Court Opinion

ID: 1037347
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-08-12 16:06:23.09459+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:56:50.433240
License: Public Domain

Filed 4/26/13

                       CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION*

                IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                             FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                        DIVISION TWO

In re the Marriage of JESSIE A. and
ROBERT S. KAHN.

JESSIE A. KAHN,                                          E054082

        Respondent,                                      (Super.Ct.No. IND097341)

v.                                                       OPINION

ROBERT S. KAHN,

        Appellant.

        APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Lawrence P. Best,

Temporary Judge (pursuant to Cal. Const., art. VI, § 21) and Dale R. Wells, Judge.†

Affirmed in part and reversed in part with directions.

        Best Best & Krieger, Kira L. Klatchko and Douglas S. Phillips for Appellant.

        Richard C. Houghton for Respondent.

        *     Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 8.1105(b) and 8.1110, this
opinion is certified for publication with the exception of parts I, II, and III.
        †     Judge Best granted the motion for terminating sanctions, entered the
default, and denied the motion to set aside the default. Judge Wells presided over the
prove-up hearing and entered the default judgment.

                                             1
       In this dissolution of marriage proceeding, husband Robert Kahn failed to respond

to discovery propounded by wife Jessie Kahn. Even after the trial court granted Jessie‟s

motion to compel, he still failed to respond. Finally, after Jessie filed a motion for

terminating sanctions, Robert served responses, but they included numerous objections

based on the Fifth Amendment.

       The trial court struck Robert‟s responsive pleading as a discovery sanction and

entered his default. It also denied his motion to set aside the default. After a prove-up

hearing, it entered a default judgment, which, among other things, awarded Jessie

$275,000 against Robert for breach of fiduciary duty.

       Robert now contends:

       1. The trial court erred by striking Robert‟s responsive pleading and entering his

default.

       2. The trial court erred by denying Robert‟s motion to set aside the default to the

extent that the motion was based on his attorney‟s affidavit of fault.

       3. The award of $275,000 was not supported by substantial evidence.

       4. The award of $275,000 exceeded the scope of the petition.

       In the published portion of this opinion, we agree that the award of $275,000

rendered the judgment void, because Jessie‟s petition had not indicated that she was

seeking any particular amount of damages for breach of fiduciary duty. In the

unpublished portion, we find no other error. Hence, we will remand to the trial court with

directions to determine whether to modify the judgment by striking the award of $275,000

                                              2
or to vacate the judgment in its entirety so that Jessie can file an amended petition and

seek damages for breach of fiduciary duty.

                                              I

            GENERAL FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND1

       Jessie and Robert were married in 1958. In 2007, after 48 years of marriage, they

separated. In 2009, Jessie filed the present dissolution proceeding. Robert filed a

responsive pleading.

       It was Jessie‟s understanding that Robert owned numerous parcels of real property,

either directly or through various business entities. Robert claimed, however, that most of

the properties had either been sold or were “owned and in the possession of . . . his

girlfriend.” He admitted having an interest — through business entities named Maverik

Properties (Maverik) and The Beverly Building LLC — in a commercial building on

Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles. He claimed, however, that the building was operating

at a loss and that his only income was $570 a month from Social Security.

       On Jessie‟s motion, the trial court appointed a receiver. However, Robert failed to

cooperate with the receiver and interfered with the receiver‟s management of the

building.

       1      The factual and procedural matters in this part are included as general
background. They have been gleaned from various portions of the record. They were not
necessarily before the trial court when it made any particular ruling.

                                              3
                                                II

     THE TRIAL COURT‟S ORDER GRANTING TERMINATING SANCTIONS

       Robert contends that the trial court erred by striking his responsive pleading and

entering his default.

       A.     Relevant Factual and Procedural Background.

              1.        The motion to compel.

       On April 23, 2009, Jessie served Robert with form interrogatories and a request for

production of documents.

       At the time, Robert was in propria persona. The next day, however, April 24,

2009, he retained Attorney Thomas M. Stefanelli. Nevertheless, on May 28, 2009, when

responses were due (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.260, subd. (a) [interrogatories], 2031.260,

subd. (a) [document requests]; see also Code Civ. Proc., § 1013), Robert wholly failed to

respond.

       On June 16, 2009, Stefanelli belatedly requested an extension of time. He told

Jessie‟s attorney, “ . . . I will be meeting with my client on . . . June 18, 2009. I will be

able to get you his responses to your discovery within a few days thereafter.” However,

he did not do so.

       On July 14, 2009, Jessie filed a motion to compel.

                                                4
       On July 30, 2009, Attorney Stefanelli substituted out in favor of Robert, in propria

persona.2

       Robert did not file any opposition to the motion to compel. On August 19, 2009,

the trial court granted the motion. It ordered Robert to respond within 30 days. It did not

specifically state that the responses were to be without objection. However, Robert had

already waived any objections by failing to serve a timely response. (Code Civ. Proc.,

§§ 2030.290, subd. (a) [interrogatories], 2031.300, subd. (a) [document requests].)

       Robert did not respond by the date set by the trial court.

              2.     The motion for terminating sanctions.

                     a.     Jessie’s motion.

       On December 1, 2009, Jessie filed a motion to strike Robert‟s responsive pleading

as a discovery sanction.

       On December 14, 2009, Attorney Bertrand Cottle substituted in as attorney for

Robert.

       On December 17, 2009, at a hearing, Cottle stated, “ . . . I have Mr. Kahn working

with my paralegal . . . to provide discovery responses . . . .” Based on that representation,

Jessie‟s attorney agreed to continue the hearing on the motion for terminating sanctions.

       2       Robert states that Jessie filed her motion to compel “[w]hile [Robert] was
acting in propria persona . . . .” Not true. She filed it on July 14; Robert was not in
propria persona until July 30. Even if we accept Robert‟s subsequent claim that he
actually fired Stefanelli on July 24, the motion was still filed before Robert was in propria
persona.

                                               5
       On April 13, 2010, however, Robert substituted Attorney B. Palmer Riedel in

place of Attorney Cottle.

                     b.      The receivership.

       Meanwhile, on December 17, 2009, the trial court had appointed a receiver. On

April 20, 2010, the receiver filed a report stating that Robert had failed to turn over

business books and records, citing the Fifth Amendment and the right to privacy; he had

failed to turn over business bank accounts; and he had interfered with the receiver‟s

business relationships with employees and tenants.

                     c.      Robert’s opposition.

       On April 23, 2010, Robert filed a declaration in opposition to the motion for

terminating sanctions. In it, Robert noted that he had been in propria persona from July

25 through December 9, 2009, assertedly due to lack of funds.

       He stated, “On or about July 4, 2009, I had a mishap falling down a set of stairs

injuring my back which left me incapacitated for three to four weeks. It was actually not

until approximately November 24, 2009 that I became ambulatory.”

       He also stated that the Internal Revenue Service had taken the position that he

owed $250,000 in back taxes. He therefore claimed, “ . . . I was faced with the . . .

challenge of producing [discovery] responses that would threaten my constitutional rights

to avoid possible self[-]incrimination with regard to the Internal Revenue Service.”

       Finally, Robert stated that in March 2010, Attorney Cottle had prepared responses

and had had Robert verify them, but “for some reason,” Cottle had not served them.

                                              6
When Attorney Riedel realized this, he served the responses “immediately.” However,

Robert did not attach a copy of the responses.

                     d.     Jessie’s reply.

       On April 29, 2010, Jessie filed a reply. She conceded that Robert had served

discovery responses on April 20, 2010.3 Unlike Robert, however, she attached a copy of

the responses.

       The responses were verified by Robert, and there was a signature block for

Attorney Cottle. However, neither Cottle nor Riedel had actually signed them.

       In response to 7 out of the 20 form interrogatories, Robert asserted his privilege

against self-incrimination. This included interrogatories about whether he was living with

anybody; whether he had any health, life, auto, or disability insurance; and whether he

had received any gifts.

       When Robert did not object, his responses were evasive. For example, he refused

to state his residence address “for privacy and reasons of personal safety.” When asked

his income, he stated that he received $577 from Social Security, then added cryptically,

“Beverly Bldg. (See court appointed receiver.)” When asked about attorney fees he had

incurred and paid, he stated only, “Per attorney fee agreement.”

       3     At that point, the hearing on the motion for terminating sanctions was set
for May 6, 2010. It was later further continued to July 15, 2010.

                                              7
       Robert also asserted his privilege against self-incrimination in response to 23 out

of the 43 document requests, including requests for life insurance policies and corporate

articles, by-laws, and minutes.

       In response to nearly all the other requests, Robert claimed that he had no

responsive documents. This included the requests for documents pertaining to attorney

fees, documents pertaining to the community or separate property nature of any property,

and documents pertaining to litigation.

       Robert agreed to produce one document in response to one request.

                     e.     Robert’s further opposition.

       On May 14, 2010, Robert filed a memorandum of points and authorities in

opposition to the motion for terminating sanctions. It argued that: (1) Jessie‟s motion

had not been supported by a declaration or other evidence; (2) Robert “had valid reasons

for not timely producing the discovery”; (3) Robert had now responded to the requests;

and (4) terminating sanctions would violate due process.

                     f.     The order granting the motion.

       On July 15, 2010, the trial court granted the motion. It found that “there ha[d]

been a total lack of cooperation by [Robert] as documented by [Jessie‟s attorney‟s]

paperwork and as documented by the receiver[‟]s paperwork.” (Capitalization omitted.)

       B.     Analysis.

       Standard civil discovery procedures (see generally Code Civ. Proc., § 2016.010)

apply in family law proceedings. (Hogoboom & King, Cal. Practice Guide: Family Law

                                             8
(Rutter Group 2012) ¶ 11:110, pp. 11-30 to 11-30.1.) Under these provisions, if a party

fails to obey an order compelling a response, the trial court “may make those orders that

are just,” including an order striking the party‟s pleadings. (Code Civ. Proc.,

§§ 2030.290, subd. (c) [interrogatories], 2031.300, subd. (c) [document requests]; see also

id., § 2023.030, subd. (d)(1).)

       “[T]erminating sanctions are to be used sparingly, only when the trial court

concludes that lesser sanctions would not bring about the compliance of the offending

party.” (R.S. Creative, Inc. v. Creative Cotton, Ltd. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 486, 496.)

However, while “the ultimate sanction of default is a drastic penalty which should be

sparingly used, the unsuccessful imposition of a lesser sanction is not an absolute

prerequisite to the utilization of the ultimate sanction; and the test on appeal is whether

the lower court abused its discretion on the particular facts before it. [Citation.]”

(Housing Authority v. Gomez (1972) 26 Cal.App.3d 366, 371.)

       It must be remembered that Robert did not provide any responses until a year after

the original request, which was six months after he had been ordered to do so and two

weeks before the date of a hearing on terminating sanctions (later continued). He simply

blew off the discovery process.

       Robert now complains that he was in propria persona for part of this time.

However, from April 24, 2009, the day after the discovery was served, through June 25,

2009, when his responses were due — a period of two months — he had counsel.

Moreover, from December 14, 2009, when he retained Attorney Cottle, through April 20,

                                              9
2010, when he finally served a response — a period of four months — he again had

counsel. Thus, there is absolutely no excuse for his complete inaction over a total of six

months. In any event, his propria persona status is irrelevant. “[S]elf-represented parties

are entitled to no greater consideration than other litigants and attorneys [citation].” (In

re Marriage of Falcone & Fyke (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 814, 830.)

       Robert also complains that he was injured for part of this time. Again, however,

he was “incapacitated” for less than a month and not “ambulatory” for only about five

months. In fact, his nonambulatory period (July-November 2009) and his propria persona

period (July-December 2009) more or less coincided, leaving him with ample time to

respond. And, again, his injury is largely irrelevant. If, in fact, it made it difficult for him

to respond, he should have sought an extension of time, a protective order, or similar

relief. He should not have exercised self-help by unilaterally postponing a response. (See

Doe v. United States Swimming, Inc. (2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 1424, 1439.)

       Next, Robert complains that Jessie‟s requests were supposedly numerous and

sweeping. Robert, however, had a fiduciary duty of full disclosure regarding all

community assets and liabilities (Fam. Code, § 1100, subd. (e)); he admitted that he had

no separate property. Jessie used form interrogatories. Her requests do not strike us as

burdensome or oppressive in connection with a marriage of nearly 50 years. A couple of

months should have been plenty of time to respond. And, again, if it was not, Robert

should have sought an extension.

                                              10
       Admittedly, while the motion for terminating sanctions was pending, Robert did

serve purported responses. He therefore argues that the motion should have been denied

as moot; if Jessie found the responses inadequate, she should have been required to file a

new motion to compel, including a new “meet and confer” declaration and a new separate

statement.

       Responses that include objections, however, must be signed by an attorney. (Code

Civ. Proc., § 2030.250, subd. (c) [interrogatories]; 2031.250, subd. (c) [document

requests].) Here, the responses were not signed by an attorney, even though they

contained objections. For this reason alone, the trial court could properly disregard the

responses as invalid.

       But even assuming the responses were valid, the motion was not moot. It was a

motion for sanctions, not a motion to compel. Robert had violated a court order to act by

a certain deadline. Hence, the trial court was empowered to impose sanctions. The fact

(if it was a fact) that he complied after the deadline was relevant to the choice of a

particular sanction, but it did not make the motion for sanctions moot.

       Robert asserts that “striking a responsive pleading and entering a default is a

punitive sanction where responses have been provided.” However, the case that he cites

for this proposition, McGinty v. Superior Court (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 204, says nothing

of the kind. It simply states, generally, that “„[t]he penalty should be appropriate to the

dereliction, and should not exceed that which is required to protect the interests of the

party entitled to but denied discovery.‟ [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 211.) It also states, again

                                              11
generally, that “punishment is not an appropriate aim of discovery sanctions.

[Citations.]” (Id. at p. 214.) It does not state that terminating sanctions are necessarily

excessive merely because some responses have been provided.

       The trial court could also consider the adequacy of the belated responses. Robert‟s

position, taken to its logical extreme, is that if he served any response, even to just one

interrogatory, Jessie had to file a new motion to compel, followed by a new motion for

sanctions; and then, if he answered just one more interrogatory before the second motion

for sanctions was heard, Jessie (and the trial court) had to go through the whole process

again. Obviously, this is absurd.

       Robert‟s responses were grievously defective. First and foremost, he had no right

to raise any objections. If a party fails to serve a timely response, that party waives “any

objection . . . , including one based on privilege . . . .” (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.290,

subd. (a) [interrogatories], 2031.300, subd. (a) [document requests].) Robert claims he

was unaware of this because, back in August 2009, when the trial court granted the

motion to compel, he was in propria persona, and the trial court did not specify that the

responses were to be without objections.4 By March 2010, however, when Attorney

Cottle drafted the responses, and by April 2010, when Attorney Riedel served them, that

had long ceased to be an excuse.

       4      Robert did not say in his declaration that this was actually his reason for
asserting objections; it is merely a speculative inference that he now asks us to draw.

                                              12
       In addition, at least some of Robert‟s Fifth Amendment objections appear invalid

on their face. These include his objections to whether he was living with anyone and to

whether he had any insurance. In an income and expense declaration filed around the

same time, he disclosed without objection that he was living with a named female

“companion” and that he was not paying for insurance (other than health insurance).

       His Fifth Amendment objections5 to producing corporate and partnership business

records were invalid because “an individual cannot rely upon the privilege to avoid

producing the records of a collective entity which are in his possession in a representative

capacity, even if these records might incriminate him personally.” (Bellis v. United States

(1974) 417 U.S. 85, 88 [94 S.Ct. 2179, 40 L.Ed.2d 678]; see also Braswell v. United

States (1988) 487 U.S. 99, 102-118 [108 S.Ct. 2284, 101 L.Ed.2d 98].) This rule applies

even to closely held and one-person corporations. (In re Grand Jury Subpoena Issued

June 18, 2009 (2d Cir. 2010) 593 F.3d 155, 158-159; Amato v. United States (1st Cir.

2006) 450 F.3d 46, 52; U.S. v. Stone (4th Cir. 1992) 976 F.2d 909, 912.)

       Robert‟s responses failed to identify the documents that he objected to producing,

as required. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.240, subd. (b).) And finally, out of the handful of

responses that he did provide, many were evasive and incomplete.6

       5       Robert did not assert any state-law privilege against the disclosure of tax
returns; thus, he forfeited any such privilege (if he had not done so already).
       6      Robert argues that he had actually produced at least some documents. No
evidence of this, however, was before the trial court when it ruled on the motion for
                                                                  [footnote continued on next page]

                                             13
        It was reasonably inferable that Robert‟s attorneys knew the responses were

defective. According to Robert‟s opposition, the responses had been prepared by

Attorney Cottle, but not served; when Attorney Riedel found them in the file, he served

them “immediately.” This account, however, was not supported by any declaration. In

any event, it failed to explain why Cottle did not serve the responses. It also failed to

explain why Riedel did not sign them. This procedure rather neatly allowed both

attorneys to avoid any responsibility for the content of the responses. If Riedel was

willing to serve them, he should have signed them; if he was not willing to sign them, he

should not have served them. There was ample evidence that Robert and his attorneys

were playing fast and loose with the court.

        Based on the foregoing, the trial court could reasonably conclude that the violation

was willful and that no lesser sanction was going to be successful in obtaining

compliance.

        Finally, Robert argues that the trial court erred by considering his failure to

cooperate with the receiver. Jessie‟s counsel argued that Robert had failed to produce

documents not only to Jessie, but also to the receiver. He also argued that Robert had

interfered with the receivership by telling tenants to pay rent to him. The trial court

[footnote continued from previous page]
terminating sanctions. He introduced this evidence later, in support of his motion to set
aside the default. (See part III, post.)

                                              14
indicated that its finding of “a total lack of cooperation” was based not only on Jessie‟s

“paperwork,” but also on “the receiver[‟]s paperwork.”

       Robert, however, did not raise this contention below. Thus, he forfeited it.

Certainly his failure to cooperate with the receiver was relevant. “[T]he sanctioned

party‟s history as a repeat offender is not only relevant, but also significant, in deciding

whether to impose terminating sanctions. [Citations.]” (Liberty Mutual Fire Ins. Co. v.

LcL Administrators, Inc. (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1093, 1106.) Absent any more

particular objection, the trial court could properly take into account Robert‟s recalcitrance

in dealing with the receiver.

                                              III

            THE TRIAL COURT‟S REFUSAL TO SET ASIDE THE DEFAULT

       Robert contends that the trial court erred by denying his motion to set aside the

default.

       A.     Additional Factual and Procedural Background.

       On July 28, 2010, Robert filed a motion to set aside the default. In it, he raised

multiple arguments.

       First, he argued that terminating sanctions were disproportionate and punitive.

       Next, he argued that, on the motion for terminating sanctions, Jessie‟s reply had

included new arguments and evidence that had not been in her original motion, and the

trial court should not have considered these. He asserted that, “if it was inclined to

                                              15
consider those issues, the court should have continued the hearing to give [Robert] an

opportunity to brief those issues . . . .”

       Moreover, he argued that, at the hearing on the motion for terminating sanctions,

Jessie‟s counsel had stated, falsely, that Robert had not produced any documents; actually,

Robert claimed, he had produced 434 pages of documents.

       Finally, Robert argued that the trial court should grant relief because Attorney

Riedel had:

       1. Failed to sign Robert‟s discovery responses;

       2. Served responses that included Fifth Amendment objections;

       3. Failed to argue that Jessie‟s reply included new arguments and evidence; and

       4. Failed to request a continuance.

       The motion was supported by a declaration by Riedel. Riedel stated that he had

produced 434 pages of documents relating to the Beverly Building to both Jessie and the

receiver; he attached the documents.7

       Riedel claimed that he did not sign the discovery responses “because they were

prepared by Mr. Cottle.”

       Riedel also claimed that he “decided to leave the [Fifth Amendment] objections”

because the trial court‟s order compelling responses had not “expressly” prohibited

objections.

       7       By our count, there are 229 pages of documents, not 434.

                                             16
       Riedel conceded that he had not “expressly” argued that Jessie‟s reply included

new arguments and evidence. He explained: “ . . . I did not expect the court to consider

numerous new factual and legal arguments raised for the first time in the [r]eply and at

the hearing. It was my understanding that since [Robert] had, in fact, provided discovery

responses and documents the issue of [t]erminating [s]anction[s] . . . was moot.”

       Riedel also conceded that he had not “expressly” requested a continuance.

       After hearing argument the trial court denied the motion. Jessie‟s counsel argued

that, if the trial court were to “just make a further order that [Robert] do things, . . . we are

just going to be back here again.” The trial court replied, “I know. He has had the chance

to comply. So making another order, I agree with you.” It concluded: “I think the failure

to turn over the material was willful. I think it‟s been a pattern of noncooperation

designed to frustrate the process. Based on that I don‟t believe there is another

appropriate sanction, and the motion will be denied.”

       B.     Analysis.

       Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) allows the trial court to

relieve a party from a default. “„“[T]he provisions of section 473 of the Code of Civil

Procedure are to be liberally construed and sound policy favors the determination of

actions on their merits.” [Citation.]‟ [Citation.] „[B]ecause the law strongly favors trial

and disposition on the merits, any doubts in applying section 473 must be resolved in

favor of the party seeking relief from default.‟ [Citation.]” (Maynard v. Brandon (2005)

36 Cal.4th 364, 371-372.)

                                               17
       There are two alternative grounds for relief from default, one mandatory, one

discretionary.

       Under the discretionary provision, the court “may” set aside a default “taken

against [a party] through his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.”

(Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b).)

       Under the mandatory provision, the court “shall” set aside a default based on “an

attorney‟s sworn affidavit attesting to his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or

neglect, . . . unless the court finds that the default or dismissal was not in fact caused by

the attorney‟s mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or neglect.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd.

(b).) “„“[R]elief is mandatory when a complying affidavit is filed, even if the attorney‟s

neglect was inexcusable.” [Citation.]‟ [Citation.]” (Carmel, Ltd. v. Tavoussi (2009) 175

Cal.App.4th 393, 401.)

       This mandatory relief provision is intended “„“ . . . to alleviate the hardship on

parties who lose their day in court due solely to an inexcusable failure to act on the part of

their attorneys.”‟ [Citation.]” (Henderson v. Pacific Gas and Elec. Co. (2010) 187

Cal.App.4th 215, 226, italics omitted.)

       “[T]o the extent that the applicability of the mandatory relief provision does not

turn on disputed facts, but rather, presents a pure question of law, it is subject to de novo

review. [Citation.] Where the facts are in dispute as to whether or not the prerequisites

of the mandatory relief provision of section 473, subdivision (b), have been met, we

                                              18
review the record to determine whether substantial evidence supports the trial court‟s

findings. [Citation.]” (Carmel, Ltd. v. Tavoussi, supra, 175 Cal.App.4th at p. 399.)

         Robert does not appear to contend that he was entitled to discretionary relief. In

this appeal, he relies exclusively on the mandatory relief provision.

         “[T]he mandatory provision . . . „protects only the innocent client [and] provides

no relief for the culpable client who participates in conduct which led to the default . . . .‟

[Citation.] If the trial court finds that the moving party‟s misconduct was a contributing

cause of the default, that party „cannot rely on the mandatory relief provision of section

473.‟ [Citation.]” (Carmel, Ltd. v. Tavoussi, supra, 175 Cal.App.4th at p. 400; accord,

Solv-All v. Superior Court (2005) 131 Cal.App.4th 1003, 1010-1011 [Fourth Dist., Div.

Two].)

         For example, in Lang v. Hochman (2000) 77 Cal.App.4th 1225, the defendants

failed to serve a response to the plaintiffs‟ request for production of documents, but they

did produce documents. (Id. at p. 1229.) There was a dispute over whether they had

produced all responsive documents. The trial court granted a motion to compel, then

issued two additional orders compelling further production before eventually granting a

motion for terminating sanctions. (Id. at pp. 1230-1241.)

         The defendants retained new counsel, who filed a motion for relief from default.

The motion was supported by a declaration by the defendants‟ former attorney to the

effect that the defendants had not intentionally failed to produce documents; rather, the

attorney had negligently failed to review the documents to make sure that all responsive

                                              19
documents were produced. (Lang v. Hochman, supra, 77 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1241-1242.)

The trial court denied the motion, finding that the default was caused by the “shared

misconduct” (id. at p. 1243, italics omitted) of the defendants as well their counsel. (Id.

at pp. 1242-1243.)

       The appellate court upheld the denial of relief. (Lang v. Hochman, supra, 77

Cal.App.4th at pp. 1247-1252.) It held that “a party can rely on the mandatory provision

of section 473 only if the party is totally innocent of any wrongdoing and the attorney was

the sole cause of the default or dismissal.” (Id. at p. 1248.) It noted that, in his

declaration, the defendants‟ former counsel had “attempted to take the blame . . . .” (Id.

at p. 1250.) His declaration, however, had been contradicted by statements he had

previously made to the effect that he had actually recommended producing more

documents, but his clients had failed to do so. (Id. at p. 1251.) The court concluded that

there was “substantial evidence” that “shared misconduct caused the default

judgment . . . .” (Id. at p. 1252.)

       Here, the trial court found that Robert‟s failure to produce documents was

“willful” and part of “a pattern of noncooperation designed to frustrate the process.”

Thus, it essentially found intentional misconduct by Robert. He does not argue that this

finding was not supported by substantial evidence. We note, however, if only out of an

excess of caution, that it was. When responses to the discovery were originally due,

Robert was in propria persona; he totally failed to respond. This was before he

supposedly was injured. Moreover, even after the date on which he later claimed the

                                              20
injury occurred, he did not seek an extension of time on this ground. Rather, Attorney

Stefanelli belatedly requested and obtained an extension of time by promising responses

within “a few days.” However, Stefanelli substituted out instead. Thereafter, Attorney

Cottle requested and obtained a continuance of the motion for terminating sanctions,

promising to respond to the discovery as well as to provide financial information to the

receiver, but Cottle likewise substituted out instead.

       In sum, then, Robert failed to comply with his discovery obligations when he was

in propria persona; he continued to failed to comply with his discovery obligations when

he was represented by Stefanelli and by Cottle, despite their promises that he would

comply. All of this occurred months before Riedel was involved in the case. The trial

court could reasonably conclude that Robert was equally involved in Riedel‟s most recent

failure to comply with discovery, resulting in the default.8 Thus, it could properly refuse

to grant relief based on attorney fault.

       8      The trial court could also reasonably reject Riedel‟s claim that the default
resulted from (1) his failure to assert that Jessie had raised new factual and legal
arguments in her reply and (2) his failure to request a continuance to respond to her new
arguments. As noted in part II.A.2.e, ante, after Jessie filed her reply, Robert filed a
further opposition — in effect, a surrebuttal. Thus, he had ample opportunity to respond
to any new arguments. Moreover, even in connection with the motion for terminating
sanctions, he did not respond to Jessie‟s arguments in any new or convincing way.

                                             21
                                             IV

              AWARD OF $275,000 FOR BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY

       Robert raises two distinct challenges to the trial court‟s award of $275,000. First,

he contends that the award exceeded the scope of the petition. Second, he contends that

the award is not supported by substantial evidence. As will be seen, we agree that the

award is void because it exceeded the scope of the petition. Accordingly, we need not

consider whether it was supported by sufficient evidence.

       Jessie filed her petition using a Judicial Council form (FL-100), as required. (Cal.

Rules of Court, rule 5.60(a).) The form provided checkboxes for the relief sought. Jessie

checked the box for “Other,” then typed in, “Relief for [Robert‟s] breach of fiduciary duty

pursuant to Family Code sections 1100 et seq.” However, she did not specify any factual

grounds, nor did she specify an amount sought.

       Code of Civil Procedure section 580, subdivision (a) provides: “The relief granted

to the plaintiff, if there be no answer, cannot exceed that which he shall have demanded

in his complaint . . . .”

       “„[T]he primary purpose of the section is to guarantee defaulting parties adequate

notice of the maximum judgment that may be assessed against them.‟ [Citations.]” (Stein

v. York (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 320, 325.) “[D]ue process requires notice to defendants

. . . of the potential consequences of a refusal to pursue their defense. Such notice

enables a defendant to exercise his right to choose . . . between (1) giving up his right to

defend in exchange for the certainty that he cannot be held liable for more than a known

                                             22
amount, and (2) exercising his right to defend at the cost of exposing himself to greater

liability.” (Greenup v. Rodman (1986) 42 Cal.3d 822, 829.)

        “[A] default judgment greater than the amount specifically demanded is void as

beyond the trial court‟s jurisdiction.” (Greenup v. Rodman, supra, 42 Cal.3d at p. 826.)

        Civil Code section 580 applies in a marital dissolution action. (E.g., In re

Marriage of O’Connell (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 565, 574.) “It also applies in cases . . .

where a default is entered after the defendant‟s answer is stricken as a discovery sanction.

[Citation.]” (Cummings Medical Corp. v. Occupational Medical Corp. (1992) 10

Cal.App.4th 1291, 1296.)

        Jessie argues that her petition gave Robert sufficient notice, citing In re Marriage

of Andresen (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 873 and In re Marriage of Lippel (1990) 51 Cal.3d

1160.

        In Lippel, the Supreme Court held that, because the wife did not check the box for

child support on her form petition, a default judgment awarding her child support was

void. (See In re Marriage of Lippel, supra, 51 Cal.3d at pp. 1163-1165.) It also held that

older cases cited by the wife were no longer good law in light of the enactment of the

Family Law Act and the adoption of a rule of court establishing a mandatory form

dissolution petition. (Id. at pp. 1169-1170.) It observed: “This standard form petition . . .

requires a petitioner . . . to check boxes, from a series provided, which indicate the

remedy or relief requested (e.g., legal separation, dissolution, or nullity of the marriage)

and the specific relief being sought (e.g., property division, spousal support, child

                                              23
custody, child support or attorney fees). [¶] Coupled with the requirement that the

respondent be served with a copy of the petition [citation], the manner in which these

boxes are checked, or not checked, informs and puts the respondent on notice of what

specific relief the petitioner is, or is not, seeking.” (Ibid.)

       Thereafter, in Andresen, the wife listed certain assets that were allegedly

community in her form petition but did not list any values for them. (In re Marriage of

Andresen, supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at pp. 876-877.) One of the “„Instructions‟” for the

form stated: “„When this form is attached to Petition or Response, values and your

proposal regarding division need not be completed.‟” (Id. at p. 876.) The wife also

checked the box requesting that “„property rights be determined.‟” (Ibid.) After the

husband defaulted, the trial court entered a judgment dividing the community assets and

ordering the husband to make an equalizing payment of nearly $10,000. (Id. at p. 877.)

       The husband argued that the default judgment was void because the wife‟s petition

had not alleged the values of the community assets, had not listed certain assets as

community, and had not requested an equalizing payment. (In re Marriage of Andresen,

supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at p. 877.)

       The appellate court responded, “In our estimation, Marriage of Lippel disposes of

the husband‟s argument.” (In re Marriage of Andresen, supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at p. 878.)

It explained: “As we read Lippel, due process is satisfied and sufficient notice is given

for section 580 purposes in marital dissolution actions by the petitioner‟s act of checking

the boxes and inserting the information called for on the standard form dissolution

                                                24
petition which correspond or relate to the allegations made and the relief sought by the

petitioner. The opinion does not suggest that any greater specificity is required.

Although we acknowledge the Supreme Court had no need to address the point, we find

nothing in the language of Lippel which compels a conclusion that the amount of the

relief requested, as contrasted with the type of the relief requested, must be inserted in the

relevant form if the form does not itself expressly demand such data.

       “In this case, the wife requested the parties‟ property rights be determined because

she checked the appropriate box on the petition. She also selected, again by checking a

box, one of the four alternatives in . . . the petition relating to the marital assets and

liabilities. In accord with the terms of this choice, the wife attached to her petition a

property declaration which listed certain assets and liabilities. Consistent with the

„Instructions‟ in the declaration form, the wife did not assign any values to the described

property or debts, or propose that they be divided in any particular manner.

       “Therefore, because the wife properly and fully completed the petition and its

necessary attachments to the extent of the relief requested on the face of those documents,

the husband was given adequate notice that the wife sought a division of the property and

liabilities identified in the wife‟s papers. [Citation.] If he desired to be heard on the

subject of the valuation and division of the listed items, he should have appeared.” (In re

Marriage of Andresen, supra, 28 Cal.App.4th at pp. 879-880, fns. omitted.)

       As later courts have stated, “the rule in Andresen „makes sense when applied to

form complaints in marital dissolution actions,‟ especially because in such actions „the

                                               25
court must value and divide the community estate of the parties equally . . . .‟ [Citation.]

Given that an equal division is required by law, the due process requirement of notice is

satisfied if the spouse seeking dissolution of the marriage identifies the community assets

to be divided in his or her petition and requests that the court divide those assets.” (Van

Sickle v. Gilbert (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1495, 1527; accord, Finney v. Gomez (2003)

111 Cal.App.4th 527, 542; Cassel v. Sullivan, Roche & Johnson (1999) 76 Cal.App.4th

1157, 1162-1163.)

       It would be stretching Andresen too far to apply it in this case. Admittedly, we are

dealing with a form complaint in a marital dissolution action. However, the checkbox for

“[o]ther” relief is distinguishable from the checkboxes for a division of community

property. It is a catch-all category; it could encompass practically any kind of relief,

including relief that is not statutorily required in a marital dissolution action. The

respondent is therefore entitled to notice of the specific nature and amount of any

“[o]ther” relief sought before defaulting.

       “„Ordinarily when a judgment is vacated on the ground the damages awarded

exceeded those pled, the appropriate action is to modify the judgment to the maximum

amount warranted by the complaint.‟ [Citation.] The trial court, however, has discretion

to instead vacate the underlying default and allow the plaintiff to amend the complaint

and serve the amended complaint on the defendant. [Citation.]” (Van Sickle v. Gilbert,

supra, 196 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1521-1522.)

                                              26
       Jessie might actually prefer to have the default vacated so she can litigate her claim

for damages for breach of fiduciary duty in this action. In any event, we do not want to

preempt the trial court‟s exercise of discretion with regard to the proper remedy.

Accordingly, we will remand with directions to determine whether to vacate or to modify

the default judgment.

                                               V

                                       DISPOSITION

       The orders striking Robert‟s responsive pleading, entering his default, and denying

his motion to set aside his default are affirmed.

       The judgment is void to the extent that it awards Jessie $275,000 against Robert.

The matter is remanded to the trial court with directions to determine whether the

judgment should be modified by striking the award of $275,000 or wholly vacated.

       In the interest of justice, each side shall bear its own costs.

       CERTIFIED FOR PARTIAL PUBLICATION

                                                                  RICHLI
                                                                                           J.

We concur:

HOLLENHORST
          Acting P. J.

MILLER
                           J.

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