Court Opinion

ID: 4320255
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-10-12 00:01:01.296457+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:18.067371
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                                          OCT 11 2018
                           NOT FOR PUBLICATION
                                                                      SUSAN M. SPRAUL, CLERK
                                                                        U.S. BKCY. APP. PANEL
                                                                        OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

             UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL
                       OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT

In re:                                               BAP Nos. CC-18-1012-SFL
                                                               CC-18-1031-SFL
FRANCISCO TINAJERO, JR. and                          (Related)
JACQUELINE SANCHEZ,
                                                     Bk. No. 2:17-bk-15755-BR
                    Debtors.
                                                     Adv. No. 2:17-ap-01355-BR
FRANCISCO TINAJERO, JR.,

                    Appellant,

v.                                                    MEMORANDUM*

BLANCA AGUIRRE; JOSE M. ZAVALA,

                    Appellees.

GLENN WARD CALSADA,

                    Appellant.

                 Argued and Submitted on September 27, 2018
                         at Los Angeles, California

         *
        This disposition is not appropriate for publication. Although it may be cited for
whatever persuasive value it may have, see Fed. R. App. P. 32.1, it has no precedential
value, see 9th Cir. BAP Rule 8024-1.
                              Filed – October 11, 2018

               Appeals from the United States Bankruptcy Court
                     for the Central District of California

            Honorable Barry Russell, Bankruptcy Judge, Presiding

Appearances:        Glenn Ward Calsada argued pro se and for appellant
                    Francisco Tinajero, Jr.; Steve Lopez argued for appellees
                    Blanca Aguirre and Jose M. Zavala.

Before: SPRAKER, FARIS, and LAFFERTY, Bankruptcy Judges.

                                 INTRODUCTION

      Creditors Blanca Aguirre and Jose M. Zavala obtained a judgment

against debtor Francisco Tinajero, Jr., in California state court for specific

performance of a real estate purchase and sale agreement. Aguirre and

Zavala also obtained a judgment for their attorney’s fees and costs.

After Tinajero and his spouse Jacqueline Sanchez commenced their joint

chapter 71 bankruptcy case, Aguirre and Zavala sued Tinajero to except the

judgment debt from discharge under § 523(a)(2)(A) based on allegations of

fraud. The bankruptcy court ultimately granted the creditors’ summary

      1
        Unless specified otherwise, all chapter and section references are to the
Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1532. All “Rule” references are to the Federal Rules
of Bankruptcy Procedure, and all “Civil Rule” references are to the Federal Rules of
Civil Procedure. All “Local Rule” references are to the Local Rules of the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.

                                            2
judgment motion, determining that there was no genuine issue of material

fact because of the preclusive effect of the state court judgments.

      The bankruptcy court noted that the state court had made numerous

findings of fraudulent conduct by Tinajero. But the state court granted the

creditors specific performance and awarded them their fees based on

Tinajero’s breach of the purchase and sale agreement. Nothing in the

record indicates that any relief was granted based on the state court’s fraud

findings. Because the fraud findings were not essential to the state court

judgments, those findings are not entitled to preclusive effect. Furthermore,

there is nothing in the state court record tying the debt Tinajero incurred –

the award of attorney’s fees and costs – to Tinajero’s fraud rather than

breach of contract. Accordingly, we REVERSE the bankruptcy court’s grant

of summary judgment in favor of Aguirre and Zavala, and we REMAND

for further proceedings in the creditors’ nondischargeability action.

      Tinajero’s attorney Glenn Ward Calsada separately appeals from an

order sanctioning him $300 for not complying with the bankruptcy court’s

pretrial procedures as specified in its Local Rules. Nothing Calsada has

said in his appeal brief persuades us that the bankruptcy court committed

reversible error in sanctioning Calsada. Therefore, we AFFIRM the

sanctions order.

                                   FACTS

      In April 2013, Aguirre and Zavala entered into an agreement with

                                       3
Tinajero for their purchase of his residence located in Whittier, California.

Tinajero refused to close the sale. In June 2013, Aguirre and Zavala

commenced a lawsuit against Tinajero in the Los Angeles County Superior

Court. Their complaint sought specific performance of the agreement.2 In

the alternative, the complaint requested damages for breach of contract and

for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The final

cause of action in the complaint was for a declaration of the parties’

respective rights under the agreement. Thus, on its face, each cause of

action sought relief for breach of contract.

       In July 2014, Sanchez filed a complaint in intervention, asserting that

the residence was community property. According to Aguirre and Zavala,

Sanchez’s complaint provided their first notice that Sanchez was Tinajero’s

spouse and that she claimed an interest in the residence. In response to the

complaint in intervention, in August 2014, Aguirre and Zavala filed a cross

complaint in intervention against Tinajero and Sanchez seeking damages

for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and negligent infliction of emotional

distress, all largely based on Tinajero’s failure to disclose his marriage to

Sanchez and her alleged interest in the residence. Aguirre and Zavala

       2
          Neither party provided in their excerpts of record copies of the two complaints
that Aguirre and Zavala filed in the state court action. Even so, copies of both of these
complaints were presented to the bankruptcy court as part of the creditors’ papers in
support of the summary judgment motion. Accordingly, we will take judicial notice of
their filing and contents. See Rivera v. Curry (In re Rivera), 517 B.R. 140, 143 n.2 (9th Cir.
BAP 2014).

                                               4
alleged that, through his real estate agent, Tinajero represented that he was

unmarried, that he was the sole owner of the residence, and/or that he was

authorized to sell the residence. They further alleged that Tinajero

concealed the fact that he was married and that, when the sales agreement

was signed, a temporary restraining order prohibited him from selling the

residence. As Aguirre and Zavala put it, Tinajero misrepresented and

concealed the true state of affairs regarding the residence in order to induce

them to enter into the agreement. According to Aguirre and Zavala, as a

result of Tinajero’s fraudulent conduct, they were entitled to recover

consequential and punitive damages.3

       In July 2015, after a bench trial, the state court entered a judgment for

specific performance in favor of Aguirre and Zavala and against Tinajero.

The judgment made clear that the grant of specific performance was based

on Tinajero’s failure and refusal to convey the residence to Aguirre and

Zavala as required by the agreement. For instance, the judgment references

the parties’ agreement, Aguirre’s and Zavala’s performance of all

conditions precedent under the agreement, and their tender of the

consideration ($300,000) under the agreement. Significantly, the specific

       3
         Absolutely nothing in the record or in the parties’ briefs indicates that Aguirre
and Zavala recovered any judgment on the causes of action stated in their cross-
complaint in intervention. As explained below, Aguirre and Zavala bore the burden to
establish all of the elements of issue preclusion. Thus, the absence of any judgment on
their tort-based causes of action is a critical gap in their position.

                                             5
performance judgment did not mention at all the cross-complaint in

intervention or Tinajero’s fraud.

      The state court also issued a statement of decision

contemporaneously with the judgment. Unlike the judgment for specific

performance, the statement of decision repeatedly referenced Tinajero’s

fraudulent conduct regarding ownership of the property and his marital

status. The statement of decision also determined that Tinajero knowingly

misled Aguirre and Zavala in order to induce them to enter into the

agreement and that they justifiably relied on Tinajero’s fraudulent conduct

in entering into the agreement. However, nowhere in the judgment or the

statement of decision was there any finding that Tinajero’s fraud resulted

in damages to Aguirre and Zavala. Although the statement of decision

determined that Tinajero “is liable” for his fraudulent conduct, no damages

were awarded for fraud. Rather, Aguirre and Zavala, acting through their

attorney, “waived tort damages in favor of a judgment for specific

performance.” Discussing Aguirre’s and Zavala’s election to recover

specific performance, the court explained:

            The concept of election of remedies in breach of
            contract actions is embodied in the Civil Code,
            section 3300, which provides: “For the breach of an
            obligation arising from contract, the measure of
            damages, except where otherwise expressly
            provided by this code, is the amount which will
            compensate the party aggrieved for all the

                                      6
             detriment proximately caused thereby, or which in
             the ordinary course of things, would be likely to
             result therefrom.”

             However, an aggrieved buyer may elect for a court
             order that directs the breaching party to perform
             his/her obligations under the contract. As
             embodied in Civil Code section 3387, “[i]t is to be
             presumed that the breach of an agreement to
             transfer real property cannot be adequately relieved
             by pecuniary compensation.”

Statement of Decision (July 28, 2015) at 16:16-24 (parenthetical information

omitted).

      Accordingly, the state court awarded specific performance “based on

the enforceable contract that is sufficiently certain in its terms . . . ; adequate

consideration, and a just and reasonable contract as testified to by Plaintiffs

and Defendant; Plaintiffs’ full performance by opening escrow; and

Defendant Tinajero’s clear breach of contract.” Moreover, the statement of

decision never mentioned Tinajero’s fraud as a basis for specific

performance. To the contrary, the statement of decision specified that the

remedy of specific performance was being granted based on “Tinajero’s

clear breach of contract.”4

      4
       At oral argument in this appeal, Aguirre and Zavala insisted that the state court
awarded specific performance based on Tinajero’s fraud. As indicated above, the record
does not support this assertion. On occasion, California courts apparently have granted
                                                                            (continued...)

                                            7
       Finally, the statement of decision concluded that Aguirre and Zavala

were entitled to recover their attorney’s fees and costs. But neither the

specific performance judgment nor the statement of decision determined

the amount of fees and costs to be awarded. Instead, they left the amount

of fees and costs for later determination. In addition, neither the statement

of decision nor the specific performance judgment explained the legal basis

for awarding Aguirre and Zavala their attorney’s fees.

       Shortly thereafter, in August 2015, a different state court judge

entered an order granting Aguirre’s and Zavala’s motion for attorney’s fees

and costs, citing Cal. Civil Code § 1717 and Cal. Civil Procedure Code

       4
        (...continued)
specific performance as a remedy for fraud, or to prevent fraud, with respect to the
transfer of real property. See, e.g., Tohler v. Folsom, 1 Cal. 207, 211–12 (1850); Williams v.
Coleman, 70 Cal. App. 400, 404–05 (1924). Nonetheless, under California law, specific
performance almost always requires breach of a contract – and not fraud – as a
prerequisite. See 12 Harry D. Miller & Marvin B. Starr, Cal. Real Estate § 40:17 (4th ed.
2017) (“Specific performance is a remedy for performance of a contract so the party
seeking enforcement of the contract must plead facts that establish a right to recover for
breach as well as the right to receive the equitable remedy.”); 5 Witkin, Cal. Proc. 5th
Pleadings § 784 (2008) (“Specific performance is an alternative remedy; the cause of
action is for breach of contract.”). Aguirre and Zavala also argued that Behniwal v. Mix,
147 Cal. App. 4th 621 (2007), supported the proposition that Tinajero’s fraud was the
basis for the state court’s specific performance judgment. Behniwal stands for the
unrelated proposition that an award of attorneys’ fees and costs obtained by the
plaintiff after obtaining a judgment for specific performance was not incidental to the
specific performance judgment and therefore could not be offset against the purchase
price owed for the subject real property. Id. at 630-31. In any event, the record here
unequivocally establishes that the state court granted Aguirre and Zavala specific
performance based on Tinajero’s breach of contract and not based on his fraud.

                                              8
§ 1032. The judge wrestled with the fact that neither the statement of

decision nor the specific performance judgment specified the legal basis for

the fee award, and also was troubled that the agreement on which the fee

award presumably was based required mediation as a prerequisite to any

entitlement to fees. No mediation took place. Notwithstanding its

expression of some doubt regarding their entitlement to fees in light of the

failure to satisfy the mediation prerequisite, the second judge concluded

that it had no power to disturb the prior judge’s conclusion in the

statement of decision and in the specific performance judgment that

Aguirre and Zavala were entitled to recover their fees and costs. As a

result, in November 2015, the state court entered a judgment awarding

Aguirre and Zavala their attorney’s fees and costs in the aggregate amount

of $52,477.20.

      Tinajero apparently did not appeal either the specific performance

judgment or the judgment for fees and costs. Tinajero and Sanchez filed

their chapter 7 petition in May 2017.5 Aguirre and Zavala then commenced

their nondischargeability action against Tinajero in July 2017, seeking to

have the judgment debt for fees and costs declared nondischargeable under

§ 523(a)(2)(A).

      5
         This was not Tinajero’s first bankruptcy filing. He previously commenced a
bankruptcy case in 2013, which was dismissed for failure to attend the § 341(a) meeting
of creditors in December 2013.

                                           9
      After hearing Aguirre’s and Zavala’s summary judgment motion, the

bankruptcy court concluded that, based on the state court’s findings in the

statement of decision, Tinajero was precluded from relitigating the fraud

claim and granted Aguirre and Zavala summary judgment on their

§ 523(a)(2)(A) claim. On January 8, 2018, the bankruptcy court entered its

judgment excepting from discharge the $52,477.20 state court judgment

debt Tinajero owed to Aguirre and Zavala. Tinajero timely appealed.

      In a separate order entered on January 4, 2018, the bankruptcy court

sanctioned counsel for both parties $300 each for their respective failures to

follow the court’s pretrial procedures in compliance with Rule 7016 and

Local Rule 7016-1. Calsada timely appealed from that order.

                              JURISDICTION

      The bankruptcy court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and

157(b)(2)(I). We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 158.

                                   ISSUES

1.    Did the bankruptcy court commit reversible error when it granted

      summary judgment against Tinajero based on the preclusive effect of

      the state court judgments?

2.    Did the bankruptcy court commit reversible error when it sanctioned

      Calsada $300 based on his failure to comply with the court’s pretrial

      procedures?

                                      10
                          STANDARDS OF REVIEW

      We review de novo the bankruptcy court’s grant of summary

judgment. Plyam v. Precision Dev., LLC (In re Plyam), 530 B.R. 456, 461 (9th

Cir. BAP 2015). We also review de novo the bankruptcy court's

determination that issue preclusion is available. Lopez v. Emerg. Serv.

Restoration, Inc. (In re Lopez), 367 B.R. 99, 103 (9th Cir. BAP 2007). When we

review an issue under the de novo standard of review, “we consider [the]

matter anew, as if no decision had been rendered previously.” Kashikar v.

Turnstile Capital Mgmt., LLC (In re Kashikar), 567 B.R. 160, 164 (9th Cir. BAP

2017).

      If we determine that issue preclusion is available, we then review the

bankruptcy court’s decision to apply it for an abuse of discretion. In re

Lopez, 367 B.R. at 103. We also review for an abuse of discretion the

bankruptcy court’s Local Rules-based sanction. See Olomi v. Tukhi (In re

Tukhi), 568 B.R. 107, 112 (9th Cir. BAP 2017).

      A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion if it applies the wrong legal

standard or its findings of fact are illogical, implausible or without support

in the record. TrafficSchool.com, Inc. v. Edriver Inc., 653 F.3d 820, 832 (9th Cir.

2011).

                                 DISCUSSION

A.    Legal Standards Governing Summary Judgment.

      Under Civil Rule 56(a), made applicable in adversary proceedings by

                                        11
Rule 7056, the court shall grant summary judgment when “the movant

shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the

movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” A factual dispute is

genuine if, on the record presented, a reasonable trier of fact could find in

favor of the non-moving party. Far Out Prods., Inc. v. Oskar, 247 F.3d 986,

992 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248–49

(1986)). A fact is “material” if it might affect the outcome of the case. Id.

Once the moving party has met its initial burden, the non-moving party

must show specific facts establishing the existence of genuine issues of fact

for trial. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 256.

B.    Tinajero’s Arguments On Appeal.

      1. Waiver Arguments.

      Tinajero contends that Aguirre and Zavala waived any claim they

had for tort damages in two different ways: first, by seeking relief from

stay in his 2013 chapter 7 bankruptcy case solely for the purpose of

obtaining a specific performance judgment; and second, by making an

election in the state court action for specific performance in lieu of

compensatory damages.

      In support of his relief from stay waiver argument, Tinajero relies on

Griffin v. Wardrobe (In re Wardrobe), 559 F.3d 932 (9th Cir. 2009). In relevant

part, In re Wardrobe held that relief from stay granted to proceed with

ongoing nonbankruptcy litigation generally applied only to claims made in

                                        12
the litigation at the time relief from stay was sought and obtained. Id. at

935-37. In re Wardrobe further held that pursuit of claims added to the

nonbankruptcy litigation after entry of the relief from stay order violated

the automatic stay, and any resulting judgment on those claims was void.

Id. But In re Wardrobe is inapplicable here. Aguirre and Zavala added their

tort claims in the state court action in 2014, well after the automatic stay in

Tinajero’s 2013 bankruptcy case terminated by virtue of the December 2013

dismissal of that case.

      As for Tinajero’s election of remedies waiver argument, he has not

cited any law actually supporting his position that Aguirre and Zavala

waived their right to challenge the dischargeability of the judgment debt

for fees and costs under § 523(a)(2)(A) as a result of their election of specific

performance in lieu of compensatory damages. Our research leads us to the

opposite conclusion: an election of remedies does not by itself constitute a

waiver of any particular claim; it only limits the remedy that a plaintiff

may recover on account of that claim. See Union Oil Co. of Cal. v. Greka

Energy Corp., 165 Cal. App. 4th 129, 136 (2008); see also 58 Cal. Jur. 3d

Specific Performance § 4 (explaining operation of election of remedies in

the specific performance context). In contrast, a waiver occurs only when

the party charged intentionally relinquishes a known right with knowledge

                                       13
of the facts. See Waller v. Truck Ins. Exch., 11 Cal. 4th 1, 31 (1995).6

       While Aguirre and Zavala voluntarily elected to receive specific

performance in lieu of compensatory damages on account of their breach of

contract claim, there is little or no connection between this action and

whether the judgment debt for attorney’s fees and costs arose from fraud.

Whatever connection (if any) there might be between the election of

remedies and the judgment for fees and costs, Tinajero has not factually or

legally established that Aguirre and Zavala intentionally waived anything

with respect to their entitlement to attorney's fees. See id.

       6
        Our understanding of the election of remedies doctrine is consistent with the
policy considerations underlying the doctrine. As explained by the California Court of
Appeal:

       The election of remedies doctrine is based on equitable estoppel. The
       doctrine generally holds that if a plaintiff elects a particular remedy in lieu
       of an alternative and inconsistent remedy and thereby gains an advantage
       to the detriment of the defendant, the plaintiff thereafter is precluded
       from pursuing the alternative remedy. The doctrine applies only if the
       defendant suffered a substantial injury as a result of the plaintiff's initial
       election of remedies. The election of remedies doctrine ordinarily does not
       preclude a plaintiff who has pled alternative remedies from changing his
       or her election before the defendant has suffered an injury from the prior
       election through the application of res judicata or a satisfaction of
       judgment.

Fassberg Constr. Co. v. Hous. Auth. of City of Los Angeles, 152 Cal. App. 4th 720, 759 (2007).

                                             14
      2.    Issue Preclusion Arguments.

            a.     Legal Standards Governing Issue Preclusion.

      Issue preclusion applies in nondischargeability proceedings. Grogan

v. Garner, 498 U.S. 279, 284 n.11 (1991). Because the relevant judgment was

rendered under California law, full faith and credit principles require us to

apply California issue preclusion law. See 28 U.S.C. § 1738; Cal–Micro, Inc.

v. Cantrell (In re Cantrell), 329 F.3d 1119, 1123 (9th Cir. 2003).

      Under California law, issue preclusion is available if:

      (1) the issue sought to be precluded from relitigation is identical
      to that decided in a former proceeding; (2) the issue was
      actually litigated in the former proceeding; (3) the issue was
      necessarily decided in the former proceeding; (4) the decision in
      the former proceeding is final and on the merits; and (5) the
      party against whom preclusion is sought was the same as, or in
      privity with, the party to the former proceeding.

In re Plyam, 530 B.R. at 462 (citing Lucido v. Sup. Ct., 51 Cal. 3d 335, 341

(1990)).

      The party asserting issue preclusion has the burden of proving all of

the elements necessary to establish its availability. Kelly v. Okoye (In re

Kelly), 182 B.R. 255, 258 (9th Cir. BAP 1995). “To sustain this burden, the

party must introduce a record sufficient to reveal the controlling facts and

pinpoint the exact issues litigated in the prior action.” Id. Any reasonable

doubt as to what was decided in the prior action should be resolved against

the application of issue preclusion. Id.

                                        15
      Even when the party asserting issue preclusion establishes the five

threshold factors, application of issue preclusion is discretionary rather

than automatic. In re Lopez, 367 B.R. at 107-08. In exercising that discretion,

the trial court ordinarily needs to consider the circumstances of the

particular case and whether application of the doctrine in that case is fair

and consistent with the policies underlying the doctrine. Baldwin v.

Kilpatrick (In re Baldwin), 249 F.3d 912, 919–20 (9th Cir. 2001); In re Lopez, 367
B.R. at 107-08; see also Christopher Klein et al., Principles of Preclusion &

Estoppel in Bankruptcy Cases, 79 AM. BANKR. L. J. 839, 855 (2005).

            b.     Application Of Issue Preclusion And The Requirement
                   That The Issue Was Necessarily Decided.

      Tinajero generally argues that the bankruptcy court erred when it

found that all of the elements for issue preclusion were present in this case.

We agree. There is a fundamental and overarching problem with the

bankruptcy court’s application of issue preclusion: there is no indication in

the record that any of the state court’s fraud findings were essential to the

judgment. Simply put, the first tribunal’s determination of an issue is not

entitled to preclusive effect in a subsequent action unless the determination

of that issue was “necessary to the prior judgment.” Four Star Elec., Inc. v. F

& H Constr., 7 Cal. App. 4th 1375, 1379–80 (1992) (citing numerous

California cases); see also In re Simmons’ Estate, 64 Cal. 2d 217, 223 (1966)

(“Insofar as the court purported to establish matters not essential to the

                                        16
judgment, its determinations are not binding on the parties in a subsequent

action on a different cause of action.”).

      The Restatement (Second) of Judgments § 27 identifies this

requirement and explains the reasoning behind it:

      h. Determinations not essential to the judgment. If issues are
      determined but the judgment is not dependent upon the
      determinations, relitigation of those issues in a subsequent
      action between the parties is not precluded. Such
      determinations have the characteristics of dicta, and may not
      ordinarily be the subject of an appeal by the party against
      whom they were made. In these circumstances, the interest in
      providing an opportunity for a considered determination,
      which if adverse may be the subject of an appeal, outweighs the
      interest in avoiding the burden of relitigation.

Restatement (Second) of Judgments § 27, cmt. h (1982).7

      Here, the record reflects that the specific performance judgment and

the judgment for fees and costs arose from Tinajero’s breach of the sales

agreement. In other words, the state court’s fraud findings were not

necessary to either judgment. Accordingly, Aguirre and Zavala did not

meet their burden to establish that the state court’s fraud findings were

      7
        Significant to Aguirre’s and Zavala’s argument that specific performance could
have been awarded for fraud, the Restatement further explains that “[i]f a judgment of a
court of first instance is based on determinations of two issues, either of which standing
independently would be sufficient to support the result, the judgment is not conclusive
with respect to either issue standing alone.” Id. at cmt. i. In fact, illustration 15
accompanying the Restatement commentary seems to directly refute Aguirre’s and
Zavala’s argument that the mere possibility specific performance could have been
awarded for fraud justifies the application of issue preclusion. See id. at illus. 15.

                                           17
entitled to preclusive effect.

            c.    Causation.

      Tinajero further claims the state court’s judgments and findings were

insufficient to establish all of the elements of nondischargeable fraud for

issue preclusion purposes. While he makes this argument in numerous

different ways, Tinajero emphasizes two critical points: (1) there is nothing

in the record indicating that the state court made any finding that his

fraudulent conduct (as opposed to his breach of contract) caused Aguirre

and Zavala to incur any damages; and (2) there is nothing in the record

tying the judgment for fees and costs to Tinajero’s fraud.

      Both of Tinajero’s points relate to the issue of causation. Causation is

an essential element to a fraud judgment under both California law and

under § 523(a)(2)(A). See Honkanen v. Hopper (In re Honkanen), 446 B.R. 373,

382-83 (9th Cir. BAP 2011) (identifying fraud elements under California

law); Oney v. Weinberg (In re Weinberg), 410 B.R. 19, 35 (9th Cir. BAP 2009)

(identifying same fraud elements under § 523(a)(2)(A)).

      Appropriate causation findings must determine the existence of:

(1) causation in fact, which means that the plaintiff’s reliance on the

misrepresentations or omissions was “a substantial factor” in determining

the course of conduct leading to the loss; and (2) legal causation, which

means that the creditor’s loss reasonably could be expected to result from

the reliance. Restatement (Second) of Torts §§ 546, 548A (“Restatement”);

                                      18
see also OCM Principal Opportunities Fund, L.P. v. CIBC World Markets Corp.,

157 Cal. App. 4th 835, 870-75 (2007) (relying on the Restatement to resolve

causation issues). Put more bluntly, “[a] damage award for fraud will be

reversed where the injury is not related to the misrepresentation.” Las

Palmas Assocs. v. Las Palmas Ctr. Assocs., 235 Cal. App. 3d 1220, 1252 (1991)

(citing Gray v. Don Miller & Assocs., 35 Cal. 3d 498, 504 (1984)).

      Here, the state court did not make any finding that Tinajero’s fraud

caused Aguirre and Zavala any injury. Nor did the state court in any way

link the judgment for fees and costs to Tinajero’s fraud. To the contrary, to

the extent the state court’s fee award references the legal basis for the

award, it references contractual provisions from the sales agreement. It also

is worth noting that Aguirre and Zavala substantively prevailed on their

complaint for specific performance, which in turn was based on their

breach of contract claim. Thus, to the extent the judgment for fees and costs

depends upon Aguirre and Zavala being the prevailing party, they became

the prevailing party as a result of their contract claim and not their fraud

claim. See generally Cal. Civ. P. Code § 1032(b) (providing for recovery of

litigation costs by prevailing party); Cal. Civ. Code § 1717(a) (authorizing

prevailing parties in contract actions to recover their attorney’s fees

pursuant to contractual provision).

      In light of the absence of any finding that Aguirre’s and Zavala’s fees

and costs arose from Tinajero’s fraud, and the absence of any apparent link

                                       19
between the fraud and the fees and costs, the bankruptcy court committed

reversible error when it ruled that the issue preclusive effect of the state

court’s judgments and findings conclusively established the causation

element necessary for Aguirre’s and Zavala’s § 523(a)(2)(A) claim.8

C.    Calsada’s Appeal From The Sanctions Order.

      In his separate appeal, Calsada challenges the imposition of sanctions

against him. The bankruptcy court imposed $300 in sanctions against

counsel for both parties because both failed to comply with Rule 7016 and

Local Rule 7016-1, concerning the preparation and filing of the joint pretrial

stipulation.

      Local Rule 7016-1(b)(1)(A) generally requires the attorneys for both

      8
         Our holding that the bankruptcy court incorrectly applied issue preclusion in
favor of Aguirre and Zavala is not meant to suggest that Tinajero is entitled to judgment
as matter of law on Aguirre’s and Zavala’s nondischargeability claim. We express no
opinion regarding whether and how Aguirre and Zavala can prove on remand that
their claim for fees and costs arose from Tinajero’s fraud for purposes of their claim
under § 523(a)(2)(A). Compare Brown v. Felsen, 442 U.S. 127, 133-37 (1979) (holding that
claim preclusion did not bar recipient of state collection judgment from trying debtor’s
fraud as part of exception to discharge proceeding in subsequent bankruptcy case), with
Gayden v. Nourbakhsh (In re Nourbakhsh), 67 F.3d 798, 800 (9th Cir.1995) (issue preclusion
arising from state court judgment applies in subsequent nondischargeability action); see
also Cohen v. De La Cruz, 523 U.S. 213, 221 (1998) (holding that § 523(a)(2)(A) excepts
from discharge any liability flowing from a debtor's fraudulent conduct); Ghomeshi v.
Sabban (In re Sabban), 384 B.R. 1, 6-7 (9th Cir. BAP 2008) (holding that statutory
disgorgement of compensation paid to unlicensed contractor did not arise from
contractor’s fraud and hence was not excepted from discharge).

                                           20
parties to work together to prepare a pretrial stipulation.9 In relevant part,

if the plaintiff’s counsel fails to timely serve a draft pretrial stipulation on

the defendant’s counsel in accordance with Local Rule 7016-1(c)(2),10

counsel for the defendant is required to file, no later than fourteen days

before the pretrial conference, a declaration advising the bankruptcy court

of plaintiff’s failure to timely prepare and serve the pretrial stipulation. See

Local Rule 7016-1(e)(2).11 Either counsel may be sanctioned for failure to

      9
          Local Rule 7016-1(b)(1)(A) provides:

      In any adversary proceeding, unless otherwise ordered by the court (or if
      ordered in a contested matter), attorneys for the parties (or parties, if not
      represented by counsel) must prepare a written pretrial stipulation
      approved by counsel for all parties.
      10
           Local Rule 7016-1(c)(2) provides:

      Unless otherwise ordered by the court, plaintiff must serve the proposed
      pretrial stipulation in such manner so that it will actually be received by
      the office of counsel for all other parties (or parties, if not represented by
      counsel) not later than 4:00 p.m. on the 7th day prior to the last day for
      filing or lodging (depending upon the presiding judge’s procedures) the
      proposed pretrial stipulation.
      11
           Local Rule 7016-1(e)(2) provides:

      Other Parties. Any party other than plaintiff who has not received
      plaintiff’s proposed pretrial stipulation within the time limits set forth in
      subsection (c) of this rule must prepare, file, and serve at least 14 days
      prior to the trial or pretrial conference, if one is ordered, a declaration
      attesting to plaintiff’s failure to prepare and serve a proposed pretrial
      stipulation in a timely manner.

                                               21
comply with these requirements. Local Rule 7016-1(f).12

      Notwithstanding the above, bankruptcy courts generally should not

impose sanctions based on Local Rules violations without first considering

a number of factors. See In re Tukhi, 568 B.R. at 113; Lee v. Roessler–Lobert (In

re Roessler–Lobert), 567 B.R. 560, 573-74 (9th Cir. BAP 2017). In both Tukhi

and Roessler–Lobert, we relied on Zambrano v. City of Tustin, 885 F.2d 1473,

1480 (9th Cir. 1989), in evaluating the propriety of the bankruptcy courts’

sanctions-based dismissal of adversary proceedings. See In re Tukhi, 568
B.R. at 113; In re Roessler–Lobert, 567 B.R. at 573-74. In relevant part,

Zambrano concerned the district court’s decision to impose roughly $3,700

in monetary sanctions against counsel. Zambrano, 885 F.2d at 1476. The

      12
           Local Rule 7016-1(f) provides:

      Sanctions for Failure to Comply with Rule. In addition to the sanctions
      authorized by F.R.Civ.P. 16(f), if a status conference statement or a joint
      proposed pretrial stipulation is not filed or lodged within the times set
      forth in subsections (a), (b), or (e), respectively, of this rule, the court may
      order one or more of the following:

               (1) A continuance of the trial date, if no prejudice is involved to the
               party who is not at fault;
               (2) Entry of a pretrial order based conforming party’s proposed
               description of the facts and law;
               (3) An award of monetary sanctions including attorneys’ fees
               against the party at fault and/or counsel, payable to the party not at
               fault; and/or
               (4) An award of non-monetary sanctions against the party at fault
               including entry of judgment of dismissal or the entry of an order
               striking the answer and entering a default.

                                             22
district court imposed these sanctions because counsel failed to obtain

admission to the local district court bar, in violation of the court’s local

rules. Id. at 1475-76. Zambrano articulated the standards that should govern

the imposition of sanctions under both inherent power and local rules. Id.

at 1478-79. When imposing sanctions under a local rule, such sanctions

must be: (1) consistent with governing statutes and court rules;

(2) necessary for the court to conduct its business; and (3) closely connected

to the need to preserve the integrity of the court’s docket. Id. at 1480.

       Citing Zambrano, we held in both Tukhi and in Roessler–Lobert that,

when the sanction is based on local rule violations, the bankruptcy court

must examine the state of mind of the rule violator and find a level of

culpability higher than mere negligence, “such as ‘willfulness, bad faith,

recklessness, or gross negligence’ or a ‘repeated disregard of court rules.’”

In re Tukhi, 568 B.R. at 113 (citing In re Roessler–Lobert, 567 B.R. at 573). We

further recognized that the sanction needed to be “proportionate to the

offense and commensurate with principles of restraint and dignity inherent

in judicial power.” In re Tukhi, 568 B.R. at 113 (citing Zambrano, 885 F.2d at

1480).13

       13
          We also held in Tukhi and Roessler–Lobert that, when the sanction at issue is a
dismissal, the bankruptcy court additionally needed to consider “(1) the public’s
interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court’s need to manage its docket;
(3) the risk of prejudice to the defendants; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of
cases on their merits[;] and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions.” In re Tukhi, 568
                                                                                  (continued...)

                                              23
       Even though the bankruptcy court, here, did not specifically make

findings concerning each of these factors, the record is fully developed and

supports the bankruptcy court’s imposition of relatively minor monetary

sanctions. At the time the bankruptcy court heard Aguirre’s and Zavala’s

summary judgment motion, the court also had scheduled a pretrial

conference. When the bankruptcy judge asked both sides at the hearing

why neither of them had filed a joint pretrial stipulation, both Calsada and

his opposing counsel confirmed that they had not prepared or filed a

pretrial stipulation. Furthermore, Calsada admitted to the bankruptcy

court that he was aware of what the Local Rules required in terms of

pretrial procedure and offered no explanation or excuse for his

noncompliance with the Local Rules. These undisputed facts establish the

willfulness of Calsada’s noncompliance. See generally ZiLOG, Inc. v. Corning

       13
         (...continued)
B.R. at 113 (citing In re Roessler–Lobert, 567 B.R. at 568, 573–74). Most of these additional
factors bear little relevance to the minor monetary sanctions imposed herein, and
Calsada has not attempted to raise any of these factors as issues on appeal. Although
the Ninth Circuit generally has followed Zambrano in cases involving even relatively
minor monetary sanctions, it has not insisted upon consideration of these additional
factors. See, e.g., Washburn v. Morgado, 332 F. App’x 380, 382–83 (9th Cir. 2009) (affirming
sanctions of $250 where counsel “continually disregarded the case management rules of
the court and was grossly negligent in complying with discovery orders”); Ali v.
Mukasey, 277 F. App’x 741, 742 (9th Cir. 2008) (vacating and remanding for rehearing on
the imposition of $1,000 in sanctions, with an instruction for the district court to
“determine whether the sanctioned party's conduct amounted to ‘recklessness, gross
negligence, repeated-although unintentional-flouting of court rules, or willful
misconduct’”).

                                             24
(In re ZiLOG, Inc.), 450 F.3d 996, 1007, 1008 (9th Cir. 2006) (stating that a

violator acts willfully when he or she knowingly violates a court rule or

order).

      Nor has Calsada attempted on appeal to offer any explanation or

excuse for his noncompliance. Instead, he asserts that he was not “at fault.”

According to Calsada, he was not at fault because it was plaintiffs’ duty to

prepare and circulate the draft pretrial stipulation. At first blush, there is

some superficial appeal to Calsada’s position. As indicated above, the Local

Rules imposed on the plaintiffs’ counsel the principal obligation of

preparing and serving on Calsada the proposed pretrial stipulation. See

Local Rule 7016-1(c)(2). Plaintiffs’ counsel failed to comply with this

obligation. The bankruptcy court commented at the hearing that, upon

plaintiffs’ counsel’s failure, Calsada unilaterally should have filed a pretrial

stipulation. The Local Rules, however, do not appear to require

defendant’s counsel to unilaterally file a pretrial stipulation when

plaintiffs’ counsel fails to timely prepare and serve the draft stipulation.

Compare Local Rule 7016-1(d)(2) with Local Rule 7016-1(e)(2). Rather, as set

forth above, the Local Rules required defendant’s counsel to file and serve

a declaration of plaintiffs’ noncompliance. See id.

      Yet, Calsada’s noncompliance with the Local Rules still was

significant in the course of the proceedings. If Calsada had filed the

required declaration of noncompliance, it might have spurred plaintiffs’

                                       25
counsel to belatedly take the steps necessary to move the pretrial process

forward. At a minimum, it would have given the bankruptcy court notice

that the pretrial process was faltering and would have afforded the court

an opportunity, in advance of the hearing, to address or attempt to rectify

plaintiffs’ counsel’s noncompliance. The bankruptcy court correctly found

that Calsada was not in compliance with the Local Rules. In fact, as noted

above, Calsada conceded he was not in compliance. Therefore, we cannot

say that the court’s finding that Calsada was “at fault” was illogical,

implausible or without support in the record.

      The only other argument Calsada has made in support of his

challenge to the sanctions order concerns the proportionality of the

sanctions award to the offense. Citing Zambrano, Calsada claims that the

bankruptcy court’s $300 sanctions award against him should be reversed

because it was not proportionate to the offense and was not commensurate

with the principles of restraint and dignity inherent in the judicial power to

sanction. Calsada reasons that proportionality and restraint were absent

here because he was not at fault and because the need for a pretrial

conference was mooted by the subsequent granting of summary judgment

in favor of Aguirre and Zavala.

      We disagree. As set forth above, the bankruptcy court correctly found

that Calsada was “at fault” because of his admitted noncompliance with

Local Rule 7016-1(e)(2). And, as we further noted above, he has not offered

                                      26
any basis to conclude that this finding was clearly erroneous. As for the fact

that the need for a pretrial conference was mooted by the granting of

summary judgment, the bankruptcy court was aware of the status of the

summary judgment motion when it imposed the sanctions. The bankruptcy

court imposed the sanctions at the same time it heard and determined the

summary judgment motion. Even so, the harm resulting from both parties’

noncompliance with their respective pretrial obligations already had

occurred by this point. As the bankruptcy court indicated at the hearing,

the parties’ noncompliance hampered its preparation for the hearing. Thus,

the subsequent granting of summary judgment and the obviation of the

pretrial conference simply do not support Calsada’s claim that the $300

sanction award was disproportionate to the offense and inconsistent with

judicial restraint.

      In addition, the hearing transcript indicates that the bankruptcy court

gave some thought to restraint and to the amount and proportionality of

the award. As the bankruptcy court noted at the hearing, in its view, it was

being “gentle” on the parties. It further commented that, in its view, the

noncompliance would have justified even more severe sanctions. Nothing

Calsada has said on appeal indicates that the court’s views on restraint and

proportionality were clearly erroneous.

      Calsada’s extremely short appellate argument challenging the

sanctions order does not specifically and distinctly raise any other issues

                                      27
concerning the imposition of sanctions. Thus, to the extent any such issues

might have been raised, Calsada has forfeited them. See Christian Legal

Soc’y v. Wu, 626 F.3d 483, 487–88 (9th Cir. 2010); Brownfield v. City of Yakima,

612 F.3d 1140, 1149 n.4 (9th Cir. 2010).

      In sum, we reject as meritless both of Calsada’s arguments on appeal.

While the bankruptcy court certainly was not obliged under these

circumstances to impose any sanctions, we are not persuaded that the court

abused its discretion by imposing the $300 sanction award against Calsada.

                               CONCLUSION

      For the reasons set forth above, we REVERSE the bankruptcy court’s

grant of summary judgment, and we remand for further proceedings in the

nondischargeability action. We AFFIRM the bankruptcy court’s sanctions

order against Calsada.

                                       28