Court Opinion

ID: 5125071
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-11-10 20:03:00.803293+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:22:46.722918
License: Public Domain

Filed 11/10/21 Albertini v. Acebo-Houlihan 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                 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS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

 GREGORY ALBERTINI et al.,                                            D078454

      Plaintiffs, Cross-defendants and
 Appellants,
                                                                      (Super. Ct. No.
           v.                                                         37-2018-0003732-CU-NP-NC)

 ANNE ACEBO-HOULIHAN,

      Defendant, Cross-complainant
 and Respondent.

         APPEAL from a postjudgment order of the Superior Court of San Diego
County, Robert P. Dahlquist, Judge. Affirmed.
         Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith and Lann G. McIntyre, Peter L.
Garchie for Plaintiffs, Cross-defendants and Appellants.
         Gregory M. Garrison and Kevin T. Rhine for Defendant, Cross-
complainant and Respondent.
         Plaintiffs, cross-defendants and appellants Gregory Albertini and
Catherine Albertini appeal from an order awarding $216,625 in attorney fees
to Anne Acebo-Houlihan after the trial court declared her and Jesse Houlihan
prevailing parties on cross actions arising out of disputes over the parties’

adjoining homes. The court awarded the Houlihans fees under Civil Code1
section 5975, subdivision (c), a provision of the Davis-Stirling Common
Interest Development Act (the Davis-Stirling Act, § 4000 et seq.), on the
parties’ competing claims including for trespass and nuisance. In part, the
court found the parties’ actions were brought “to enforce . . . governing
documents” (covenants, conditions and restrictions or CC&Rs) under that
section and their tort claims were inextricably intertwined with the claims
arising under the governing documents.
      The Albertinis contend: (1) section 5975 does not provide a basis for
the Houlihans’ recovery of attorney fees, in part because their defense of the
Albertinis’ complaint was not an action to enforce the governing documents
but one to determine they were unenforceable or nonexistent; (2) there is no
contractual basis for an attorney fee award in the CC&Rs, which assertedly
allows fees only for the initiation or bringing of an action, or for the
“protection of the project”; (3) the Houlihans are judicially estopped from
relying on the CC&Rs or the Davis-Stirling Act to recover their fees; and (4)
the attorney fee award was excessive as a matter of law. We affirm the order.
              FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
      We set out the background facts of the underlying litigation in our
opinion on the Albertinis’ appeal from the judgment on the jury verdict and
bench trial on equitable issues. (Albertini v. Acebo-Houlihan (Nov. 4, 2021,
D077391) [nonpub. opn.].) Those facts need not be repeated here, other than

1     Undesignated statutory references are to the Civil Code.
                                         2
to say that the trial court declared the Houlihans the prevailing parties and

ordered they recover costs of suit from the Albertinis.2
      Thereafter, the Houlihans moved for an award of $235,220 in attorney
fees under the Davis-Stirling Act based on 548.3 hours of attorney work.
They asserted both the Albertinis’ complaint and the Houlihans’ cross-
complaint sought relief for breach of the CC&Rs and all of the noncontract
claims were founded on obligations contained in the CC&Rs. They pointed
out that the CC&Rs themselves provided for attorney fees in “any other legal
or equitable action that may be necessary to protect the project,” and asserted
all of the claims were brought to protect the project, thus they were entitled
to fees on all tort and contract claims. The Houlihans argued as the
prevailing parties in both actions, attorney fees were recoverable under
section 5975 on every claim in the Albertinis’ action and their cross-action
because both parties alleged breach of the CC&Rs, their other claims were
founded on rights contained in the CC&Rs, and every claim was brought for
the “ ‘protection of the project’ ” as the CC&Rs’ attorney fee provision
provided. They argued the requested fees were reasonable for the work done
by their two attorneys Gregory Garrison and Kevin Rhine (at $600 and $400
hourly rates respectively) between February 2018 and the time of the motion.

2      We note that in the factual background of both their opening brief in
this appeal and the accompanying appeal, the Albertinis state they were self-
represented and not permitted to present any exhibits at trial. Based on our
review of the record as recounted in our prior opinion, the suggestion that the
trial court refused to allow them to present exhibits given their pro per status
is a significant misrepresentation of the record, which shows the Albertinis
had failed to exchange exhibits with opposing counsel and the court despite
the court’s repeated admonishments and warnings about the consequences of
not doing so. But the court nevertheless permitted the Albertinis to
introduce some exhibits during the trial, making the assertion incorrect as a
factual matter.
                                        3
The Houlihans supported their motion with declarations from other attorneys
on the prevailing hourly rate for counsel in Southern California and
particularly the reasonable hourly rate for Garrison and Rhine, given their
familiarity with them as well as their skill, experience and professional
reputations. Garrison submitted his own declaration recounting his
education and experience and that of attorney Rhine.
      The Albertinis opposed the motion, arguing section 5975 did not allow
the Houlihans to recover attorney fees because their tort causes of action did
not seek to enforce the CC&Rs’ terms and provisions. They argued the
attorney fees clause in the CC&Rs did not extend to defending tort causes of
action, thus the Houlihans could not recover fees under section 1717. The
Albertinis argued the Houlihans were judicially estopped from asserting the
validity of the CC&Rs having sought to declare them unenforceable and
invalid, and having abandoned their breach of covenant cause of action before

trial.3 They argued the Houlihans’ fees were excessive in both reasonable
hourly rate and time billed, and also because the Houlihans had not
demonstrated the requested fees were caused by the Albertinis’ excessive or
frivolous missteps. The Albertinis provided a declaration from counsel who
averred for various reasons that an appropriate fee award to the Houlihans
was between approximately $39,000 and $41,460.

3      The Albertinis further argued the Houlihans could not recover attorney
fees if they were not damaged by reason of an insurer paying the fees; they
maintained the Houlihans’ payment history suggested they had tendered
their defense to an insurer who paid the law firm. The trial court found as a
factual matter there was no evidence an insurer had paid the Houlihans’ fees,
and further ruled the Albertinis showed no legal basis for their position that
a prevailing party could not recover insurer-paid fees. The Albertinis do not
repeat the insurance-related arguments on appeal.
                                       4
      The trial court awarded the Houlihans attorney fees in a reduced
amount. It found the action was one to “enforce the governing documents”
within the meaning of section 5975 given both parties’ claims alleging
violations of the CC&Rs, and that the Houlihans prevailed on all claims
seeking to enforce the CC&Rs. It ruled all of the causes of action, whether
based on the CC&Rs or tort, involved a common nucleus of operative facts,
and found that the claims arising under the CC&Rs and tort were so
factually intertwined that it would be impossible to separate them. The court
further found all of the parties’ claims fell within the scope of the attorney fee
provision in the CC&Rs, thus permitting the Houlihans to recover all
reasonable fees under section 1717. It rejected the Albertinis’ arguments
that the Houlihans were judicially estopped from recovering fees. The court
ruled that even if the Albertinis had established the elements of judicial
estoppel, the doctrine was not properly applied in the case. It found $216,625
was a reasonable attorney fee award to the Houlihans, “consisting of the sum
of (1) $75,000 for attorney Garrison’s services (125 hours at $600 per hour);
(2) $136,000 for Attorney Rhine’s services (340 hours at $400 per hour); [and]
(3) $5,625 for paralegal . . . services (45 hours at $125 per hour).” It ruled a
reduction was warranted to account for duplication of effort and
inefficiencies, including the attorneys’ performance of administrative tasks.
      The Albertinis filed this appeal from the court’s postjudgment order.
                                 DISCUSSION
                            I. Standard of Review
      “ ‘ “On review of an award of attorney fees after trial, the normal
standard of review is abuse of discretion. However, de novo review of such a
trial court order is warranted where the determination of whether the
criteria for an award of attorney fees and costs in this context have been

                                        5
satisfied amounts to statutory construction and a question of law.” ’
[Citation.] In other words, ‘it is a discretionary trial court decision on the
propriety or amount of statutory attorney fees to be awarded, but a
determination of the legal basis for an attorney fee award is a question of law
to be reviewed de novo.’ ” (Mountain Air Enterprises, LLC v. Sundowner
Towers, LLC (2017) 3 Cal.5th 744, 751; see also Kaura v. Stabilis Fund II,
LLC (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 420, 428 [where attorney fee issue requires the
interpretation of a statute, a question of law, the appellate court exercises de
novo review].)
      The Albertinis’ claims that sections 5975 or 1717 do not permit the
Houlihans’ attorney fee award present just such legal questions, as the
Albertinis ask this court to interpret section 5975 or the CC&Rs’ attorney fee
clause in connection with their arguments. The type or nature of the parties’
claims is undisputed. Under the above standards, we review the amount of
the fee award for abuse of discretion, which we will find only if the court’s
ruling “ ‘ “exceed[s] the bounds of reason.” ’ ” (Rancho Mirage Country Club
Homeowners Assn. v. Hazelbaker (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 252, 260 (Rancho
Mirage).) We are bound by the substantial evidence rule, and “ ‘ “[w]hen two
or more inferences can reasonably be deduced from the facts, the reviewing
court has no authority to substitute its decision for that of the trial court.” ’ ”
(Ibid., quoting Goodman v. Lozano (2010) 47 Cal.4th 1327, 1339; Champir,
LLC v. Fairbanks Ranch Association (2021) 66 Cal.App.5th 583, 591.) The
court’s resolution of factual disputes arising from the evidence is conclusive.
(Champir, at p. 593.) We presume the court’s ruling is correct, with “ ‘ “ ‘all
intendments and presumptions . . . indulged to support [it.]’ ” ’ ” (Ibid.)

                                         6
             II. Entitlement to Attorney Fees Under Section 5975
A. Legal Principles
      “With regard to an award of attorney fees in litigation, California
generally follows what is commonly referred to as the American Rule, which
provides that each party to a lawsuit must ordinarily pay his or her own
attorney fees. [Citation.] The American Rule is codified in Code of Civil
Procedure section 1021, which states in relevant part: ‘Except as attorney’s
fees are specifically provided for by statute, the measure and mode of
compensation of attorneys and counselors at law is left to the agreement,
express or implied, of the parties . . . .’ ” (Tract 19051 Homeowners
Association v. Kemp (2015) 60 Cal.4th 1135, 1142 (Kemp); see also Retzloff v.
Moulton Parkway Residents’ Association, No. One (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th 742,
749.) “[T]he Legislature has established a variety of exceptions to the
American Rule by enacting numerous statutes that authorize or mandate an
award of attorney fees in designated circumstances.” (Kemp, at p. 1142.)
      Section 5975 of the Davis-Stirling Act is such a provision. (Kemp,
supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1142.) The Davis-Stirling Act consolidated statutory
law governing condominiums and other common interest developments.
(Rancho Mirage, supra, 2 Cal.App.5th at p. 258, quoting Villa De Las Palmas
Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj (2004) 33 Cal.4th 73, 81.) Its fee provision is
mandatory. (Rancho Mirage, at p. 258.) In part, section 5975 provides: “In
an action to enforce the governing documents, the prevailing party shall be

                                       7
awarded reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.” (§ 5975, subd. (c).)4 “This
language has been interpreted to allow recovery of not only litigation costs,
but also reasonable attorney fees and costs expended in prelitigation
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) pursuant to the David-Stirling Act.”
(Rancho Mirage, at p. 258.) Section 5975 is “an independent fee-shifting
statute, and a prevailing party would be entitled to its fees under this statute
even without a contractual fee provision.” (Parrott v. Mooring Townhomes
Assn., Inc. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 873, 879.)
      We look not to the form of the complaint but to the substance of the
claims asserted and relief sought in determining whether an action is one “to
enforce the governing documents” within the meaning of section 5975.
(Rancho Mirage, supra, 2 Cal.App.5th at p. 260.) The type of relief sought,
however, is not dispositive of the entitlement to fees under section 5975
because CC&Rs may be enforced by proceedings in equity or law. (Chee v.
Amanda Goldt Property Management (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 1360, 1380
[involving former section 1354].) Further, the California Supreme Court has
explained that even if a plaintiff does not ultimately prove CC&Rs are in fact
governing documents, a prevailing party might nevertheless be entitled to

4      Section 5975, subdivision (c) is former section 1354, subdivision (c).
(See Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1138.) “ ‘Governing documents’ means the
declaration and any other documents, such as bylaws, operating rules,
articles of incorporation, or articles of association, which govern the operation
of the common interest development or association.” (§ 4150.) The CC&Rs in
this case meet this definition. (See Ostayan v. Nordhoff Townhomes
Homeowners Assn., Inc. (2003) 110 Cal.App.4th 120, 127 [“The primary
governing document of the association is the declaration—the document that
contains a legal description of the development and ‘the restrictions on the
use or enjoyment of any portion of the common interest development that are
intended to be enforceable equitable servitudes,’ ” which “is frequently
referred to as the ‘covenants, conditions, and restrictions,’ or the ‘CC&Rs’ ”].)
                                        8
recover attorney fees under section 5975: “When a lawsuit is brought to
enforce what the complaint expressly alleges are the governing documents of
a common interest development, the action would ordinarily be understood to
be ‘an action to enforce the governing documents [of a common interest
development]’ as that clause is used in [section 5975]. Whether or not the
plaintiff in the action is ultimately successful in establishing that the
documents relied upon are in fact the governing documents of a common
interest development would not affect the character or type of action that has
been brought.” (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1144.)
B. Contentions
      The Albertinis do not challenge the trial court’s determination of the
Houlihans’ status as prevailing parties; rather, they contend section 5975 is
not a basis for the Houlihans’ recovery of attorney fees. Citing Gil v.
Mansano (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 739 and Roberts v. Packard, Packard &
Johnson (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 822, they maintain the statutory language
“action to enforce” is “narrow and limited” and does not authorize an award
where the statute is used defensively. The Albertinis argue the court erred
by focusing on their complaint’s allegations to conclude the entire case fell
within section 5975. They further argue that fees incurred to bring the
trespass and nuisance tort causes of action were not recoverable because
those claims were not actions to enforce the CC&Rs. According to the
Albertinis, “[n]ot a single violation of the CC&Rs was mentioned in these
causes of action,” which involved general allegations of duties owed in tort
and were not based on enforcement of the CC&Rs. They compare this case to
Salawy v. Ocean Towers Housing Corp. (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 664, 670,
stating the trespass and nuisance claims here, like the plaintiffs’ claims in
Salawy, involve access to and interference with the properties and

                                        9
interference or harm to their respective property interests, not CC&Rs
violations. The Albertinis argue that because the Houlihans took the position
the properties were not governed by the Davis-Stirling Act and the CC&Rs
were unenforceable, there was no basis to award attorney fees under section
5975 on their equitable and other claims.
C. Analysis
      Under Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th 1135, we look to the character or type of
action the Albertinis and Houlihans brought, not whether they succeeded in
proving the existence or terms of the governing documents. (Id. at p. 1144.)
      The Albertinis’ complaint contained causes of action for waste,
trespass, nuisance, and breach of the CC&Rs allegedly governing the
properties. They prefaced their causes of action by alleging that both their
property and the Houlihans’ were subject to the CC&Rs, which “all owners
are bound to observe for the common benefit of the community.” They set out
several of the recitals and provisions of the CC&Rs, including one stating
that common area “ ‘shall be controlled by the owners in common through
their membership in the Association’ ” and another dealing with utility
connections and lines, in part granting unit owners repair and maintenance
easements over portions of other persons’ property on which sewer, water,
gas, electrical and other utility lines were installed.
      As factual background, the Albertinis alleged that the Houlihans
damaged common areas, diverted or interfered with utility connections, and
tampered with electrical lines and equipment “in violation of [the Albertinis’]
property and personal rights, as well as the express easement and other
property covenants and rights granted to the Albertinis in the [CC&Rs].”
They alleged the Houlihans tapped into their Internet connections, altered
their power supply, and refused to cooperate in good faith with regard to

                                        10
maintenance repair and replacement of the common area. They alleged the
Houlihans intercepted communications between the Albertinis’ cell phones or
between their cell phones and landlines. They alleged the Houlihans covered
up security cameras the Albertinis had placed in common areas to hide work
the Houlihans had performed. They alleged the Houlihans “have been
observed digging and working in the common area,” “performing what
appears to be electrical repair work to the common electrical lines” and
“having persons and or contractors install what appear to be electronic and
other devices in the common area.” The Albertinis alleged Acebo-Houlihan
“refused to mediate the common interest development enforcement action
aspect of this dispute in a timely manner and in good faith . . . .”
      The Albertinis’ waste, trespass and nuisance causes of action cursorily
alleged that the Houlihans’ conduct constituted waste, namely “damage to
the common area,” the Houlihans “intentionally, recklessly or negligently”
entered the Albertinis’ property, and the Houlihans created a nuisance: a
condition that was harmful to health or a substantial interference with the
Albertinis’ use and enjoyment of their land and “unlawfully obstructed the
free passage or use . . . of the common area . . . .” They alleged the CC&Rs
required Acebo-Houlihan to allow the Albertinis access to the common areas
and facilities and utility lines, precluded the Houlihans from interfering with
the Albertinis’ property and easement rights, and required the Houlihans to
cooperate with the Albertinis with respect to maintenance, repair and
replacement of the common area. The Albertinis sought injunctive relief,
stating they were entitled to an “order that [the Houlihans] have breached
the [CC&Rs]” and they “are required to refrain from interfering with and
damaging [their] property rights, and fully and completely comply with [the

                                        11
CC&Rs] . . . .” They sought a judicial declaration “concerning the rights and
obligations of the parties with respect to the allegations raised in this action.”
      The Houlihans answered the Albertinis’ complaint in part by asserting
as an affirmative defense that the Houlihans were barred from obtaining any
relief on grounds they had themselves breached the CC&Rs, excusing the
Houlihans from performing any duties or obligations set out in those
declarations, and also that the Albertinis had prevented the Houlihans from
performing any such duties or obligations.
      Acebo-Houlihan’s cross-complaint against the Albertinis likewise
sought damages for waste, trespass, nuisance, breach of the CC&Rs,
restitution and declaratory relief. We summarized her claims in our prior
opinion. (Albertini v. Acebo-Houlihan, supra, D077391.) We need not repeat
her allegations, but point out that in response to Acebo-Houlihan’s claims,
the Albertinis asserted they were accessing common areas defined by the
CC&Rs.
      Here, the substance and gist of the Albertinis’ complaint sought to
enforce their rights arising from the CC&Rs, which they claimed established
joint maintenance and repair obligations, as well as common areas that they
were entitled to enter and on which they claimed the Houlihans committed
waste. Likewise, the Albertinis’ claims that the Houlihans tampered with
utility lines and connections over which the CC&Rs gave them an easement
arose out of and asserted rights under the CC&Rs. The jury’s verdict in favor
of the Houlihans and against the Albertinis on the Albertinis’ complaint
made the Houlihans the prevailing parties entitled to fees incurred in the
defense of these causes of action. (Accord, Chee v. Amanda Goldt Property
Management, supra, 143 Cal.App.4th at p. 1381.)

                                       12
      We reject the Albertinis’ assertion that section 5975 should be
construed so as to preclude recovery of attorney fees incurred by the
Houlihans in the defense of their claims. Such a construction (involving
former section 1354) was expressly rejected by the California Supreme Court
in Kemp: “[T]he enactment of a prevailing party attorney fee provision
generally reflects a legislative intent to adopt a broad, reciprocal attorney fee
policy that will, as a practical and realistic matter, provide a full mutuality of
remedy to plaintiffs and defendants alike.” (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p.
1145.) In Kemp, the court held that prevailing defendants were entitled to
attorney fees in an action by a plaintiff seeking to enforce governing
documents, even though the defendant had argued the association was not a
common interest development because the CC&Rs had expired well before
the lawsuit was filed. (Id. at pp. 1140-1141.) As in Kemp, “because [the
Albertinis] clearly would have been entitled to an award under the statute
had they prevailed in the action, denying [the Houlihans] an award under the
statute when they were the prevailing parties would unquestionably violate
the reciprocal nature of the statute and thus defeat the legislative intent
underlying the statute.” (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1139.)
      The court in Kemp addressed and rejected the plaintiffs’ contention
that Gil v. Mansano, supra, 121 Cal.App.4th 739, relied upon by the
Albertinis in this case, demonstrated defendants were not entitled to an
attorney fee award “ ‘where . . . the statute is used defensively, and the
language authorizing recovery of attorney’s fees is limited to “actions to
enforce” . . . .’ ” (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1153.) Gil involved a fraud
action in response to which the defendant maintained the suit was barred by
a release containing an attorney fee provision. (Kemp, at p. 1153.) A
majority in Gil held the fee provision there (authorizing attorney fees when

                                       13
an action was brought to enforce the agreement) did not permit a fee award
when a party proffered the release as a defense to a lawsuit. (Ibid.) Without
addressing the correctness of the majority’s decision in Gil, the Kemp court
concluded it did not support the plaintiffs’ position where the plaintiffs had
sued to enforce the declaration as a governing document, and defendants had
prevailed in that action. (Ibid.)
      Here, as in Kemp, the Albertinis sought to enforce the provisions of the
CC&Rs by their complaint and the Houlihans prevailed in that action,
likewise taking the circumstances outside the facts in Gil v. Mansano, supra,
121 Cal.App.4th 739. (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1153.) Nor does Roberts
v. Packard, Packard & Johnson, supra, 217 Cal.App.4th 822 assist the

Albertinis.5 In Roberts, the Court of Appeal held that under section 1717, a

5       The Albertinis cite Roberts v. Packard, Packard & Johnson, supra, 217
Cal.App.4th at page 833 for the proposition that “[t]he defense of an action is
not an ‘action to enforce’ the governing documents. It is only a response to
claims setting forth reasons why the Albertinis should not prevail on their
claims.” More fully, Roberts said: “Procedural steps taken during pending
litigation are not an ‘action’ within the meaning of section 1717. As
explained by one Court of Appeal: ‘An “action to enforce” does not refer to
specific pleadings or steps within the action or a defense. Thus, a demurrer
does not constitute “an action to enforce” a right. A demurrer is a pleading
that challenges the legal sufficiency of another pleading . . . . “The function of
a demurrer is to test the sufficiency of a pleading by raising questions of law.”
. . . A demurrer is not “prosecuted” against another . . . and therefore is not
an “action to enforce.” “[A] ‘defense’ is ‘[t]hat which is offered and alleged by
the party proceeded against in an action or suit, as a reason in law or fact
why the plaintiff should not recover or establish what he seeks[; . . . [ ] it is a]
response to the claims of the other party, setting forth reasons why the
claims should not be granted.’ . . .” . . . That the common meaning of
“action”—as in an “action to enforce”—does not include procedural steps such
as a demurrer or other defenses is illustrated by the following passage in an
authoritative work: “The broad definition [of action] covers the following: (1)
[S]uits at law or in equity. . . . (2) Certain adversary proceedings that take
place during a probate proceeding. . . . (3) Actions for declaratory relief. . . .
                                        14
petition to compel arbitration filed in a pending lawsuit is not an action and
attorney fees could not be awarded to the prevailing party until the
underlying causes of action were eventually resolved. (Id. at p. 833.) Roberts
is inapposite.
      As stated, the Albertinis do not challenge the court’s ruling that the
jury’s verdict in the Houlihans’ favor on their cross-complaint made them
prevailing parties. Comparing the Houlihans’ claims to the plaintiffs’ claims
in Salawy v. Ocean Towers Housing Corp., supra, 121 Cal.App.4th 664, the
Albertinis maintain that the Houlihans cannot recover fees on their trespass
and nuisance causes of action under section 5975 because those causes of
action did not allege violations of or seek to enforce the CC&Rs, but involved
tort claims for access to and interference with each party’s respective
properties and interference with or harm to their individual property
interests.
      The contention is without merit. In Salawy, as in Gil, the plaintiffs’
claim was based on breach of promises (to reimburse for costs of relocation,

(4) Actions for divorce (dissolution of marriage). . . .” . . . There is nothing in
this passage to suggest that a defensive matter raised by a demurrer is
included in the term “action.” ’ ” (Roberts, at pp. 832-833, quoting Salawy v.
Ocean Towers Housing Corp., supra, 121 Cal.App.4th at pp. 672-673.)
Assuming arguendo the correctness of this reasoning, it is of no moment in
this case, which does not involve the Houlihans’ assertion of rights arising
under the CC&Rs in a demurrer, or a situation where the sole assertion of
rights under the CC&Rs was via an affirmative defense. Since Roberts and
Kemp were decided, the California Supreme Court in Mountain Air
Enterprises v. Sundowner Towers, LLC, supra, 3 Cal.5th 744 held that the
assertion of an affirmative defense was not an “action” or “proceeding” as
used in an attorney fee provision stating in part the prevailing party shall be
entitled to recover reasonable fees incurred in “any legal action or any other
proceeding . . . brought for the enforcement of this Agreement . . . .” (Id. at
pp. 752-756.)

                                        15
among other things), not one to enforce the governing documents. (Salawy v.
Ocean Towers Housing Corp., supra, 121 Cal.App.4th at pp. 667, 671.) The
Court of Appeal majority held the defendant’s demurrer, which raised the
CC&Rs in defense, did not entitle it to attorney fees under former section
1354 because the action was not “an action to enforce” a right within the
meaning of the statute. (Id. at pp. 673-674.) Salawy is inapposite for the
same reasons that Gil does not control. (Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1153.)
      Further, contrary to the Albertinis’ argument, the claims in Acebo-
Houlihan’s cross-complaint alleged the CC&Rs and rights under them as a
basis for her trespass and nuisance claims. Though Acebo-Houlihan alleged
there had never been an active homeowner’s association and it was
suspended by the California Franchise Tax Board, she went on to allege that
CC&Rs were recorded, and “place various rights and obligations on the
owners of the condominium units . . . .” She alleged those included: (a)
making each owner responsible for maintenance and repair of his or her unit,
including plumbing, electrical and heating systems serving only his or her
unit; (b) prohibiting “noxious or offensive activities . . . on or within the
development” that “may become an annoyance or nuisance to the residents of
the association or that in any way interferes with the quiet enjoyment of
occupants of the condominiums”; (c) making owners liable for damage they
cause to common areas or improvements thereon; (d) precluding parking of
vehicles or campers on common areas except for less than 24 hours in guest
parking; (e) entitling each owner to sue another owner who violates the
CC&Rs for damages; and (f) giving owners who share common utility lines
“full use and enjoyment of the related utility connection.” Acebo-Houlihan
alleged the CC&Rs provided that “[e]very violation of the CC&Rs is declared
to be a nuisance . . . .” Acebo-Houlihan’s nuisance cause of action expressly

                                        16
alleged that the Albertinis created a nuisance condition on property “jointly
owned by the Acebo Unit and the Albertini Unit” and “commonly owned by
the Acebo Property and the Albertini Property” entitling Acebo-Houlihan to
damages and an injunction. The Albertinis do not summarize the trial
evidence, but Acebo-Houlihan’s testimony, recounted in our prior opinion,
concerned the Albertinis’ interference with her water lines and electrical
panel, as well as their conduct in, among other things, capping off of her
sprinklers, accessing utilities that service her unit to use water for their own
washing machine, and parking on her property or blocking access to her
property by their vehicles. All of these actions implicate rights under the
CC&Rs recounted above.
      Even if the substance or gist of the nuisance and trespass claims were
not to enforce rights under the CC&Rs, the Albertinis do not challenge the
trial court’s finding that the tort claims were “so factually intertwined” with
other claims arising under the governing documents “that it would be
impossible to separate them” for purposes of awarding fees. We review the
court’s refusal to apportion the fees incurred on tort causes of action for abuse
of discretion. (See Hjelm v. Prometheus Real Estate Group, Inc. (2016) 3
Cal.App.5th 1155, 1177.) It is established that “ ‘[a]ttorneys fees need not be
apportioned between distinct causes of action where plaintiff's various claims
involve a common core of facts or are based on related legal theories.’ ”
(Graciano v. Robinson Ford Sale, Inc. (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 140, 159;
see Erickson v. R.E.M. Concepts, Inc. (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1073, 1083
[“ ‘Apportionment of a fee award between fees incurred on a contract cause of
action and those incurred on other causes of action is within the trial court’s
discretion’ ”].) Such discretion is abused only when the court’s ruling is
“clearly wrong” or exceeds the bounds of reason considering all circumstances

                                       17
before it. (Reynolds v. Ford Motor Company (2020) 47 Cal.App.5th 1105,
1117; Santana v. FCS US, LLC (2020) 56 Cal.App.5th 334, 348-349; see also
Cahill v. San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 939, 957
[“Judicial discretion ‘implies absence of arbitrary determination, capricious
disposition or whimsical thinking’ ” and “ ‘imports the exercise of
discriminating judgment within the bounds of reason’ ”].) The Albertinis
have not met their burden to show any such abuse of discretion here.
(Starcevic v. Pentech Financial Services, Inc. (2021) 66 Cal.App.5th 365, 374
[burden is on the appellant to affirmatively show error].)
      That the Houlihans asserted in connection with their equitable claims
the unenforceability of the CC&Rs does not change the character of their
action as one to enforce the CC&Rs. We see no reason why the circumstances
here are any different than a plaintiff who fails to establish the viability of
the governing documents. (See Kemp, supra, 60 Cal.4th at p. 1144 [“Whether
or not the plaintiff in the action is ultimately successful in establishing that
the documents relied upon are in fact the governing documents of a common
interest development would not affect the character or type of action that has
been brought”].)
             III. Entitlement to Attorney Fees Under Section 1717
      The CC&Rs contain an attorney fee clause that provides in part: “The
owners or any one of them . . . shall be entitled to bring legal action for
damages against any condominium owner who shall default in the
performance of any of the provisions hereof, the bylaws or rules and
regulations adopted by the Board for the protection of the project, including
but not limited to, the covenant to pay assessment charges. Further, said
persons shall be entitled to enjoin any violation of said documents, rules, and
regulations and shall be entitled to prosecute any other legal or equitable

                                        18
action that may be necessary to protect the project. If any owner, member of
the Board, or the Board shall deem it necessary to initiate any legal or
equitable action against any owner for the protection of the project, then said
persons shall be entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs of said
action from said owner for expenses incurred in bringing or initiating the
action . . . .”
       “In any action on a contract, where the contract specifically provides
that attorney’s fees and costs, which are incurred to enforce that contract,
shall be awarded either to one of the parties or to the prevailing party, then
the party who is determined to be the party prevailing on the contract,
whether he or she is the party specified in the contract or not, shall be
entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees in addition to other costs.” (§ 1717,
subd. (a).) “The primary purpose of section 1717 is to ensure mutuality of
remedy for attorney fee claims under contractual attorney fee provisions.”
(Santisas v. Goodin (1998) 17 Cal.4th 599, 610.) Thus, if a contract gives one
party the right to attorney’s fees, but not to the other party, “the effect of
section 1717 is to allow recovery of attorney fees by whichever contracting
party prevails, ‘whether he or she is the party specified in the contract or
not’ . . . .” (Id. at p. 611.) And, “[i]t is now settled that a party is entitled to
attorney fees under section 1717 ‘even when the party prevails on grounds
the contract is inapplicable, invalid, unenforceable or nonexistent, if the other
party would have been entitled to attorney’s fees had it prevailed.’ ” (Hsu v.
Abbara (1995) 9 Cal.4th 863, 870.)
       “The phrase ‘action on a contract’ includes not only a traditional action
for damages for breach of a contract containing an attorney fees clause
[citation], but also any other action that ‘involves’ a contract under which one
of the parties would be entitled to recover attorney fees if it prevails in the

                                          19
action [citation]. ‘In determining whether an action is “on the contract”
under section 1717, the proper focus is not on the nature of the remedy, but
on the basis of the cause of action.’ ” (Eden Township Healthcare Dist. v.
Eden Medical Center (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 418, 426.) Thus, an action on a
contract can include an action seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to
avoid enforcement of a contractual clause (ibid); the action need only involve
an agreement “ ‘in the sense that the action (or cause of action) arises out of,
is based upon, or relates to an agreement by seeking to define or interpret its
terms or to determine or enforce a party’s rights or duties under the
agreement and . . . the agreement contains an attorney fees clause.’ ” (Id. at
p. 427.)
      The Albertinis contend the attorney fee provision in the CC&Rs quoted
above does not support an award of attorney fees for the Houlihans. They
repeat their argument that the Houlihans’ defense of their claims does not
meet the contractual definition of an “action to enforce.” They further argue
Acebo-Houlihan did not demonstrate her cross-complaint “was for the
protection of the project” within the meaning of the CC&Rs attorney fee
provision.
      Having concluded the Houlihans were entitled to attorney fees under
section 5975, we need not reach the contentions relating to section 1717.
(Parrott v. Mooring Townhomes Assn., Inc. (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 873, 879
[because section 5975 is an “independent fee-shifting statute . . . a prevailing
party would be entitled to its fees under this statute even without a
contractual fee provision”].) But we would reject the contentions on the
merits in any event. The Houlihans were the prevailing party on the
Albertinis’ complaint seeking to enforce the CC&Rs, and we conclude the
allegations of both the Albertinis’ complaint and Acebo-Houlihan’s cross-

                                       20
complaint, including her tort claims for trespass and negligence premised in
part on the Albertinis’ conduct in tampering with utilities, landscaping and
sprinklers and other parts of the property delineated as common areas in the

CC&Rs, constituted actions to protect the project.6 Acebo-Houlihan’s request
for injunctive relief to prevent the Albertinis from engaging in their
misconduct likewise was for the project’s protection.
      Our conclusion does not change in view of Acebo-Houlihan’s position
that the CC&Rs were unenforceable. “[I]t is difficult to think of an action
that is more likely to be characterized as an ‘action on a contract’ than one in
which the party bringing the action explicitly seeks to have the subject
contract declared void and invalid in its entirety.” (Eden Township
Healthcare Dist. v. Eden Medical Center, supra, 220 Cal.App.4th at p. 427
[healthcare district’s cross-complaint to declare agreements void and invalid
in their entirety was “on a contract”].) To the extent Acebo-Houlihan sought
to have the CC&Rs declared invalid, her cross-complaint was “on a contract”
within the meaning of section 1717.
                        IV. Claim of Judicial Estoppel
      The Albertinis contend the Houlihans are not entitled to an award of
attorney fees and their motion should have been denied based on the doctrine
of judicial estoppel. They assert the doctrine precludes the Houlihans from

6      The Albertinis do not engage in any construction of the phrase
“protection of the project” and the record contains no extrinsic evidence
relevant to its meaning. We apply commonsense meaning to the phrase.
(Mountain Air Enterprises, LLC v. Sundowner Towers, LLC, supra, 3 Cal.5th
at p. 752; Chee v. Amanda Goldt Property Management, supra, 143
Cal.App.4th at p. 1377 [same rules of contract interpretation apply to
CC&Rs]; R.W.L. Enterprises v. Oldcastle, Inc. (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 1019,
1025 [in the absence of extrinsic evidence, contract interpretation is de
novo].)
                                       21
seeking fees under section 5975 or the CC&Rs where Acebo-Houlihan took
the position during trial that the Davis-Stirling Act was inapplicable and the
CC&Rs unenforceable. They maintain the trial court abused its discretion in
ruling otherwise; that the court incorrectly found Acebo-Houlihan had taken
alternative positions, and that finding influenced its conclusion that the
elements of judicial estoppel were not shown.
      Judicial estoppel “prohibits a party from asserting a position in a legal
proceeding that is contrary to a position he or she successfully asserted in the
same or some earlier proceeding. [Citation.] ‘The elements of judicial
estoppel are “(1) the same party has taken two positions; (2) the positions
were taken in judicial or quasi-judicial administrative proceedings; (3) the
party was successful in asserting the first position (i.e., the tribunal adopted
the position or accepted it as true); (4) the two positions are totally
inconsistent; and (5) the first position was not taken as a result of ignorance,
fraud, or mistake.” ’ [Citation.] [¶] ‘The determination of whether judicial
estoppel can apply to the facts is a question of law reviewed de novo, i.e.,
independently.’ [Citation.] However, ‘[e]ven if the necessary elements of
judicial estoppel are satisfied, the trial court still has discretion to not apply
the doctrine.’ ” (Victrola 89, LLC v. Jaman Properties 8 LLC (2020) 46
Cal.App.5th 337, 357-358.)
      “ ‘ “ ‘ “The policies underlying preclusion of inconsistent positions are
‘general consideration[s] of the orderly administration of justice and regard
for the dignity of judicial proceedings.’ ” [Citation.] Judicial estoppel is
“intended to protect against a litigant playing ‘fast and loose with the
courts.’ ” [Citation.] Because it is intended to protect the integrity of the
judicial process, it is an equitable doctrine invoked by a court at its discretion
. . . . Judicial estoppel is most commonly applied to bar a party from making

                                        22
a factual assertion in a legal proceeding which directly contradicts an earlier
assertion made in the same proceeding or a prior one.’ ” ’ ” (Tuchscher
Development Enterprises, Inc. v. San Diego Unified Port Dist. (2003) 106
Cal.App.4th 1219, 1245.)
      It is not necessary for us to review each element of judicial estoppel.
We see nothing warranting application of judicial estoppel to the Houlihans’
arguments in their attorney fee motion, particularly where the Albertinis
would most certainly have sought attorney fees under the CC&Rs had they
prevailed in their action to enforce those declarations. The Houlihans had a
valid legal basis to argue they were entitled to attorney fees under the
CC&Rs because they prevailed on the Albertinis’ claims seeking to enforce
them. And, because the gist of the Houlihans’ own cross-complaint sought to
enforce the CC&Rs and their trespass and nuisance claims were grounded in
right within those declarations, it was not inconsistent for the Houlihans to
assert the CC&Rs as a basis for an attorney fee award. The trial court did
not abuse its discretion in declining to apply the doctrine.
                             V. Amount of Award
      The Albertinis contend that even assuming the trial court properly
awarded attorney fees, the amount awarded is excessive as a matter of law.
The Albertinis repeat their unsuccessful claims that the Houlihans are not
entitled to fees at all under either sections 5975 or 1717 for their trespass
and nuisance tort causes of action. They then argue: “The Albertinis’ expert
offered a reasonable basis for apportioning these fees to exclude fees incurred
in relation to the non-economic damages related solely to the tort causes of
action (30 [percent] of the judgment, leaving 70 [percent] of the attorney fees
award attributable to the economic damages and equitable issues, of which
only 50 [percent] should be awarded because only the equitable issues could

                                       23
potentially give rise to a right to attorney fees if construed as being for
enforcement of the CC&R terms).”
      We will not revisit the first argument, and the latter argument gives us
no reason to hold that the court abused its discretion in setting the amount of
attorney fees. “Once the trial court determined [the Houlihans] to be the
prevailing party in the action, it had no discretion to deny attorney fees.”
(Rancho Mirage, supra, 2 Cal.App.5th at p. 263.) As we have stated above,
“[t]he magnitude of what constitutes a reasonable award of attorney fees is
. . . a matter committed to the discretion of the trial court. [Citation.] . . .
[I]n reviewing for abuse of discretion, we examine whether the trial court
exceeded the bounds of reason. [Citation.] In so doing, we presume the ‘trial
court impliedly found “every fact necessary to support its order.” ’ ” (Ibid.)
      The question is not whether the Albertinis presented a basis for the
court to award a lesser amount of attorney fees, but whether the court had a
reasonable basis for the award it made, which it reached by eliminating
duplicative effort and inefficiencies. The Albertinis’ arguments do not
address that question, much less explain with reasoned argument or
authority why their proposed apportionment (awarding about 35 percent of
the requested fees by excluding fees related to economic and noneconomic
damages and awarding only fees relating to equitable issues) was the only
result the court could reasonably reach. The sole authority cited by the
Albertinis is Heritage Pacific Financial, LLC v. Monroy (2013) 215
Cal.App.4th 972 for the proposition that prevailing parties may only recover
attorney fees on causes of action for which attorney fees are provided by
statute, and not on causes of action for which attorney fees are not permitted.
(Id. at p. 1011.) This does not address the reasonableness of the amount of
fees awarded by addressing the documentation provided by the Houlihans to

                                        24
support the hourly rate, its reasonableness, and the hours their counsel
worked. (See Cruz v. Fusion Buffet, Inc. (2020) 57 Cal.App.5th 221, 237
[amount of fees is often computed by lodestar method, by multiplying number
of hours reasonably expended by the reasonable hourly rate prevailing in the
community for similar work].) It is within the trial court’s province and
expertise to assess the reasonableness of the attorney fees requested.
(Almanor Lakeside Villas Owners Assn. v. Carson (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th
761, 781.) And “ ‘[a]n attorney’s testimony as to the number of hours worked
is sufficient evidence to support an award of attorney fees, even in the
absence of detailed time records.’ ” (Rancho Mirage, supra, 2 Cal.App.5th at
pp. 263-264, quoting Steiny & Co. v. California Electric Supply Co. (2000) 79
Cal.App.4th 285, 293; Cruz, at pp. 237-238.) “Furthermore, ‘[a]n award for
attorney fees may be made in some instances solely on the basis of the
experience and knowledge of the trial judge without the need to consider any
evidence.’ ” (Rancho Mirage, at p. 264, quoting Fed-Mart Corp. v. Pell
Enterprises, Inc. (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 215, 227.)
      In sum, the Albertinis have not established that the amount of fees
awarded is unreasonable, and thus have not demonstrated a manifest abuse
of discretion in the court’s award.

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                            DISPOSITION
    The postjudgment order is affirmed.

                                          O’ROURKE, J.

WE CONCUR:

McCONNELL, P. J.

HUFFMAN, J.

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