Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01538/USCOURTS-casd-3_11-cv-01538-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 

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28 U.S.C. § 1964 provides, “[w]here the law of a State requires a notice of an action concerning

real property pending in a court of the State to be registered, recorded, docketed, or indexed in a

particular manner, or in a certain office or county or parish in order to give constructive notice of the

action as it relates to the real property, and such law authorizes a notice of an action concerning real

property pending in a United States district court to be registered, recorded, docketed, or indexed in the

same manner, or in the same place, those requirements of the State law must be complied with in order

to give constructive notice of such an action pending in a United States district court as it relates to real

property in such State.” 28 U.S.C. § 1964.

- 1 - [11cv1538-AJB(WVG)]

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Brian Kennar, an individual, and Kathleen

Kenner, an individual,

Civil No. 11cv1538-AJB(WVG)

Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ EX

PARTE MOTION FOR ORDER

GRANTING APPROVAL OF LIS

PENDENS NOTICE

[Doc. No. 4.] 

v.

E. Kelly et als.,

Defendants.

On July 12, 2011, Plaintiffs Brian Kennar and Kathleen Kennar, proceeding pro se, filed a

Complaint against ten individual IRS employees (“IRS Defendants”); Barbara Dunn, an attorney for

a defendant in another prior lawsuit; her firm, Lacey, Dunn and Do (“Dunn Defendants”); the

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company; and the United States of America for violations of the

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”). On July 14, 2011, Plaintiffs filed an

ex parte motion for an order granting approval of Plaintiffs’ Lis Pendens Notice. 

Federal courts look to state law regarding matters pertaining to lis pendens. See 28 U.S.C. §

19641

 Under California Code of Civil Procedure section 405.20, “[a] party to an action who asserts

Case 3:11-cv-01538-DMS-WVG Document 14 Filed 08/11/11 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 2
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a real property claim may record a notice of pendency of action in which that real property claim is

alleged.” Cal. Code Civ. P. § 405.20. A “real property claim” means “the cause or causes of action

in a pleading which would, if meritorious, affect (a) title to, or the right to possession of, specific

real property . . . .” Cal. Code Civ. P. § 405.4. The complaint must “set forth some cause of action

affecting the title or right of possession of the specific real property described in the lis pendens.” 

Brownlee v. Vang, 206 Cal. App. 2d 814, 817 (1962). “A lis pendens effectively prevents a sale or

encumbrance of the property until the litigation is resolved or the lis pendens is expunged.” Farias v.

FCM Corp., 2010 WL 4806894, at 4 (S.D.Cal. 2010). 

Here, the Complaint alleges a RICO action against all Defendants. Plaintiffs allege that all

Defendants’ fraudulent and dishonest actions resulted in loss of settlement funds and defeated

Plaintiffs’ settlement efforts with the IRS on their federal tax liabilities. (Dkt. No. 1.) As a result,

Plaintiffs allege that the United States has noticed a lien against Plaintiffs’ property and the property

is to be sold at an auction on August 1, 2011. (Compl. ¶¶ 113, 114.) The Court concludes that

Plaintiffs have alleged a real property claim in its Complaint. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS

Plaintiffs’ ex parte motion for order granting approval of lis pendens notice. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 11, 2011

Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia

U.S. District Judge

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