Court Opinion

ID: 6347691
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-06-07 18:01:38.794656+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:21:52.849041
License: Public Domain

Filed 6/7/22 Sourdough & Co. v. GSD Foods CA3
                                           NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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 This opinion has not been certified for publication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
                                      THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                                                     (Sacramento)
                                                            ----

 SOURDOUGH & CO., INC., et al.,                                                                C092935

                    Cross-complainants and Respondents,                             (Super. Ct. No. 34-2020-
                                                                                    00278298-CU-BT-GDS)
           v.

 GSD FOODS, INC., et al.,

                    Cross-defendants and Appellants.

         This case arises out of a business dispute between several parties to licensing
agreements to operate sandwich restaurants under the trademark “Sourdough & Co.” We
are presented with the question of whether a cause of action for fraud and deceit, raised in
a cross-complaint, is subject to an anti-SLAPP motion under Code of Civil Procedure

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section 425.16.1 The trial court denied the anti-SLAPP motion filed by GSD Foods, Inc.,
Davinder Singh, Powerglide Holdings, LLC, Kaldeep Uppal, and SD-Folsom, Inc.
(collectively GSD) to strike the cause of action for fraud and deceit in a cross-complaint
filed by Sourdough & Co, Inc., SFSE of EDH, Inc., Lowell Steven Presson, R. Gordon
Ross, and David Bagley (collectively Sourdough). The trial court reasoned that the claim
for fraud and deceit related to statements inducing Sourdough to enter the agreements
rather than to any protected activity related to the right of access to the courts.
       On appeal, GSD contends (1) the cause of action for fraud and deceit relates to
protected activity because the claim focuses on GSD’s litigation position, (2) Sourdough
did not show a probability of prevailing on its fraud and deceit claim, and (3) GSD
should be awarded its attorney fees because it should have prevailed on the anti-SLAPP
motion.
       We conclude that the trial court properly denied the anti-SLAPP motion. The
cause of action for fraud and deceit relates to the making of agreements between the
parties rather than to the subsequent litigation. Having concluded that GSD did not meet
its burden to show that the claim arose out of protected activity, we do not need to
consider the second prong of the anti-SLAPP analysis – namely whether Sourdough
demonstrated a probability of prevailing on its claim. We also do not need to consider
GSD’s claim that it should have received attorney fees based on its contention that it
should have prevailed on the anti-SLAPP motion. Accordingly, we affirm.

1      “Anti-SLAPP” refers to the procedural vehicle provided by Code of Civil
Procedure section 425.16 to strike legal actions intended as a “strategic lawsuit against
public participation.” (Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002) 29 Cal.4th
53, 57.) Undesignated statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.

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                     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
       The complaint filed by GSD alleges the following: Sourdough operates a
franchising entity for the operation of fast-casual sandwich shop restaurants. In April
2016, Surender Hora entered into an agreement with Sourdough to use certain trademarks
and “ ‘trade secret recipes’ ” for a sandwich shop. Hora subsequently assigned her
interest in the agreement to GSD with the consent of Sourdough. GSD opened a
sandwich shop in Elk Grove under the agreement. GSD then paid approximately
4 percent of gross sales to Sourdough.
       In September 2016, Davinder Singh entered into three agreements with
Sourdough. These agreements contemplated sandwich shops in Sacramento, Davis, and
Vacaville under the Sourdough trademarks. Singh assigned his interest in the agreements
with the consent of Sourdough to Powerglide Holdings, LLC (Powerglide). Powerglide
then opened and operated the sandwich shops in Sacramento, Davis, and Vacaville.
Powerglide paid approximately 5 percent of gross sales to Sourdough.
       In March 2017, Kaldeep Uppal entered into an agreement with Sourdough to
operate sandwich shops in Rocklin, Chico, and another undetermined location. Uppal
assigned his interest in the agreement to SD Folsom, Inc. (SD Folsom). SD Folsom
opened a sandwich shop in Folsom and paid approximately 4 percent of gross sales to
Sourdough.
       Sourdough controlled the supply of ingredients and training programs for each of
the operators of the sandwich shops in this case. Sourdough imposed an additional
1.5 percent fee on gross revenues for a marketing fund used by Sourdough for
advertising. And, Sourdough controlled all of the prices on the menus in the sandwich
shops operating under the agreements in this case.
       Despite having the hallmarks of a franchisor/franchisee relationship, Sourdough
did not comply with required disclosures. Sourdough required purchase of inferior
products and violated California franchise laws in additional ways. These alleged facts

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led to the filing of a complaint by GSD for violations of the Franchise Investment Law
(Corp. Code, § 31000 et seq.), the Cartwright Act (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 16700 et seq.),
unfair business practices, fraud, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair
dealing. The gravamen of GSD’s complaint was that Sourdough “concocted a scheme to
sell fraudulent, unregistered franchises under the guise of purported trademark licensure.”
          Sourdough responded by filing a cross-complaint against GSD that alleged two
causes of action: for breach of contract and for fraud and deceit. The cause of action for
fraud and deceit is the focus of this appeal. GSD filed an anti-SLAPP motion to strike
the cause of action for fraud and deceit. GSD argued that it was entitled to anti-SLAPP
relief because the cross-complaint focused on GSD’s “ ‘positions in this lawsuit.’ ”
Sourdough opposed the motion.
          The trial court denied the anti-SLAPP motion on the ground that the cross-
complaint did not arise out of protected activity. The trial court rejected GSD’s argument
that the gravamen of the fraud and deceit claim focused on statements made in a judicial
forum, finding that the cross-complaint “expressly alleges that each representation was
made ‘[a]t the time each Cross-Defendant executed their respective license
agreement(s).’ ” The trial court further found that “[t]here are no allegations in the
[cross-complaint] or evidence that the statements were made ‘preparatory to or in
anticipation of the bringing of an action.’ ”
          From the order denying the anti-SLAPP motion, GSD timely filed a notice of
appeal.
                                  ANTI-SLAPP ANALYSIS
          Section 425.16 provides, in pertinent part, that “[a] cause of action against a
person arising from any act of that person in furtherance of the person’s right of petition
or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in
connection with a public issue shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the
court determines that the plaintiff has established that there is a probability that the

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plaintiff will prevail on the claim.” (§ 425.16, subd. (b)(1).) The California Supreme
Court has explained that “ ‘section 425.16 sets out a procedure for striking complaints in
harassing lawsuits that are commonly known as SLAPP suits . . . , which are brought to
challenge the exercise of constitutionally protected free speech rights.’ (Kibler v.
Northern Inyo County Local Hospital Dist. (2006) 39 Cal.4th 192, 196.) A cause of
action arising from a person’s act in furtherance of the ‘right of petition or free speech
under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a
public issue shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court determines that
the plaintiff has established that there is a probability’ that the claim will prevail. (Code
Civ. Proc., § 425.16, subd. (b)(1).) ‘The anti-SLAPP statute does not insulate defendants
from any liability for claims arising from the protected rights of petition or speech. It
only provides a procedure for weeding out, at an early stage, meritless claims arising
from protected activity.’ ” (Monster Energy Co. v. Schechter (2019) 7 Cal.5th 781, 788,
italics omitted (Monster Energy).)
       When presented with an anti-SLAPP motion, a trial court must engage in a two-
step analysis. First, the trial court considers whether a defendant has established that the
gravamen of the complaint challenges activity protected by section 425.16. (Monster
Energy, supra, 7 Cal.5th at p. 788.) If the defendant establishes that the complaint relates
to protected activity, the second step requires the trial court to consider whether the
plaintiff can satisfy the burden of showing that there is a probability of success on the
merits of the causes of action in the complaint. (Ibid.)
       The California Supreme Court has described “ ‘this second step as a “summary-
judgment-like procedure.” [Citation.] The court does not weigh evidence or resolve
conflicting factual claims. Its inquiry is limited to whether the plaintiff has stated a
legally sufficient claim and made a prima facie factual showing sufficient to sustain a
favorable judgment. . . .’ (Baral [v. Schnitt (2016)] 1 Cal.5th [376,] 384-385, fn.
omitted.) . . . As to the second step, a plaintiff seeking to demonstrate the merit of the

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claim ‘may not rely solely on its complaint, even if verified; instead, its proof must be
made upon competent admissible evidence.’ ” (Monster Energy, supra, 7 Cal.5th at
p. 788, quoting San Diegans for Open Government v. San Diego State University
Research Foundation (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 76, 95.) We apply the independent standard
of review to the trial court’s ruling on the anti-SLAPP motion. (Flatley v. Mauro (2006)
39 Cal.4th 299, 325.)
                                       DISCUSSION
       GSD argues that the cross-complaint filed by Sourdough seeks to chill the right of
petition by alleging a cause of action for fraud and deceit that focuses on GSD’s position
in the ligation. Specifically, GSD focuses on the allegations contained in paragraph 16 of
the cross-complaint. Upon examining the claim for fraud and deceit, we reject GSD’s
argument.
                                              A.
                            GSD’s Claim for Fraud and Deceit
       To assess GSD’s argument about the gravamen of Sourdough’s claim, we examine
that actual language in the cross-complaint. In pertinent part, the cross-complaint states:
       “13. At the time [GSD] executed their respective license agreement(s) they
represented to [Sourdough] (as Licensor) that they were aware that the license agreement
was not a franchise, was not intended to be a franchise, and that Licensor may
subsequently seek to obtain franchise rights in the future (see section 2.2). [¶] . . . [¶]
       “15. At the same time, [GSD] represented to [Sourdough] that they intended
nothing in the agreements to be subject to any franchise or similar law, rule, or
regulation, to which it would not otherwise be subject, of the state where the Restaurants
are located or of the State of California. They further represented and warranted the
following:
       “Licensee represents and warrants that he/she/it has been represented by a licensed
California attorney of its choice (__[e.g., MICHAEL BARETT]___) with respect to the

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negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and under guidance of said counsel has made
its own determination that this Agreement complies with all applicable provisions of
California law, including without limitation Corporations Code §§ 31000, et seq.
       “16. The foregoing representations were false, and [GSD] have taken positions in
this lawsuit in direct contravention of their representations and warranties, all to the
damage and detriment of Cross-Complainant, subject to proof at trial.
       “17. [Sourdough] reasonably relied on the foregoing representations and
warranties made by the Cross-Defendants, and would not have entered into the license
agreements in the absence of such representations and warranties.” (Underscoring
omitted.)
       GSD focuses on paragraph 16 of the cross-complaint in asserting that the cause of
action for fraud and deceit is subject to an anti-SLAPP motion.
                                              B.
               The Gravamen of Sourdough’s Claim of Fraud and Deceit
       In assessing the merits of GSD’s argument about the cause of action for fraud and
deceit, we do not read paragraph 16 of the cross-complaint in isolation. Instead, we
review the entirety of the cross-complaint to assess the gravamen of the claim. (Navellier
v. Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 89 (Navellier).) “In order for a complaint to be within the
anti-SLAPP statute, the ‘critical consideration is whether the cause of action is based on
the defendant’s protected free speech or petitioning activity.’ (Navellier[, supra,] 29
Cal.4th [at p.] 89.) To make that determination, we look to the ‘principal thrust or
gravamen of the plaintiff’s cause of action.’ ” (Moriarty v. Laramar Management Corp.
(2014) 224 Cal.App.4th 125, 133-134, quoting Martinez v. Metabolife Internat., Inc.
(2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 181, 188.)
       Based on our review of the cause of action for fraud and deceit, we conclude that
that the trial court correctly denied the anti-SLAPP motion because the claim does not
arise out of protected activity. The gravamen of the claim is based on GSD’s conduct at

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the time that the licensing agreements were made. The cross-complaint introduces the
cause of action as occurring “[a]t the time [GSD] executed their respective license
agreement(s).” The next paragraph emphasizes that the focus of the claim occurred “[a]t
the same time,” namely when the parties entered their agreements. The claim concludes
by asserting that Sourdough reasonably relied on representations and warranties made by
GSD in entering the agreement. There is no dispute that the parties entered their
agreements as a business transaction and not in contemplation of litigation. Thus, the
claim for fraud and deceit does not relate to the right of petition and therefore is not
subject to an anti-SLAPP motion.
       We are not persuaded by GSD’s reliance on a portion of paragraph 16 to contend
that the cause of action seeks to chill GSD’s right of petition. Paragraph 16 asserts the
necessary element of falsity that Sourdough needs to prove in order to establish a claim
of fraud and deceit. (Lesperance v. North American Aviation, Inc. (1963) 217
Cal.App.2d 336, 345.) Paragraph 16 also contains information about GSD’s position in
the litigation, which Sourdough contends is different from the positions espoused in the
agreements. This additional information supports the claim inherent in any assertion of
fraud, namely that a party made representations that it knew to be incorrect or false. This
additional information about GSD’s position in the litigation does not render the claim
one based on the litigation.
       Reading the cause of action as alleged in the cross-complaint compels the
conclusion that the principal thrust of the claim for fraud and deceit is GSD’s conduct
and intention in entering the agreements, not in advancing legal claims in its complaint.
“A claim arises from protected activity when that activity underlies or forms the basis for
the claim. ([City of] Cotati [v. Cashman (2002)] 29 Cal.4th [69,] 78.) [The] complaint
ultimately defines the contours of the claims.” (Bel Air Internet, LLC v. Morales (2018)
20 Cal.App.5th 924, 936.)

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       We are not convinced by GSD’s assertion that “[Sourdough’s] analysis suffers
from a fatal defect, however, because a tort is not ‘actionable’ until all of its elements,
including damages, are in place.” (Italics omitted.) The flaw in this assertion is that it
assumes that Sourdough’s allegation of damages is predicated on GSD’s litigation
position. Instead, the cross-complaint’s second cause of action indicates that the damages
arise out of representations made by GSD at the time of signing when GSD did not intend
to abide by the representations. Consistent with this theory, the cross-complaint’s first
cause of action focuses on breaches of the agreements occurring before the litigation
commenced.
       This case differs from the facts presented in Navellier. In Navellier, the focus of
the claim, which was subject to the anti-SLAPP statute, was the allegation that a breach
of contract was committed “by filing counterclaims” in a federal action. (Navellier,
supra, 29 Cal.4th at p. 87.) The gravamen of the claim in Navellier directly related to
protected action – the filing of a claim – and was therefore subject to an anti-SLAPP
motion. (Ibid.) Here, by contrast, the claim for fraud and deceit pertains to the parties
entering agreements to operate sandwich shops. Navellier does not support GSD’s
argument.
       GSD acknowledges that paragraphs 13 through 15 do not relate to protected
activity. These paragraphs carry the principal thrust of the claim, namely that Sourdough
was deceived by GSD into entering agreements to do business that Sourdough would not
have entered if GSD would have been honest. Because this does not relate to protected
activity, the claim is not subject to an anti-SLAPP motion.2

2       Our conclusion that the trial court properly determined that the cause of action for
fraud and deceit does not arise out of protected activity obviates the need to consider the
second prong of the anti-SLAPP analysis regarding whether Sourdough demonstrated a
probability of prevailing on its claim. We also do not need to consider GSD’s argument
that a reversal would entitle it to attorney fees under the anti-SLAPP statute.

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                                      DISPOSITION
          The order denying the anti-SLAPP motion is affirmed. Cross-complainants
Sourdough & Co, Inc., SFSE of EDH, Inc., Lowell Steven Presson, R. Gordon Ross, and
David Bagley shall recover their costs on appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.278(a)(1)
& (2).)

                                                  /s/
                                                 HOCH, J.

We concur:

 /s/
ROBIE, Acting P. J.

 /s/
RENNER, J.

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