Orion Communications v. Super. Ct. ( 2014 )

Filed 5/14/14
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ORION COMMUNICATIONS, INC., et D064979
al.,
(San Diego County Super. Ct.
Petitioners, No. 37-2009-00087082-CU-BT-CTL)
v.
THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN
DIEGO COUNTY,
Respondent;
SAMEIS HOLDINGS, LLC,
Real Party in Interest.
PETITION for writ of mandamus challenging order of the Superior Court of San
Diego County, Timothy B. Taylor, Judge. Petition granted.
Chapin Fitzgerald, Kenneth M. Fitzgerald and Jennifer Arnold for Petitioner Orion
Communications, Inc.
Moscone Emblidge Sater & Otis, G. Scott Emblidge and Matthew K. Yan for
Petitioners City of San Diego and TEGSCO, LLC.
No appearance for Respondent.
Broker & Associates and Jeffrey W. Broker for Real Party in Interest.
Orion Communications, Inc., TEGSCO, LLC, doing business as San Francisco
AutoReturn, and City of San Diego (together Orion) filed a petition for writ of mandamus
challenging an order granting a Code of Civil Procedure1 section 170.6 peremptory
challenge filed by Sameis Holdings, LLC (Sameis) after Orion filed a motion to add
Sameis as a judgment debtor along with the original judgment debtor, Dispatch &
Tracking Solutions, LLC (DTS). Orion contends the trial court erred by granting the
section 170.6 peremptory challenge because Sameis is not a party to the action within the
meaning of section 170.6. Orion alternatively contends that because DTS previously
filed a section 170.6 peremptory challenge and there is insufficient evidence to support a
finding that the interests of DTS and Sameis are substantially adverse, the one challenge
per side rule applies to bar a subsequent section 170.6 peremptory challenge by Sameis.
Because we agree with Orion's second contention, we grant the petition.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2
In 2009, Authorized City Towing and other plaintiffs (together ACT) filed a first
amended complaint against the City of San Diego (City), TEGSCO, LLC, doing business
1 All statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure unless otherwise
specified.
2 Because the factual and procedural background of the main civil action is not
material to our disposition of the instant petition, we provide only a brief summary of the
facts and procedural events in the action.
2
as AutoReturn (AutoReturn), DTS and other defendants, apparently arising out of City's
2008 decision to terminate its contract with ACT for a computer-based system for
managing the towing of vehicles, and instead award the contract to AutoReturn.
In 2011, DTS filed a first amended cross-complaint against Orion, and other cross-
defendants alleging causes of action for misappropriation of trade secrets. In January
2012, DTS filed a section 170.6 peremptory challenge to San Diego County Superior
Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel. The challenge was granted and the case was reassigned to
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor. Thereafter, the trial court
(Judge Taylor) granted Orion's motions for summary judgment on DTS's cross-
complaint. The court also awarded Orion Communications, Inc., attorney fees of
$120,000 and City and AutoReturn attorney fees of $450,000 pursuant to Civil Code
section 3426.4. On February 28, 2013, the trial court entered an amended judgment
reflecting its summary judgment and awards of attorney fees against DTS.
Apparently after unsuccessful efforts to enforce the judgment against DTS, Orion
filed a motion to amend the judgment to add Sameis as a judgment debtor. Orion argued
Sameis was the alter ego of DTS and was liable as the successor to DTS's business.
Sameis filed its opposition to the motion.
On or about November 1, 2013, Sameis filed a section 170.6 peremptory challenge
to Judge Taylor, asserting it was a proposed party in the action under the motion to
amend and stating its belief a fair and impartial trial or hearing could not be had before
him. Orion filed its opposition to the peremptory challenge, asserting Sameis was not a
party to the action and therefore could not make a challenge under section 170.6. Orion
3
alternatively asserted that even were Sameis a party to the action, Sameis was on the
same side as DTS and, because DTS had already exercised its side's only section 170.6
peremptory challenge, there was no remaining peremptory challenge available.
On November 6, 2013, the trial court issued the instant order (Order) granting
Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory challenge. The court stated: "There is much to
recommend the position taken by Orion in this matter. . . . [S]ection 170.6 challenges
appear to be limited to parties to the action." However, citing our failure to immediately
deny a writ petition in another case involving a similar peremptory challenge (Geraci v.
Superior Court (D064812)), the trial court apparently concluded Sameis may be
considered a party under section 170.6 and granted the peremptory challenge. In so
doing, the court did not expressly address Orion's alternative assertion that Sameis was
on the same side as DTS and therefore there was no peremptory challenge left for its side
to make.
Orion filed the instant petition for writ of mandamus, challenging the Order. It
also filed a motion requesting that we take judicial notice of (1) our summary denial of
the Geraci writ petition in Case No. D064812 on November 7, 2013, and (2) papers filed
in a pending action between Sameis and Orion in the Texas courts.3 Sameis filed a
3 We grant Orion's request that we take judicial notice of the Geraci order and deny
its request to take judicial notice of papers filed in the Texas proceeding. (Evid. Code,
§§ 451, subd. (a), 452, subd. (c), 459, subd. (a).) Except for the Geraci order, we have
restricted our review of the exhibits submitted by both parties to those exhibits presented
to and considered by the trial court in deciding Sameis's peremptory challenge. In so
doing, we have disregarded all other exhibits in deciding the merits of this case and
therefore decline to take the additional action of striking certain exhibits from the record.
4
preliminary opposition to the petition. We issued an order to show cause why the relief
requested in the petition should not be granted. Because Sameis did not timely file an
objection, we consider its preliminary opposition to be its return to the order to show
cause.
DISCUSSION
I
Section 170.6 Peremptory Challenges Generally
"[S]ection 170.6 permits a party to an action or proceeding to disqualify a judge
for prejudice based on a sworn statement, without having to establish prejudice as a fact
to the satisfaction of a judicial body. [Citation.] If a peremptory challenge motion in
proper form is timely filed under section 170.6, the court must accept it without further
inquiry." (Stephens v. Superior Court (2002) 96 Cal. App. 4th 54, 59.)
"The right to exercise a so-called peremptory challenge against a judge is a
creation of statute--it did not exist in the common law predating enactment of section
170.6." (The Home Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2005) 34 Cal. 4th 1025, 1031 (Home
Ins.).) Section 170.6 provides:
"(a)(1) A judge, court commissioner, or referee of a superior court
of the State of California shall not try a civil or criminal action or
special proceeding of any kind or character nor hear any matter
therein that involves a contested issue of law or fact when it is
established as provided in this section that the judge or court
commissioner is prejudiced against a party or attorney or the interest
of a party or attorney appearing in the action or proceeding.
(People v. Superior Court (Lavi) (1993) 4 Cal. 4th 1164, 1173-1174, fn. 5; People v.
Zamora (1980) 28 Cal. 3d 88, 96.)
5
"(2) A party to, or an attorney appearing in, an action or proceeding
may establish this prejudice by an oral or written motion without
prior notice supported by affidavit or declaration under penalty of
perjury, or an oral statement under oath, that the judge, court
commissioner, or referee before whom the action or proceeding is
pending, or to whom it is assigned, is prejudiced against a party or
attorney, or the interest of the party or attorney, so that the party or
attorney cannot, or believes that he or she cannot, have a fair and
impartial trial or hearing before the judge, court commissioner, or
referee. . . . [¶] . . . [¶]
"(4) If the motion is duly presented, and the affidavit or declaration
under penalty of perjury is duly filed or an oral statement under oath
is duly made, thereupon and without any further act or proof, the
judge supervising the master calendar, if any, shall assign some
other judge, court commissioner, or referee to try the cause or hear
the matter. . . . Except as provided in this section, no party or
attorney shall be permitted to make more than one such motion in
any one action or special proceeding pursuant to this section. In
actions or special proceedings where there may be more than one
plaintiff or similar party or more than one defendant or similar party
appearing in the action or special proceeding, only one motion for
each side may be made in any one action or special proceeding."
(Italics added.)
"[S]ection 170.6 is designed to prevent abuse by parties that merely seek to delay a
trial or obtain a more favorable judicial forum. [Citations.] An important element of that
design is the limitation, in any one action, of each party to a single motion, or each side to
a single motion, should there be more than one plaintiff or defendant. (§ 170.6, subd.
[(a)(4)].) The phrase 'only one motion for each side' contemplates that one side may
consist of several parties, and a peremptory challenge by any party disqualifies the judge
on behalf of all parties on that side. [Citation.] This limitation also reflects the general
aim of the legislation to strike a balance between the needs of litigants and the operating
efficiency of the courts. [Citation.] [¶] To effectuate the Legislature's intent, our courts
6
'have been vigilant to enforce the statutory restrictions on the number and timing of
motions permitted.' " (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at pp. 1032-1033.) To effectuate that
intent, our courts have held "when a party on the same side has exercised its right to
disqualify a judge, a late-appearing party 'has no right to challenge the then-current
judge[,] because that side has used its one challenge.' " (Id. at p. 1033.)
Nevertheless, in certain circumstances, section 170.6 permits the exercise of a
peremptory challenge by more than one plaintiff or defendant. (Home Ins., supra, 34
Cal.4th at pp. 1033-1034.) In Johnson v. Superior Court (1958) 50 Cal. 2d 693, at page
700, the court interpreted section 170.6's one challenge per side limitation and concluded
a party may be considered to be on a different side than other parties with which it is
joined when the joined parties have interests that are "substantially adverse." In Pappa v.
Superior Court (1960) 54 Cal. 2d 350, at page 354, the court concluded that after one
codefendant disqualified the judge pursuant to section 170.6, the burden was on the party
(i.e., the other codefendant) seeking to exercise a subsequent peremptory challenge to
establish that her interests were substantially adverse to those of the first codefendant.
"Subsequent civil and criminal decisions . . . uniformly have recognized that the party
seeking a subsequent disqualification of the trial judge has the burden of demonstrating
that its interests are substantially adverse to those of a coparty that previously exercised a
peremptory challenge--substantially adverse interests are not presumed." (Home Ins.,
supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1035.)
The question whether joined parties (e.g., codefendants) are on the same side
within the meaning of section 170.6 is a factual one. (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at
7
p. 1036.) "[A] party that seeks to exercise a subsequent peremptory challenge on the
ground that, in effect, it is on a different side from another party despite appearances to
the contrary, is required to provide evidence of a conflict to enable the trial court to
decide whether the interests of the joined parties are actually substantially adverse." (Id.
at p. 1037, italics added.) "[T]he circumstance that the plaintiff belatedly names a party
as a defendant [does not] establish that that party's interests are substantially adverse to
earlier named defendants." (Ibid.) In Home Ins., the court concluded: "The mere
likelihood of, or potential for, a conflict between the [joined parties] did not and could
not establish, in lieu of a factually sufficient demonstration of substantially adverse
interests, that these coparties were on different sides within the meaning of section
170.6." (Ibid.)
II
Insufficient Evidence to Show Sameis and DTS Are Not on the Same Side
Orion contends the trial court erred by granting Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory
challenge because Sameis did not present sufficient evidence showing it is not on the
same side as DTS for purposes of section 170.6's one challenge per side limitation.
A
On the first page of Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory challenge, its attorney,
Jeffrey W. Broker, declared under penalty of perjury that Judge Taylor was prejudiced
against Sameis, or its attorney, or the interests of Sameis or its attorney, such that Sameis
believes a fair and impartial trial or hearing could not be had before Judge Taylor. The
second and third pages of its section 170.6 peremptory challenge were not part of
8
Broker's declaration under the penalty of perjury, but instead consisted, in effect, of
Broker's arguments regarding why Sameis should be able to make a section 170.6
challenge. Broker argued that:
"3. Sameis anticipates that it may be argued that its interests are not
substantially adverse to those of DTS. Such an argument is incorrect
for the following reasons: [¶] . . . [¶]
"B. Sameis did not legally exist when this litigation was filed.
Sameis is a bona fide purchaser for value having bought the assets of
DTS and Compiled Logic from the foreclosing bank. Sameis has
never owned DTS'[s] interests in the subject litigation. Sameis has
never been a party to this litigation;
"C. The conflicts between Sameis and DTS are substantial enough
that Sameis must be represented by separate counsel due to conflicts
of interest; and
"D. DTS remains a defendant in the subject litigation under
[Orion's] complaint. It is undisputed that those claims do not relate
in any way to Sameis. In fact, the adverse claims that remain against
DTS and Defendant Lawrence Estes are substantially adverse to any
position Sameis would ever reasonably adopt in this litigation.
"4. Sameis'[s] interests have been adverse to DTS since the date
Sameis acquired DTS's former assets from the bank: On August 4,
2010, Sameis purchased the assets previously owned by DTS from
Encore Bank, National Association. A true and correct copy of the
Bill of Sale and Transfer Statement is attached as Exhibit '1'. The
Bill of Sale memorializes that Sameis paid $37,500 for the personal
property assets of DTS, which assets Encore Bank had recently
foreclosed upon, after DTS and its sole member[,] Compiled Logic,
defaulted on loan obligations owing to Encore Bank. Exhibit A to
the Bill of Sale (EX. 1) lists all of the categories of personal property
formerly owned by DTS that Sameis acquired from the Bank. This
list of assets does not include the present lawsuit. The present
lawsuit never left DTS and DTS continues to retain the present
lawsuit. [¶] . . . [¶]
"6. As of the date that Sameis acquired DTS's assets, the interests of
Sameis became substantially adverse to DTS's interests relating to
9
the present lawsuit. The parties' interests were adverse because DTS
was a defendant in this lawsuit for conduct occurring prior to when
Sameis acquired DTS's assets from the bank, while Sameis was not a
party in the lawsuit. Obviously, DTS could not assign to the bank,
nor would the bank have foreclosed upon DTS'[s] position as a
defendant in this lawsuit. Moreover, DTS retained its interest in its
affirmative legal claims for conduct occurring before the August 4,
2010[,] asset purchase, while Sameis had no interest in those claims.
On the other hand, the parties' interests were also substantially
adverse because as of August 4, 2010, Sameis owed 100% of the
assets formerly owned by DTS, while DTS and Compiled Logic lost
all interest in these assets as a result of the foreclosure.
"7. Through their recently filed motion to amend the judgment to
include Sameis as a judgment debtor, Orion contends that DTS is
Sameis'[s] alter ego, or that Sameis is DTS'[s] successor, such that
Sameis should also be liable for the judgment in this matter.
Sameis'[s] primary interest is that alter ego and/or successor liability
not be imposed against it, because such finding(s) could make
Sameis a judgment debtor and co-obligor in this action. By contrast,
DTS, as sole judgment debtor, would directly benefit from a finding
that DTS is Sameis'[s] alter ego, or that Sameis is the successor of
DTS, because such finding(s) would potentially create an additional
source of funds from which the judgment against DTS could be
satisfied. As a result, DTS's and Sameis'[s] interests are in direct
conflict. Indeed, the divergent interests present such a substantial
conflict of interests between Sameis and DTS that they must retain
separate counsel. It is clear that Sameis already has affirmative
claims against DTS should it chose to pursue those claims."
Orion opposed Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory challenge, arguing Sameis was
not a party to the action and therefore could not make a challenge under section 170.6.
Orion noted that Sameis admitted in its challenge "Sameis has never been a party to this
action." Orion alternatively argued that even were Sameis a party to the action, it was on
the same side as DTS in the action. On January 25, 2012, DTS exercised its side's only
section 170.6 peremptory challenge when it challenged Judge Curiel. Therefore, there
was no remaining peremptory challenge for Sameis to make. Orion argued Sameis had
10
not met its burden to show that it and DTS have substantially adverse interests and
therefore are not on the same side. On the contrary, as Orion argued, the interests of
Sameis and DTS are closely aligned.
The trial court issued the Order granting Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory
challenge. However, in so doing, the court relied on Sameis's apparent status as a party
to the action and did not expressly address Orion's alternative assertion that Sameis was
on the same side as DTS and therefore there was no peremptory challenge left for its side
to make.
B
Based on our review of the record, we conclude, as Orion asserts, the trial court
erred by granting Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory challenge because Sameis did not
present sufficient evidence showing it is not on the same side as DTS for purposes of
section 170.6's one challenge per side limitation. In filing a section 170.6 peremptory
challenge, Sameis, as a potential judgment debtor along with DTS, had the burden to
present evidence showing it and DTS have substantially adverse interests with respect to
the motion to amend the judgment in the action. (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at
p. 1037; People v. Escobedo (1973) 35 Cal. App. 3d 32, 41 [no conflict shown between
two defendants regarding motion to suppress evidence].) It is a question of fact whether
two joined parties are on the same side for purposes of section 170.6 or whether they
11
have substantially adverse interests.4 (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1036.)
Although the Order did not contain any express discussion of the issue, we conclude the
trial court, by granting the peremptory challenge, implicitly found Sameis and DTS have
substantially adverse interests and are not on the same side for purposes of section 170.6's
one challenge per side limitation. Because that finding was based on the undisputed facts
set forth in Sameis's peremptory challenge, we determine de novo, or independently,
whether the trial court erred in so finding.5 (Ziesmer v. Superior Court (2003) 107
Cal. App. 4th 360, 363; Jane Doe 8015 v. Superior Court (2007) 148 Cal. App. 4th 489,
493 [independent standard of review applies because "the correctness of the
disqualification order turns on the application of law to undisputed facts"].)
Our independent review of Sameis's evidence shows it did not meet its burden to
present sufficient evidence showing it and DTS have substantially adverse interests. Our
review of the record shows the only proper evidence presented by Sameis in its section
170.6 peremptory challenge is, as Orion asserts, the statements set forth in Broker's
declaration under penalty of perjury. (§ 2015.5 [regarding declarations]; Cal. Rules of
4 For purposes of this opinion, we assume arguendo, but do not decide, that Sameis
is considered a party to the action within the meaning of section 170.6.
5 Although there are cases that pronounce the abuse of discretion standard of review
applies to a court's grant or denial of a section 170.6 peremptory challenge, we believe, in
the circumstances of this case, the trial court did not have any discretion to exercise in
determining whether Sameis presented sufficient evidence to show it and DTS have
substantially adverse interests and therefore are not on the same side within the meaning
of section 170.6. (See, e.g., Zilog, Inc. v. Superior Court (2001) 86 Cal. App. 4th 1309,
1315; Jonathon M. v. Superior Court (2006) 141 Cal. App. 4th 1093, 1098.)
12
Court, rule 3.1306(a) [regarding evidence allowed at law and motion hearings]; Strauch
v. Eyring (1994) 30 Cal. App. 4th 181, 186 [verified pleadings generally may not be used
in motion proceedings in lieu of affidavits or declarations]; In re Marriage of Reese &
Guy (1999) 73 Cal. App. 4th 1214, 1222-1223 [unsworn declarations are improper and
cannot be considered].) However, that declaration states only Sameis's belief that a fair
and impartial trial or hearing cannot be held before Judge Taylor because he is prejudiced
against it or its attorney or their interests. That declaration does not present any evidence
on the question of whether Sameis and DTS have substantially adverse interests and
therefore are not on the same side. The California Supreme Court has stated: "[A] party
that seeks to exercise a subsequent peremptory challenge on the ground that, in effect, it
is on a different side from another party despite appearances to the contrary, is required to
provide evidence of a conflict to enable the trial court to decide whether the interests of
the joined parties are actually substantially adverse." (Home Ins. Co., supra, 34 Cal.4th
at p. 1037, italics added.)
The arguments and factual assertions made in Sameis's section 170.6 peremptory
challenge appearing on the pages following Broker's declaration (i.e., those labeled as
pages 2 and 3) are not evidence, but rather merely argument on the issue. (See § 2015.5
[regarding declarations]; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1306(a) [regarding evidence allowed
at law and motion hearings]; cf. Strauch v. Eyring, supra, 30 Cal.App.4th at p. 186; In re
Marriage of Reese & Guy, supra, 73 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1222-1223 [unsworn declarations
are improper and cannot be considered].) Absent any evidence on that question, we
conclude Sameis did not meet its burden to present evidence showing it and DTS have
13
substantially adverse interests and therefore are not on the same side within the meaning
of section 170.6's one challenge per side limitation. (Marriage of Reese & Guy, at
pp. 1222-1223.)
Nevertheless, assuming arguendo that Sameis's arguments and factual assertions
appearing on pages 2 and 3 of its section 170.6 peremptory challenge, as quoted above,
constitute evidence for purposes of its peremptory challenge, we conclude none of those
arguments or factual assertions show Sameis and DTS have substantially adverse
interests and therefore are not on the same side for purposes of section 170.6's one
challenge per side limitation. Sameis's assertion that it did not exist when the underlying
action was filed does not show it is not on the same side as DTS or that they have
substantially adverse interests. The California Supreme Court stated: "[T]he
circumstance that the plaintiff belatedly names a party as a defendant [does not] establish
that that party's interests are substantially adverse to earlier named defendants." (Home
Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1037.) Therefore, the fact Sameis was not incorporated and
therefore could not become a party or potential party by joinder or otherwise until after
ACT's action was filed does not show it and DTS have substantially adverse interests.
The fact Sameis purchased from a foreclosing bank certain assets previously
owned by DTS, but not DTS's interest in its cross-complaint in the action, does not show
Sameis and DTS have substantially adverse interests in relation to the action or to Orion's
motion to amend the judgment to add Sameis as a judgment debtor. DTS presumably had
lost all right, title and interest in and to those assets prior to Sameis's purchase of those
assets from the foreclosing bank. Therefore, Sameis's ownership of those assets is
14
irrelevant to the question of whether it and DTS have substantially adverse interests in the
action and in Orion's motion to amend the judgment to add Sameis as a judgment debtor.
Because DTS no longer has any interest in those assets, there can be no conflict with
Sameis based on Sameis's ownership of those assets and, in particular, regarding the
motion to amend.6
The fact "Sameis has never been a party to this litigation" does not show it and
DTS have substantially adverse interests. As we discussed above, when a plaintiff
belatedly names a party as a defendant, that does not show that party's interests are
substantially adverse to earlier named defendants. (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at
p. 1137.) Likewise, the fact Sameis has not yet been named a party to the action does not
show its interests are substantially adverse to DTS's interests.
The fact Sameis and DTS have separate counsel because of conflicts of interest
does not show they have substantially adverse interests in the action and motion to
amend. Section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4), provides that joined parties, such as
codefendants, generally will be considered to be on the same side for purposes of its one
challenge per side limitation. Therefore, it is presumed that Sameis, a proposed party and
judgment debtor, and DTS, an existing party and judgment debtor, are on the same side.
It was Sameis's burden to present evidence showing it and DTS have, in fact,
substantially adverse interests in the action and motion to amend. Sameis's conclusory
6 Likewise, the fact DTS retained its cross-claims against other codefendants in the
action and Sameis has no interest in those cross-claims does not show they have
substantially adverse interests in the action or the motion to amend.
15
assertion that it and DTS have separate counsel because of conflicts of interest is
insufficient to meet that burden. Sameis did not describe the nature of the conflict of
interest, much less that it involves a conflict in the specific matter at hand--i.e., the
motion to amend. The California Supreme Court has stated: "[T]he mere fact that
[codefendants] choose to be represented by separate counsel does not show that [a section
170.6] conflict of interests exists." (Pappa v. Superior Court, supra, 54 Cal. 2d 350, 355.)
Therefore, the fact Sameis and DTS chose to have separate counsel because of some
unspecified conflict of interest does not show they have substantially adverse interests.
Furthermore, the mere likelihood of, or potential for, a conflict between Sameis and DTS
did not, and could not, establish they are on different sides within the meaning of section
170.6. (Home Ins., supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 1037.)
Sameis argues the adverse claims that remain against DTS in the action do not
relate to Sameis, and those claims are adverse to any position Sameis would adopt in the
action. That argument is irrelevant to Orion's motion to amend the judgment to add
Sameis as a judgment debtor, the only part of the action for which there could be an
existing conflict of interest under section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4). (People v. Escobedo,
supra, 35 Cal.App.3d at p. 41.) Furthermore, there is no indication Sameis will be added
as a codefendant in ACT's action against Orion, DTS and the other defendants, or that,
even if it was added, that Sameis's interests would actually be substantially adverse to
DTS or the other codefendants.
Sameis also argues it and DTS have substantially adverse interests in the motion to
amend because if it (Sameis) is added as a judgment debtor, DTS would benefit by
16
potentially being relieved from paying all or part of the judgment. However, the fact that
codefendants may be jointly liable for a judgment against them is insufficient to show
they have substantially adverse interests for purposes of section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4).
As discussed above, section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4), provides that joined parties, such
as codefendants, generally will be considered to be on the same side for purposes of its
one challenge per side limitation. If codefendants are presumed to be on the same side,
the fact that codefendants may ultimately become jointly liable as judgment debtors
should not make any difference. The "side" of codefendants bears the same or similar
risk of becoming liable for all or part of a judgment. Therefore, the fact Sameis may be
made a judgment debtor along with DTS does not show, by itself, they have substantially
adverse interests.
Finally, Sameis argues it "already has affirmative claims against DTS should it
[choose] to pursue those claims." However, Sameis does not describe the nature of those
claims against DTS. Absent any description of those claims, Sameis has not carried its
burden to present evidence showing it and DTS have substantially adverse interests in the
action and the motion to amend. Nevertheless, to extent Sameis's argument is that it has,
or will have, affirmative claims against DTS should Sameis be made a judgment debtor,
those claims are insufficient to show they have substantially adverse interests in the
action or motion to amend.
We conclude Sameis has not carried its burden to present sufficient evidence
showing it and DTS have substantially adverse interests and therefore are not on the same
side within the meaning of section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4). Because Sameis has not
17
carried its burden, section 170.6, subdivision (a)(4)'s limitation applies to Sameis and
DTS. As members of the same side, they have only one section 170.6 peremptory
challenge to exercise. In January 2012, DTS filed a section 170.6 peremptory challenge
to Judge Curiel. That peremptory challenge exhausted its side's sole peremptory
challenge. Because Sameis could not thereafter exercise a subsequent section 170.6
peremptory challenge, the trial court (Judge Taylor) erred by granting its peremptory
challenge in November 2013.
III
Because we dispose of this petition based on the above ground, we need not, and
do not, address Orion's alternative contention that the trial court also erred by concluding
Sameis is a party to the action within the meaning of section 170.6.
DISPOSITION
Let a writ issue directing the trial court to vacate its order of November 6, 2013,
granting the peremptory challenge and issue a new order denying that challenge.
Petitioners shall recover their costs in the writ proceeding. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule
8.493(a)(1)(A).) This opinion shall be final as to this court on May 27, 2014. (Cal. Rules
of Court, rule 8.490(b)(2)(A).)
McDONALD, J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, Acting P. J.
AARON, J.
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