On 01/13/2020 LAW FIRM OF HAROLD GREENBERG filed a Contract - Other Contract lawsuit against DAVID SHENKY. 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 Disposed - Judgment Entered.
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01/13/2020
Disposed - Judgment Entered
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
JAMES E. BLANCARTE
LAW FIRM OF HAROLD GREENBERG
SHENKY DAVID
DAMSKY MICHAEL
RUDD CHRISTOPHER LEE
12/28/2020: Opposition (name extension) - Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Set Aside Default and Default Judgment
1/11/2021: Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order - Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order
11/10/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Ruling on Submitted Matter)
11/10/2020: Certificate of Mailing for - Certificate of Mailing for (Ruling on Submitted Matter) of 11/10/2020
10/14/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Order to Show Cause Re: Why Sanction Should not be Imposed on...)
9/28/2020: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration Supplemental Declaration of Michael S. Damsky, Esq., Re: Attorney's Fees and Costs
9/10/2020: Notice (name extension) - Notice of Ruling and Notice of Order to Show Cause Re: Sanctions against Defendant, David Shenky
9/8/2020: Opposition (name extension) - Opposition to Defendant's Ex-Parte Application to Advance Hearing Date and Declaration of Michael S. Damsky, Esq. in Support of Plaintiff's Opposition
9/9/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Ex Parte Application To Advance Hearing Date for D...)
8/25/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Ex Parte Application to Advance Hearing Date on Mo...)
5/5/2020: Answer - Answer
4/30/2020: Request for Entry of Default / Judgment - Request for Entry of Default / Judgment
4/30/2020: Request for Dismissal - Request for Dismissal
4/24/2020: Request for Entry of Default / Judgment - Request for Entry of Default / Judgment
4/24/2020: Notice of Rejection Default/Clerk's Judgment - Notice of Rejection Default/Clerk's Judgment
1/13/2020: Summons - Summons on Complaint
1/13/2020: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
1/13/2020: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
Hearing04/15/2021 at 10:00 AM in Department 25 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Hearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and Default Judgment (CCP 473.5)
DocketHearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and Default Judgment (CCP 473.5) scheduled for 04/15/2021 at 10:00 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketPursuant to the request of moving party, Hearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and Default Judgment (CCP 473.5) scheduled for 02/16/2021 at 10:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Rescheduled by Party was rescheduled to 04/15/2021 10:00 AM
DocketNotice of Appearance; Filed by: David Shenky (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Ruling; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff)
DocketNotice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order; Filed by: Clerk
DocketThere being no judge available this date, Hearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and Default Judgment (CCP 473.5) scheduled for 01/13/2021 at 09:00 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Advanced and Continued - by Court was rescheduled to 02/16/2021 10:30 AM
DocketOpposition to Defendant's Motion to Set Aside Default and Default Judgment; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff)
DocketNotice of Ruling; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff)
DocketMinute Order (Nunc Pro Tunc Order)
DocketProof of Service by Substituted Service; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff); As to: David Shenky (Defendant); Proof of Mailing Date: 03/03/2020; Service Cost: 99.50; Service Cost Waived: No
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 07/12/2021 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 01/17/2023 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketComplaint; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff); As to: David Shenky (Defendant)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff); As to: David Shenky (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff); As to: David Shenky (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Law Firm of Harold Greenberg (Plaintiff); As to: David Shenky (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
DocketCase assigned to Hon. James E. Blancarte in Department 94 Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Case Number: 20STLC00338 Hearing Date: February 16, 2021 Dept: 25
Case Number: 20STLC05229 Hearing Date: February 16, 2021 Dept: 25
HEARING DATE: Tue., February 16, 2021 JUDGE /DEPT: Blancarte/25
CASE NAME: Susan Barilich PC v. Duffy, et al. COMPL. FILED: 06-22-20
CASE NUMBER: 20STLC05229 DISC. C/O: 11-20-21
NOTICE: OK DISC. MOT. C/O: 12-05-21
TRIAL DATE: 12-20-21
PROCEEDINGS: MOTION FOR CHANGE OF VENUE AND TRANSFER OF ACTION
MOVING PARTY: Defendants Anthony C. Duffy and Law Offices of Anthony C. Duffy, Inc.
RESP. PARTY: Plaintiff Susan Barilich, P.C.
MOTION FOR CHANGE OF VENUE
(CCP §§ 395, 396)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Defendants Anthony C. Duffy and Law Offices of Anthony C. Duffy, Inc.’s Motion for Change of Venue is 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: Filed on February 1, 2021 [ ] Late [ ] None
REPLY: None filed as of February 9, 2021 [ ] Late [X] None
ANALYSIS:
Background
On June 22, 2020, Plaintiff Susan Barilich, P.C. (“Plaintiff”) filed an action for breach of contract, account stated, open book account, quantum meruit, fraud, and unjust enrichment against Defendants Anthony Duffy (“Duffy”) and Law Offices of Anthony Duffy (“Law Offices”) (collectively, “Defendants”).
On August 5, 2020, Defendants filed the instant Motion for Change of Venue and Transfer of Action (the “Motion”). Plaintiff filed an Opposition on February 1, 2021. No reply brief has been filed.
Evidentiary Objections
Plaintiff’s objections to Defendant Duffy’s declaration are OVERRULED as to Objections 1-10 and 12, and SUSTAINED as to Objection No. 11.
Legal Standard & Discussion
This action arises from Defendants’ alleged failure to compensate Plaintiff for legal services provided in February and March 2020 in McKinley v. McKinley, a case pending in Orange County Superior Court. (Compl., ¶¶ 8, 17, 20.) Defendants seek to transfer this action to Orange County. (Mot., p. 4:10-26.)
“Except as otherwise provided by law and subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceedings as provided in this title, the superior court in the county where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper court for the trial of the action…Subject to subdivision (b), if a defendant has contracted to perform an obligation in a particular county, the superior court in the county where the obligation is to be performed, where the contract in fact was entered into, or where the defendant or any defendant resides at the commencement of the action is a proper court for the trial of an action founded on that obligation, and the county where the obligation is incurred is the county where it is to be performed unless there is a special contract in writing to the contrary.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 395, subd. (a).)
A defendant “corporation or association may be sued in the county where the contact is made or is to be performed, or where the obligation or liability arises, or the breach occurs, or in the county where the principal place of business of such corporation is situated, subject to the power of the court to change the place of trial as in other cases.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 395.5.)
“[I]f an action or proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction over the subject matter thereof, other than the court designated as the proper court for the trial thereof, under this title, the action may, notwithstanding, be tried in the court where commenced, unless the defendant, at the time he or she answers…or at his or her option, without answering…and within the time otherwise allowed to respond to the complaint, files with the clerk, a notice of motion for an order transferring the action or proceeding to the proper court, together with a proof of service, upon the adverse party, or a copy of those papers.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 396b, subd. (a).) If, at the hearing, it appears that the action was not brought in the proper court, the action will be transferred to the proper court. (Id.) “[I]t is the moving defendant’s burden to demonstrate that the plaintiff’s venue selection is not proper under any of the statutory grounds.” (Fontaine v. Superior Court (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 830, 836.)
Defendants seek to transfer this action to Orange County because Defendant Duffy is now and has always been a resident of orange county and because Defendant Law Offices has always been located in Orange County. (Mot., p. 4:10-26, p. 5:5-13, Duffy Decl., ¶¶ 3, 4.) Defendants argue (1) that Plaintiff appeared and performed as trial co-counsel in Orange County; (2) that Defendants agreed to the co-counsel arrangement with Plaintiff at Defendants’ Huntington Beach offices; and (3) that Defendant Duffy, as an individual defendant, “has the right to change the venue to the county of his or her residence even if the action [is] brought in a county in which the corporate defendants may be sued.” (Mot., pp. 5:21-24, 6:10-11; p. 9:17-21.)
“Generally (but with numerous exceptions) when the main relief sought in a case does not relate to rights in real property, ‘the superior court where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper court for the trial of the action.’ (§ 395, subd. (a).) When a case is founded on a contractual obligation, venue is also proper ‘where the contract was in fact entered into.’ [Citation.]” (K.R.L Partnership v. Superior Court (2004) 120 Cal.App.4th 490, 496-97.) “The place of making a contract is where the last act necessary to the validity and binding effect thereof is performed. This “last act” is usually acceptance of the offer.” (Mitchell v. Superior Court (1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 1040, 1045; See also Wilson v. Scannavino (1958) 159 Cal.App.2d 369, 370-71.)
Here, Plaintiff presents evidence that on January 24, 2020, Defendant sent Plaintiff an email stating Defendant’s firm was seeking the assistance of an attorney in handling three matters, including the McKinley case. (Oppo., Barilich Decl., ¶ 5, Exh.C.) In that email, Defendant Duffy informed Plaintiff he would enjoy working with her and appreciated her skills and experience. (Id.) Defendant then asked Plaintiff for a response so they could discuss and arrange the financial terms. (Id.) Plaintiff contacted Defendant Duffy later that day via telephone from her Los Angeles office to accept the offer to collaborate and agreed on payment terms. (Id., p. 8:21-24, Barilich Decl., ¶ 5, Exh. C.) Thus, because acceptance occurred in Los Angeles, Defendants entered into a contract in Los Angeles County, making it a proper county for this action under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, subdivision (a).
Defendant argues that when a plaintiff sues both an individual and a corporate defendant, the individual has the right to change venue to his or her county of residence even if the action was brought in a county where the corporate defendants may be sued. (Mot., p. 9:17-21.) However, because Defendant Duffy, as an individual, entered into a contract that was accepted by Plaintiff in Los Angeles, venue is proper in Los Angeles. As noted above, Code of Civil Procedure section 395, subdivision (a) expressly provides that, in actions involving a contract, the county in which the Defendant resides or where the contract was entered into is proper.
Very briefly, Defendants argue that the Court may order an action transferred “when the convenience of witnesses and the ends of justice would be promoted by the change.” (Mot., p. 10: 19-21.) However, Defendants’ brief discussion does not demonstrate how ends of justice would be promoted by transferring this action, which has been brought in a proper venue under Section 395, subdivision (a).
Conclusion & Order
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Anthony C. Duffy and Law Offices of Anthony C. Duffy, Inc.’s Motion for Change of Venue is DENIED.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.
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