On 02/18/2020 DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA, INC filed an Other - Arbitration lawsuit against KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM PRODUCTION I, LLC. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is JAMES E. BLANCARTE. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
*******0735
02/18/2020
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
JAMES E. BLANCARTE
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA INC.
INDIEVEST PICTURES INC.
KNIGHTS OF BADASSDOM PRODUCTION I LLC
KIM MICHELLE
6/17/2020: Proof of Service by Mail - Proof of Service by Mail
6/23/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
3/2/2020: Notice of Hearing on Petition - Notice of Hearing on Petition
2/18/2020: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
2/18/2020: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
2/18/2020: Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award - Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award
2/18/2020: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
2/18/2020: Notice of Hearing on Petition - Notice of Hearing on Petition
Hearing09/03/2020 at 09:00 AM in Department 25 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Hearing on Petition (name extension)
DocketHearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 09/03/2020 at 09:00 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketMinute Order (Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award)
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Hearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 06/23/2020 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Continued - Court's Motion was rescheduled to 09/03/2020 09:00 AM
DocketProof of Service by Mail; Filed by: Directors Guild of America, Inc. (Petitioner); As to: Knights of Badassdom Production I, LLC (Respondent); Indievest Pictures, Inc. (Respondent)
DocketNotice of Hearing on Petition; Filed by: Directors Guild of America, Inc. (Petitioner)
DocketHearing on Petition Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award scheduled for 06/23/2020 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketCase assigned to Hon. James E. Blancarte in Department 25 Spring Street Courthouse
DocketPetition to Confirm Arbitration Award; Filed by: Directors Guild of America, Inc. (Petitioner); As to: Knights of Badassdom Production I, LLC (Respondent); Indievest Pictures, Inc. (Respondent)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Directors Guild of America, Inc. (Petitioner); As to: Knights of Badassdom Production I, LLC (Respondent); Indievest Pictures, Inc. (Respondent)
DocketNotice of Hearing on Petition; Filed by: Clerk
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 20STCP00735 Hearing Date: June 23, 2020 Dept: 25
PETITION TO CONFIRM ARBITRATION AWARD
(CCP § 1285, et seq.)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Petitioner Directors Guild of America, Inc.’s Petition for Confirmation of Arbitration Award and for Entry of Judgment in Conformity Therewith is CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 25 at the SPRING STREET COURTHOUSE. At least 16 court days before the next scheduled hearing, Petitioner is ordered to file and serve supplemental papers addressing the deficiencies identified herein. Failure to do so may result in the Petition being placed off calendar or denied.
SERVICE:
[X] Proof of Service Timely Filed (CRC, rule 3.1300) OK
[X] Correct Address (CCP §§ 1013, 1013a) OK
[X] 16/21 Court Days Lapsed (CCP §§ 12c, 1005(b)) OK
OPPOSITION: None filed as of June 17, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
REPLY: None filed as of June 17, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
ANALYSIS:
Background
On February 18, 2020, Petitioner Directors Guild of America, Inc. (“Petitioner”) initiated this action by filing the instant Petition for Confirmation of Arbitration Award and for Entry of Judgment in Conformity Therewith (the “Petition”) against Respondents Knights of Badassdom Production I, LLC (“Knights of Badassdom”) and Indievest Pictures, Inc. (“Indievest”) (collectively, “Respondents”). To date, no opposition has been filed.
Legal Standard
“Regardless of the particular relief granted, any arbitrator’s award is enforceable only when confirmed as a judgment of the superior court.” (O’Hare v. Municipal Resource Consultants (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 267, 278.) “Once a petition to confirm an award is filed, the superior court must select one of only four courses of action: it may confirm the award, correct and confirm it, vacate it, or dismiss the petition.” (EHM Productions, Inc. v. Starline Tours of Hollywood, Inc. (2018) 21 Cal.App.5th 1058, 1063.) “It is well settled that the scope of judicial review of arbitration awards is extremely narrow.” (California Faculty Assn. v. Superior Court (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 935, 943.) “Neither the trial court, nor the appellate court, may ‘review the merits of the dispute, the sufficiency of the evidence, or the arbitrator’s reasoning, nor may we correct or review an award because of an arbitrator’s legal or factual error, even if it appears on the award’s face.” (EHM Productions, supra, at p. 1063-64.)
Discussion
Petitioner states that it and Respondent Knights of Badassdom entered into a collective bargaining agreement known as the Director’s Guild of America Basic Agreement of 2008 (the “Basic Agreement”), a copy of which was also filed. (Pet., ¶ 5, Exh. A.) Respondent Indievest executed a theatrical guaranty agreement with Petitioner whereby it guaranteed Respondents Knights of Badassdom would perform all terms and obligations arising under the Basic Agreement. (Id. at ¶ 6, Exh. B, ¶ 3.) Pursuant to the terms of the Basic Agreement, Petitioner submitted a grievance and arbitration dispute regarding the residuals owed by Respondents. (Id. at ¶ 8.)
On January 16, 2020, neutral arbitrator Mark Burstein (the “Arbitrator”) rendered an award in favor of Petitioner requiring Respondents to pay residuals of $8,959.08, late charges of $1,272.86 as of January 16, 2020, and late charges of $2.95 every day thereafter until the residuals are paid in full (the “Arbitration Award”). (Pet., Exh. B, p. 3.)
CCP § 1285.4 states: “A petition under this chapter shall:
Set forth the substance of or have attached a copy of the agreement to arbitrate unless the petitioner denies the existence of such an agreement.
Set forth the names of the arbitrators.
(c) Set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the written opinion of the arbitrators, if any.”
Petitioner has set forth the substance of the parties’ agreement to arbitrate and submitted a copy of the Arbitration Award, which includes the name of the neutral Arbitrator. (Pet., Exh., B.) Thus, Petitioner has satisfied the filing requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 1285.4.
Code of Civil Procedure, section 1283.6 provides that “[t]he neutral arbitrator shall serve a signed copy of the award on each party to the arbitration personally or by registered or certified mail or as provided in the agreement.” (Emphasis added.)
In addition, Code of Civil Procedure, section 1290.4 states, in pertinent part:
“(a) A copy of the petition and a written notice of the time and place of the hearing thereof and any other papers upon which the petition is based shall be served in the manner provided in the arbitration agreement for the service of such petition and notice.
(b) If the arbitration agreement does not provide the manner in which such service shall be made and the person upon whom service is to be made has not previously appeared in the proceeding and has not previously been served in accordance with this subdivision: ¶ (1) Service within this State shall be made in the manner provided by law for the service of summons in an action.”
Here, the Basic Agreement states that service of a petition to confirm an arbitration award “may be served by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.” (Pet., Exh. A, ¶ 2-603(b).) Petitioner’s proof of service indicates that the Notice of Hearing and Petition were served via e-mail and certified mail, return receipt requested. (2/18/20 Proof of Service.) Thus, Petitioner has satisfied the service requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 1290.4.
However, the Petition does not include a proof of service demonstrating that the neutral Arbitrator himself served a copy of the Arbitration Award on parties. Indeed, it was Petitioner itself that served Respondents with a copy of the Arbitration Award. Thus, Petitioner has not satisfied Code of Civil Procedure section 1283.6.
Conclusion & Order
For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner Directors Guild of America, Inc.’s Petition for Confirmation of Arbitration Award and for Entry of Judgment in Conformity Therewith is CONTINUED TO SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 25 at the SPRING STREET COURTHOUSE. At least 16 court days before the next scheduled hearing, Petitioner is ordered to file and serve supplemental papers addressing the deficiencies identified herein. Failure to do so may result in the Petition being placed off calendar or denied.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.