On 07/30/2019 MACKLER ECHT ASSOCIATES, INC filed a Contract - Other Contract lawsuit against ELLIOT ZEMEL. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is WENDY CHANG. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
*******7003
07/30/2019
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
WENDY CHANG
MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES INC.
HAGER AVERY
HIMEL CAPITAL LLC
ZEMEL ELLIOT
WEBER JEFFERY
ABRAMSON MICHAEL A.
8/19/2020: Stipulation and Order (name extension) - Stipulation and Order TO REFER CASE TO MSC
1/26/2021: Minute Order - Minute Order (Non-Jury Trial)
1/26/2021: Certificate of Mailing for - Certificate of Mailing for (Non-Jury Trial) of 01/26/2021
1/26/2021: Notice of Settlement - Notice of Settlement
6/16/2020: Opposition (name extension) - Opposition to Motion to Stay Proceedings
6/17/2020: Reply (name extension) - Reply DEFENDANTS' REPLY IN SUPPORT OF MOTION TO ST A Y CASE PENDING MEDIATION PER WRITTEN AGREEMENT; REQUEST FOR COSTS OF $3,900.00
6/29/2020: Notice (name extension) - Notice OF WITHDRAW AL OF NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION TO STAY CASE PENDING MEDIATION PER WRITTEN AGREEMENT; REQUEST FOR COSTS OF $3,900.00
6/30/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Motion for Stay of Proceedings)
4/15/2020: Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order - Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order
4/23/2020: Notice (name extension) - Notice OF CONTINUANCE OF HEARING ON MOTION FOR STAY OF PROCEEDINGS
1/27/2020: Motion for Stay of Proceedings - Motion for Stay of Proceedings
12/6/2019: Answer - Answer
9/6/2019: Summons - Summons on Complaint
7/30/2019: Complaint - Complaint
7/30/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
7/30/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
7/30/2019: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
7/30/2019: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
Hearing03/24/2021 at 09:30 AM in Department 26 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Order to Show Cause Re: Dismissal (Settlement)
DocketNotice of Settlement; Filed by: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff); Vacate Future Dates: No; Settlement Type: Unconditional; Set Hearing and Generate Notice?: No
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Dismissal (Settlement) scheduled for 03/24/2021 at 09:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26
DocketMinute Order (Non-Jury Trial)
DocketCertificate of Mailing for (Non-Jury Trial) of 01/26/2021; Filed by: Clerk
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Non-Jury Trial scheduled for 01/26/2021 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 01/26/2021
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Order to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 08/02/2022 at 10:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 01/26/2021
DocketStipulation and Order TO REFER CASE TO MSC; Filed by: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant); As to: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff)
DocketUpdated -- Stipulation and Order TO REFER CASE TO MSC: Status changed from Filed to Signed and Filed
DocketMinute Order (Hearing on Motion for Stay of Proceedings)
DocketAnswer; Filed by: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant); As to: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff); As to: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant)
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 01/26/2021 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 08/02/2022 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketCase assigned to Hon. Wendy Chang in Department 94 Stanley Mosk Courthouse
DocketComplaint; Filed by: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff); As to: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff); As to: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: MACKLER ECHT + ASSOCIATES, INC., (Plaintiff); As to: ELLIOT ZEMEL (Defendant); AVERY HAGER (Defendant); HIMEL CAPITAL, LLC (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 19STLC07003 Hearing Date: June 30, 2020 Dept: 26
Mackler Ech t+ Associates, Inc. v. Himel Capital, LLC, et al.
MOTION TO COMPEL MEDIATION AND STAY PROCEEDINGS
(CCP §§ 1281.2, et seq., 638)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Defendants Himel Capital, Llc, Elliot Zemel, and Avery Hager’S Motion to Compel Meditation and for Stay of Proceedings is DENIED.
ANALYSIS:
On July 30, 2019, Plaintiff Mackler Ech t+ Associates, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed this action against Defendants Himel Capital, Llc, Elliot Zemel, and Avery Hager (“Defendants”). Defendants filed the instant Motion to Compel Mediation and Stay Action on January 27, 2020. Defendants filed an opposition on June 16, 2020 and Plaintiff replied on June 17, 2020.
Legal Standard
“On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party thereto refuses to arbitrate such controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that: (a) The right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner; or (b) Grounds exist for the revocation of the agreement.” (CCP §§ 1281.2(a)-(b).) As with other types of agreements, “[t]he failure of the [party] to carefully read the agreement and the amendment is not a reason to refuse to enforce the arbitration provisions.” (Powers v. Dickson, Carlson & Campillo (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1102, 1115.) “California law, ‘like [federal law], reflects a strong policy favoring arbitration agreements and requires close judicial scrutiny of waiver claims.’” (Wagner Const. Co. v. Pacific Mechanical Corp. (2007) 41 Cal.4th 19, 31.) If the court orders arbitration, then the court shall stay the action until arbitration is completed. (See CCP § 1281.4.)
Discussion
Defendants bring the instant Motion to Compel Mediation and Stay Action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1281. This statutory authority, however, only pertains to agreements to arbitrate: “On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party thereto refuses to arbitrate such controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy . . . .” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1281.2.) Defendant offers no binding authority that the Court can compel another party to mediate a dispute. The two cases to which Defendants cite are non-binding federal cases. (Motion, p. 4:13-17.) Furthermore, binding California authority has expressly held “that a trial court exceeds its authority by mandating that the parties attend and pay for private mediation over their objection.” (Jeld-Wen, Inc. v. Superior Court (2007) 146 Cal.App.4th 536, 541.) While Jeld-Wen, Inc. did not involve a contractual mediation provision, the Court of Appeals repeately cited to the voluntary nature of mediation in its reasoning. (Ibid.)
Nor do the cases in Defendants’ reply demonstrate that the Court has the authority to compel Plaintiff to mediation. The first case involved an action for breach of an agreement to negotiate, which the Court of Appeals found to be a valid cause of action. (Copeland v. Baskin Robbins U.S.A. (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 1251, 1257-1258.) The second case involved enforcement of a contract provision requiring the parties to meet and come to mutual agreement, and if unable to do so, to submit the matter to arbitration, which the Court of Appeals found to be sufficiently definite. (Herman v. County of Los Angeles (2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 484, 488.) Both of these actions were brought to enforce the contractual provisions to which the parties agreed. Here, there is no action to enforce the mediation provision of the contract, which must necessarily prove the elements of a claim for breach of contract, including damages.
As Defendants have not demonstrated that the Court has authority to compel Plainitff to mediate the action, the Motion to Compel Meditation and for Stay of Proceedings is DENIED.
Court clerk to give notice.
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