Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_92-cv-01653/USCOURTS-caed-2_92-cv-01653-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 15:1 Antitrust Litigation

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This case is closed and as such, it has not been 1

assigned a new magistrate judge to replace retired Magistrate

Judge Peter A. Nowinski. 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

WILLIAM and LUCILLE HARRIS,

NO. CIV. S-92-1653 WBS PAN1

Plaintiffs,

v. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER RE:

MOTION TO ENTER SATISFACTION

OF JUDGMENT

PACIFIC VALLEY NATIONAL BANK

and WEST AMERICA BANK,

Defendants.

----oo0oo----

This case closed in late 1997. However, in an effort

to lift an abstract of judgment recorded against plaintiffs

William and Lucille Harris in the state of California, plaintiffs

now move the court to order entry of satisfaction of judgment. 

Counsel of record for defendants Pacific Valley National Bank and

West America Bank has declined, after receiving notice of the

motion, to respond. Based upon plaintiffs’ counsel’s

Case 2:92-cv-01653-WBS-PAN Document 232 Filed 09/01/06 Page 1 of 4
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observations, the court assumes that defendants’ attorneys’ lack

of response to the motion is based on the facts that (1) the firm

they were associated with when they represented defendants no

longer exists and (2) “the bank that they represented has been

merged into another institution.” (Babitzke Decl. ¶ 6.) The

court expresses no opinion on the accuracy of counsel’s

perceptions.

Pursuant to California Civil Procedure Code § 724.050,

a “judgment debtor” or “the owner of real or personal property

subject to a judgment lien” may demand in writing, upon

satisfaction of the judgment, that the judgment creditor “[f]ile

an acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment with the court.” 

Id. § 724.050 (a)(1). “If the judgment creditor does not comply

with the demand within the time allowed, the person making the

demand may apply to the court on noticed motion for an order

requiring the judgment creditor to comply with the demand.” Id.

§ 724.050(d). Upon determining that the judgment has been

satisfied, “the court shall either (1) order the judgment

creditor to comply with the demand or (2) order the court clerk

to enter satisfaction of the judgment.” Id.

The “judgment” at issue here refers to a bill of costs

taxed against plaintiffs following the court’s award of summary

judgment in defendants’ favor. (Apr. 28, 1998 Order Awarding

Costs 3 (awarding costs in the amount of $9,399.39).) 

Plaintiffs’ counsel represents that he paid this amount in full

on March 1, 1999. (Babitzke Decl. ¶ 5 & Ex. B.) 

At some point, defendants filed an Abstract of Judgment

in Kern County which remains on record and is presently

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Plaintiffs request an award of attorneys’ fees related 2

to this motion; however, they failed to provide any supporting

documentation, or even specify the amount, for the fees incurred. 

Accordingly, the court will not address this aspect of their

motion.

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interfering with plaintiffs’ attempts to sell real property in

that jurisdiction. (Id. ¶ 6 & Ex. C.) Plaintiffs have asked

defendants to file an acknowledgment of satisfaction of judgment

with the court and defendants have refused to do so. (Id. ¶ 6 &

Ex. D.)

Accordingly, this dispute has reached a point where the

court may intervene and, if the judgment has been satisfied,

“either (1) order the judgment creditor to comply with the demand

or (2) order the court clerk to enter satisfaction of the

judgment”. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 724.050(d). The evidence

presented by plaintiffs clearly demonstrates that they have paid

the amount required by the Abstract of Judgment entered by the

clerk of this court and therefore an order for entry satisfaction

of judgment is warranted. (Babitzke Decl. Exs. B, C.) Given

defendants’ refusal to respond to this motion, however, the court

doubts that they will comply with an order from this court

directing them to comply with plaintiff’s demand. Therefore, the

court will, pursuant to California Civil Procedure Code §

724.050(d)(2), order the clerk to enter satisfaction of the

judgment. Assumedly, plaintiffs will be able to record such

entry in Kern County and proceed with the sale of their property.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that plaintiffs’ motion for an

order to enter satisfaction of judgment be, and the same hereby

is, GRANTED. The clerk of this court shall enter satisfaction 2

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of judgment.

DATED: August 31, 2006

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