JASON DORN, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. COUNTRYWIDE HOME LOANS, INC., et al., Defendants and Respondents.

Filed 10/15/13 Dorn v. Countrywide Home Loans CA2/4
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
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publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication
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I !H" C#$%! #F A&&"AL #F !H" '!A!" #F CALIF#%IA
'"C#D A&&"LLA!" DI'!%IC!
DI(I'I# F#$%
)A'# D#%*
&lainti++ and A,,ellant*
v.
C#$!%-.ID" H#/" L#A'* IC.*
et al.*
De+endants and %es,ondents.
0244325
1Los An2eles County
'u,er. Ct. o. 3C0425445
A&&"AL +rom a 6ud2ment o+ t7e 'u,erior Court o+ Los An2eles County*
%o8ert A. Du9es* )ud2e. A++irmed.
)ason Dorn* in ,ro. ,er.* +or &lainti++ and A,,ellant.
/:;uirewoods* Leslie /. .erlin* and Lila -. Al</ar7oon +or De+endants and
%es,ondents.
&lainti++ )ason Dorn a,,eals +rom a 6ud2ment dismissin2 7is a:tion a2ainst
de+endants Ameri:a=s .7olesale Lender* Countrywide 0an9* 0an9 o+ Ameri:a Home
Loan 'ervi:es* /"%'* and %e:on!rust.
1
0e:ause we :on:lude t7at t7e trial :ourt did not
a8use its dis:retion in dismissin2 t7e a:tion* we a++irm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
&lainti++ )ason Dorn +iled t7e ,resent a:tion a2ainst de+endants on ovem8er 1>*
2011* alle2in2 seven :auses o+ a:tion arisin2 out o+ t7e alle2ed wron2+ul +ore:losure o+
,lainti++=s 7ome. De+endants demurred to all :auses o+ a:tion* and t7e trial :ourt
sustained t7e demurrer wit7 leave to amend.
&lainti++ +iled a +irst amended :om,laint on Fe8ruary 23* 2012. It asserted :auses
o+ a:tion +or? 115 de:laratory relie+? +raud in t7e e@e:ution 1+irst :ause o+ a:tion* +irst
:ount5A 125 de:laratory relie+? +ailure o+ :onsideration 1+irst :ause o+ a:tion* se:ond
:ount5A 135 de:laratory relie+? e@isten:e o+ an o8li2ation B no :reation o+ ri27ts 1+irst
:ause o+ a:tion* t7ird :ount5A 145 de:laratory relie+? e@isten:e o+ an o8li2ation B no
:reation o+ ri27ts 1+irst :ause o+ a:tion* +ourt7 :ount5A 155 in6un:tive relie+ 1se:ond :ause
o+ a:tion5A 145 a::ountin2 1t7ird :ause o+ a:tion5.
De+endants demurred to all :auses o+ a:tion. #n /ay 10* 2012* t7e :ourt
sustained t7e demurrer and 2ranted ,lainti++ 10 days leave to amend 7is +irst and se:ond
:auses o+ a:tion. !7e :ourt denied ,lainti++ leave to amend t7e t7ird :ause o+ a:tion
8e:ause it :on:luded t7at an a::ountin2 was not Can a,,ro,riate :ause o+ a:tion in t7is
matter.D
1
A::ordin2 to de+endants* t7e ,ro,er ,arties are CCountrywide Home Loans* In:.*
erroneously sued as Ameri:a=s .7olesale Lender 1EC.L=5* 0an9 o+ Ameri:a* .A. as
su::essor to Countrywide 0an9* F'0 and 0an9 o+ Ameri:a Home Loans 'ervi:in2* L&*
erroneously sued as Countrywide 0an9 and 0an9 o+ Ameri:a Home Loans 1E0AA=5*
/ort2a2e "le:troni: %e2istration 'ystems* In:.* erroneously sued as /"%' 1E/"%'=5
and %e:on!rust Com,any* .A.* erroneously sued as %e:on!rust 1E%e:on!rust=5.D
2
&lainti++ did not +ile a se:ond amended :om,laint. Instead* on /ay 21* 2012* 7e
+iled a motion +or re:onsideration* ur2in2 t7at t7e demurrer s7ould not 7ave 8een 2ranted
8e:ause 7is :laims were not time<8arred* a tender was not re;uired under t7e +a:ts o+ t7e
:ase* and 7e 7ad stated a valid :ause o+ a:tion +or an a::ountin2.
#n )une >* 2012* de+endants moved to dismiss ,lainti++=s a:tion +or +ailure to +ile a
se:ond amended :om,laint. &lainti++ o,,osed t7e motion and sou27t additional time to
+ile an amended :om,laint. #n Au2ust 10* 2012* t7e :ourt dismissed t7e matter wit7
,re6udi:e and entered 6ud2ment +or de+endants on all :auses o+ a:tion. &lainti++ timely
a,,ealed.
DISCUSSION
&lainti++ :ontends on a,,eal t7at t7e trial :ourt erred in sustainin2 demurrers to t7e
t7ird and +ourt7 :ounts o+ t7e +irst :ause o+ a:tion 1+or de:laratory relie+5 and to t7e t7ird
:ause o+ a:tion 1+or an a::ountin25. For reasons t7at +ollow* we :on:lude t7at t7ere was
no a8use o+ dis:retion.
I. Standard of Revie
CA demurrer tests t7e le2al su++i:ien:y o+ +a:tual alle2ations in a :om,laint. 1Title
Ins. Co. v. Comerica Bank—California 11FF45 2G Cal.A,,.4t7 >00* >0G.5 In reviewin2
t7e su++i:ien:y o+ a :om,laint a2ainst a 2eneral demurrer* t7is :ourt treats t7e demurrer as
admittin2 all material +a:ts ,ro,erly ,leaded* 8ut not :ontentions* dedu:tions* or
:on:lusions o+ +a:t or law. !7is :ourt also :onsiders matters t7at may 8e 6udi:ially
noti:ed. .7en a demurrer is sustained* t7is :ourt determines w7et7er t7e :om,laint
states +a:ts su++i:ient to :onstitute a :ause o+ a:tion. 1Blank v. Kirwan 11F>55 3F Cal.3d
311* 31>.5
C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C.7en a demurrer is sustained wit7out leave to amend* t7is :ourt de:ides w7et7er
a reasona8le ,ossi8ility e@ists t7at amendment may :ure t7e de+e:tA i+ it :an we reverse*
3
8ut i+ not we a++irm. !7e ,lainti++ 8ears t7e 8urden o+ ,rovin2 t7ere is a reasona8le
,ossi8ility o+ amendment. 1Blank v. Kirwan* supra* 3F Cal.3d at ,. 31>.5 !7e ,lainti++
may ma9e t7is s7owin2 +or t7e +irst time on a,,eal. 1Schultz v. Harney 11FF45 2G
Cal.A,,.4t7 1411* 1423A Careau & Co. v. Security acific Business Cre!it" Inc. 11FF05
222 Cal.A,,.3d 13G1* 13>4<13>>.5
C!o satis+y t7at 8urden on a,,eal* a ,lainti++ Emust s7ow in w7at manner 7e :an
amend 7is :om,laint and 7ow t7at amendment will :7an2e t7e le2al e++e:t o+ 7is
,leadin2.= 1#oo!man v. Kenne!y 11FG45 1> Cal.3d 335* 34F.5 !7e assertion o+ an
a8stra:t ri27t to amend does not satis+y t7is 8urden. 1$cKelvey v. Boein% &orth
'merican" Inc. 11FFF5 G4 Cal.A,,.4t7 151* 141.5 !7e ,lainti++ must :learly and
s,e:i+i:ally set +ort7 t7e Ea,,li:a8le su8stantive law= 1Community Cause v. Boatwri%ht
11F>15 124 Cal.A,,.3d >>>* >FG5 and t7e le2al 8asis +or amendment* i.e.* t7e elements o+
t7e :ause o+ a:tion and aut7ority +or it. Furt7er* t7e ,lainti++ must set +ort7 +a:tual
alle2ations t7at su++i:iently state all re;uired elements o+ t7at :ause o+ a:tion. 1$c$artin
v. Chil!ren(s Institute International 11F>F5 212 Cal.A,,.3d 13F3* 140>A $c#etti%an v.
Bay 'rea )api! Transit *ist. 11FFG5 5G Cal.A,,.4t7 1011* 1024.5 Alle2ations must 8e
+a:tual and s,e:i+i:* not va2ue or :on:lusionary. 1Cooper v. +,uity #en. Insurance
11FF05 21F Cal.A,,.3d 1252* 1243<1244.5
C!7e 8urden o+ s7owin2 t7at a reasona8le ,ossi8ility e@ists t7at amendment :an
:ure t7e de+e:ts remains wit7 t7e ,lainti++A neit7er t7e trial :ourt nor t7is :ourt will
rewrite a :om,laint. 1#oul! v. $arylan! Soun! In!ustries" Inc. 11FF55 31 Cal.A,,.4t7
113G* 1153.5 .7ere t7e a,,ellant o++ers no alle2ations to su,,ort t7e ,ossi8ility o+
amendment and no le2al aut7ority s7owin2 t7e via8ility o+ new :auses o+ a:tion* t7ere is
no 8asis +or +indin2 t7e trial :ourt a8used its dis:retion w7en it sustained t7e demurrer
wit7out leave to amend. 1&ew lum-in% Contractors" Inc. v. &ationwi!e $utual Ins. Co.
11FF25 G Cal.A,,.4t7 10>>* 10F>A H.H" /t!. v. Superior Court 11FG55 15 Cal.3d 50>*
513* +n. 3.5D 1)akestraw v. California hysicians( Service 120005 >1 Cal.A,,.4t7 3F* 42<
44.5
4
II. De!"arator# Re"ief
&lainti++ :ontends 7e s7ould 7ave 8een 2ranted leave to amend 7is +irst :ause o+
a:tion +or de:laratory relie+ to over:ome t7e de+i:ien:ies identi+ied 8y t7e trial :ourt.
',e:i+i:ally* ,lainti++ says* t7e trial :ourt Cerroneously denied &lainti++ leave to amend +or
+ailure to ,rovide tenderD 8e:ause* i+ 2iven t7e o,,ortunity to do so* 7e :ould 7ave
amended 7is :om,laint to alle2e +a:ts su,,ortin2 one o+ t7e e@:e,tions to t7e tender rule.
$
!7e a,,ellate re:ord desi2nated 8y t7e ,lainti++ does not in:lude t7e trial :ourt=s
/ay 10 order sustainin2 de+endants= demurrer to t7e +irst amended :om,laint. However*
t7e re,orter=s trans:ri,t o+ t7e /ay 10 7earin2 demonstrates t7at t7e trial :ourt 2ranted
t7e very relie+ ,lainti++ now see9s? leave to amend t7e +irst :ause o+ a:tion +or
de:laratory relie+. 'in:e t7e trial :ourt 2ranted ,lainti++ t7e relie+ 7e :laims to 7ave 8een
entitled* t7ere was no error. 1".2.* Scott v. 0$or%an Chase Bank" &.'. 120135 214
Cal.A,,.4t7 G43* G52 HCIn order to ,revail on a,,eal +rom an order sustainin2 a demurrer*
t7e a,,ellant must a++irmatively demonstrate error.DI.5
III. A!!o%ntin&
&lainti++ :ontends 7e s7ould 7ave 8een 2ranted leave to amend 7is t7ird :ause o+
a:tion +or an a::ountin2. In su,,ort* 7e ur2es as +ollows? C!7e trial :ourt determined
t7at &lainti++ :ould not amend 7is ,leadin2s to alle2e t7at De+endants owed 7im money.
However* &lainti++ :ould 7ave amended 7is :om,laint to alle2e su++i:ient +a:ts to s7ow
t7at t7e lender De+endants owe 7im a sum o+ money. . . . &lainti++=s :laim +or a::ountin2
was :learly :a,a8le o+ 8ein2 amended* and t7e trial :ourt a8used its dis:retion 8y
re+usin2 to allow &lainti++ t7e o,,ortunity to do so.D
As we 7ave said* to satis+y 7is a,,ellate 8urden* ,lainti++ must s7ow CEin w7at
manner 7e :an amend 7is :om,laint and 7ow t7at amendment will :7an2e t7e le2al e++e:t
o+ 7is ,leadin2.=D 1)akestraw v. California hysicians( Service* supra* >1 Cal.A,,.4t7 at
$
CAs a 2eneral rule* a ,lainti++ may not :7allen2e t7e ,ro,riety o+ a +ore:losure on
7is or 7er ,ro,erty wit7out o++erin2 to re,ay w7at 7e or s7e 8orrowed a2ainst t7e
,ro,erty.D 1Inten%an v. B'C Home /oans Servicin% / 120135 214 Cal.A,,.4t7 104G*
1053.5
5
,. 43.5 !o do so* ,lainti++ must :learly and s,e:i+i:ally set +ort7 t7e a,,li:a8le
su8stantive law and +a:tual alle2ations t7at su++i:iently state all re;uired elements o+ t7at
:ause o+ a:tion in a manner t7at is C+a:tual and s,e:i+i:* not va2ue or :on:lusionary.D 1I!.
at ,. 44.5 Here* ,lainti++ 7as not done so. He 7as neit7er identi+ied t7e elements o+ a
:ause o+ a:tion +or an a::ountin2* nor stated wit7 any s,e:i+i:ity w7at +a:ts 7e :ould
alle2e to satis+y t7e elements o+ 7is :ause o+ a:tion.
'
In s7ort* alt7ou27 ,lainti++ asserts
t7at 7e :ould 7ave amended 7is :om,laint Cto alle2e su++i:ient +a:ts to s7ow t7at t7e
lender De+endants owe 7im a sum o+ money*D 7e 7as not told us w7at t7ose +a:ts are or
7ow t7ey 2ive rise to a :ause o+ a:tion +or an a::ountin2. !7us* 7e 7as not satis+ied 7is
a,,ellate 8urden to s7ow t7at t7e trial :ourt a8used its dis:retion 8y denyin2 7im leave to
amend t7e t7ird :ause o+ a:tion.
As to t7e remainin2 :auses o+ a:tion set +ort7 in t7e +irst amended :om,laint*
,lainti++ 7as +or+eited any :laims o+ error 8y +ailin2 to assert t7em or ma9e reasoned
ar2ument in su,,ort. 1".2.* $ultani v. 1itkin & &eal 120135 215 Cal.A,,.4t7 142>* 145G
HCEHIIt is a,,ellant=s 8urden to a++irmatively s7ow error. HCitation.I !o demonstrate error*
a,,ellant must ,resent meanin2+ul le2al analysis su,,orted 8y :itations to aut7ority and
:itations to +a:ts in t7e re:ord t7at su,,ort t7e :laim o+ error.=DIA Browne v. County of
Tehama 120135 213 Cal.A,,.4t7 G04* G14 HCE.7en an a,,ellant +ails to raise a ,oint* or
asserts it 8ut +ails to su,,ort it wit7 reasoned ar2ument and :itations to aut7ority* we treat
t7e ,oint as waived.=DI.5
DISPOSITION
'
CA :ause o+ a:tion +or an a::ountin2 re;uires a s7owin2 t7at a relations7i, e@ists
8etween t7e ,lainti++ and de+endant t7at re;uires an a::ountin2* and t7at some 8alan:e is
due t7e ,lainti++ t7at :an only 8e as:ertained 8y an a::ountin2. 1Brea v. $c#lashan
11F345 3 Cal.A,,.2d 454* 440A 5 .it9in* Cal. &ro:edure H15t7 ed. 200>5I &leadin2* J >1F*
,. 234.5 HKI An a:tion +or a::ountin2 is not availa8le w7ere t7e ,lainti++ alle2es t7e ri27t
to re:over a sum :ertain or a sum t7at :an 8e made :ertain 8y :al:ulation. 1St. 0ames
Church of Christ Holiness v. Superior Court 11F555 135 Cal.A,,.2d 352* 35F.5D 1Teselle
v. $c/ou%hlin 1200F5 1G3 Cal.A,,.4t7 154* 1GF.5
4
!7e 6ud2ment is a++irmed. De+endants s7all re:over t7eir :osts on a,,eal.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS
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