Court Opinion

ID: 3173160
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-01-28 19:02:34.991154+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:03:16.211769
License: Public Domain

Filed 1/28/16 SoCal Self Storage-Loma Linda v. Clark CA4/1
                      NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
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                    COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

                                                  DIVISION ONE

                                           STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SOCAL SELF STORAGE-LOMA LINDA,                                      D068697
LP,

         Plaintiff and Appellant,
                                                                    (Super. Ct. No. CIVDS1200111)
         v.

RAYMOND J. CLARK et al.,

      Defendants and Respondents.
_____________________________________
SOCAL SELF STORAGE-LOMA LINDA,                                       D068698
LP,

         Plaintiff and Appellant,
                                                                     (Super. Ct. No. CIVDS1200111)
         v.

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY,

          Defendant and Respondent.

         CONSOLIDATED APPEALS from judgments of the Superior Court of San

Bernardino County, John M. Pacheco, Judge. Judgments affirmed.
       DiJulio Law Group and R. David DiJulio, Daniel A. Cantor for Plaintiff and

Appellant.

       Yoka & Smith and Stephen H. Smith, Peter W. Felchlin, Lauren A. Lofton for

Defendants and Respondents Raymond J. Clark, Carol A. Clark and Clark Family

Holdings, LLC.

       Clayson, Mann, Yaeger & Hansen and Roland C. Bainer, Emily C. Meeson for

Defendant and Respondent Loma Linda University.

       Plaintiff and appellant SoCal Self Storage-Loma Linda, LP (SoCal) appeals from

summary judgments in favor of defendants and respondents Clark Family Holdings, LLC

(Clark)1 and Loma Linda University (University) on SoCal's second amended complaint

for negligence, nuisance, trespass and conversion seeking damages from mud, rocks,

water and debris coming onto SoCal's storage facility after a large storm occurred in

December 2010. The trial court granted summary judgments in Clark's and University's

favor on several grounds, including that neither Clark nor University breached any duty

or reasonably foresaw SoCal's damages, they did not cause SoCal's damages as the

damages were due to an overflowed flood control basin and failure of SoCal's masonry

wall, and/or the water flowing from Clark's or University's buildings was not a substantial

factor in SoCal's damages.

1      The summary judgment in Clark's favor was also granted in favor of individual
defendants Raymond J. Clark and Carol A. Clark. SoCal has elected not to pursue its
appeal of the judgment as to the individual defendants.
                                            2
       Asserting the trial court erred by not applying Keys v. Romley (1966) 64 Cal. 2d
396 (Keys), SoCal contends it presented undisputed evidence that Clark and University

diverted drainage from its natural flow onto SoCal's property, and neither defendant

presented evidence that SoCal's conduct was unreasonable, precluding summary

adjudication on its negligence cause of action. SoCal makes similar arguments as to its

causes of action for nuisance, trespass, and conversion. SoCal alternatively contends that

for purposes of the Keys analysis, it raised triable issues of material fact as to whether the

harms it suffered were foreseeable, whether defendants' conduct was unreasonable, and

whether its own conduct was reasonable, precluding summary judgment.

       We are unpersuaded by SoCal's arguments. Because the summary judgments were

properly granted, we affirm.

                  FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND2

Background

       Clark and University both own parcels of property within the Mountain View

Plaza Shopping Center (shopping center) in Loma Linda, California (City). Clark has

owned its parcel (the Clark property) since about 2006-2007; Raymond and Carol Clark

originally leased the Clark property in late 1998, then purchased it in 2002, subsequently

transferring it to Clark. The Clark property consists of a food market and a number of

parking spaces immediately in front of the market. The improvements preexisted Clark's

2      We state the undisputed facts from the parties' separate statements. In its opposing
separate statement, SoCal frequently stated that certain facts were "undisputed, but
materially incomplete." It then referred to its own opposing evidence and declarations,
much of which, as we discuss below, was excluded for purposes of Clark's motion.
                                              3
ownership; Clark did not build, develop or grade its property. University has owned its

parcels since 1996. The shopping center contains other buildings and an asphalt parking

surface that slopes predominantly to the north and to a lesser degree to the east.

       Since 1985, SoCal has operated a storage facility (at times SoCal's property)

located on Mountain View Avenue, consisting of individual storage units with metal roll-

up doors, an office and a small residence, all on asphalt. Before December 22, 2010, the

storage facility's perimeter included masonry structures, masonry wall sections and a

motorized, rolling metal gate at the main entrance. Drainage exited through a masonry

wall section in the storage facility's northwest corner. The storage facility's southern

boundary abuts the shopping center's asphalt parking. North and east of the storage

facility are railroad tracks, with a flood control channel further north. In between the

storage facility and the Clark property is a parcel of land that is not owned by Clark or its

members.

       In December 2010, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties experienced about five

days of significant rainfall. The rainwater in the area of the shopping center dislodged a

tremendous amount of mud, rocks, and debris in the hills to the south, some of which was

carried by fallen rain to the Scott Canyon Basin (the basin), which was built to collect

seasonal rainwater. The basin is not owned or maintained by Clark or University. On

December 22, 2010, the basin failed, causing much of the collected water, mud, rocks

and debris to overflow its banks and run from the basin onto Mountain View Avenue for

several blocks. The flow entered the shopping center at Mountain View Avenue and at a

City access road to the west of SoCal's property, traveled over Clark's and University's

                                              4
properties, then entered the storage facility's main entrance, filling its northwest areas

with mud, rocks, water and debris several feet high. In addition, two sections of a steep

slope built by City along Mountain View Avenue failed, sending a substantial amount of

mud, dirt and debris into the access road, which blocked the storage facility's drainage. A

storm drain installed by City at the end of the access road also clogged and failed to

function. The storage facility continued to fill with water, mud, dirt and debris until one

of its masonry walls collapsed, triggering a massive surge of mud, water and other debris

out of the storage facility and into the access road that caused significant damage to the

structure and contents of the storage units.

       During years of ownership, the flow of water on the Clark property has typically

travelled northbound over the adjacent property of others in the shopping center, and

ultimately into or around SoCal's property before making its way to the nearby flood

channel. The water that inundated the Clark property in December 2010 did not originate

from its property, but merely passed through it on its way to the channel. Since 1998, the

Clark property has never been inundated by water, mud, rocks and/or debris in a manner

similar to what had occurred in December 2010; Clark had no knowledge of any water

flow issues or similar flooding and it never experienced any significant issues with

surface water flow or flooding.

       Similarly, University's parcel has not been inundated by water, mud, rock and/or

debris since University's acquisition of it in 1996.

                                               5
SoCal's Lawsuit and Defendants' Motions for Summary Judgment/Adjudication

       SoCal sued Clark, University and others for damages stemming from the

December 2010 rainfall and flooding. It eventually filed a second amended complaint

alleging causes of action against Clark and University for negligence, nuisance, trespass

and conversion.

       University moved for summary judgment or alternatively summary adjudication of

issues. As to the negligence cause of action, it argued Keys, supra, 64 Cal. 2d 396 was

inapplicable because the damage to SoCal's property was caused by floodwaters and not

surface waters, and that the matter was governed by the so-called "common enemy" rule,

under which an owner could protect his land by diverting floodwater over another's land,

as long as that owner did not unreasonably benefit at the expense of adjoining

landowners. It argued Keys likewise did not apply to stream water or water collected in a

wash basin. University argued it took no action to unreasonably benefit itself at SoCal's

expense, compelling a finding that it was not negligent. With respect to nuisance,

University argued SoCal could not show it created a condition that was either harmful to

health, obstructed the use of SoCal's property, or interfered with SoCal's use and

enjoyment of its property. As to trespass, University argued it did not own or maintain

the failed flood control basin from which the damaging flow came, and SoCal could not

establish it caused water, mud, debris to enter SoCal's property. As to conversion,

University argued SoCal could not establish it intentionally and substantially interfered

with SoCal's personal property. As to all of the causes of action, University further

argued there was nothing it could do to prevent the floodwaters from flowing to the

                                             6
lowest point onto SoCal's property, and its failure to take action did not contribute to, and

could not be a substantial factor in, causing SoCal's harm.

       Clark also moved for summary judgment or alternatively summary adjudication of

issues. It argued that regardless of whether the flow from the rainstorm was

characterized as a flood or surface water, it had no liability because it did not engage in

any conduct to cause SoCal's injuries. Specifically, Clark asserted, via a declaration of

Raymond Clark, it did nothing to cause the water, mud, rocks and debris to enter SoCal's

property, nor did it redirect the water onto SoCal's property or cause the errant flow of

water, mud, rocks and debris. Additionally, Clark asserted that at no time before

December 2010 had it altered or improved its parcel including by repaving or grading the

parking lot or changing or improving upon the drainage system in place so as to affect the

manner in which water flowed off its property. Clark further argued the damage to

SoCal's property was not reasonably foreseeable, presenting SoCal's discovery responses

that in the 26 years SoCal had owed the facility, there had never been flooding to the

extent of what had occurred in December 2010, nor was SoCal aware of water flow

issues or flooding before its ownership of the facility. Clark finally argued that given the

lack of foreseeability, it owed no duty to SoCal, but also given the lack of any detrimental

conduct on its part, it did not cause or contribute to SoCal's damages. For these reasons,

Clark argued summary judgment or adjudication was warranted on SoCal's causes of

action for trespass, nuisance, and conversion.

       SoCal opposed the motions, making almost identical arguments and referring to

Clark and University collectively in terms of their alleged interference with the area's

                                              7
natural drainage. SoCal conceded that Clark did not build, develop or grade its property,

nor did it divert, attempt to divert, or in any way alter the flow of the water, mud, rocks

and debris that entered its property. SoCal likewise conceded that University did not

divert or attempt to divert the water, mud, rocks, debris away from its property. Rather,

SoCal argued the defendants had interfered with the area's natural northeastward drainage

in three ways: the preexisting buildings on the shopping center's east side created a "wall"

blocking flow; the buildings created an "impenetrable barrier" in the east that stepped

down to the north; and Clark and University collected rainfall on their buildings via roof

drains that discharged water into the shopping center's parking area, using "uncontrolled

sheet flow" to discharge the water onto SoCal's property. SoCal argued that despite

public warnings to sandbag, the defendants "took no action to control their discharge,"

but instead discharged the mud, rocks, water and debris onto SoCal's property, rendering

them either liable as a matter of law under Keys, supra, 64 Cal. 2d 396, or presenting a

fact issue for the jury.

       Presenting supporting declarations from SoCal's general partner and manager

Dennis Geiler, SoCal maintained that Clark's and University's conduct was unreasonable

for purposes of applying Keys because they either did not pay to install inlets (Clark) or

install more inlets (University), and both had two days notice that the storm was

approaching but did not sandbag their property, knowing that water entering it would

discharge onto SoCal's property. SoCal also submitted in opposition declarations of

geologist Cathrene Glick, who likewise stated that Clark and University used

uncontrolled sheet flow to discharge water from the shopping center parking areas to

                                              8
SoCal's property, and also stated that the use of inlets and sandbags would have

minimized SoCal's damages. Glick stated that a reasonable stormwater pollution

prevention plan would have included sandbags or a similar barrier system. In response to

University's motion, SoCal supplemented Glick's declaration with a runoff evaluation

report addressing the efficacy of sandbags.

       In reply, Clark objected to the Geiler and Glick declarations. In part, it asserted

that because Geiler was merely a manager who worked at SoCal's facility for several

years, he lacked sufficient knowledge to give expert scientific opinions. Clark also

pointed out that Glick had not performed any water flow testing to determine the

direction the water would flow during the storm if sandbags or other proactive measures

had been taken, and that her opinions lacked foundation and were speculative,

inadmissible and improper. University did not object to SoCal's opposing evidence.

The Court Grants Summary Judgments in favor of Clark and University

       The court ruled on Clark's motion in December 2013, and on University's several

months later in March 2014. It sustained Clark's evidentiary objections to Geiler's

conclusions concerning the shopping center's drainage systems, uncontrolled sheet flow,

and surface water flow, as well as Glick's conclusions concerning uncontrolled sheet flow

and the effectiveness of inlets and sandbagging. It granted summary judgments in Clark

and University's favor, ruling neither Clark nor University breached any duty or

reasonably foresaw SoCal's damages; they did not intentionally, negligently, or recklessly

enter SoCal's property or interfere with its use and enjoyment since the mud, rocks and

debris did not originate from Clark or University; they did not dispossess SoCal of its

                                              9
personal property as there was no evidence that the alleged water coming from their

buildings had any substantial factor in creating the failures at the storage facility that

swept the personal property from within the storage units; and they did not cause SoCal's

damages as those damages arose because of the basin overflowing and the breach of

SoCal's masonry wall at the northwest end of its facility. As to Clark, the court also ruled

that the water directed from its building's roof was not a substantial factor in the damages

suffered by SoCal.

       SoCal appealed from the ensuing judgments.

                                        DISCUSSION

                              I. Summary Judgment Principles

       "A trial court properly grants a motion for summary judgment where 'all the

papers submitted show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact and that the

moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.' [Citation.] . . . '[W]e take the

facts from the record that was before the trial court when it ruled on that motion.

[Citation.] " 'We review the trial court's decision de novo, considering all the evidence

set forth in the moving and opposing papers except that to which objections were made

and sustained.' " [Citation.] We liberally construe the evidence in support of the party

opposing summary judgment and resolve doubts concerning the evidence in favor of that

party.' " (Hartford Cas. Ins. Co. v. Swift Distribution, Inc. (2014) 59 Cal. 4th 277, 286.)

       A defendant moving for summary judgment "must show that the plaintiff has not

established, and reasonably cannot be expected to establish, one or more elements of the

cause of action in question." (Patterson v. Domino's Pizza, LLC (2014) 60 Cal. 4th 474,

                                              10
499-500.) If the defendant carries this burden, the opposing party is then subjected to a

burden of production to make a prima facie showing of the existence of a triable issue of

material fact. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal. 4th 826, 849.) "There is a

triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of

fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the motion in accordance

with the applicable standard of proof." (Id. at p. 850.)

                         II. Keys and the Rule of Reasonableness

       Because the parties' arguments require an understanding of the rule stated in Keys,

supra, 64 Cal. 2d 396, we review that case and later developments. In Keys, the defendant

leased property that abutted the plaintiffs' property, which the plaintiffs used for a store.

(Id. at pp. 398-399.) The defendant began constructing an ice rink and paved the area

around the building with asphalt, which entailed grading and leveling the land, as well as

placing downspouts so that rainwater was directed onto the paved area alongside the rink,

then onto plaintiffs' property. (Id. at p. 399.) After the plaintiffs' property was flooded

by surface waters flowing from defendant's land, they sued defendant and the lessors, and

the trial court awarded damages as well as an injunction restraining the defendant from

further damaging their property. (Ibid.) In reaching this award, the trial court found the

defendant had "gathered surface waters on his land by artificial means and discharged

said waters onto the lower land of plaintiffs in a greater volume and in a different manner

than had occurred prior to the construction on his property." (Id. at p. 400.)

                                              11
       On appeal, the California Supreme Court discussed the various doctrines that had

evolved to govern surface waters.3 (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 400-405.) In so doing,

it explained the difference between surface water and floodwater: "Water diffused over

the surface of land, or contained in depressions therein, and resulting from rain [or] snow

. . . is known as 'surface water.' It is thus distinguishable from water flowing in a fixed

channel, so as to constitute a watercourse . . . . The extraordinary overflow of rivers and

streams is known as 'flood water.' " (Id. at p. 400.) The court explained that in

California, as to both urban and rural areas, the rights and liabilities of adjoining

landowners with respect to flow of surface waters had generally been determined by the

rule of civil law, under which the owner of an upper estate was entitled to discharge

surface water as the water naturally flows, and was liable for any damage he caused to

adjacent property by the discharge of water in an unnatural manner. (Id. at pp. 406, 408.)

Though this was the case, the court found the rule could be unnecessarily rigid and unjust

in developed areas (id. at p. 407), and that principles of tort liability were appropriately

applied such that "[n]o party, whether an upper or a lower landowner, may act arbitrarily

3       One such rule was the common enemy rule. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 400-
402.) The court explained that the common enemy rule, "[s]tated in its extreme form, . . .
holds that as an incident to the use of his own property, each landowner has an
unqualified right, by operations on his own land, to fend off surface waters as he sees fit
without being required to take into account the consequences to other landowners, who
have the right to protect themselves as best they can." (Id. at p. 400.) But the court stated
that, apparently with respect to surface waters, "the common enemy rule . . . has never
been followed in California, and, in fact, was summarily rejected nearly a century
ago . . . ." (Id. at p. 406.)
                                              12
and unreasonably in his relations with other landowners and still be immunized from all

liability." (Id. at pp. 407-409.)4

       The Keys court thus modified the civil law rule to establish a rule turning on the

reasonableness of the landowners' conduct: "It is therefore incumbent upon every person

to take reasonable care in using his property to avoid injury to adjacent property through

the flow of surface waters. Failure to exercise reasonable care may result in liability by

an upper to a lower landowner. It is equally the duty of any person threatened with injury

to his property by the flow of surface waters to take reasonable precautions to avoid or

reduce any actual or potential injury. [¶] If the actions of both the upper and lower

landowners are reasonable, necessary, and generally in accord with the foregoing, then

the injury must necessarily be borne by the upper landowner who changes a natural

system of drainage, in accordance with our traditional civil law rule. [¶] . . . Our rule

has the advantage of predictability, in that responsibility for diversion of surface waters is

fixed, all things being relatively equal." (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 408-409.) Keys

made clear that "the question is not one of strict negligence accountability, although . . .

'an owner should not escape liability when he is negligent.' The question is

reasonableness of conduct." (Keys, at p. 409.)

4      In reaching this conclusion the Keys court stated: "As pointed out by Kinyon and
McClure in their article [Interferences With Surface Waters (1940)] 24 Minnesota Law
Review 891, at page 936, 'There is no question, however, that one's liability for
interfering with surface waters, when incurred, is a tort liability. An unjustified invasion
of a possessor's interest in the use and enjoyment of his land through the medium of
surface waters, or any other type of waters, is as much a tort as a trespass or a private
nuisance produced by smoke or smells.' " (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 407-408.)
                                             13
       The court in Keys further explained: "The issue of reasonableness becomes a

question of fact to be determined in each case upon a consideration of all the relevant

circumstances, including such factors as the amount of harm caused, the foreseeability of

the harm which results, the purpose or motive with which the possessor acted, and all

other relevant matter. [Citation.] It is properly a consideration in land development

problems whether the utility of the possessor's use of his land outweighs the gravity of

the harm which results from his alteration of the flow of surface waters. [Citation.] The

gravity of harm is its seriousness from an objective viewpoint, while the utility of

conduct is its meritoriousness from the same viewpoint. [Citation.] If the weight is on

the side of him who alters the natural watercourse, then he has acted reasonably and

without liability; if the harm to the lower landowner is unreasonably severe, then the

economic costs incident to the expulsion of surface waters must be borne by the upper

owner whose development caused the damage. If the facts should indicate both parties

conducted themselves reasonably, then courts are bound by our well-settled civil law

rule." (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410.)

       In Ektelon v. City of San Diego (1988) 200 Cal. App. 3d 804, 810, a panel of this

court held that Keys "postulated a broad rule of reasonableness to be applied to all factual

situations" (id. at p. 808) and thus "an upstream landowner has no absolute right to

protect his land from floodwaters by constructing structures which increase the

downstream flow of water into its natural watercourse, but is instead governed by the

ordinary principles of negligence." (Id. at p. 810.) Ektelon relied on Linvill v. Perello

(1987) 189 Cal. App. 3d 195, in which the court reversed a summary judgment and held a

                                             14
property owner was required to act reasonably under all circumstances when building

barriers to protect his property from damage by floodwaters. (Ektelon, 200 Cal.App.3d at

pp. 808-809, citing Linvill, at pp. 197, 198.) In Weaver v. Bishop (1988) 206 Cal. App. 3d
1351, the appellate court rejected application of the common enemy doctrine applicable

to floodwaters in favor of a rule of reasonableness: "[T]he nearly unanimous trend has

been away from per se rules based on categorical judgments of 'generally perceived

reasonableness,' [which underlies the common enemy rule,] and toward fact-based

determinations of reasonableness in the particular circumstances of each case." (Id. at p.

1357.) The Weaver court pointed out "it is now held that the 'common enemy' doctrine

itself is qualified by a reasonableness requirement . . . ." (Ibid., citing Linvill, at p. 199

[applying Keys to the diversion of floodwaters].) In Belair v. Riverside County Flood

Control Dist. (1988) 47 Cal. 3d 550, the California Supreme Court acknowledged the

Linvill and Ektelon application of Keys to situations involving flood and stream waters in

actions between private landowners. (Belair, at p. 567, fn. 9.)

       In Locklin v. City of Lafayette (1994) 7 Cal. 4th 327 (Locklin), the California

Supreme Court expanded the application of the Keys reasonableness standard to

situations involving a natural watercourse. (Locklin, at p. 337.)5 It began its discussion

5      Locklin dealt in part with the immunity provided by the so-called natural
watercourse rule, which privileged certain landowner conduct to discharge water into a
natural watercourse or make improvements in stream beds to improve drainage. (See
Pacific Bell v. City of San Diego (2000) 81 Cal. App. 4th 596, 612, fn. 9.) Locklin defined
a natural watercourse as " 'a channel with defined bed and banks made and habitually
used by water passing down as a collected body or stream in those seasons of the year
and at those times when the streams in the region are accustomed to flow.' " (Locklin,
                                               15
of the rule by acknowledging that "[t]he modern rule governing landowner liability for

surface water runoff and drainage is no longer simply a rule of property law . . . . Today

a landowner's conduct in using or altering the property in a manner which affects the

discharge of surface waters onto adjacent property is subject to a test of reasonableness."

(Id. at p. 351.) In reaching its decision, Locklin agreed with Ektelon v. City of San Diego,

supra, 200 Cal. App. 3d 804, Weaver v. Bishop, supra, 206 Cal. App. 3d 1351, and other

courts that had held the Keys rule "applicable to all conduct by landowners in their

disposition of surface water runoff whether the waters are discharged onto the land of an

adjoining owner or into a natural watercourse . . . . " (Locklin, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 354-355,

357.) The California Supreme Court also acknowledged its past recognition that the Keys

rule of reasonableness had been applied by the courts to actions involving private

landowners' treatment of flood and stream waters. (Id. at p. 354, fn. 16, citing Belair v.

Riverside County Flood Control Dist., supra, 47 Cal.3d at pp. 567-568, fn. 8.)

       Locklin held that "[w]hen alterations or improvements on upstream property

discharge an increased volume of surface water into a natural watercourse, and the

increased volume and/or velocity of the stream waters or the method of discharge into the

watercourse causes downstream property damage, a public entity, as a property owner,

may be liable for that damage. The test is whether, under all the circumstances, the upper

supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 345.) It includes a canyon or ravine through which surface water
customarily flows in rainy seasons, as well as " 'all channels through which, in the
existing condition of the country, the water naturally flows,' and may include new
channels created in the course of urban development through which waters presently
flow. [Citation.] Once surface waters have become part of a stream in a watercourse,
they are no longer recognized as surface waters." (Ibid.)
                                             16
landowner's conduct was reasonable. This rule of reasonableness applies to both private

and public landowners . . . ." (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 337.) The test for

reasonableness "requires consideration of the purpose for which the improvements were

undertaken, the amount of surface water runoff added to the streamflow by the

defendant's improvements in relation to that from development of other parts of the

watershed, and the cost of mitigating measures available to both upper and downstream

owners. Those costs must be balanced against the magnitude of the potential for

downstream damage." (Id. at p. 337.) The key difference between Keys and Locklin is

that under Locklin, when both upper and lower landowners act reasonably in discharging

and receiving surface water in a natural watercourse, the upper landowner is immune and

the lower landowner is liable, as "the natural watercourse rule imposes the burden of

stream-caused damage on the downstream property." (Locklin, at p. 337.)

       We conclude that after Locklin, there is no reason to distinguish between the

source, type or nature of waters that flow over or upon a landowner's property in applying

the reasonableness test. The Keys reasonableness standard governs a landowner's tort

liability for damage caused by his or her diversion of waters whether they are discharged

directly onto an adjacent property or into a natural watercourse, as well as a landowner's

liability for efforts to protect his land from floodwaters. (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal.4th at

p. 354, fn. 16; Ektelon, supra, 200 Cal.App.3d at pp. 808-809; accord, Contra Costa

County v. Pinole Point Properties, LLC (2015) 235 Cal. App. 4th 914, 928 (Contra Costa)

[after Locklin there is no valid reason for distinguishing between surface waters and those

                                             17
that flow through a natural watercourse when determining the obligations of

landowners].)

                     III. Liability in Tort for Negligence and Nuisance

       SoCal sued Clark and University in tort for both negligence and nuisance.

" 'Actionable negligence involves a legal duty to use due care, a breach of such legal

duty, and the breach as the proximate or legal cause of the resulting injury.' " (Beacon

Residential Community Assn. v. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (2014) 59 Cal. 4th 568,

573.) " 'Duty, being a question of law, is particularly amenable to resolution by summary

judgment.' " (Nalwa v. Cedar Fair, L.P. (2012) 55 Cal. 4th 1148, 1154.) And

foreseeability of harm, which is likewise a question of law, is a " ' "crucial factor" ' in

determining the existence and scope of that duty." (John B. v. Superior Court (2006) 38
Cal. 4th 1177, 1189; Wiener v. Southcoast Childcare Centers, Inc. (2004) 32 Cal. 4th
1138, 1146.) "When negligent conduct interferes with another's free use and enjoyment

of his or her property, nuisance liability arises." (Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal.App.4th

at p. 934.)

       The main premise of SoCal's appellate argument is that Keys is the controlling

authority, and that Keys "is triggered when an upper landowner diverts water from its

natural flow." SoCal argues the trial court erred by failing to apply Keys but rather

confused it with negligence, and because it is "undisputed" that both Clark and University

diverted surface or floodwater from its natural flow and into SoCal's property, the court

erred by failing to address whether Clark and University had diverted water from its

                                              18
natural flow and granting summary judgment.6 More specifically, SoCal argues that the

shopping center contained a drainage system that blocked easterly drainage, and the

system collected or routed drainage down its parking area into SoCal's facility. It

acknowledges that Clark had asserted it had purchased its property with the drainage

systems in place, and that University claimed it did not divert water. SoCal apparently

maintains they were not mere purchasers or passive actors because they engaged in

"affirmative conduct by using their properties, and their drainage systems." SoCal further

points to its expert Glick's testimony that the December 2010 storm was well publicized,

warnings to sandbag were given, and had Clark and University sandbagged, the damage

would have been significantly reduced.

       The foregoing discussion (part II ante) demonstrates that the relevant inquiry, for

purposes of assessing the tort liability of Clark and University for water runoff and

drainage, is not merely whether they diverted waters as SoCal maintains, but the

reasonableness of their actions to the extent they did so: " 'Failure to exercise reasonable

care may result in liability by an upper to a lower landowner.' " (Locklin, supra, 7

Cal.4th at p. 352.) On defendants' motions for summary judgment, we therefore evaluate

whether there is evidence for a trier of fact to decide that Clark and University

6       We do not address SoCal's specific arguments about asserted errors committed by
the trial court. The trial court's reasoning is irrelevant as our role on appeal is to review
the parties' summary judgment papers de novo. (Jimenez v. County of Los Angeles
(2005) 130 Cal. App. 4th 133, 140; Reyes v. Kosha (1998) 65 Cal. App. 4th 451, 457-458.)
In any event, the court expressly recognized in ruling on both Clark's and University's
motions that Keys was the relevant test: whether Clark and University acted reasonably in
relation to the management and care of their property with respect to the drainage of
water across it.
                                             19
unreasonably altered or used their property in a manner that affected the discharge of

water onto SoCal's property. (See id. at p. 351; Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at pp. 409-410;

Gdowski v. Louie (2000) 84 Cal. App. 4th 1395, 1400, 1403.) Applying this standard on

our de novo review compels us to reject SoCal's arguments.

A. There is No Evidence SoCal's Damage Was the Result of any Unreasonable Action or

Inaction by Clark with Respect to the Flow of Waters on Clark's Property

       As indicated above, for purposes of Clark's motion, the court excluded SoCal's

opposing opinions of Geiler and Glick as to the defendants' interference with the natural

drainage, the creation of a drainage system, the asserted use of uncontrolled sheet flow,

the flow and impact of water due to heavy rains, the use of a stormwater pollution

prevention plan, and the efficacy and consequences of sandbagging. SoCal does not

challenge these evidentiary rulings or attempt to demonstrate the court abused its

discretion in those rulings. (See Powell v. Kleinman (2007) 151 Cal. App. 4th 112, 122

[applying abuse of discretion standard to court's final rulings on evidentiary objections on

a motion for summary judgment].) Indeed, SoCal essentially ignores the rulings in its

arguments, when it points to the expert and nonexpert testimony to argue, among other

things, the shopping center's drainage system is diversionary. As to Clark, we therefore

disregard those excluded portions of Geiler's and Glick's opinions in our review. (Code

Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (c) [court shall consider all evidence set forth in summary

judgment papers except that to which objections have been made and sustained].)

       Thus, the universe of facts as to Clark—undisputed by SoCal—is simply that

Clark engaged in no use or alteration of its property that changed the flow of surface or

                                            20
floodwater: Clark did not build, develop or grade its property, and it did not divert or

attempt to divert or alter the flow of water, mud, rocks and debris that flowed over its

property during the December 2010 rainstorm. The evidence is undisputed that the

flooding began with the overflow of the Scott basin, which resulted in a tremendous flow

of floodwater toward, into and over Clark's and SoCal's property, the failure of City-built

slopes and drains, the additional failure of SoCal's own drainage, and the eventual

inundation of SoCal's property, which was heavily damaged when its masonry wall

failed. Further, because the court excluded Glick's conclusions regarding sandbagging,

Clark's failure to pay for inlets in the parking areas, and the effect of inlets on the storage

facility's damages, there is no evidence that any unreasonable omission or inaction by

Clark on its part either altered or diverted the flow of water, or caused SoCal's damages.

(See Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal.App.4th at pp. 931-933.)7

7       In Contra Costa, the court pointed out that in the water law diversion context,
"liability can be based on an omission or inaction when the failure to act is an
unreasonable use of the property." (Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal.App.4th at p. 931,
citing Belair v. Riverside County Flood Control Dist., supra, 47 Cal. 3d 550, 568
[plaintiffs could not prevail on an inverse condemnation claim because they did not
present "substantial evidence" that flooding from a levee failure "was the result of any
unreasonable act or omission attributable to defendants" (italics added)].) In Contra
Costa, the evidence showed a private property owner knew or should have known of an
existing large drainage channel on its property and the need to maintain it to prevent
flooding of an adjacent residential development; it was obvious that without a properly
operating channel, surface waters in the adjacent development had no way of draining;
and the private owner had been warned multiple times of flooding problems caused by
the obstructed channel. (Contra Costa, at pp. 923-924.) The appellate court
acknowledged that whether that owner's omission or failure to act in that case was
unreasonable under Keys was an issue of fact and "depends upon the context of the
situation, including whether it knew at the time it purchased the property that its failure to
maintain the Drainage Channel would likely result in flooding on Lettia Road." (Contra
                                              21
       We reject SoCal's argument that Clark somehow engaged in affirmative conduct

by merely using its property in its present state. The argument misses the point, namely,

that there must be evidence raising a triable issue of fact as to whether Clark used its

property in a manner as to divert or discharge waters on it, and whether that use was a

substantial cause of damage to SoCal's property. (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 367,

351 [landowner's conduct in "using . . . [its] property in a manner which affects the

discharge of surface waters onto adjacent property" (italics added) is subject to the Keys

reasonableness test].) On this evidence, a reasonable fact finder can only come to one

conclusion. (Accord, Ambriz v. Kelegian (2007) 146 Cal. App. 4th 1519, 1531-1532

[causation is ordinarily question of fact that cannot be resolved by summary judgment,

but the issue may be decided as a question of law if under undisputed facts, there is no

room for a reasonable difference of opinion]; Nichols v. Keller (1993) 15 Cal. App. 4th
1672, 1687.) Mere ownership of developed property, without some act or omission

impacting the discharge of water, is not a use that "affects the discharge of . . .

waters . . . ." (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 351.)

       SoCal argues in the alternative that if a jury found Clark's failure to act to be

reasonable, then the jury would "likely find SoCal's failure to act was reasonable also . . .

given the expert's testimony that SoCal could not significantly mitigate damages by

Costa, at p. 932.) It held the evidence supported the trial court's conclusion that the
private owner was " 'entirely unreasonable' " by failing to keep the drainage channel free
of debris, causing repeated flooding and serious risk of future flooding. (Id. at pp. 924,
936.) Here, Clark's inaction is entirely unlike that in Contra Costa; there is no evidence
Clark somehow failed to maintain its property with respect to water flow or had prior
knowledge of surface water or flooding impacting SoCal's property.
                                               22
sandbagging on its own." SoCal also argues that a jury could not find its own conduct

unreasonable, as there is no evidence it engaged in any affirmative conduct to increase

the danger to its storage facility. The argument misunderstands the Keys rule as it applies

to developed property, under which a landowner incurs no liability when, viewed

objectively, the utility of his or her use of his land outweighs the gravity of harm caused

by the use. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410.) But SoCal's arguments fail nevertheless

because they depend on Glick's excluded opinions and statements as to sandbagging.

Additionally, the prerequisite to applying Keys is a landowner's act or omission that has

somehow altered the flow of waters to the detriment of another owner, and here, there is

no evidence that any unreasonable action, omission or use by Clark of its property has

done so. Under these circumstances, there is no basis to apply Keys. (See Gdowski v.

Louie, supra, 84 Cal.App.4th at p. 1405 ["[I]n this case were the jury to find that both

defendants and plaintiff acted reasonably, defendants would still be liable (assuming a

finding they had altered the natural flow of waters)" (italics added)].)

B. University's Tort Liability for Negligence or Nuisance

       We address University's motion separately, because University did not object to

SoCal's opposing evidence. Thus, the question is whether University met its threshold

burden to show the absence of triable issues of fact as to one or more elements of SoCal's

negligence and nuisance causes of action, and then whether SoCal's evidence, including

Geiler's declaration describing University's drainage and drainage failures, and Glick's

declaration regarding the need to sandbag or install inlets, raised material issues on that

question for a jury.

                                             23
       It is of no consequence that University's summary judgment arguments on the

matter were not focused on the relevant Keys standard. University also argued that SoCal

could not establish causation, and to that end, University presented evidence from its

property coordinator and from SoCal's own discovery responses that University did not

divert or attempt to divert the water, mud, rocks and other debris away from its property

onto SoCal's property, that some of the mud, rocks and debris had originated from the

hills that drained into the basin, and that the mud rocks and debris did not originate from

University's property, but had rushed in from Mountain View Avenue. SoCal conceded

that University took no action to divert or attempt to divert the floodwater, mud, rocks

and debris that had overflowed the basin and travelled from Mountain View Avenue.

       SoCal's opposing theory of tort liability, as reflected in Geiler's declaration, was

that the drainage from University's buildings and gutter system diverted the natural flow

of surface and floodwaters, rendering University liable under Keys. Geiler stated that

University's gutter system overflowed during heavy rains, and that the rainflow,

combined with roof discharge of water from University's existing buildings, pooled and

flowed over a sidewalk, across another gutter, and into the facility through its main

entrance. Geiler asserted that a University gutter sitting on the facility's south property

line would overflow or pool in heavy and light rains, causing water to seep through a wall

of a residence at the facility and forcing SoCal to replace carpet and flooring a number of

times. According to Geiler, because University would not fix this problem, SoCal

ultimately paid for a curb to address it. However, Geiler also stated that the shopping

center drainage changed in 2009 when the city of Loma Linda widened Mountain View

                                             24
Avenue, thereby routing more water through a narrower area, and creating a sluice that

"restricts drainage and increases flow velocity between [Mountain View Avenue] and the

Facility and the Shopping Center."

       As Geiler describes it, it is University's inaction—the failure to take affirmative

steps to maintain, improve or repair its drainage and gutter system—that serves as the

supposed basis for University's tort liability. Glick's declaration similarly indicates

University's liability would arise from inaction: that is, University's failure either to

affirmatively redirect uncontrolled sheet flow (which by definition, is not the result of

any conduct by University), create barriers with sandbags to stem the floodwaters, or

install additional inlets in the shopping center parking lot west of their eastern buildings

before December 22, 2010. According to Glick, had sandbags been used, the water

entering the facility would have drained out of the facility and its northwest masonry wall

would not have fallen, eliminating the damage to its storage unit doors and reducing the

sediment at the facility.8 Glick also averred that had University placed additional inlets,

those inlets would have helped discharge the water entering the parking lot, and "would

have helped to further reduce the [storage f]acility's damage." But in her preliminary

8      Glick's supplemental report reaches a similar conclusion. She states:
"Implementation of standard flood prevention plans, or stormwater pollution prevention
plans, for the Mountain View Plaza shopping center including placement of sandbags
along Mountain View Avenue property boundary would have retained the sediment and
debris within the Mountain View avenue right-of-way. It is our opinion that placement
of a row of sandbags (typically 3-bags high in a triangular fashion) placed along the
western extent of the parking lot areas (parallel to the direction of water flow) would
have been sufficient to retain the sediment and debris on the street and sidewalk areas
thus reducing or avoiding the inflow of sediment and debris to the parking lot and into the
subject storage facility."
                                              25
hydrologic assessment and runoff evaluation addressing the December 2010 storm event,

Glick opined that the "primary causes" of the storage facility's inundation were "a direct

result of" failures that had nothing to do with University's gutter drainage, sheet flow,

sandbagging or inlets on University's property.9

       Focusing on whether the evidence demonstrates University's inaction was

unreasonable, we conclude as a matter of law it does not. We look to University's

purpose or motives in using its property, as well as the amount and foreseeability of harm

caused. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410; Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal.App.4th at p.

934.) We also look at the "amount of surface water runoff added to the streamflow by

the defendant's improvements in relation to that from development of other parts of the

watershed." (Locklin, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 337.) Under Keys, University incurs no

liability when, objectively viewed, the utility of University's use of its land outweighs the

gravity of harm caused by the use. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410; Contra Costa, at

9       Glick's report opines that the "primary causes of the inundation of [SoCal's]
property are a direct result of" (1) City's inadequate reservoir operational planning and
maintenance; (2) City's failure to maintain runoff control structures; (3) clogging of storm
drain inlets along Mountain View Avenue due to runoff from the watershed; (4) widening
of Mountain View Avenue that altered and restricted stormwater flow without adequate
catch basins; (5) alteration of the stormwater runoff pattern from the Loma Linda plaza
due to installation of a curb along the access road constructed to accommodate the
widening of Mountain View Avenue, and (6) clogging of the storm drain inlet installed
along the access road between Mountain View Avenue and the project site and slope
failure on the Mountain View Avenue fill embankment. In reply, SoCal points to the
fifth cause, claiming that Glick was referring to the flow over University's parking lot.
Even if that were the case, Glick stated that the alteration of the runoff in that area was
"by installation of a curb along the access road constructed to accommodate the widening
of Mountain View Avenue and construction of the extended roadway fill embankment."
Glick thus attributed the runoff alteration to City's curb and embankment, not to
University's gutters, inadequate inlets or sheet flow off its buildings.
                                             26
p. 934.)

       SoCal presented no evidence that University had any improper motive or purpose

in passively using or maintaining its parking areas and buildings, or that it had any other

purpose for its gutter system than the standard drainage of rainwater from its buildings.

There is no evidence University intended to direct surface or floodwater onto SoCal's

property. Nor can SoCal show foreseeability of the resulting harm as a component of the

reasonableness inquiry. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410; Contra Costa, supra, 235

Cal.App.4th at p. 932.) It is undisputed that since University's acquisition of its property,

it had never been inundated by water, mud, rocks and/or debris. SoCal presented

evidence that the weather service gave several days notice of the possibility of flooding,

but there is no evidence that University knew or should have known the water flow

through roof drains and parking lot or via its gutter system would discharge an

unreasonably severe amount of water into SoCal's property. Geiler's statement that

University "would not fix" its overflowing gutters, and that a residence on SoCal's

property suffered seepage in heavy rains, does not permit a reasonable inference that

University was aware of a drainage problem on SoCal's property or its extent. Unlike

Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal. App. 4th 914, in which the landowner was warned multiple

times that failure to maintain an existing drainage channel on its property would result in

flooding to the adjoining residences, there is no evidence here University knew its

inaction with respect to the existing gutters or inlets on its property would contribute with

the heavy flooding to cause the significant damage that occurred in December 2010.

Indeed, SoCal's own evidence demonstrates the absence of any prior known water

                                             27
discharge problems, when Geiler states: "Prior to December 22, 2010, in the 26 years

that [SoCal] had owned the Facility, it had never experienced any significant issues with

surface water discharge, much less any flooding. Plaintiff is unaware of the Facility

experiencing any significant issues with surface water discharge or flooding prior to its

ownership of the Facility." Notably, Glick pointed out in her hydrologic assessment that

prior, more significant, storm events did not result in flooding in the vicinity or at SoCal's

property: "The December 16-22, 2010, storm event, which resulted in significant

flooding and sediment deposition at the project site and the surrounding areas in Loma

Linda, California produced significantly less rain than storm events which occurred in the

2006-2007 rain season, which did not generate flooding at or in the vicinity of the project

site." Thus, the extensive damage to SoCal's property from the basin overflowing and

flooding was not foreseeable as to render University's omissions unreasonable.

       Further, notwithstanding Keys's rejection of strict negligence accountability, there

must nevertheless be a causal relationship between a diverting landowner's conduct and

alleged harm to an adjoining landowner. (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at p. 410 [the amount of

harm caused by the upper owner is one of the reasonableness factors]; see also Locklin,

supra, 7 Cal.4th at pp. 359-360.) Here, it is undisputed that days of heavy rain in

December 2010 caused an overflow of the Scott basin, which resulted in a torrent of

water, mud, dirt and debris down Mountain View Avenue into the shopping center

parking lot. That onslaught—combined with City's widening of Mountain View Avenue

as well as slope, drainage, and other failures that were not attributable to University—

were the primary causes of the inundation of SoCal's property, failure of SoCal's

                                             28
masonry wall, and significant damage. Though Glick presented some evidence that

sandbagging by University would have reduced SoCal's damage, her official and studied

conclusion as to the primary causes of the inundation of SoCal's property had nothing to

do with University's gutter drainage, sheet flow, sandbagging or inlets on University's

property. Glick's testimony shows that other failures caused by the December 2010

storm were intervening and primary causes of the significant harm suffered by SoCal.

       This evidence compels a conclusion that SoCal has not demonstrated triable issues

of material fact as to University's role in causing its harm, which as we have indicated,

is a matter that may be decided as a question of law if the facts leave no room for a

reasonable difference of opinion. (Ambriz v. Kelegian, supra, 146 Cal.App.4th at

pp. 1531-1532.) " '[A] cause in fact is something that is a substantial factor in bringing

about the injury.' " (South Coast Framing, Inc. v. W.C.A.B. (2015) 61 Cal. 4th 291, 298.)

       Given that the primary causes of SoCal's damages were unrelated to University,

we would conclude under these circumstances, that on balance, the utility of University's

uses in draining surface and floodwaters off its property precludes liability as a matter

of law. The question of reasonableness is a factual inquiry (Keys, supra, 64 Cal.2d at

p. 410; Contra Costa, supra, 235 Cal.App.4th at p. 932), but on this evidence, a

reasonable fact finder can only come to one conclusion. Summary judgment was

properly granted on SoCal's tort causes of action for negligence and nuisance.

                                             29
                                        IV. Trespass

       " ' "The essence of the cause of action for trespass is an 'unauthorized entry' onto

the land of another." ' " (Church of Christ in Hollywood v. Superior Court (2002) 99
Cal. App. 4th 1244, 1252.) It does not require a personal entry onto the property but

" 'may be accomplished by the casting of substances or objects upon the plaintiff's

property from without its boundaries.' " (Elton v. Anheuser–Busch Beverage Group, Inc.

(1996) 50 Cal. App. 4th 1301, 1306.) But "liability for trespass will not be imposed unless

the trespass was intentional, the result of recklessness, negligence, or the result of an

extra hazardous activity." (Wilson v. Interlake Steel Co. (1982) 32 Cal. 3d 229, 233; see

also Armitage v. Decker (1990) 218 Cal. App. 3d 887, 906.) We have already held

summary judgment was properly granted on SoCal's negligence claim, eliminating that

theory of trespass. Intentional conduct, for purposes of a trespass, may include not only

the result the actor desires, but also the consequences that he knows are substantially

certain to result. (Staples v. Hoefke (1987) 189 Cal. App. 3d 1397, 1408; see also Roberts

v. Permanente Corp. (1961) 188 Cal. App. 2d 526, 530 [the "doing of an act which will to

a substantial certainty result in the entry of foreign matter upon another's land suffices for

an intentional trespass to land upon which liability may be based"].)

       SoCal argues the court erred by granting summary judgment on its trespass cause

of action, asserting there was undisputed evidence that both Clark and University

"intentionally diverted water into SoCal's property without permission and damaged it."

However, the sole record citation in support of this assertion is SoCal's points and

authorities in opposition to the summary judgment motions, in which it merely argued

                                              30
that Clark and University "for years have used their building to block the area's natural

drainage and have used their outlets and their parking area to discharge their waters and

the waters they receive from [other property owners] into the Facility." Of course,

" '[e]vidence' means testimony, writings, material objects, or other things presented to the

senses that are offered to prove the existence or nonexistence of a fact." (Evid. Code,

§ 140.) It is well settled that "[s]tatements and arguments by counsel are not evidence."

(Gdowski v. Gdowski (2009) 175 Cal. App. 4th 128, 139.) Thus, we do not consider these

statements when evaluating SoCal's claim. As a result, SoCal has not met its appellate

burden to demonstrate error.

       A summary judgment is presumed to be correct, and even when review is de novo,

the appellant still bears the burden of affirmatively demonstrating error. (See Claudio v.

Regents of the University of California (2005) 134 Cal. App. 4th 224, 252.) Thus, it is

SoCal's responsibility to point out the claimed triable issues by specific citation to the

factual record and supporting legal authority. This court is not " 'obligate[d] . . . to cull

the record for the benefit of the appellant.' " (Bains v. Moores (2009) 172 Cal. App. 4th
445, 455.) When an appellant asserts a point but fails to support it with reasoned

argument and appropriate legal and factual citations, we treat the point as forfeited.

(Tellez v. Rich Voss Trucking, Inc. (2015) 240 Cal. App. 4th 1052, 1066; see also People

v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal. 4th 764, 793.) That is the case here, but we observe in any event

based on our analysis above that there is no evidence by which a reasonable jury could

conclude that Clark or University either sought to divert water onto SoCal's property, or

created a condition that they knew to a substantial certainty would result in a damaging

                                              31
diversion of water onto SoCal's property. We conclude SoCal has not shown its evidence

raised triable issues of material fact as to trespass.

                                        V. Conversion

       "Conversion is the wrongful exercise of dominion over the personal property of

another." (Taylor v. Forte Hotels International (1991) 235 Cal. App. 3d 1119, 1124.)

" ' " 'The elements of a conversion claim are: (1) the plaintiff's ownership or right to

possession of the property; (2) the defendant's conversion by a wrongful act or

disposition of property rights; and (3) damages . . . .' " ' " (Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61
Cal. 4th 1225, 1240; see also Black's Law Dict. (6th Ed.1990) p. 332, col. 1 [conversion is

an "unauthorized assumption and exercise of the right of ownership over goods or

personal chattels belonging to another, to the alteration of their condition or the exclusion

of the owner's rights"].)

       Conversion is a strict liability tort in that wrongful intent is not necessary: " ' "The

foundation for the action for conversion rests neither in the knowledge nor the intent of

the defendant. . . . [Instead,] 'the tort consists in the breach of what may be called an

absolute duty; the act itself . . . is unlawful and redressible as a tort.' " ' " (Moore v.

Regents of University of California (1990) 51 Cal. 3d 120, 144 & fn. 38; Taylor v. Forte

Hotels International, supra, 235 Cal.App.3d at p. 1124; see also Regent Alliance Ltd. v.

Rabizadeh (2014) 231 Cal. App. 4th 1177, 1181.) " 'Therefore, questions of the

defendant's good faith, lack of knowledge, and motive are ordinarily immaterial.' "

(Regent Alliance Ltd., at p. 1181.) This court has held that while the tort does not require

wrongful intent, "the act must be knowingly or intentionally done . . . ." (Taylor v. Forte

                                               32
Hotels International, at p. 1124, citing Poggi v. Scott (1914) 167 Cal. 372, 375; see also

Collin v. American Empire Ins. Co. (1994) 21 Cal. App. 4th 787, 812-815 [conversion

cannot occur "accidentally"].)

       SoCal's appellate arguments on these points suffer from the same flaws as its

arguments on trespass: they are based only on citations to arguments made in its opposing

points and authorities. Thus, SoCal has not demonstrated with reasoned legal argument

or competent evidence that summary judgment was precluded on its conversion claim.

And, on this record, evidence supporting essential elements of SoCal's conversion

claim—Clark or University's wrongful act or disposition of SoCal's personal property, as

well as any act on their part knowingly or intentionally done—is absent.

                                            33
                                     DISPOSITION

      The judgments are affirmed.

                                                                          O'ROURKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

NARES, Acting P. J.

PRAGER, J.*

*       Judge of the San Diego Superior Court, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to
article VI, section 6 of the California Constitution.
                                           34