1 

Filed 6/5/14 Zulli v. Ghanem CA2/6 

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS 

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or 

ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for 

purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT 

DIVISION SIX 

BRIAN ZULLI, 

 Plaintiff and Appellant, 

v. 

BASSAM GHANEM, M.D., 

 Defendant and Respondent. 

2d Civil No. B250328 

(Super. Ct. No. 56-2011-00402117-CUMM-SIM) 

(Ventura County) 

 Brian Zulli, proceeding in propria persona, appeals from a judgment of dismissal 

entered after the trial court sustained, without leave to amend, the demurrer of Bassam 

Ghanem, M.D., respondent, to appellant's second amended complaint. The 202-page 

complaint alleged 11 causes of action. Because appellant's opening brief completely fails 

to comply with the rules of appellate procedure (rules), we deem the appeal to be 

abandoned and dismiss it. 

This is the second time that we have dismissed an appeal filed by appellant for 

failure to comply with the rules. Last year we dismissed the appeal in Zulli v. Graham 

(June 27, 2013, Ventura Super. Ct. No. 56-2011-00402116-CU-MM-SIM) B242729. In 

Graham appellant was also appealing from a judgment of dismissal entered after the trial 

court sustained a demurrer without leave to amend. Both the instant case and Graham 

arose from the death of appellant's mother which was allegedly due to medical 

malpractice. As Appendix A to this opinion, we attach a copy of the Graham opinion, 
2 

which we judicially notice. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459, subd. (a); Jay v. 

Mahaffey (2013) 218 Cal.App.4th 1522, 1530, fn. 7.) 

Standard of Review 

 "In reviewing a judgment following the sustaining of a demurrer without leave to 

amend, we decide de novo whether the complaint states facts sufficient to state a cause of 

action. [Citation.] We treat the demurrer as admitting all facts properly pleaded, but we 

do not assume the truth of contentions, deductions or conclusions of law. [Citation.] If 

we agree the complaint does not state a cause of action, we review the denial of leave to 

amend for an abuse of discretion. [Citation.]" (Holland v. Jones (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 

378, 381.) 

Rules of Appellate Procedure 

" 'A judgment or order of the lower court is presumed correct. All intendments 

and presumptions are indulged to support it on matters as to which the record is silent, 

and error must be affirmatively shown.' " (Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 

557, 564.) "To demonstrate error, appellant must present meaningful legal analysis 

supported by citations to authority and citations to facts in the record that support the 

claim of error. [Citations.]" (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408.) "When an 

issue is unsupported by pertinent or cognizable legal argument it may be deemed 

abandoned and discussion by the reviewing court is unnecessary. [Citations.]" (Landry 

v. Berryessa Union School Dist. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 691, 699-700.) "Hence, 

conclusory claims of error will fail." (In re S.C., supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 408.) 

The California Rules of Court provide: "An appellant's opening brief must . . . 

[p]rovide a summary of the significant facts limited to matters in the record." (Id., rule 

8.204(a)(2)(C).) Each factual reference must be supported "by a citation to the volume 

and page number of the record where the matter appears." (Id., rule 8.204(a)(1)(C).) 

"[Appellant] is not exempt from the foregoing rules because he is representing 

himself on appeal in propria persona. Under the law, a party may choose to act as his or 

her own attorney. [Citation.] '[S]uch a party is to be treated like any other party and is 

entitled to the same, but no greater consideration than other litigants and attorneys. 
3 

[Citation.]' [Citation.] Thus, as is the case with attorneys, pro. per. litigants must follow 

correct rules of procedure. [Citations.]" (Nwosu v. Uba (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 1229, 

1246-1247.) 

Discussion 

 Appellant's opening brief completely fails to comply with the rules. Appellant 

omits a summary of the significant facts with supporting citations to the record. The 

statement of facts and argument sections of the brief are identical. The argument consists 

of conclusory allegations without any factual or legal analysis. 

"We are not required to search the record to ascertain whether it contains support 

for [appellant's] contentions. [Citation.] . . . [¶] . . . [I]t is not this court's function to serve 

as [appellant's] backup appellate counsel." (Mansell v. Board of Administration (1994) 

30 Cal.App.4th 539, 545-546; see also In re Marriage of Falcone (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 

814, 830 ["We are not bound to develop appellants' arguments for them"]; Niko v. 

Foreman (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 344, 368 ["One cannot simply say the [trial] court 

erred, and leave it up to the appellate court to figure out why"].) 

In a similar situation in Berger v. Godden (1985)163 Cal.App.3d 1113, the court 

concluded: "[I]t is appropriate . . . to deem the appeal abandoned and to dismiss it. . . . 

Appellant's [opening] brief . . . simply failed to make any arguments to support any 

theory of error." (Id., at p. 1120, fn. omitted.) The court continued: "[A]ppellant's failure 

to present any pertinent or intelligible legal argument in his opening brief constitutes an 

abandonment of the appeal . . . . In this circumstance, dismissal of the appeal, with no 

consideration on the merits as to the correctness of the judgment . . . from which the 

appeal is taken, is the proper disposition." (Ibid.) 

In Berger the original opening brief was struck for failure to comply with the 

rules. The appellate court deemed the appeal to be abandoned after the second brief also 

failed to comply with the rules. Here, on the other hand, there is no second brief because 

appellant's opening brief was not struck. But this is a distinction without a difference. 

The Berger court's holding is not limited to second briefs: "[W]e . . . hold that failure of 

an appellant in a civil action to articulate any pertinent or intelligible legal argument in an 
4 

opening brief may, in the discretion of the court, be deemed an abandonment of the 

appeal justifying dismissal." (Berger v. Godden, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d at p. 1119.) The 

Berger court noted: "Although we are considering a second brief in this case, we know of 

nothing to preclude an appeal from being deemed abandoned by virtue of an initial brief's 

failure to present pertinent or comprehensible argument." (Id., at p. 1120, fn. 7.) 

In view of our dismissal of appellant's previous appeal in Zulli v. Graham, supra, 

for failure to comply with the rules, it is particularly appropriate for us to exercise our 

discretion to dismiss the instant appeal for the same reason. In Graham appellant was 

forewarned that his failure to comply with the rules in a future appeal would result in the 

dismissal of that appeal. Moreover, it appears that appellant knew that his opening brief 

in the instant appeal did not comply with the rules. In the first paragraph of the brief, 

appellant states: "The Court should grant the Appellant the widest latitude to allow him to 

have his day in Court. The Court should consider the rights of the Appellant over simple 

rule following." (Italics added.) 

Disposition 

The appeal is dismissed. Respondent shall recover his costs on appeal. 

 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED. 

 YEGAN, J. 

We concur: 

 GILBERT, P.J. 

 PERREN, J. 
1 

APPENDIX A 

Filed 6/27/2013 

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS 

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication 

or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. 

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT 

DIVISION SIX 

BRIAN ZULLI, 

 Plaintiff and Appellant, 

v. 

GEOFFREY GRAHAM, M.D., 

 Defendant and Respondent. 

2d Civil No. B242729 

(Super. Ct. No. 56-2011-00402116-CUMM-SIM) 

(Ventura County) 

 Brian Zulli, proceeding in propria persona, appeals from a judgment of dismissal 

entered after the trial court sustained, without leave to amend, the demurrer of Geoffrey 

Graham, M.D., respondent, to appellant's second amended complaint. The complaint 

alleged two causes of action. The first was entitled "CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE WITH 

BATTERY / MEDICAL MAL PRACTICE WITH VIOLATIONS OF EMTALA."1

 

(Bold omitted.) The second cause of action was for wrongful death. Because appellant's 

opening brief completely fails to comply with the rules of appellate procedure, we deem 

the appeal to be abandoned and dismiss it. 

Standard of Review 

 

1

 "EMTALA" is an abbreviation for the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor 

Act. (42 U.S.C. § 1395dd.) 
2 

 "In reviewing a judgment following the sustaining of a demurrer without leave to 

amend, we decide de novo whether the complaint states facts sufficient to state a cause of 

action. [Citation.] We treat the demurrer as admitting all facts properly pleaded, but we 

do not assume the truth of contentions, deductions or conclusions of law. [Citation.] If 

we agree the complaint does not state a cause of action, we review the denial of leave to 

amend for an abuse of discretion. [Citation.]" (Holland v. Jones (2012) 210 Cal.App.4th 

378, 381.) 

Rules of Appellate Procedure 

" 'A judgment or order of the lower court is presumed correct. All intendments 

and presumptions are indulged to support it on matters as to which the record is silent, 

and error must be affirmatively shown.' " (Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 

557, 564.) "To demonstrate error, appellant must present meaningful legal analysis 

supported by citations to authority and citations to facts in the record that support the 

claim of error. [Citations.]" (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408.) "When an 

issue is unsupported by pertinent or cognizable legal argument it may be deemed 

abandoned and discussion by the reviewing court is unnecessary. [Citations.]" (Landry 

v. Berryessa Union School Dist. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 691, 699 -700.) "Hence, 

conclusory claims of error will fail." (In re S.C., supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 408.) 

The California Rules of Court (Rules) provide: "An appellant's opening brief must 

. . . [p]rovide a summary of the significant facts limited to matters in the record." (Rule 

8.204(d)(C).) Each factual reference must be supported "by a citation to the volume and 

page number of the record where the matter appears." (Rule 8.204(a)(1)(C).) 

The Rules also require that a brief "[s]tate each point under a separate heading or 

subheading summarizing the point . . . ." (Rule 8.204(a)(1)(B).) "This is not a mere 

technical requirement; it is 'designed to lighten the labors of the appellate tribunals by 

requiring the litigants to present their cause systematically and so arranged that those 

upon whom the duty devolves of ascertaining the rule of law to apply may be advised, as 

they read, of the exact question under consideration, instead of being compelled to 

extricate it from the mass.' [Citations.]" (In re S.C., supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 408.) 
3 

"The failure to head an argument as required by California Rules of Court, rule 

[8.204(a)(1)(B)] constitutes a waiver. [Citations.]" (Opdyk v. California Horse Racing 

Bd. (1995) 34 Cal.App.4th 1826, 1830, fn. 4.) 

"[Appellant] is not exempt from the foregoing rules because he is representing 

himself on appeal in propria persona. Under the law, a party may choose to act as his or 

her own attorney. [Citation.] '[S]uch a party is to be treated like any other party and is 

entitled to the same, but no greater consideration than other litigants and attorneys. 

[Citation.]' [Citation.] Thus, as is the case with attorneys, pro. per. litigants must follow 

correct rules of procedure. [Citations.]" (Nwosu v. Uba (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 1229, 

1246-1247.) 

Discussion 

 Appellant's opening brief completely fails to comply with the rules of appellate 

procedure. Appellant omits a summary of the significant facts with supporting citations 

to the record. He has not "[s]tate[d] each point under a separate heading or subheading 

summarizing the point . . . ." (Rule 8.204(a)(1)(B).) The brief consists of conclusory 

allegations without any factual or legal analysis. Although appellant cites legal 

authorities, he does not explain how these authorities apply to this case. 

"We are not required to search the record to ascertain whether it contains support 

for [appellant's] contentions. [Citation.] . . . [¶] . . . [I]t is not this court's function to serve 

as [appellant's] backup appellate counsel." (Mansell v. Board of Administration (1994) 

30 Cal.App.4th 539, 545-546; see also In re Marriage of Falcone (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 

814, 830 ["We are not bound to develop appellants' arguments for them"]; Niko v. 

Foreman (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 344, 368 ["One cannot simply say the [trial] court 

erred, and leave it up to the appellate court to figure out why"].) 

"Consequently, it is appropriate for this court to deem the appeal abandoned and to 

dismiss it. . . . Appellant's [opening] brief . . . simply failed to make any arguments to 

support any theory of error." (Berger v. Godden (1985)163 Cal.App.3d 1113, 1120, fn. 

omitted.) "[A]ppellant's failure to present any pertinent or intelligible legal argument in 

his opening brief constitutes an abandonment of the appeal . . . . In this circumstance, 
4 

dismissal of the appeal, with no consideration on the merits as to the correctness of the 

judgment . . . from which the appeal is taken, is the proper disposition." (Ibid.)2

 

Even if we were to consider the merits of the appeal, appellant would not prevail. 

His causes of action are based on the allegedly negligent medical care of his mother, 

Sylvia Zulli. Because of the negligent care, "Sylvia Zulli suffered a stroke . . . and died 

on May 13, 2010." Appellant sued respondent, four other doctors, a hospital, and various 

medical groups.3

 

The complaint alleges that all of the defendants "failed to prescribe blood thinners 

Cumidin [Coumadin] when [Sylvia was] discharged [from hospital] on March 25, 2010." 

From March 12 through March 25, and March 29 through March 30, 2010, defendants 

also "[f]ailed to screen and provide medical treatment of an urgently needed ERCP 

[endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram] Procedure / a closed bial [bile] duct, a 

life or death emergency." On March 29, 2010, Sylvia had a stroke and was rushed to 

Paso Robles Hospital. "Defendants failed to provide medical treatment for a stroke on 

March 29, 30, 2010." 

 

 

2

 In Berger the original opening brief was struck for failure to comply with the Rules. 

The appellate court deemed the appeal to be abandoned after the second brief also failed 

to comply with the Rules. Here, on the other hand, there is no second brief because 

appellant's opening brief was not struck. But this is a distinction without a difference. 

The Berger court noted: "Although we are considering a second brief in this case, we 

know of nothing to preclude an appeal from being deemed abandoned by virtue of an 

initial brief's failure to present pertinent or comprehensible argument." (Berger v. 

Godden, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d at p. 1120, fn. 7.) The Berger court's holding is not 

limited to second briefs: "[W]e . . . hold that failure of an appellant in a civil action to 

articulate any pertinent or intelligible legal argument in an opening brief may, in the 

discretion of the court, be deemed an abandonment of the appeal justifying dismissal." 

(Id., at p. 1119.) 

3

 In a separate appeal in another case arising out of Sylvia's allegedly negligent medical 

care and death, we affirmed a judgment of dismissal entered after the trial court 

sustained, without leave to amend, the defendant's demurrer. (Zulli v. Mora (June 6, 

2013) B242702.) 
5 

The following allegations in the complaint are the only ones that specifically apply 

to respondent: "On March 30, 2010, [after Sylvia had suffered a stroke and had been 

admitted to Paso Robles Hospital, respondent] told [appellant] he refused to treat Sylvia 

Zulli [and that] she is going to die. He said Sylvia Zulli has brain cancer, liver cancer, 

lung cancer, kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer. [Appellant] had Sylvia Zulli brought 

to Simi Valley Hospital. [Respondent] called Elder Abuse and Simi Valley Hospital and 

Cedars Hospital [correct name is Cedars-Sinai Medical Center] trying to keep Sylvia 

Zulli from having medical treatment provided that would save her life." Appellant 

alleged that Sylvia was admitted to Simi Valley Hospital on March 30, 2010, the same 

day that respondent refused to treat her at Paso Robles Hospital. "Doctor Yu from Simi 

Valley Hospital said to [appellant that] Sylvia Zulli is suffering a stroke due to no blood 

thinners. Sylvia is put on Lovenox [a blood thinner] immediately." 

The complaint's allegations are insufficient to state a cause of action against 

respondent. The complaint does not allege that Sylvia was under respondent's care 

before March 30, 2010. Thus, he could not have been responsible for the failure to 

prescribe blood thinners when Sylvia was discharged from the hospital on March 25, 

2010. 

Moreover, the complaint does not state facts showing a causal connection between 

respondent's alleged refusal to treat Sylvia on March 30, 2010, and her death 44 days 

later on May 13, 2010. On March 30 appellant had Sylvia discharged from Paso Robles 

Hospital and placed in Simi Valley Hospital, where Dr. Yu immediately began treating 

her with blood thinners for the stroke. Appellant does not explain how this short delay in 

treatment contributed to Sylvia's death. 

The lack of a causal connection was the trial court's reason for granting the 

demurrer: "[D]espite being told what needed to be addressed, [appellant] has failed to set 

forth a clear causal connection between the acts and or omissions of [respondent] and the 

stroke/death of Sylvia." The trial court was correct: "[W]hen . . . ' "the pleaded facts of 

negligence and injury do not naturally give rise to an inference of causation[,] the 

plaintiff must plead specific facts affording an inference the one caused the others." ' 
6 

[Citation.] That is, the plaintiff must allege facts, albeit as succinctly as possible, 

explaining how the conduct caused or contributed to the injury. [Citations.]" (Bockrath 

v. Aldrich Chemical Co., Inc. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 71, 78-79.) 

In addition, appellant failed to allege facts sufficient to state a cause of action for 

"criminal negligence with battery." "The battery theory should be reserved for those 

circumstances when a doctor performs an operation to which the patient has not 

consented." (Cobbs v. Grant (1972) 8 Cal.3d 229, 240.) Appellant did not allege that 

respondent had performed surgery on Sylvia. He alleged that respondent had refused to 

treat her. 

Disposition 

The appeal is dismissed. Respondent shall recover his costs on appeal. 

 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED. 

 YEGAN, J. 

We concur: 

 GILBERT, P.J. 

 PERREN, J. 
7 

Rebecca S. Riley, Judge 

Superior Court County of Ventura 

______________________________ 

 Brian Zulli, in pro per, Appellant. 

 Bertling & Clausen; Steve H. Shlens, for Respondent. 
1 

Rebecca S. Riley, Judge 

Superior Court County of Ventura 

______________________________ 

 Brian Zulli, in pro per, Appellant. 

 Hertzfeld & Rubin, Michael A. Zuk, Vadim Braslavsky, for Respondent.