Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00770/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-00770-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract

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WATT, TIEDER,

HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

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 [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

Andrew Van Ornum (Bar No. 214040) 

Watt, Tieder, Hoffar & Fitzgerald, L.L.P. 

One Sansome Street, Suite 1050 

San Francisco, CA 94104 

Telephone: 415-623-7000 

Facsimile: 415-623-7001 

avanornu@wthf.com 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND SURETY 

COMPANY OF AMERICA 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION 

TRAVELERS CASUALTY AND 

SURETY COMPANY OF AMERICA, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

J.K. MERZ CONSTRUCTION, INC., a 

California corporation; JOHN K. MERZ, 

an individual; SALLY P. MERZ, an 

individual; JOHN K. MERZ, SR. AND 

SALLY P. MERZ CO-TRUSTEES OF 

THE MERZ 2004 FAMILY TRUST 

U/D/T DTD 10/29/2004, 

Defendants. 

Case No. C 07-00770 WHA/WDB 

[proposed] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR ISSUANCE OF WRIT 

OF ATTACHMENT AFTER HEARING 

The application for right to attach order and order for issuance of writ of attachment by 

plaintiff Travelers Casualty And Surety Company Of America (“Plaintiff”) on property of 

defendants J.K. Merz Construction, Inc. (“JKM”), John K. Merz (“John Merz”), and Sally P. 

Merz (“Sally Merz”)(collectively, “Defendants”) regularly came for hearing on November 20, 

2007 at 1:30 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Wayne D. Brazil, pursuant to referral from the Court. 

Andrew Van Ornum appeared on behalf of Plaintiff and Donald Drummond appeared on behalf 

of Defendants. 

Case 3:07-cv-00770-WHA Document 84 Filed 12/18/07 Page 1 of 6
WATT, TIEDER,

HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

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- 2 - [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

Having considered the papers and the arguments of counsel, Magistrate Judge Brazil made 

a written Report And Recommendation Re: Plaintiff’s Application For Right To Attach Order 

(“Report and Recommendation”) filed on November 30, 2007. Defendants objected to the Report 

and Recommendation, and by Order dated December 17, 2007, the Objection was overruled and 

the Report and Recommendation was adopted by the Court. 

FINDINGS ON APPLICATION FOR ATTACHMENT

Upon consideration of the Report and Recommendation, the Court hereby finds as 

follows: 

1. Defendant JKM is a corporation. John Merz and Sally Merz are natural persons. 

2. Attachment is sought to secure recovery on a claim upon which attachment may 

issue under California Code of Civil Procedure section 483.010. 

3. Attachment is sought for no purpose other than the recovery on a claim upon 

which the attachment is based. 

4. The amount to be secured by the attachment is greater than zero. 

5. Travelers established the probable validity of all the claims on which the writ of 

attachment would issue. 

6. Defendants failed to prove that the property described in Plaintiff’s application is 

exempt from attachment, including that any of the property was exempt as “[p]roperty necessary 

for support of a defendant who is a natural person or the family of such defendant supported in 

whole or in part by the defendant.” Rather, the property sought to be attached is properly subject 

to attachment, subject only to applicable homestead exemptions. Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 704.740. 

7. An undertaking in the amount of $10,000 is required before writs shall issue, and 

Plaintiff has not, as of the date of entry of this Order, filed an undertaking in that amount. 

ORDER

Based on the above findings, the Court hereby orders: 

1. Plaintiff has a right to attach property of defendant J.K. Merz Construction, Inc. in 

the amount of $1,161,405.32. 

2. Plaintiff has a right to attach property of defendant John Merz, a natural person, in 

Case 3:07-cv-00770-WHA Document 84 Filed 12/18/07 Page 2 of 6
WATT, TIEDER,

HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

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- 3 - [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

the amount of $1,161,405.32. 

3. Plaintiff has a right to attach property of defendant Sally Merz in the amount of 

$1,161,405.32. 

4. An undertaking in the amount of $10,000 must be filed before the Clerk issues the 

writs of attachment. 

5. Upon the filing of the undertaking, the Clerk shall issue a writ of attachment in the 

amount of $1,161,405.32 for the property of John Merz subject to attachment under Code of Civil 

Procedure section 487.010, described as follows: 

a. Any money judgment or settlement proceeds payable to John Merz (Cal. 

Code Civ. Proc. § 491.410); 

b. Real property owned by John Merz, including: 

(i) 54 Fremont Road, San Rafael, CA 94901 [A.P.N. 012-043-11, 

A.P.N. 012-043-12], the legal description for which is as follows: 

All of Lot 9, as shown upon that certain map entitled, “Map of West End 

Addition, San Rafael, Marin Co., California”, filed for record October 28, 

1913 in Volume 4 of Maps, at Page 58, Marin County Records. 

(ii) 135 Highland Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901, provisionally subject 

to the statutory $150,000 homestead exemption [A.P.N. 015-211-11], the legal 

description for which is as follows: 

PARCEL I: 

BEGINNING at the point of intersection of the Northerly line of Highland 

Avenue, formerly known as West Drive, with a line drawn South 48° 01' 

East from the most Easterly corner of Lot 5, as shown upon the map 

entitled, “Re-subdivision of Lot 67 and portion of Lots 66, 68 and 3.61 

acres Tract in Block 23, Magnolia Park, San Rafael”, filed in Book 2 of 

Licensed Surveyors Records, at page 60, Marin County Records; running 

thence North 48° 01' East to a point in the centerline of Highland Avenue, 

to a point which is South 22° 28' West 20.5 feet from the point of 

beginning; running thence North 22° 28' East 20.5 feet to the point of 

beginning. 

PARCEL II: 

BEGINNING at a point on the Northwesterly line of Highland Avenue, 

formerly known as West Drive, said point being distant North 35° 47' East 

175.565 feet from the most Easterly corner of that certain tract of land 

conveyed from Elise Nash Costigan, et vir, to Robert Austin, et ux, by 

Deed recorded November 21, 1930 in Book 205 of Official Records, at 

page 31, Marin County Records; said point being also the most Easterly 

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HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

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- 4 - [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

corner of the property described in Deed from Maynard Redmond, et ux, to 

Arthur Myron Lebow, et ux, recorded October 31, 1946 in Book 531 of 

Official Records, at page 431, Marin County Records, and running thence 

North 48° 01' West 101.495 feet along the Northeasterly line of said 

property in Deed to Lebow to a point in the Southeasterly line of property 

described in Deed from Elise Nash Cosigan, et vir, recorded July 7, 1933 in 

Book 266 of Official Records, at page 2, Marin County Records; thence 

along said last mentioned line, North 41° 59' East 3.5 feet to the 

Southwesterly boundary line of that certain tract of land conveyed from 

Eleanor Margaret Hind Sherwood to the San Rafael Land Title Company, 

by Deed recorded February 19, 1940 in Book 393 of Official Records, at 

page 249, Marin County Records; thence along said line South 48° 01' East 

101.115 feet to the Northwesterly line of Highland Avenue; thence along 

said line of Highland Avenue, South 35° 47' West 3.52 feet from the point 

of beginning. 

Parcel III: 

A RIGHT OF WAY for pipeline and sewer drain purposes as described in 

the Deed from Eda Beronio to Bruce Vernon, et ux, recorded in Book 539 

of Official Records, at page 154, Marin County Records, of which the route 

of said right of way running parallel to and up to five feet from the 

Southeasterly boundary line of the lot of said first party and adjacent to the 

right of way granted by said first party to Pacific Gas and Electric 

Company, by Deed recorded April 1, 1941 in Book 410 of Official 

Records, at page 247, Marin County Records. 

 (iii) One sixth interest in 533 Irwin Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 

[A.P.N. 013-072-05], the legal description for which is as follows: 

BEGINNING at a point on the westerly line of Irwin Street, San Rafael, 

California, distant thereon South 7° 38' West 250 feet from its intersection 

with the southwesterly Right of Way line of the Northwestern Pacific 

Railroad, San Quentin Branch; and running thence along said street line, 

South 7° 38' West 75 feet, thence leaving said Irwin Street line North 82°

22' West 150, thence North 7° 38' East 75 feet, thence South 82° 22' East 

150 feet to the point of beginning. 

TOGETHER with the Right of Way for ingress and egress over a strip of 

land 4 feet wide lying northerly of and adjacent to the northerly lines of the 

above described parcel. 

(iv) 419 West 7th Street, Chico, CA 95928 [A.P.N. 004-274-004], the 

legal description for which is as follows: 

The Westerly 49 feet of Lots 1 and 2 of Block 92 of the City (formerly 

Town) of Chico, as shown on that certain Map, which Map was recorded in 

the Office of the Recorder of the County of Butte, State of California. 

Said parcel being 49 feet on Seventh Street and running back at right 

angles thereto 132 feet. 

c. Acct No. 5760-4672 at Linsco/Private Ledger; and 

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WATT, TIEDER,

HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

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- 5 - [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

d. Any monies due to John Merz under any insurance policy (other than 

insurance for health, disability, or long term care). 

6. Upon the filing of the undertaking, the Clerk shall issue a writ of attachment in the 

amount of $1,161,405.32 for the property of Sally Merz subject to attachment under Code of 

Civil Procedure section 487.010, described as follows: 

a. Any money judgment or settlement proceeds payable to Sally Merz (Cal. 

Code Civ. Proc. § 491.410); 

b. Real property owned by Sally Merz, including: 

(i) 54 Fremont Road, San Rafael, CA 94901 [A.P.N. 012-043-11, 

A.P.N. 012-043-12], the legal description for which is in paragraph 5(b)(i) above. 

(ii) 135 Highland Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 [A.P.N. 015-211-11], 

subject to a provisional $150,000 homestead exemption, the legal description for 

which is in paragraph 5(b)(ii) above. 

 (iii) One sixth interest in 533 Irwin Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 

[A.P.N. 013-072-05], the legal description for which is in paragraph 5(b)(iii) 

above. 

(iv) 419 West 7th Street, Chico, CA 95928 [A.P.N. 004-274-004], the 

legal description for which is listed in paragraph 5(b)(iv) above. 

c. Acct No. 5760-4672 at Linsco/Private Ledger; and 

d. Any monies due to Sally Merz under any insurance policy (other than 

insurance for health, disability, or long term care). 

7. Upon the filing of the undertaking, the Clerk shall issue a writ of attachment for 

the property of defendant JKM in the amount of $1,161,405.32, described as follows: 

a. Any money judgment or settlement proceeds payable to JKM (Cal. Code 

Civ. Proc. § 491.410); 

b. Real property owned by JKM, including: 

(i) 54 Fremont Road, San Rafael, CA 94901 [A.P.N. 012-043-11, 

A.P.N. 012-043-12], the legal description for which is in paragraph 5(b)(i) above. 

Case 3:07-cv-00770-WHA Document 84 Filed 12/18/07 Page 5 of 6
WATT, TIEDER,

HOFFAR &

FITZGERALD, L.L.P. 

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

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- 6 - [PROPOSED] RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER 

AND ORDER FOR WRIT OF ATTACH. 

(ii) 135 Highland Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901 [A.P.N. 015-211-11], 

subject to a provisional $150,000 homestead exemption, the legal description for 

which is in paragraph 5(b)(ii) above. 

 (iii) One sixth interest in 533 Irwin Street, San Rafael, CA 94901 

[A.P.N. 013-072-05], the legal description for which is in paragraph 5(b)(iii) 

above. 

(iv) 419 West 7th Street, Chico, CA 95928 [A.P.N. 004-274-004], the 

legal description for which is listed in paragraph 5(b)(iv) above. 

c. Acct No. 5760-4672 at Linsco/Private Ledger; and 

d. Any monies due to JKM under any insurance policy (other than insurance 

for health, disability, or long term care). 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: ______________________ ___________________________________ 

 WILLIAM H. ALSUP 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

December 18, 2007.

U

NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge William Alsup

Case 3:07-cv-00770-WHA Document 84 Filed 12/18/07 Page 6 of 6