Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-05628/USCOURTS-cand-5_14-cv-05628-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

---

1

Case No. 14-CV-05628-LHK 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF NOTICE OF LIS PENDENS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

BOOKER T. WADE,

Appellant,

v.

ARLENE D. STEVENS,

Appellee.

Case No. 14-CV-05628-LHK 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPROVAL OF NOTICE OF LIS 

PENDENS

Re: Dkt. No. 16

Before the Court is an administrative motion for approval of notice of lis pendens filed by 

Appellant Booker T. Wade (“Appellant”). ECF No. 16 (“Motion”). Appellant has filed an appeal 

from an order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court denying emergency motion to compel arbitration and 

motion for stay. See ECF No. 1 (notice of appeal). Briefing regarding Appellant’s appeal is 

currently ongoing. On August 3, 2015, Appellant filed the instant Motion, requesting that the 

Court approve a notice of lis pendens with respect to property located at 605 Forest Avenue, Palo 

Alto, California, which Appellant claims is related to the subject of Appellant’s appeal before this 

Court. Mot. at 1-2.

“A lis pendens filed with the county recorder is a notice that an action is pending 

concerning real property or affecting the title or right of possession of real property.” In re Lane, 

Case 5:14-cv-05628-LHK Document 18 Filed 08/10/15 Page 1 of 2
2

Case No. 14-CV-05628-LHK 

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF NOTICE OF LIS PENDENS

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

United States District Court

Northern District of California

980 F.2d 601, 603 (9th Cir. 1992). Pursuant to the California Civil Procedure Code, “[a] party to 

an action who asserts a real property claim may record a notice of pendency of action” in the 

office of the recorder of the county where the property is located. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 405.20. A 

“real property claim,” as that term is used in § 405.20, is defined as a “cause or causes of action in 

a pleading which would, if meritorious,” affect title to, or right to possession of, specific real 

property. Id. § 405.4. The relevant provision of the Civil Procedure Code also “applies to an action 

pending in any United States District Court in the same manner that it applies to an action pending 

in the courts” of California. Id. § 405.5. Federal law authorizes U.S. District Courts to issue a 

notice of lis pendens when authorized by state law. 28 U.S.C. § 1964.

Appellant fails to show that the instant appeal before this Court is a “real property claim” 

as that term is used in California Civil Procedure Code § 405.20. The instant appeal arises from 

Appellant’s Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition. See Bankruptcy Case No. 13-BK-50376. Appellant 

cites no authority—and this Court located none—which states that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition 

is a “real property claim,” or a “cause or causes of action in a pleading,” as that term is used in 

California Civil Procedure Code § 405.20. Furthermore, Appellant has appealed an order of the 

U.S. Bankruptcy Court denying emergency motion to compel arbitration and motion for stay. ECF 

No. 1. Appellant cites no authority for the proposition that an emergency motion to compel 

arbitration and motion for stay is a “pleading” within the meaning of Civil Procedure Code 

§ 405.20. See Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 435(a) (defining “pleading” as a “demurrer, answer, 

complaint, or cross-complaint”). 

For the reasons stated above, the Court DENIES Appellant’s Motion.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 10, 2015

______________________________________

LUCY H. KOH

United States District Judge

Case 5:14-cv-05628-LHK Document 18 Filed 08/10/15 Page 2 of 2