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Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson

Supreme Court of California
Aug 31, 1979
25 Cal.3d 124 (Cal. 1979)

Summary

holding plaintiff liable for attorney's fees incurred by defendant in prevailing on defense of plaintiff's contract claims, where contract provided only for attorney's fees to plaintiff for collection of a promissory note

Summary of this case from Frank M. Booth, Inc. v. Reynolds Metals Co.

Opinion

Docket No. L.A. 31045.

August 31, 1979.

Appeal from Superior Court of Los Angeles County, No. C61852, August J. Goebel, Judge.

COUNSEL

Adams, Duque Hazeltine, James L. Nolan and Margaret Levy for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Kranitz, Sarrow, Imerman Sacks, Jerome H. Sarrow, Goodstein, Copes Field, Donald A. Dewar and H. Walter Croskey for Defendants and Respondents.



OPINION


Plaintiff appeals from judgment awarding defendants $80,500 attorney's fees. We reverse.

Defendants, shareholders and directors of Titanium Metallurgical, Inc. (TMI), owned and operated a subsidiary, Turner Metals Supply, Inc. (Turner). Plaintiff supplied aluminum goods and products to Turner pursuant to a general line consignment agreement executed in 1971. TMI signed the agreement as guarantor of Turner's payments. The agreement contained no provision for recovery of attorney's fees in the event of breach.

In January 1973, Turner, with TMI as indorser, executed and delivered two promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $60,794.12. The notes provided for recovery of collection costs, including attorney's fees limited to 15 percent of the principal amount of the notes, in the event of default.

In 1973, Turner and TMI became insolvent and bankruptcy proceedings commenced. Plaintiff, having extended credit of $823,231.48 to Turner, filed a creditor's claim in the proceedings. Plaintiff also brought this suit seeking to hold defendants personally liable for the debts owed plaintiff by Turner and TMI, claiming defendants were "alter egos" of the two bankrupt companies. Trial proceeded on three causes of action, two on common count and the third upon the two unpaid promissory notes.

After lengthy trial, the court rejected the "alter ego" theory advanced by plaintiff, absolving defendants from personal liability for the obligations of Turner and TMI. In addition, the trial court granted defendants $80,500 in attorney's fees.

Defendant Alperson sought to recover $39,445 in attorney's fees and was awarded $38,500. Defendant Blivas sought $51,597.50 and was awarded $42,000.

The court awarded defendants 100 percent of their legal fees incurred in attachment proceedings, 75 percent of their fees incurred from the commencement of the lawsuit until certain tort causes of action were dismissed, and 100 percent of their remaining fees.

I. AVAILABILITY OF ATTORNEY'S FEES

(1) Unless authorized by either statute or agreement, attorney's fees ordinarily are not recoverable as costs. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1021; D'Amico v. Board of Medical Examiners (1974) 11 Cal.3d 1, 24-27 [ 112 Cal.Rptr. 786, 520 P.2d 10]; Freeman v. Goldberg (1961) 55 Cal.2d 622, 625 [ 12 Cal.Rptr. 668, 361 P.2d 244]; Young v. Redman (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 827, 834-835 [ 128 Cal.Rptr. 86].)

Civil Code section 1717 provides in part: " In any action on a contract, where such contract specifically provides that attorney's fees and costs, which are incurred to enforce the provisions of such contract, shall be awarded to one of the parties, the prevailing party, whether he is the party specified in the contract or not, shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees in addition to costs and necessary disbursements." (Italics added.)

Section 1717 also provides: "Attorney's fees provided for by this section shall not be subject to waiver by the parties to any contract which is entered into after the effective date of this section. Any provision in any such contract which provides for waiver of attorney's fees is void. [¶] As used in this section `prevailing party' means the party in whose favor final judgment is rendered."

The language of the statute is unclear as to whether it shall be applied to litigants who like defendants have not signed the contract. The section refers to "any action on a contract" thus including any action where it is alleged that a person is liable on a contract, whether or not the court concludes he is a party to that contract. Nevertheless the terms "parties" and "party" are ambiguous. It is unclear whether the Legislature used the terms to refer to signatories or to litigants.

(2) Section 1717 was enacted to establish mutuality of remedy where contractual provision makes recovery of attorney's fees available for only one party ( International Industries v. Olen (1978) 21 Cal.3d 218, 223 [ 145 Cal.Rptr. 691, 577 P.2d 1031]; System Inv. Corp. v. Union Bank (1971) 21 Cal.App.3d 137, 163 [ 98 Cal.Rptr. 735]; Review of Selected 1968 Code Legislation (Cont.Ed.Bar) pp. 35-36), and to prevent oppressive use of one-sided attorney's fees provisions. ( Coast Bank v. Holmes (1971) 19 Cal.App.3d 581, 596-597 [ 97 Cal.Rptr. 30].)

Its purposes require section 1717 be interpreted to further provide a reciprocal remedy for a nonsignatory defendant, sued on a contract as if he were a party to it, when a plaintiff would clearly be entitled to attorney's fees should he prevail in enforcing the contractual obligation against the defendant.

Attorney's fees were awarded pursuant to section 1717 to a person found not to be a signatory to a contract in Babcock v. Omansky (1973) 31 Cal.App.3d 625, 633-634 [ 107 Cal.Rptr. 512] . The defendant prevailed following the plaintiff's allegation she was liable as a coventurer or partner with another defendant who had executed a promissory note providing for attorney's fees. Concluding that the nonsigning defendant was entitled to attorney's fees, the court reasoned the language of section 1717 was sufficiently broad to include persons who had not signed the contract but were sued on the note and found not to be parties to it. (See Pas v. Hill (1978) 87 Cal.App.3d 521, 533-536 [ 151 Cal.Rptr. 98]; Canal-Randolph Anaheim, Inc. v. Wilkoski (1978) 78 Cal.App.3d 477, 486, fn. 2 [144 Cal.Rptr. 474]; Schlocker v. Schlocker (1976) 62 Cal.App.3d 921, 923 [ 133 Cal.Rptr. 485]; Boliver v. Surety Co. (1977) 72 Cal.App.3d Supp. 22, 29 [140 Cal.Rptr. 259].)

Arnold v. Browne (1972) 27 Cal.App.3d 386, 398-399 [ 103 Cal.Rptr. 775] and Sain v. Silvestre (1978) 78 Cal.App.3d 461, 476 [ 144 Cal.Rptr. 478] are disapproved insofar as they are inconsistent with our holding here.

Had plaintiff prevailed on its cause of action claiming defendants were in fact the alter egos of the corporation ( Kohn v. Kohn (1950) 95 Cal.App.2d 708, 718 [ 214 P.2d 71]), defendants would have been liable on the notes. Since they would have been liable for attorney's fees pursuant to the fees provision had plaintiff prevailed, they may recover attorney's fees pursuant to section 1717 now that they have prevailed.

II. THE AMOUNT

(3) Where a cause of action based on the contract providing for attorney's fees is joined with other causes of action beyond the contract, the prevailing party may recover attorney's fees under section 1717 only as they relate to the contract action. ( McKenzie v. Kaiser-Aetna (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 84, 88-90 [ 127 Cal.Rptr. 275]; see Schlocker v. Schlocker, supra, 62 Cal.App.3d 921, 923.) Describing the attorney's fees provision, section 1717 specifically refers to fees "incurred to enforce the provisions of [the] contract." A litigant may not increase his recovery of attorney's fees by joining a cause of action in which attorney's fees are not recoverable to one in which an award is proper. In this case, the two promissory notes contained contract provisions for attorney's fees, but no such provision existed in the general line consignment agreement. Accordingly, attorney's fees incurred solely for defending causes of action based on the latter agreement and defending against the tort causes of action are not recoverable.

Conversely, plaintiff's joinder of causes of action should not dilute its right to attorney's fees. (4) Attorney's fees need not be apportioned when incurred for representation on an issue common to both a cause of action in which fees are proper and one in which they are not allowed. All expenses incurred with respect to the alter ego issue — common to both the note and the general line consignment agreement — qualify for award.

(5) Because the promissory notes contained provision limiting attorney's fees to 15 percent of the amount of the notes ($60,794.12), recovery of fees under section 1717 must be similarly limited. As we have seen, the section establishes a reciprocal right to attorney's fees, and the statutory right should be no greater than the contractual right. The statute refers to "reasonable attorney's fees," and reasonable falls within the fundamental principle of reciprocity.

The trial court erred in failing to observe the 15 percent limitation.

The judgment is reversed for redetermination of attorney's fees.

Bird, C.J., Tobriner, J., Mosk, J., Richardson, J., Manuel, J., and Newman, J., concurred.


Summaries of

Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson

Supreme Court of California
Aug 31, 1979
25 Cal.3d 124 (Cal. 1979)

holding plaintiff liable for attorney's fees incurred by defendant in prevailing on defense of plaintiff's contract claims, where contract provided only for attorney's fees to plaintiff for collection of a promissory note

Summary of this case from Frank M. Booth, Inc. v. Reynolds Metals Co.

holding fees properly awarded to nonsignatory prevailing defendants found to have no obligations under the contract because "[h]ad plaintiff prevailed on its cause of action claiming defendants were in fact the alter egos of the [signatory] corporation, defendants would have been liable on the [contract]"

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holding trial court was bound by provision of two promissory notes limiting award of fees

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In Reynolds, the Supreme Court of California stated a plaintiff who sued a nonsignatory shareholder for breach of a written contract with the corporation under an "alter ego" theory could recover an award of attorneys' fees under the written contract, pursuant to California Civil Code § 1717(b)(1).

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converting unilateral into bilateral based on CAL. CIV. CODE § 1717 (West 1968)

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In Reynolds, the court explained that "[w]here a cause of action based on the contract providing for attorney's fees is joined with other causes of action beyond the contract, the prevailing party may recover attorney's fees under [Civil Code] section 1717 only as they relate to the contract action.

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referencing Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1021

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awarding fees incurred on contract claims and on alter ego claims because the case involved "representation on an issue common to both" claims

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awarding fees for issues common to joined but separate causes of action

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In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson, 25 Cal.3d 124, 158 Cal.Rptr. 1, 599 P.2d 83 (1979), the Supreme Court of California held that the mandate of reciprocity set forth in Cal. Civ. Code § 1717(a) ensured that, where a plaintiff sued a nonsignatory defendant to hold the defendant liable on the contract, and the defendant prevailed, the nonsignatory defendant could use an attorneys' fees provision from the contract to recover the defendant's attorneys' fees.

Summary of this case from Asphalt Professionals Inc. v. Davis (In re Davis)

In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson, 25 Cal.3d 124, 158 Cal.Rptr. 1, 599 P.2d 83 (Cal. 1979), for example, a creditor alleged that the shareholders of a company should be held liable, on alter ego theories, for the promissory note obligations of the company they owned.

Summary of this case from In re Relativity Fashion, LLC

In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124 (Reynolds), we reviewed an attorney fees award to defendants who defeated a claim based on two promissory notes.

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In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124, the party ordered to pay attorney fees had agreed to a contractual attorney fee provision; here, USLI made no such agreement.

Summary of this case from Yee v. Weinberg

In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124, the California Supreme Court held that "[w]here a cause of action based on the contract providing for attorney's fees is joined with other causes of action beyond the contract, the prevailing party may recover attorney's fees under [Civil Code] section 1717 only as they relate to the contract action."

Summary of this case from Fernandez v. Escutia

In Reynolds Metals, the unsuccessful plaintiff had brought an action against nonsignatories based on their status as alter egos of the contracting party.

Summary of this case from Chhatrala Invs. v. Elajou Inv. Grp.

In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124 (Reynolds), the California Supreme Court held that section 1717 must be "interpreted to further provide a reciprocal remedy for a nonsignatory defendant, sued on a contract as if he were a party to it, when a plaintiff would clearly be entitled to attorney's fees should he prevail in enforcing the contractual obligation against the defendant."

Summary of this case from Kavoukjian v. Imnaishvili

concerning alter ego allegations

Summary of this case from Alvarado v. Freedman

prevailing nonsignatory defendant sued as alter ego of signatory entitled to contractual attorney's fees under § 1717

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In Reynolds, plaintiff, the beneficiary of promissory notes, sued nonsignatory shareholders and directors of bankrupt corporations, claiming defendants were the alter egos of the signatory corporations and personally liable for the corporations' debts under the notes.

Summary of this case from Khodagulyan v. Aminpour

In Reynolds, the signatory plaintiff sued two nonsignatories to recover on two promissory notes, alleging they were liable as the alter egos of the corporation that signed the notes.

Summary of this case from Zaffarkhan v. Domesek

In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124, our Supreme Court further interpreted section 1717 to include a person who had not signed the contract, if that person would clearly be entitled to attorney fees had he or she prevailed in the enforcement of the contract. (Id. at p. 128.)

Summary of this case from Prince v. Thompson Bldg. Materials

In Reynolds, supra, 25 Cal.3d at page 128, our Supreme Court explained that the purposes of Civil Code section 1717—"to establish mutuality of remedy where contractual provision makes recovery of attorney's fees available for only one party" and "to prevent oppressive use of one-sided attorney's fees provisions"—"require section 1717 be interpreted to further provide a reciprocal remedy for a nonsignatory defendant, sued on a contract as if he were a party to it, when a plaintiff would clearly be entitled to attorney's fees should he prevail in enforcing the contractual obligation against the defendant."

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In Reynolds, the Supreme Court noted that "[a]ttorney's fees need not be apportioned when incurred for representation on an issue common to both a cause of action in which fees are proper and one in which they are not allowed."

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In Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson (1979) 25 Cal.3d 124 (Reynolds), "our Supreme Court addressed whether nonsignatories to a contract can share the benefits and burdens of a prevailing party attorney fees clause.

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Case details for

Reynolds Metals Co. v. Alperson

Case Details

Full title:REYNOLDS METALS COMPANY, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. NORMAN O. ALPERSON et…

Court:Supreme Court of California

Date published: Aug 31, 1979

Citations

25 Cal.3d 124 (Cal. 1979)
158 Cal. Rptr. 1
599 P.2d 83

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