon. If not satisfied, the court shall order the hearing continued for the
production of other evidence, oral or documentary.” (§ 703.580, subd. (c), italics added.)
7
consider, among others, in determining whether defendants’ purpose was fraudulent. The
court could also consider on the question of defendants’ honesty and fair dealing, their
failure to identify the person or entity to whom they claimed they owed a monthly
installment payment. More tellingly, the court could determine the failure to respond at
all (even by entering a “0”to the question asking for other sources of income), together
with defendants’ claim of ongoing expenses in an amount twice their claimed income
from all sources, constituted circumstantial evidence that the claim of exemption and
financial statement did not present an honest or fair picture of defendants’ real financial
state. 7 In short, the record before us supports the inference that defendants’ claim of
exemption was submitted with a fraudulent purpose and that defendants did not
sufficiently carry their burden of proof of the claimed exemption. (§ 703.580, subd. (b).)
DISPOSITION
The order denying defendants’ claim of exemption is affirmed. Plaintiff’s request
for sanctions is denied. Each party shall bear their own costs on this appeal.
7
Although not the basis for our conclusion here, we also note that the judicial
officer who denied this claim of exemption was well placed to consider the question of
honesty and fairness in evaluating the claim of exemption, as he had presided over
various postjudgment enforcement proceedings, including those at which he issued bench
warrants for defendants’ nonappearance at noticed debtor examinations.
8
_________________________
Kline, P.J.
We concur:
_________________________
Richman, J.
_________________________
Brick, J,*
* Judge of the Alameda County Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice
pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
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