Fair Housing Council of Central California, Inc. et al v. Tylar Property Management Co., Inc., et al., No. 1:2012cv00794 - Document 55 (E.D. Cal. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER Denying 24 Motion to Enforce Settlement and Dismiss Case, signed by District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 11/19/12. (Verduzco, M)
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Fair Housing Council of Central California, Inc. et al v. Tylar Property M...ement Co., Inc., et al. Doc. 55 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, INC., et al., ) ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) TYLAR PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ) COMPANY, INC., et al., ) ) Defendants. ) ____________________________________) 1:12-cv-00794-AWI-GSA ORDER DENYING MOTION TO ENFORCE SETTLEMENT AND DISMISS CASE (Doc. 24) 17 18 I. INTRODUCTION 19 20 Defendants Tylar Property Management Company, Inc., et al. have filed a motion to enforce 21 settlement and dismiss. For reasons discussed below, the motion shall be denied. 22 23 II. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND 24 25 On May 14, 2012, plaintiffs Fair Housing Council of Central California, Inc., Rene McCants and 26 Tawana Pickett (hereinafter referred to as “Plaintiffs”) filed their complaint against defendants Tylar 27 Property Management Company, Inc., Melvin Joel Wapner and David Evans (hereinafter referred 28 Dockets.Justia.com 1 to as “Defendants”) asserting causes of action for violation of the federal Fair Housing Act, 42 2 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.; violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Cal. 3 Gov. Code, § 12926 et seq.; unfair business practices in violation of California Business and 4 Professions Code § 17200 et seq.; negligence; violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Cal. Civ. 5 Code, § 51 et seq.; breach of the implied covenant of quiet use and enjoyment; unlawful entry in 6 violation of California Civil Code §§ 1940.2 and 1954; invasion of privacy; and violation of the 7 Ralph Act, Cal. Civ. Code, § 51.7. On October 2, 2012, Defendants filed a motion to enforce 8 settlement and dismiss the case, contending each of the individual plaintiffs had entered into a valid 9 and enforceable agreement with Defendants to settle the case outside the presence of the Court. On 10 October 30, 2012, Plaintiffs filed their opposition to Defendants’ motion to enforce settlement and 11 dismiss, contending enforcement of the agreements would be contrary to public policy and, public 12 policy notwithstanding, the releases of their claims were not voluntary, deliberate and informed. 13 14 III. LEGAL STANDARD 15 16 “[I]t is [ ] well settled in the usual litigation context that courts have inherent power summarily to 17 enforce a settlement agreement with respect to an action pending before it[.]” Dacanay v. Mendoza, 18 573 F.2d 1075, 1078 (9th Cir. 1978) (citations omitted). “[A] motion to enforce [a] settlement 19 agreement essentially is an action to specifically enforce a contract,” and “ ‘[a]n action for specific 20 performance without a claim for damages is purely equitable and historically has always been tried 21 to the court.’ ” Adams v. Johns-Manville Corp., 876 F.2d 702, 709 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal citations 22 omitted). Accordingly, the court may hear evidence and make factual determinations. See Stewart 23 v. M.D.F., Inc., 83 F.3d 247, 251 (8th Cir. 1996). “[I]f an agreement for complete settlement of the 24 underlying litigation, or part of it, has been reached and its terms and conditions can be determined, 25 the court may enforce the agreement summarily as long as the excuse for nonperformance of the 26 agreement is comparatively insubstantial.” Hensley v. Alcon Laboratories, Inc., 277 F.3d 535 (4th 27 28 2 1 Cir. 2002) (internal citations, quotations omitted). “The power of a trial court to enter a judgment 2 enforcing a settlement agreement has its basis in the policy favoring the settlement of disputes and 3 the avoidance of costly and time-consuming litigation;” this power “has been upheld even where the 4 agreement has not been arrived at in the presence of the court nor reduced to writing.” Kukla v. 5 National Distillers Products Co., 483 F.2d 619, 621 (6th Cir. 1973) (citations omitted). 6 7 IV. DISCUSSION 8 9 Defendants have submitted as evidence signed copies of the two settlement agreements and general 10 releases entered into between Defendants and Rene McCants and Defendants and Tawana Pickett. 11 The agreements provide in pertinent part that as consideration for the agreements, Defendants agree 12 to tender to McCants and Pickett gross amounts of $5,000.00 and $15,000.00, respectively. In 13 exchange, Plaintiffs agree to release and discharge Defendants from liability under, but not limited 14 to, the claims alleged in their complaint. The agreements further state they shall constitute a final 15 settlement of all claims arising out of the parties’ dispute. Defendants contend – and Plaintiffs 16 concede – that Plaintiffs executed the agreements. Defendants have also submitted copies of two 17 receipts showing the abovementioned payments were made to Plaintiffs. Defendants contend – and 18 Plaintiffs concede – that Plaintiffs accepted the money. Based on the foregoing, the Court would 19 ordinarily be inclined to conclude the agreements should be enforced and this action dismissed. 20 In their opposition, Plaintiffs contend as a threshold matter because (1) defense counsel 21 drafted the settlement agreements and (2) Defendants presented the agreements directly to Plaintiffs 22 instead of Plaintiffs’ attorneys, defense counsel’s actions constituted indirect communications with 23 represented parties in violation of California Rule of Professional Conduct 2-100.1 From this, 24 25 1 27 Rule 2-100 provides in pertinent part: “While representing a client, a member shall not communicate directly or indirectly about the subject of the representation with a party the member knows to be represented by another lawyer in the matter, unless the member has the consent of the other lawyer.” Cal. Rules Prof. Conduct, rule 2-100, subd. (a). 28 3 26 1 Plaintiffs contend the motion should be denied because it would be contrary to public policy to 2 enforce the agreements in light of defense counsel’s ethical violation. See Kallen v. Delug, 157 3 Cal.App.3d 940, 951, 203 Cal.Rptr. 879 (1984) (“It is clearly contrary to the public policy of this 4 state to condone a violation of the ethical duties which an attorney owes . . . . In recognition of this 5 premise, contracts which violate the canons of professional ethics of an attorney may for that reason 6 be void” (internal citations, quotations omitted)). Having reviewed the competing declarations 7 describing the various settlement discussions between Plaintiffs and Defendants, as well as the 8 billing statement that was produced to Plaintiffs by defense counsel, the Court finds no definitive 9 evidence from which it could be said a breach of the Rules of Professional Conduct occurred. 10 Throughout the discussions, the parties spoke directly with each other; no defense attorneys 11 had any contact with Plaintiffs. David Evans testifies: “Shortly after reaching oral settlement 12 agreements with Plaintiffs, I had a meeting with Defendants’ counsel Michael S. Helsley, Esq. and 13 Scott D. Laird, Esq. of Wanger Jones Helsley P.C. Prior to this meeting I had not informed my 14 counsel that I intended to have or that I had had settlement discussions with Plaintiffs. Defendants’ 15 counsel agreed to draft written [s]ettlement [a]greements that reflected the terms already negotiated 16 and agreed upon by the parties. [¶] Thereafter, . . . I presented the written [s]ettlement [a]greements 17 to McCants . . . and to Pickett . . . . [¶] At no time[ ] was counsel for Plaintiffs or Defendants present 18 during settlement discussions or at the signing of the [s]ettlement [a]greements between the parties.” 19 Evans’s testimony is corroborated by the declaration of Helsley, who testifies: “Defendants engaged 20 in settlement discussions with Plaintiffs without my, or my firm’s knowledge. Only after a verbal 21 agreement had been reached between the parties, did Defendant, David Evans discuss the agreed 22 upon settlement agreements with me. At this point, I agreed to draft written settlement agreement[s], 23 which Defendants then presented to Plaintiffs without counsel present.” The declarants testifying 24 on behalf of Plaintiffs do not dispute Plaintiffs spoke only with Defendants. Plaintiffs have cited no 25 ethical rule that prohibits contact between the parties to a dispute, nor any evidence or authority to 26 suggest Defendants were somehow acting as their attorneys’ agents. A client may communicate 27 28 4 1 directly with an adverse party, and lawyers may even advise their clients to do so. See Cal. Rules 2 Prof. Conduct, rule 2-100, comment (“Rule 2-100 is not intended to prevent the parties themselves 3 from communicating with respect to the subject matter of the representation, and nothing in the rule 4 prevents a member from advising the client that such communication can be made”). To the extent 5 Plaintiffs intend to suggest defense counsel nonetheless had an ethical duty to intercede, prohibit 6 their clients from further communicating with Plaintiffs and avert the settlement because they knew 7 Plaintiffs were represented yet were proceeding not through counsel but of their own accord, 8 Plaintiffs have provided no authority – and the Court’s research reveals no authority – to support 9 such a proposition.2 But see Meachum v. Outdoor World Corp., 171 Misc.2d 354, 366, 654 10 N.Y.S.2d 240 (N.Y.Sup. 1996) (“Even if a client first raises or proposes communication with an 11 adverse party, a lawyer may still be deemed to have caused the communication by observing or 12 advising that it might be desirable for the client to speak to the adverse party, if the lawyer’s action 13 is a material factor in the client’s final decision to engage in such a communication”) (quoting Miano 14 v. AC & R Advertising, Inc., 148 F.R.D. 68, 82 (S.D.N.Y. 1993)) (internal citations omitted). 15 Contrary to Defendants’ contention, the evidence does suggest defense counsel may have 16 caused Defendants to negotiate (or at least continue negotiating) with Plaintiffs. The billing 17 statement produced by defense counsel shows that on June 8, 2012, counsel met with Defendants 18 to discuss a settlement strategy and prepared the settlement agreements. Donald Lewis, McCants’s 19 brother, testifies Evans did not approach him to arrange a settlement meeting with McCants until 20 June 10, 2012. (Evans testifies this meeting occurred on June 7, 2012.) Crediting Plaintiffs’ version 21 of events, the most compelling inference that arises is defense counsel prepared the agreements after 22 advising Defendants on how to settle and with the knowledge Defendants intended to approach 23 Plaintiffs with the goal of executing a settlement. The question that in turn arises is whether defense 24 counsel, having realized their clients were or would be communicating with a represented party, 25 2 27 Although not relevant to the Court’s analysis here, the Court notes the imposition of such a duty would likely contravene the public policy favoring client control of settlements. See Hall v. Orloff, 49 Cal.App. 745, 748, 194 P. 296 (1920). 28 5 26 1 crossed the line and violated Rule 2-100 by facilitating a settlement, even though defense counsel 2 did not actually speak with Plaintiffs or participate in negotiating the settlement terms. 3 This is a question the Court cannot – but also need not – decide. To be sure, counseling 4 clients with the purpose of directing the clients to negotiate a settlement with represented parties 5 implicates serious ethical concerns, particularly where, as in this case, nothing suggests opposing 6 counsel was ever given notice of the negotiations. However, insufficient evidence exists for the 7 Court to conclude this is precisely is what defense counsel did here. The evidence permits the 8 inference Defendants attempted to settle at their own behest and independent of counsel’s advice just 9 as reasonably as, if not more than, the inference counsel orchestrated and advised the settlement 10 negotiations.3 Moreover, even if counsel’s actions could be construed as a breach of the Rules of 11 Professional Conduct, such breach would not render the settlement agreements per se unenforceable. 12 13 3 27 Plaintiffs further contend the mere fact defense counsel drafted the settlement agreements is by itself dispositive of a Rule 2-100 violation. In making this argument, Plaintiffs refer to State Bar of California Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct Formal Opinion no. 1993-131. This opinion provides in pertinent part: “The parties . . . have the right to communicate with each other without their counsel present. When the content of the communication originates with or is directed by the attorney, the communication is prohibited as indirect communication under rule 2-100. When the content of such communication originates with and is directed by the client and not the attorney it is a permitted communication under the rule.” Defendants contend that because they initiated negotiations with Plaintiffs on their own volition and involved counsel only for the purpose of drafting settlement agreements after the terms of the settlements had already been reached by the parties, such communication originated with and was directed by Defendants and was therefore permissible under Rule 2-100. Plaintiffs, on the other hand, contend defense counsel’s drafting of the settlement agreements was a communication originating with and directed by counsel and therefore prohibited regardless of whether it was prepared at the request of Defendants. Plaintiffs’ interpretation does draw considerable support from the comments section of the opinion, which states: “When the content of the communication to be had with the opposing party originates with or is directed by the attorney, it is prohibited by rule 2100. Thus, an attorney is prohibited from drafting documents, correspondence, or other written materials, to be delivered to an opposing party represented by counsel even if they are prepared at the request of the client, are conveyed by the client and appear to be from the client rather than the attorney.” That being said, Opinion no. 1993-131 explicitly states it is advisory only and not binding upon the courts (or even the State Bar of California), and to the extent determining whether an ethical violation occurred here would require the Court to rely on and interpret the opinion, the Court finds it to be an improper exercise of judicial authority. 28 6 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 1 An argument identical to Plaintiffs’ was raised and rejected in Myerchin v. Family Benefits, 2 Inc., 162 Cal.App.4th 1526, 76 Cal.Rptr.3d 816 (2008) (disapproved of on other ground by Village 3 Northridge Homeowners Ass’n v. State Farm Fire and Cas. Co., 50 Cal.4th 913, 929, 114 4 Cal.Rptr.3d 280, 237 P.3d 598 (2010)). The plaintiff in Myerchin entered into a written settlement 5 agreement releasing his breach of contract claim against the defendant in exchange for payments 6 totaling approximately $72,000. 162 Cal.App.4th at 1530. The plaintiff also agreed to dismiss the 7 action within 10 days of executing the settlement agreement. Id. The defendant made the agreed- 8 upon payments, but the plaintiff refused to dismiss the action. Id. The defendant then moved for 9 summary judgment, contending the agreement constituted a complete defense to the action. The 10 defendant pointed out it had performed its obligations under the agreement while the plaintiff made 11 no attempt to return the money he had been paid in consideration of the settlement, and further 12 contended the plaintiff could not both retain the money and continue to pursue the litigation as a 13 matter of right. The plaintiff opposed the motion, arguing the agreement was unenforceable on 14 ground of fraud, undue influence, duress, unconscionability and as against public policy. Id. at 1530- 15 31. The trial court granted the motion and the Court of Appeal affirmed. Id. at 1532, 1542. 16 Each of the plaintiff’s theories was predicated on the single claim that the defense attorney, 17 Dimitri Gross, had continued to negotiate the settlement agreement with him directly even after 18 becoming aware he had retained counsel. Myerchin, supra, 162 Cal.App.4th at 1537. Alleging 19 Gross’s conduct violated Rule 2-100, the plaintiff contended enforcement of the agreement would 20 contravene public policy. Id. The court did not agree: “[I]n making [this] argument, Myerchin 21 ignores the fact the policy favoring preservation of the attorney-client relationship from another 22 attorney’s intrusion is not the only public policy implicated in this case. Of course, there are also 23 strong policies favoring the settlement of disputes [citations] and the enforcement of contracts freely 24 entered into. [¶] . . . [T]he trial court must balance such ‘competing interests’ when an attorney 25 violates the rule against communicating with a represented party during the pendency of the 26 litigation, and exercise its discretion in determining how to best address the improper consequences 27 28 7 1 of the misconduct. [Citation.] The court’s goal is not to impose a penalty, as the propriety of 2 punishment for violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct is a matter within the purview of the 3 State Bar, not a court presiding over the affected case. [Citations.] Instead, what the court must do 4 is focus on identifying an appropriate remedy for whatever improper effect the attorney’s misconduct 5 may have had in the case before it.” Myerchin, supra, 162 Cal.App.4th at 1538 (emphases original). 6 No improper effect was established by the plaintiff: “[D]espite Myerchin’s conclusory 7 assertions, there was simply no evidence that Gross’ direct communication with him in late 8 November of 2005, following his retention of counsel, would have rendered him unable to make a 9 reasoned decision about settlement . . . . Myerchin had been negotiating the settlement directly with 10 Gross, whom he considered a friend, for two months prior to that time. During that earlier period, 11 Myerchin had been able to withstand Gross’ efforts to persuade him to accept a lesser amount than 12 what he believed he deserved. Absent some intervening event which caused the sudden loss of 13 Myerchin’s free will (and he points to none), we must presume he remained able to do so[.]” 14 Myerchin, supra, 162 Cal.App.4th at 1538. Notwithstanding the likelihood any conceivable 15 misconduct by defense counsel in this case was less egregious than what occurred in Myerchin 16 (Gross communicated directly with Myerchin whereas at most, the evidence here merely suggests 17 – but does not conclusively establish – counsel may have advised and assisted Defendants in 18 communicating and settling with Plaintiffs), Plaintiffs, like Myerchin, have provided no competent 19 or admissible evidence, other than the fact of the communications themselves, to suggest 20 Defendants’ communications with them rendered them unable to make a reasoned decision about 21 settlement. In particular, the Court notes Plaintiffs provide only the declarations of third parties 22 (Lewis and one Rolando Jefferson) who were present at the meetings with Defendants, but fail to 23 provide their own declarations attesting to their states of mind during the settlement process. 24 Nevertheless, the Court agrees there are circumstances extrinsic to Plaintiffs’ states of mind 25 that compel the Court to conclude the settlement agreements should not be enforced. The Ninth 26 Circuit has held that a release of claims brought pursuant to Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act 27 28 8 1 of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.) must be “voluntary, deliberate and informed,” Stroman v. West 2 Coast Grocery Co., 884 F.2d 458, 462 (9th Cir. 1989) (internal quotations, citations omitted), and 3 because Title VII and FEHA “regard the prohibition against sexual harassment as part and parcel of 4 the proscription against sexual discrimination[ ] and ‘the antidiscriminatory objectives and 5 overriding public policy purposes of the two acts are identical[,]’ ” “courts frequently seek guidance 6 from Title VII decisions when interpreting the FEHA and its prohibitions against sexual 7 harassment.” Lyle v. Warner Bros. Television Productions, 38 Cal.4th 264, 278, 42 Cal.Rptr.3d 2, 8 132 P.3d 211 (2006). In the Court’s view, where the complaint includes a claim for violation of 9 FEHA, as here, the Stroman standard applies to any settlement agreement that purports to waive all 10 claims alleged in the complaint. “The determination of whether a waiver . . . was ‘voluntary, 11 deliberate and informed’ is ‘predicated upon the evaluation of several indicia arising from the 12 circumstances and conditions under which the release was executed.’ [Citations.] Of primary 13 importance in this calculation is the clarity and lack of ambiguity of the agreement, [citations], ‘the 14 presence of a noncoercive atmosphere for the execution of the release,’ [citations], and whether the 15 [party] had the benefit of legal counsel [citations].” Stroman, supra, 884 F.2d at 462. Having 16 reviewed the pleadings of record and all competent and admissible evidence submitted, the Court 17 finds the record fails to demonstrate, under the totality of the circumstances, that Plaintiffs 18 voluntarily, deliberately and knowingly intended to waive their claims against Defendants. 19 The extent of Plaintiffs’ education (or lack thereof) first suggests Plaintiffs might not have 20 fully understood what it was they were giving up when they signed the settlement agreements. 21 Christopher Brancart, Plaintiffs’ attorney, testifies: “Tawana Pickett has a high school education. 22 Rene McCants has less.” While Plaintiffs do not allege they lacked sufficient intelligence to 23 comprehend the terms and conditions of the agreements (and the Court does not wish to engage in 24 any speculation about Plaintiffs’ intelligence), the evidence shows Plaintiffs have only minimal 25 formal education. In the Court’s view, whether litigants with Plaintiffs’ level of education have the 26 ability to knowingly and voluntarily execute waivers drafted by opposing attorneys without first 27 28 9 1 soliciting the advice of their own attorneys is debatable. Compare Stroman, supra, 884 F.2d at 462- 2 63 (“[W]ork experience and college education [are] particularly relevant to our determination of a 3 knowing and voluntary waiver. Although Stroman was not a sophisticated businessman, his training 4 in the Army and his business management-related community college degree convince us that 5 Stroman possessed the education and skills necessary to understand that when he signed the 6 agreement he waived all legal claims against West Coast. He was sufficiently intelligent to 7 understand that ‘all claims’ meant all legal claims, including claims brought under Title VII”). 8 The manner in which the settlement negotiations transpired further suggests the atmosphere 9 surrounding Plaintiffs’ execution of the agreements may not have been entirely non-coercive. Lewis 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 testifies as follows: “This past June, Dave Evans contacted me asking to speak with my sister about settling her case. Mr. Evans said he wanted to set up a meeting at the McDonald’s at Blackstone where he would ask my sister to sign some documents and he would pay her $5,000 cash. [¶] That meeting occurred on Sunday June 10th at the McDonald’s on Blackstone. Mr. Evans said he needed to get the agreement signed that day and back to the lawyers on Monday. [¶] Ms. McCants and I went to the McDonald’s, and Mr. Evans was already waiting there. After we sat down, he gave Ms. McCants a copy of the agreement and told her where to sign. After she signed, Mr. Evans counted out $5,000 in cash on the table inside the McDonald’s. [¶] Before we left, I asked Mr. Evans for a copy of the agreement for my sister. He said, ‘don’t worry the lawyers will send her one later.’ ” Jefferson, the father of Pickett’s son, testifies: “Sometime in early June of 2012, Dave Evans contacted me, asking me to contact Tawana Pickett on his behalf. Mr. Evans and I agreed to meet at a restaurant in the Tower District. [¶] At that meeting, Mr. Evans said that he wanted to resolve the case with Ms. Pickett and that he wanted me to put him in touch with her. Mr. Evans said, ‘I want the case to go away. Mel [Wapner] wants the case to go away, and the lawyers want the case to go away.’ [¶] Mr. Evans told me to tell Tawana that they ‘will give her a house and a car, and $5,000.’ Then he said, ‘well it ain’t gonna be a house, but she can rent from Tylar whenever she wants. And, it’s gonna be $10,000 . . . .’ [¶] . . . [¶] Mr. Evans then started calling me everyday asking ‘what’s Tawana gonna do?’ He said, ‘I’m getting pressure by Mel. The lawyers want this to go away. What is Tawana gonna do? [¶] During one of those calls, Mr. Evans said that he could not get Ms. Pickett a car, but would give her another $5,000. He said that they were ‘going to have the lawyers write it up to say $15,000.’ Eventually, Mr. Evans called and said, ‘Let’s meet in the morning. I’ll have the papers that the lawyers have written up, and she can sign them and I will give her the money.’ [¶] The next morning, Mr. Evans called again and said no, we would have to meet later because the lawyers would not have the papers ready. He called later in the day and said he had the papers from the lawyers and we agreed to meet at the Denny’s on Shaw at 27 28 10 1 5 4:30. [¶] I went with Ms. Pickett to the Denny’s. Mr. Evans was already there when we arrived, sitting alone in a booth . . . . [¶] . . . [¶] After we sat down Mr. Evans slid a paper across the table. I read the paper aloud to Ms. Pickett . . . . Ms. Tawana Pickett then said, ‘well I’m not going to sign this.’ Mr. Evans then gave her a pen and said ‘sign right here’ since he has the money. Ms. Pickett sat there and stared at the paper. Then she signed it. [¶] Mr. Evans had a check for $12,000 to Ms. Pickett, and an envelope with money in it. He took the money out of the envelope and counted out $3,000 in $100 bills. [¶] As Mr. Evans was getting ready to leave, I demanded that he give Ms. Pickett a copy of the agreement, which he did.” 6 Jefferson also testifies that at the time of the settlement meeting, Pickett “was due to have her baby 7 in another month[ ] [and] she did not have any Section 8 or a car. Her only income was $224 a 8 month from Social Security, but her rent was over $800 per month.” The record already suggests 9 Defendants were aware of Plaintiffs’ economic vulnerability, and Lewis’s and Jefferson’s accounts 10 of the settlement negotiations further suggest Defendants exploited this vulnerability by exerting 11 significant pressure on Plaintiffs to settle. While one might argue Plaintiffs should have asked for 12 time to consider their options or consult with their attorneys, it appears the communication between 13 the parties was not a settlement “negotiation” so much as it was Defendants simply presenting a 14 settlement offer to Plaintiffs on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, and that any attempt by Plaintiffs to 15 negotiate more favorable terms of settlement would likely have been futile. These are precisely the 16 kind of circumstances that, given Plaintiffs’ situation, might have created a coercive environment. 17 The Court further finds Plaintiffs did not have the benefit of legal counsel during the 18 settlement negotiations despite having retained counsel to litigate this action on their behalf. Brancart 19 testifies, “On July 16, 2012, I conducted the early meeting of counsel with defense counsel Michael 20 Helsley and Scott Laird. At the end of that meeting, defense counsel advised me that plaintiffs 21 Tawana Pickett and Renee McCants had executed settlement agreements with defendants. Later that 22 day, defense counsel provided me with copies of the two settlement agreements. [¶] At no time prior 23 to the early meeting of counsel conducted on July 16, 2012 did anyone from Wanger Jones advise 24 me or anyone in my office of defendants’ intent to contact plaintiffs to resolve this action or of 25 Wanger Jones’ intent to draft a settlement agreement for presentation by defendants to plaintiffs. The 26 presentation of the settlement agreements to plaintiffs was done without my knowledge or consent.” 2 3 4 27 28 11 1 The Court observes Plaintiffs’ complaint was filed by Brancart, and thus Defendants presumably 2 knew Plaintiffs were represented from the get-go. Despite this, neither Defendants nor defense 3 counsel ever notified Brancart Defendants were communicating with Plaintiffs. 4 compelling inference that arises here is Defendants were attempting to take advantage of Plaintiffs’ 5 naivete by cutting their attorneys out of the decision-making process. From the Court’s perspective 6 this is particularly galling, given the settlement agreements are replete with legalistic references no 7 layperson – let alone one proceeding without the advice of counsel – would have been expected to 8 fully understand. That Defendants themselves could not even prepare the settlement agreements 9 without assistance of counsel further undermines their contention Plaintiffs could have knowingly 10 executed a release of their claims even though the terms of the agreements were never reviewed and 11 explained to them by their attorneys. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds the agreements cannot 12 be enforced and Defendants’ motion to enforce the agreements and dismiss the case must be denied. 13 In their reply, Defendants contend as a final point that if the Court deems the agreements 14 unenforceable (which it has), Plaintiffs should be required to tender the consideration – that is, the 15 $20,000 in settlement payments – back to Defendants as a precondition of maintaining the litigation. 16 Conversely, Plaintiffs contend they are not required to return the consideration during the pendency 17 of the litigation and that, in any case, the consideration would be more appropriately addressed in 18 a final disposition. Ordinarily, the Court would be inclined to agree with Defendants. This is an 19 equitable proceeding, and in the Court’s view, it would be inequitable to allow Plaintiffs to retain 20 the consideration they received in exchange for a dismissal of the case while also suing for damages. 21 Moreover, if Plaintiffs are unable to return the consideration at this point in time, the Court cannot 22 envision how Plaintiffs would be able to return the consideration at the conclusion of the litigation. 23 Plaintiffs presumably intend to suggest the Court may offset their potential recovery by the amount 24 of the consideration in the event they prevail at trial, but they provide no argument or evidence to 25 indicate a probability of prevailing on the merits of their claims. The Court has been given simply 26 no reason not to believe, assuming it is not now restored, that the consideration will likely result in 27 28 12 The most 1 a windfall to Plaintiffs. The Court cannot condone the possibility of a windfall to either party. 2 Myerchin is further instructive on the issue of restoration. In opposition to the defendant’s 3 motion to enforce the parties’ settlement agreement, the plaintiff acknowledged he had admitted in 4 response to requests for admission that he was unable to return the defendant’s consideration. 5 Myerchin, supra, 162 Cal.App.4th at 1532. The plaintiff further acknowledged he did not give 6 notice of rescission of the settlement agreement or offer to return the money. Id. Nevertheless, the 7 plaintiff argued he was entitled to keep the money and maintain the lawsuit by virtue of California 8 Civil Code § 16914 because he had filed an amended answer to the defendant’s cross-complaint 9 wherein he asserted he was “ ‘prepared to return [the money] received under the settlement 10 agreement as soon as a determination of rescission is established[.]’ ” Id. at 1532, 1533 (emphases 11 omitted). The plaintiff further contended, as Plaintiffs do here, that the defendant would not be 12 substantially prejudiced merely because of a delay in returning the money. Id. at 1532. The Court 13 of Appeal did not agree with either argument: “Myerchin is suggesting he should be allowed to keep 14 the settlement money, while continuing to litigate the very claim he was paid to dismiss. At the end 15 of the litigation, he would either (1) keep the settlement money, because the court determined he was 16 not entitled to rescind the settlement, or (2) have the option of enforcing a ‘conditional’ rescission 17 judgment by returning the settlement funds – a decision he would presumably make depending upon 18 whether he recovers a greater amount on his original contract claim. By contrast, Family Benefits 19 would, in either case lose the sole benefit it had contracted for in the settlement – avoidance of the 20 21 4 27 Section 1691 provides in pertinent part: “[T]o effect a rescission a party to the contract must, promptly upon discovering the facts which entitle him to rescind if he is free from duress, menace, undue influence or disability and is aware of his right to rescind: [¶] (a) Give notice of rescission to the party as to whom he rescinds; and [¶] (b) Restore to the other party everything of value which he has received from him under the contract or offer to restore the same upon condition that the other party do likewise, unless the latter is unable or positively refuses to do so. [¶] When notice of rescission has not otherwise been given or an offer to restore the benefits received under the contract has not otherwise been made, the service of a pleading in an action or proceeding that seeks relief based on rescission shall be deemed to be such notice or offer or both.” Cal. Civ. Code, § 1691. 28 13 22 23 24 25 26 1 uncertainty and expense of this litigation. [¶] Consequently, what renders Myerchin’s delay in 2 effecting a rescission of the settlement agreement in this case prejudicial to Family Benefits is not 3 merely the delay in restoring the money Family Benefits gave up in the settlement, but also the delay 4 in allowing Family Benefits to enjoy the benefit of that bargain – i.e., freedom from this litigation. 5 Every day that Myerchin delayed in his rescission – while simultaneously refusing to dismiss his 6 original complaint – is a day that Family Benefits was denied the benefit of its bargain.” Id. at 1534- 7 35 (emphases original). Relying principally on Sime v. Malouf, 95 Cal.App.2d 82, 212 P.2d 946 8 (1949), which held a plaintiff “must restore what he has received in settlement of the disputed claim 9 before suing upon it,” id. at 111, the court held a plaintiff must effectuate an actual rescission of the 10 settlement agreement before he or she can pursue the released claims, and that the agreement remains 11 presumptively valid until the rescission occurs; “simply preserv[ing] rescission as an option to be 12 adjudicated by the court at some later date, while simultaneously pursuing the merits of the claim 13 [the plaintiff has] agreed to dismiss, [is] improper as a matter of law.” 162 Cal.App.4th at 1536. 14 The aspect of Myerchin’s holding that a plaintiff may not execute a settlement agreement, 15 affirm the agreement and proceed with the litigation without returning the settlement proceeds to the 16 defendant has since been reaffirmed by the California Supreme Court in Village Northridge 17 Homeowners Ass’n, supra, 50 Cal.4th at 913, 921-22, 929 (Village Northridge) (citing Garcia v. 18 California Truck Co., 183 Cal. 767, 192 P. 708 (1920) and Taylor v. Hopper, 207 Cal. 102, 276 P. 19 990 (1929)). Problematically for Defendants, the aspect of Myerchin’s holding that a plaintiff must 20 actually rescind the agreement before proceeding with the litigation has not. Instead, the Supreme 21 Court has recognized that the Legislature, through the enactment of California Civil Code § 1693,5 22 23 5 27 Section 1693 provides: “When relief based upon rescission is claimed in an action or proceeding, such relief shall not be denied because of delay in giving notice of rescission unless such delay has been substantially prejudicial to the other party. [¶] A person who has received benefits by reason of a contract that is subject to rescission and who in an action or proceeding seeks relief based upon rescission shall not be denied relief because of a delay in restoring or in tendering restoration of such benefits before judgment unless such delay has been substantially prejudicial to the other party; but the court may make a tender of restoration a condition of its judgment.” Cal. 28 14 24 25 26 1 has “permitted plaintiffs who are unable to restore the consideration received in their original 2 settlements and releases to delay the restoration of consideration until final judgment consistent with 3 equitable principles, including that defendants not be substantially prejudiced by the delay.” Village 4 Northridge, supra, 50 Cal.4th at 929. In doing so, the court further recognized that where a plaintiff 5 “sue[s] for rescission of its release under the statutory scheme governing rescission” instead of 6 “proceed[ing] under an ‘affirm and sue’ trial strategy” (like the plaintiff in Myerchin), the plaintiff 7 has “the opportunity to delay restoration of the consideration it received in settling” the dispute. Id. 8 Village Northridge also expressly disapproved of Myerchin’s holding that a delay in effecting a 9 rescission of the settlement agreement and restoring consideration to the defendant necessarily 10 prejudices the defendant because the defendant is prevented from “enjoy[ing] the benefit of that 11 bargain – i.e., freedom from [the] litigation,” Myerchin, supra, 162 Cal.App.4th at 1535, concluding 12 this aspect of Myerchin “ignores [California Civil Code] section 1693’s express grant of authority 13 to courts to exercise their discretion in delaying restoration until judgment.” 50 Cal.4th at 929 n. 6. 14 The Court notes Plaintiffs have filed a motion for leave to amend the complaint to add a 15 cause of action for rescission of their settlement agreements, presumably to comply with the 16 mandates of Myerchin and Village Northridge (neither of which, curiously enough, is cited by either 17 party, even though they appear to be the seminal cases on the issues presented here). Defendants 18 have filed a statement of non-opposition to the motion, and therefore the motion will likely be 19 granted by the Magistrate Judge. Because California law permits Plaintiffs to delay restoration of 20 the settlement proceeds and pursue their released claims if they also assert a claim for rescission of 21 the settlement agreements, the Court shall not require Plaintiffs to restore the consideration given 22 to them by Defendants as a precondition of maintaining this litigation. However, the Court reserves 23 jurisdiction to order Plaintiffs to restore such consideration or offset any potential recovery by 24 Plaintiffs in the amount of the consideration pending further order of the Court or trial of the action. 25 26 27 28 Civ. Code, § 1693. 15 V. DISPOSITION 1 2 3 Based on the foregoing, Defendants’ motion to enforce settlement and dismiss the case is DENIED. 4 5 6 7 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: 0m8i78 November 19, 2012 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 16
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