Court Opinion

ID: 2763263
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2014-12-19 23:04:10.181454+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:48.142256
License: Public Domain

Filed 12/19/14 Maxwell v. Phares CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for
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                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THOMAS MAXWELL,                                                      D064849

         Plaintiff and Respondent,

         v.                                                          (Super. Ct. Nos. 37-2012-00052464-
                                                                     CU-BC-NC & 37-2013-00029711-
DAVID PHARES et al.,                                                 CU-BC-NC)

         Defendants and Appellants.

         APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Earl H.

Mass III, Judge. Affirmed.

         Wingert Grebing Brubaker & Juskie, Stephen C. Grebing, Amy L. Simonson and

Andrew B. Kleiner for Defendants and Appellants.

         Freeland McKinely & McKinley, Karen G. McKinley and Steven A. McKinley for

Plaintiff and Respondent.
       Defendants and appellants Bruce Keeton, David Phares, and Keeton Construction,

Inc. (Keeton Construction)1 appeal from an order denying their petition to compel

arbitration of claims asserted by plaintiff and respondent Thomas Maxwell. Keeton

contends that he did not waive his right to arbitration and that Maxwell did not assert any

other valid grounds for denying his petition. Here, the record shows an unmistakable

waiver of the right to arbitrate. We affirm.

                              FACTUAL BACKGROUND

       In December 2005, Maxwell and Keeton, along with other individuals, formed the

French Valley Business Center, LLC (FVBC), a single-project limited liability

corporation in which Maxwell was a capital investor and minority shareholder. FVBC

was formed for the express purpose of acquiring and holding a leasehold interest in land

and developing it as an office complex that would be occupied by various agencies of the

County of Riverside (the County).

       FVBC is controlled by an Operating Agreement (the Agreement). Pursuant to the

Agreement, Keeton and Phares are designated the managers of FVBC. Maxwell is and

was at all times a minority owner in FVBC. The Agreement contains an arbitration

clause governing "[a]ny controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement

or the Company."2 Keeton Construction was not a party to the Agreement.

1     Unless otherwise indicated, all references to Keeton include Phares and Keeton
Construction.

2      The Agreement's arbitration provision provides in full: "13.10 Dispute
Resolution. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
Company shall be settled by arbitration administered by JAMS, and judgment on the
award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof."
                                               2
       In 2008, FVBC and the County entered into related ground leases and office

leaseback agreements. Pursuant to the agreements, FVBC would oversee the

development of the office complex and then lease it back to the County. As a result of

the agreements, FVBC had a value of approximately $67 million on April 1, 2009.

Maxwell's share of FVBC was valued at approximately $6.7 million. FVBC invested

over $2 million out-of-pocket in negotiating and performing the agreements with the

County.

       In June 2008, FVBC entered into a contract with Keeton Construction. Keeton

Construction was named the general contractor on the project. The contract was

amended in January and March of 2009, by which Keeton Construction agreed to comply

with relevant laws and assumed the responsibility to report noncompliance with

applicable laws.

       In April 2009, the County terminated its agreements with FVBC. As a result,

FVBC pursued litigation with the County. The parties eventually settled, and FVBC

received $6 million from the County.

                                    PROCEDURAL HISTORY

       Following resolution of FVBC's claims against the County, Maxwell initiated two

separate actions that were eventually consolidated by the trial court. Maxwell brought

the first action on his own behalf (the Individual Action) against Keeton as manager of

FVBC. Later, Maxwell brought a second action (the Derivative Action) on behalf of

FVBC and against Keeton as manager of the project and against Keeton Construction,

Inc. as a third party contractor.

                                            3
       A. The Individual Action

       On April 2, 2012, Maxwell filed his initial complaint in the Individual Action

against Keeton. The original complaint contained both individual and derivative claims

on behalf of FVBC. The complaint alleged constructive fraud, gross negligence, and

breach of contract. Maxwell's Individual Action set forth the following allegations:

FVBC's agreement with the County required FVBC to obtain all permits for the project

by February 1, 2009. Keeton and Phares, as FVBC's managers, failed to comply with this

deadline, and the County terminated its contract with FVBC. The County's termination

was the foreseeable result of Keeton's and Phares's failure to ensure FVBC complied with

the requirements of the agreements with the County and Keeton Construction's breach of

agreement with FVBC. FVBC was forced to pursue litigation with the County to obtain

some value for the project and eventually settled for $6 million, $60 million less than the

project's value.

       Maxwell further alleged Keeton and Phares took advantage of their positions as

managers and entered into secret deals between themselves and FVBC. These deals

violated both the Agreement and Keeton's and Phares's fiduciary duties as managers.

After FVBC settled with the County, Keeton and Phares illegally paid themselves money

that should have been distributed to Maxwell and other FVBC shareholders pursuant to

the Agreement. Keeton and Phares devised a scheme to cover up their wrongdoing by

withholding profits and capital contributions from shareholders unless they gave Keeton

and Phares a general release of liability.

                                             4
       On May 3, 2012, Maxwell voluntarily dismissed, without prejudice, the derivative

claims in the Individual Action. On May 10, 2012, Keeton filed a demurrer to the

complaint.

       On June 29, 2012, Maxwell filed the First Amended Complaint (FAC), alleging

breach of contract, constructive fraud, and conversion. On July 9, 2012, Keeton filed a

motion to disqualify Maxwell's counsel. On July 12, 2012, Keeton filed a second

demurrer, this time in response to Maxwell's FAC.

       On July 23, 2012, Keeton propounded on Maxwell the following items: form

interrogatories-general; special interrogatories; declaration for additional discovery,

special interrogatories set one; requests for admissions; and demand for production of

documents for inspection and/or copying.

       On August 27, 2012, the trial court overruled Keeton's general demurrer to

Maxwell's FAC and denied Keeton's motion to disqualify Maxwell's counsel.

       On September 12, 2012, Keeton filed a cross-complaint against Maxwell for

breach of contract. The same day, Keeton and Phares filed an answer to Maxwell's FAC.

       On November 20, 2012, Keeton filed a case management statement regarding his

cross-complaint. Keeton did not select the option for "Binding private arbitration" on the

statement.

       B. Derivative Action

       On January 11, 2013, Maxwell filed a separate complaint on behalf of FVBC

against Keeton, Phares, and Keeton Construction. The Derivative Action alleged breach

of contract, constructive fraud, and negligence. With respect to Keeton Construction's

liability, the Derivative Action alleged: Keeton Construction breached the contract with

                                              5
FVBC in part by failing to adequately maintain the construction site and the grading

thereof; failing to promptly obtain pad certifications; failing to take all necessary

corrective measures upon being notified of such noncompliance; failing to make reports

of storm water events, pollution events, corrections, and amendments to the storm water

pollution prevention plan; and failing to keep adequate records. As a result of Keeton

Construction's breach, FVBC was unable to obtain building permits in a timely manner,

which caused the County to terminate the lease and led to the project's failure.

       On April 26, 2013, Keeton filed a third demurrer, this time in response to the

Derivative Action. On May 16, 2013, Keeton filed a motion for summary judgment or

summary adjudication.

       On June 10, 2013, Maxwell filed the first amended complaint in the Derivative

Action (Derivative FAC). The Derivative FAC was amended to allege gross negligence

and conversion. The same day, Keeton filed a motion to require Maxwell to post a bond

in the amount of $50,000 as security in conjunction with the Derivative Action.

       On June 17, 2013, the trial court consolidated Maxwell's Individual Action and the

Derivative Action.

       On June 26, 2013, Keeton filed a petition in the trial court to compel arbitration.

Maxwell opposed the petition to arbitrate on the grounds, among others, that Keeton had

waived the right to arbitrate. Thereafter, Keeton continued to file motions. On July 3,

2013, Keeton filed a fourth demurrer, this time to the Derivative FAC, and a motion to

strike portions of the Derivative FAC.

       On September 6, 2013, the trial court overruled Keeton's general demurrer to the

Derivative FAC with respect to three of the four causes of action. The same day, the trial

                                              6
court denied Keeton's motion to strike portions of the FAC and denied Keeton's petition

to compel arbitration.

       Keeton filed a timely appeal from the order denying his petition to arbitrate. The

order is appealable. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1294, subd. (a).)

                                       DISCUSSION

                                              I.

                                     Standard of Review

       "[T]he order denying a petition to compel arbitration, like any other judgment or

order of a lower court, is presumed to be correct, and all intendments and presumptions

are indulged to support the order on matters as to which the record is silent." (Gutierrez

v. Autowest, Inc. (2003) 114 Cal. App. 4th 77, 88.) "We review the superior court's ruling,

not its reasoning, and we consequently may affirm on the basis of any valid legal theory,

regardless of whether the superior court relied on it." (Imburgia v. DIRECTV, Inc. (2014)

225 Cal. App. 4th 338, 342.)

       Importantly, "[w]hether a party waived the right to contractual arbitration is a

factual question we review under the substantial evidence standard of review.

[Citations.] The trial court's 'determination of this factual issue, "'if supported by

substantial evidence, is binding on an appellate court.'" [Citations.] Only "'in cases

where the record before the trial court establishes a lack of waiver as a matter of law,

[may] the appellate court . . . reverse a finding of waiver made by the trial court.'"

[Citation.]' [Citations.]

       "We infer all necessary findings supported by substantial evidence [citations] and

'construe any reasonable inference in the manner most favorable to the judgment,

                                               7
resolving all ambiguities to support an affirmance.' [Citation.]" (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones

Motor Cars, Inc. (2012) 205 Cal. App. 4th 436, 443.)

                                              II.

                                    Governing Principles

       As a general matter, California favors arbitration between parties to resolve

disputes. (Moncharsh v. Heily & Blase (1992) 3 Cal. 4th 1, 9 ["the Legislature has

expressed a 'strong public policy in favor of arbitration as a speedy and relatively

inexpensive means of dispute resolution'"].) However, while California generally prefers

arbitration as a form of dispute resolution, this is not the case when a party fails to timely

invoke an arbitration provision. "[T]he benefits [arbitration] can provide, to both the

parties and an already overburdened judicial system, become illusory when there is a

failure to timely and affirmatively implement the procedure. Mere announcement of the

right to compel arbitration is not enough. To properly invoke the right to arbitrate, a

party must (1) timely raise the defense and take affirmative steps to implement the

process, and (2) participate in conduct consistent with the intent to arbitrate the dispute.

Both of these actions must be taken to secure for the participants the benefits of

arbitration." (Sobremonte v. Superior Court (1998) 61 Cal. App. 4th 980, 997-998; see

Code Civ. Proc., § 1281.2)

       Thus, "a petition to compel arbitration will be denied when the right has been

waived by the proponent's failure to properly and timely assert it." (Guess?, Inc. v.

Superior Court (2000) 79 Cal. App. 4th 553, 557.) "[W]aivers are not to be lightly

inferred and the party seeking to establish a waiver bears a heavy burden of proof." (St.

Agnes Medical Center v. PacifiCare of California (2003) 31 Cal. 4th 1187, 1195.)

                                              8
"[W]aiver may be found where the party seeking arbitration has (1) previously taken

steps inconsistent with an intent to invoke arbitration, (2) unreasonably delayed in

seeking arbitration, or (3) acted in bad faith or with willful misconduct." (Davis v.

Continental Airlines, Inc. (1997) 59 Cal. App. 4th 205, 211-212.) "'While engaging in

litigation of the matter may be inconsistent with an intent to invoke arbitration, "the party

who seeks to establish waiver must show that some prejudice has resulted from the other

party's delay in seeking arbitration."'" (Augusta v. Keehn & Associates (2011) 193
Cal. App. 4th 331, 337.) On the record before us, it is clear Keeton waived his right to

compel arbitration.

                                             III.

                                          Analysis

       A. Keeton Unreasonably Delayed

       "'"[A] demand for arbitration must not be unreasonably delayed. . . . [A] party

who does not demand arbitration within a reasonable time is deemed to have waived the

right to arbitration."'" (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc., supra, 205 Cal.App.4th

at p. 446.) As the party seeking to compel arbitration, Keeton "'had the responsibility to

"timely seek relief either to compel arbitration or dispose of the lawsuit, before the parties

and the court have wasted valuable resources on ordinary litigation."'" (Ibid.) "[A]

party's unreasonable delay in demanding or seeking arbitration, in and of itself, may

constitute a waiver of a right to arbitrate." (Burton v. Cruise (2010) 190 Cal. App. 4th
939, 945.)

       Here, approximately 15 months passed from the time Maxwell commenced this

action until Keeton filed his petition to compel arbitration. During this period, Keeton

                                              9
litigated the merits of Maxwell's claims through multiple demurrers, a motion to strike, a

motion to disqualify Maxwell's counsel, and a motion for summary judgment or summary

adjudication. Keeton also participated in discovery without raising his right to arbitrate,

while Keeton filed a cross-complaint without pleading arbitration as an affirmative

defense. This record plainly establishes Keeton unreasonably delayed.

        B. Keeton's Actions Were Inconsistent with an Intent to Arbitrate

        Keeton's conduct during the period of delay also supports a finding he lacked an

intent to arbitrate. "'A waiver of the right to arbitrate may properly be implied from any

conduct which is inconsistent with the exercise of that right. [Citation.] Partial or

piecemeal litigation of issues in dispute, through pretrial procedures, may in many

instances justify a finding of waiver . . . .' [Citation.] 'The trial court must . . . view the

litigation as a whole and determine if the parties' conduct is inconsistent with a desire to

arbitrate.'" (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc., supra, 205 Cal.App.4th at pp. 448-

449.)

        Here, Keeton did not plead arbitration as an affirmative defense. In his answer to

Maxwell's FAC, Keeton asserted 22 affirmative defenses and reserved the right to assert

others, but did not assert his agreement to arbitrate. (See Ross v. Blanchard (1967) 251
Cal. App. 2d 739, 742 ["an agreement to arbitrate is an affirmative defense"].) Had

Keeton wished to arbitrate pursuant to the parties' Agreement, he should have pleaded

arbitration as an affirmative defense. (See Guess?, Inc. v. Superior Court, supra, 79

Cal.App.4th at p. 558 ["At a minimum, the failure to plead arbitration as an affirmative

defense is an act inconsistent with the later assertion of a right to arbitrate"].)

                                               10
       On the same day Keeton filed his answer to Maxwell's FAC, Keeton filed a cross-

complaint against Maxwell for breach of contract. This action was inconsistent with an

intent to arbitrate because filing a cross-complaint prolongs the litigation in the court

forum. (See Zamora v. Lehman (2010) 186 Cal. App. 4th 1, 9 ["By seeking to have their

cross-complaint adjudicated in court, [the defendants] acted inconsistently with the right

to arbitrate"].)

       Additionally, Keeton invoked the machinery of the trial court by filing multiple

demurrers, a motion to strike portions of Maxwell's FAC, a motion to disqualify counsel,

a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, and a motion to require

Maxwell to post bond in the Derivative Action. These actions, taken as a whole, reflect

an unambiguous desire to forego arbitration and to litigate Maxwell's claims in court.

(See Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc., supra, 205 Cal.App.4th at p. 449 [finding

substantial evidence supported trial court's determination of waiver where the defendant

litigated the merits of the plaintiff's claim through multiple demurrers, a motion to strike,

and multiple discovery requests].)

       Finally, Keeton's use of the discovery process was inconsistent with a desire to

arbitrate. Keeton propounded the following discovery requests on Maxwell: form

interrogatories-general; special interrogatories; declaration for additional discovery,

special interrogatories set one; requests for admissions; and demand for production of

documents for inspection and/or copying. (See Augusta v. Keehn & Associates (2011)

193 Cal. App. 4th 331, 339-340 [finding multiple discovery requests showed lack of intent

to arbitrate].) In short, Keeton's actions were contrary to an intent to arbitrate.

                                              11
       C. The Party Opposing Arbitration Was Prejudiced

       Keeton's conduct plainly prejudiced Maxwell. "'"[W]hether or not litigation

results in prejudice also is critical in waiver determinations." [Citation.] "The moving

party's mere participation in litigation is not enough; the party who seeks to establish

waiver must show that some prejudice has resulted from the other party's delay in seeking

arbitration." [Citation.]' [Citations.]" (Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc., supra,

205 Cal.App.4th at p. 451.) "[A] petitioning party's conduct in stretching out the

litigation process itself may cause prejudice by depriving the other party of the

advantages of arbitration as an 'expedient, efficient and cost-effective method to resolve

disputes.'" (Burton v. Cruise, supra, 190 Cal.App.4th at p. 948.) "[T]he critical factor in

demonstrating prejudice is whether the party opposing arbitration has been substantially

deprived of the advantages of arbitration as a '"'speedy and relatively inexpensive'"'

means of dispute resolution." (Ibid., italics added.)

       Here, Keeton's unreasonable delay and extensive use of the court's resources

prejudiced Maxwell. Maxwell responded to four demurrers, a motion to strike portions

of his FAC, a motion to disqualify his counsel, a motion for summary judgment or

summary adjudication, and a motion to post bond to cover potential court costs. Keeton

has also produced over 1,000 documents in response to Keeton's discovery requests.

Keeton's court filings have required significant time and financial expenditures and have

plainly deprived Maxwell of the speed and cost savings otherwise available in an

arbitrable forum.

                                             12
       D. No Revival

       Keeton contends even if he waived his right to compel arbitration, Maxwell's

subsequent pleadings "revived" his right to arbitrate. According to Keeton, Maxwell's

"multiple actions and multiple amendments have significantly altered the theory of this

litigation." Keeton points to three specific changes in Maxwell's pleadings as justifying

revival: (1) the addition of Keeton Construction as a new defendant in the Derivative

Action; (2) new causes of action in the Derivative Action against Keeton Construction for

breach of contract and negligence; and (3) a new cause of action for conversion in the

Derivative FAC.

       We agree in some cases an amended pleading "contains charges that, in fairness,

should nullify [a party's] earlier waiver." (Gilmore v. Shearson/American Express, Inc.

(2d Cir. 1987) 811 F.2d 108, 113.) Waiver is nullified where the "amended complaint

changed the scope or theory of [the plaintiff's] claims." (Ibid.) However, on this record,

Maxwell's new pleadings did not materially change the nature or scope of his initial

claims.

       First, Keeton contends Maxwell's refiling of the Derivative Action naming Keeton

Construction as a new defendant revived his right to arbitrate. However, Maxwell's

original complaint initially contained both individual and derivative claims, and named

Keeton Construction as a defendant. Only later did Maxwell voluntarily dismiss, without

prejudice, the derivative claims. Because the complaint initially contained both sets of

claims and listed Keeton Construction as a defendant, Keeton was put on notice of

Maxwell's potential claims and likely defendants. Moreover, Keeton Construction is not

an unrelated third party; it is owned and controlled by Keeton himself. Thus, given the

                                            13
nature of Maxwell's allegations, it cannot come as a surprise to Keeton that his own

company, which had dealings with FVBC, was later named in this lawsuit.

       The second change cited by Keeton was the addition of new causes of action in the

Derivative Action for breach of contract and negligence against Keeton Construction.

Keeton concedes: "These claims were similar to the Individual Action." In fact, these

claims were nearly identical to the two derivative claims included in Maxwell's original

complaint in April 2012. The second cause of action in the Derivative Action for breach

of contract against Keeton Construction was the fourth cause of action in Maxwell's

original complaint in the Individual Action, before Maxwell dismissed it without

prejudice. Likewise, the third cause of action in the Derivative Action for negligence

against Keeton Construction and Keeton was the fifth cause of action in Maxwell's

original complaint in the Individual Action. Keeton cannot claim Maxwell "significantly

altered the theory of this litigation" when he simply refiled the same derivative claims

against the same corporate defendant at a later date. Thus, the breach of contract and

negligence claims in the Derivative Action do not significantly broaden the scope or

theory of the litigation and do not nullify Keeton's waiver of the right to arbitrate.

       Finally, Keeton contends the addition of a cause of action for conversion in the

Derivative FAC revived his right to compel arbitration. We disagree. This cause of

action is premised on the exact same set of facts and allegations that Maxwell pleaded in

his original complaint. Moreover, Maxwell's FAC in the Individual Action listed

conversion as a cause of action based on the same general set of facts. Thus, the addition

of this cause of action did not "significantly alter[] the theory of this litigation." Rather, it

related to Maxwell's established allegation that Keeton and Phares illegally channeled

                                               14
money from FVBC to themselves. Accordingly, the addition of a cause of action for

conversion did not renew Keeton's right to arbitrate.

       In sum, by way of his unreasonable delay and extensive use of the trial court's

resources, which defeated the value of arbitration for Maxwell, Keeton waived his rights

to arbitration. The trial court therefore correctly denied Keeton's petition to compel

arbitration. We need not and do not reach Maxwell's alternative contentions that his

claims were beyond the scope of the arbitration agreement and that arbitration is

inappropriate because of the possibility of conflicting decisions.

                                      DISPOSITION

       The order is affirmed. Maxwell is entitled to his costs on appeal.

                                                                      BENKE, Acting P. J.

WE CONCUR:

                    HUFFMAN, J.

                  McDONALD, J.

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