Opinion
Docket No. 27011.
August 13, 1963.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Alfred Gitelson, Judge. Reversed.
Action for damages for fraud and for other relief. Judgment for defendants reversed.
Frank C. Morales for Plaintiff and Appellant.
Jack Altman for Defendants and Respondents.
This is an appeal from a judgment entered after the trial court found in favor of defendants on their defense of res judicata. The separate defense was tried first pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, section 597
A résumé of the essential facts is as follows: On January 3, 1958, two complaints were filed. The first complaint (Civil Number 693047 hereinafter referred to as the " 047 action") was an action to recover secret profits and for damages for breach of a fiduciary duty. The 047 action was brought by Ernest R. Breault, Henry Luft, H.A. Jappe, Annalee Walker, L. Mick, Philip Hohnstein and Edward J. Powell and was verified by Ernest R. Breault. The plaintiffs in the 047 action were, with the exception of Annalee Walker, represented by attorneys Lemaire and Frank. Respondents in the case at bar were defendants in the 047 action.
The second complaint filed (Civil Number 693049 hereinafter referred to as the " 049 action") was an action (1) for declaratory relief, or in the alternative for rescission or reformation; (2) to cancel void issuance of shares of stock; and (3) for damages for breach of fiduciary duty. The 049 action was brought by Topanga Corporation (appellant in the case at bar and hereinafter referred to as Topanga). As in the case of the 047 action LeMaire and Frank were the attorneys representing the plaintiff (Topanga) and the complaint was verified by Ernest R. Breault. Respondents in the case at bar were defendants in the 049 action.
The plaintiffs in the 047 action included officers and members of the board of directors of Topanga. A first amended complaint was filed in the 047 action on January 14, 1958. On February 13, 1959, a pre-trial conference order was filed. Among other things, it recites that the 047 action and the 049 action "are consolidated for the purposes of trial by stipulation of counsel for the respective parties. . . ." It incorporated by reference the individual pre-trial statements. The pre-trial statement of plaintiffs Breault, et al., in the 047 action and the pre-trial statement of plaintiff Topanga in the 049 action are for all practical purposes the same. It is asserted in each that the "individual plaintiffs and the corporation plaintiff are not entirely certain as to whom the causes of action belong and therefore the two actions were commenced."
See p. 279.
Comparing the allegations of the first amended complaint in the 047 action with the allegations in the complaint of the 049 action it appears as follows:
The order recites that at the time of the pre-trial conference "it appears that within a few days last past new officers and directors have been elected with respect to plaintiff, Topanga Corporation, and that a letter purportedly signed by plaintiff, L. Mick, has been received by counsel for said plaintiff corporation, terminating his services and said counsel contends that the said new board of directors and new officers, including the said Mick, were improperly elected and seated, and that he did not intend to recognize the said letter of dismissal instructions. There therefore is an issue as to counsel for Topanga Corporation. . . . The Pre-Trial Conference Court was advised that proceedings were to be immediately instituted in this court to determine those persons who are in truth and fact the duly elected officers and directors of said defendant [sic] corporation."
On February 27, 1959, the two cases [i.e. 047 action and 049 action] came on regularly for trial before Judge Patrosso as consolidated cases. However, the same questions arose as to whether counsel for the individual plaintiffs ( 047 action) was authorized to act as attorney for Topanga ( 049 action) and as to who were the then members of the board of directors of Topanga. The trial court, on its own motion, vacated the order consolidating the two matters for trial and the 049 action was ordered off calendar.
Several of the individual plaintiffs in the 047 action dismissed their cause of action and the 047 action then proceeded to trial.
On March 13, 1959, Judge Patrosso filed his Memorandum Decision in the 047 action. The findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed April 6, 1959, and judgment was entered on April 8, 1959, in favor of the individual plaintiffs and against the Gentiles (respondents in the case at bar). The judgment became final.
"FINDINGS OF FACT "I
047 action
"During the latter part of 1954 and the early months of 1955 defendant Phillip J. Gentile represented and caused to be represented to the plaintiffs that there was available a tract of land in the San Fernando Valley, known as Topanga Canyon Ranch, which was suitable for use as a dump site; that the same could be purchased for the sum of $210,000, which price was payable $30,000 in cash, the conveyance by the defendants Gentile of a ranch in Fresno County at an agreed value of $70,000, and the execution of a promissory note in the principal sum of $110,000, to be secured by a first deed of trust upon said property to be so purchased. The defendant Phillip J. Gentile further represented to the plaintiffs and said other parties that if they would join with him and contribute to the purchase price of the property, each of the parties so contributing would become the owner of an undivided interest therein in the proportion that the amount which he agreed to contribute bore to the total purchase price of the property. Defendant Phillip Gentile further represented to the said plaintiffs and said other parties that after the property was acquired by him, a corporation would be organized and the property conveyed to such corporation in consideration of the issuance of its shares of stock, and each contributor would receive the same proportion of the total number of shares issued by the corporation for said property as the amount agreed to be contributed by each of the plaintiffs and said other parties bore to the total purchase price of the property; the plaintiffs believed said representations and in reliance thereon entered into an agreement with the defendant Phillip Gentile whereby each agreed to contribute the following sums toward the purchase price of said ranch, to wit: Ernest R. Breault, $35,000; John Walker, $9,333.33; and, Edward J. Powell, $11,666.67; thereafter, defendants Phillip Gentile and Maria F. Gentile acquired said property in their names and a corporation was caused to be organized under the laws of the State of California known as Topanga Corporation; thereafter, defendants Phillip Gentile and Maria F. Gentile conveyed said real property to said corporation subject to the aforesaid promissory note of $110,000.00 which note was to be paid by stock subscriptions of the others in exchange for 1,000 shares of its capital stock and, in accordance with the agreement hereinbefore mentioned, shares of stock were by said corporation issued to each of the contributors, including the plaintiffs, in the proportion that the contribution to the purchase price of each bore to the total purchase price of $210,000 for said real property, there being issued to each of the plaintiffs the following number of shares; Ernest R. Breault, 166.666; John Walker, 44.444; and, Edward J. Powell, 55.556; and there were issued to defendants Gentile, 333.333 shares, all upon the basis that the purchase price of said property was $210,000, as represented by the defendant Phillip J. Gentile, and the further representation that defendants Gentile had conveyed their Fresno ranch to the vendor, and that the latter had accepted the same at the valuation of $70,000 on account of the purchase price.
See p. 282.
The judgment provides in pertinent part as follows:
"IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED as follows:
"1. That defendants Gentile hold in trust for each of said plaintiffs the number of shares of Topanga Corporation as follows: Ernest R. Breault, 66.667 shares; Annalee Walker, 17.778 shares, and Edward J. Powell, 22.222 shares, and said defendants are ordered and directed to execute and file the necessary and appropriate application for consent to transfer shares in escrow as is required by the Commissioner of Corporations to accomplish transfer in the shares and to the plaintiffs as set out above and upon issuance by the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California of an order permitting them so to do to transfer to plaintiffs in escrow said sum of shares to which each of said plaintiffs is entitled as hereinabove set forth and to endorse the stock certificates accomplishing said transfers, and, in the event said transfer is not permitted to be made while said shares are held in escrow pursuant to the order of the Commissioner of Corporations, the defendants Gentile are ordered and directed to transfer to each of the plaintiffs the said number of shares to which each is decreed to be entitled, as hereinabove set forth, upon the release of said shares from escrow, each of the plaintiffs being hereby decreed to be the equitable owner of the number of shares hereinabove set forth, now standing in the name of the defendants Gentile.
"2. The Court retains jurisdiction hereof to instruct the defendants with respect to the transfer of the shares as provided above, if necessary, and when such transfers are completed defendants shall file a report with the Court and upon the approval thereof the Court shall order the Judgment herein satisfied of record.
"3. Plaintiffs shall have and recover judgment against defendants for their costs of suit . . ."
On December 8,, 1960, the Pre-Trial Conference Order was filed in the 049 action. It incorporated by reference a joint pre-trial statement of the parties. The 049 action came on for trial on January 3, 1961.
"A. NATURE AND STATUS OF THE CASE. "1. Nature of the case.
"In a companion case entitled `Breault, et al Gentile, et al.,' Superior Court action No. 693,047, judgment was awarded to three plaintiffs based upon a finding of the court that the Gentiles had realized a secret profit, and ordered that 106.667 of the escrowed shares of stock in the name of the Gentiles be transferred to the plaintiffs in that action. That action has just become final.
sic
On January 4, 1961, plaintiff filed an amendment to its complaint thereby seeking punitive damages. On the same date defendants filed their supplemental amendment to answers of defendants to complaint. The defense of res judicata was asserted therein as a fourth and separate defense. The affirmative defense was tried first (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 597, 2042).
On April 10, 1962, the trial court filed its memorandum of decision. Findings of fact and conclusions of law were filed on May 8, 1962, and judgment entered May 15, 1962. It provides in pertinent part as follows:
"I
Res Judicata contra
Morris Whittier Amusement Co., 123 Cal.App. 121 10 P.2d 1017 MacDermot Hayes,175 Cal. 95 170 P. 616 Dillard McKnight,34 Cal.2d 209 209 P.2d 387 Mirabito San Francisco Dairy Co., 8 Cal.App.2d 54 47 P.2d 530 Thomson [L.C.] Roney [ Co.], 112 Cal.App.2d 420 246 P.2d 1017
MacDermot Hayes, 175 Cal. 95 170 P. 616 Thomson [L.C.] Roney [ Co.], 112 Cal.App.2d 420 246 P.2d 1017 Mirabito San Francisco [Dairy Co.], 8 Cal.App.2d 54 47 P.2d 530
Res Judicata
"IV. That the Judgment in case number 693,047 is Res Judicata of the causes of action attempted to be asserted by Topanga Corporation herein, and that the Plaintiff, Topanga Corporation, is bound thereby.
"V. That the Plaintiff, Topanga Corporation, may not in this action contend to the contrary of the facts found and adjudicated in case number 693,047; that Plaintiff is collaterally estopped thereby from contending to the contrary.
"VI. That Plaintiff take nothing by its Complaint and Amendment thereto.
". . . ."
The within appeal followed. Topanga states the sole question raised by its appeal as follows:
"The sole question presented on this appeal is whether or not the doctrine of res judicata was properly applied by the trial court to bar the Appellant from maintaining its action against the Respondent [sic].
"The issues of whether or not the Appellant stated a cause of action against Respondent [sic] or the relief prayed for by Appellant are not material here.
"The real issues are whether the Appellant, either as a party or in privity to a party, or as a stranger, is bound by the former judgment." (Italics indicated.)
[1] The following is stated in Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd., 58 Cal.2d 601, at page 604 [ 25 Cal.Rptr. 559, 375 P.2d 439] in pertinent part:
"[1] The doctrine of res judicata has a double aspect: (1) it `precludes parties or their privies from relitigating a cause of action that has been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.' (2) `Any issue necessarily decided in such litigation is conclusively determined as to the parties or their privies if it is involved in a subsequent lawsuit on a different cause of action.' ( Bernhard v. Bank of America, 19 Cal.2d 807, 810 [ 122 P.2d 892]; see Taylor v. Hawkinson, 47 Cal.2d 893, 895-896 [ 306 P.2d 797].)"
The latter aspect of the doctrine is known as collateral estoppel. [2] The defense of res judicata is a complete bar to an action while the claim of collateral estoppel is concerned with the conclusiveness of a prior determination of a particular issue. (See Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd, supra, 58 Cal.2d 601; Solari v. Atlas-Universal Service, Inc., 215 Cal.App.2d 587 [ 30 Cal.Rptr. 407]; Servente v. Murray, 10 Cal.App.2d 355, 359 [ 52 P.2d 270].)
[3a] Topanga (appellant) concedes that the 047 action proceeded to final judgment and that the issues decided in the 047 action are identical with those presented in the case at bar [i.e. the 049 action]. However, Topanga takes the position that it was neither a party nor in privity with a party in the 047 action [i.e. the third element in the application of the doctrine of res judicata is missing] and therefore Topanga is neither barred nor collaterally estopped by the 047 action. First, was Topanga a party to the 047 action? No.
See p. 286.
In determining the validity of a plea of res judicata, three questions are pertinent: (1) Was the issue decided in the prior adjudication identical with the one presented in the action in question? (2) Was there a final judgment on the merits? and (3) Was the party against whom the plea is asserted a party or in privity with a party to the prior adjudication? ( Teitelbaum Furs, Inc. v. Dominion Ins. Co., Ltd., supra, 58 Cal.2d 601; Bernhard v. Bank of America, 19 Cal.2d 807 [ 122 P.2d 892]; 29 Cal.Jur.2d, Judgments, section 214, p. 168.)
See p. 286.
Respondents do not contend that Topanga was a party to the 047 action.
The 047 action was brought by individual plaintiffs seeking individual relief [i.e. not seeking relief on behalf of Topanga].
Second, was Topanga in privity with a party to the 047 action as a successor in interest? No.
[4] One who succeeds to the interests of a party in the property or other subject of the action after its commencement is bound by the judgment with respect to those interests in the same manner as if he were a party. However, this rule does not apply where the interest is acquired before the commencement of the action (Code Civ. Proc., § 1908, subd. 2); Holman v. Toten, 54 Cal.App.2d 309, 314 [ 128 P.2d 808]; 3 Witkin, Cal.Proc., Judgment, § 68, pp. 1956-1957.)
[5] Third, was Topanga in privity because of interest in the judgment or in the determination of a question of fact or law with reference to the same subject matter or transaction? No.
The rule is stated in Stafford v. Russell, 117 Cal.App.2d 319, 320 [ 255 P.2d 872], as follows:
"[1] . . . A person who is not party to an action but who controls the action is bound by the judgment where he has a proprietary or financial interest in the judgment or in the determination of a question of fact or law with reference to the same subject matter or transaction. ( Dillard v. McKnight, 34 Cal.2d 209, 216 [8] [ 209 P.2d 387, 11 A.L.R.2d 835].)"
The fact that Topanga exercised no control in the 047 action is manifest from the record, therefore the above-cited rule would have no application to the case at bar.
[3b] The sole issue presented on this appeal was whether Topanga was barred or collaterally estopped by the prior (047) action. Since we have determined that Topanga was neither a party nor in privity with a party in the prior action, the trial court erred in rendering judgment in favor of respondents on the basis of their defense of res judicata.
See p. 286.
It may well be that Topanga will be unable to establish a cause of action. As indicated in Morris v. Whittier Amusement Co., 12 Cal.App. 121, 123-124 [ 10 P.2d 1017], promoters are, as to each other, joint venturers, and, where one promoter defrauds his associates, they and not the future corporation may sue.
The judgment is reversed.
Wood, P.J., and Lillie, J., concurred.
A. First Cause of Action:
Paragraphs I through XXIV of each are either identical or for all practical purposes have the same content. Paragraphs XXV and XXVI of the 047 action allege damages to the plaintiffs therein as follows:"XXV
"That the defendants PHILLIP J. GENTILE and MARIA F. GENTILE have wrongfully gained at the expense of the individual plaintiffs who were co-promoters with the said P.J. GENTILES. Said defendants, P.J. GENTILES have realized secret profits in violation of their fiduciary duty of full disclosure to plaintiffs, all to the damage of plaintiffs to the extent that they were and are entitled to 7/8ths or more of the said secret profits which are in the form of issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Topanga Corporation and is being withheld from them."XXVI
"That the defendants. PHILLIP J. GENTILE and MARIA F. GENTILE have had issued to them, $70,000.00 of the capital stock of the Topanga Corporation, but are entitled to but $18,000.00 of said stock and should now be required to divide the excess of $52,000.00 in shares of stock with plaintiffs in the respective ratios as set out in Paragraph XVI of plaintiffs' First Cause of Action as set forth herein, adjusting the P.J. GENTILES original contribution of $18,000.00."Paragraphs XXV through XXXII inclusive of the 049 action allege the conclusionary allegations of damages to Topanga.
B. Second Cause of Action 047 action and Third Cause of Action 049 action:
The allegations of each are either identical or for all practical purposes the same, excepting only that in the 047 action the relief is sought on behalf of the plaintiffs therein, and in the 049 action relief is sought on behalf of Topanga.