California Court of Appeal Oct 8, 2013 No. D062150, D062661Unpublished
Before: McDONALD
Filed 10/8/13 Wise v. DLA Piper CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
DENNIS WISE et al., D062150, D062661
Plaintiffs and Respondents,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2010-00090600-CU-PN-CTL) DLA PIPER LLP (US),
Defendant and Appellant.
APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Frederick
L. Link, Judge. Reversed.
Law Offices of Martin N. Buchanan, Martin N. Buchanan; Coughlan, Semmer,
Fitch & Pott, R. J. Coughlan, Jr., and Cathleen G. Fitch for Defendant and Appellant.
Wolfe Legal Group, Deborah A. Wolfe and Lann G. McIntyre for Plaintiffs and
Respondents.
Dennis Wise and Joan Macfarlane (together the Wises) were represented by the
law firm, defendant DLA Piper LLC (US),1 that aided them in obtaining a judgment in
1994 against William Cheng. However, DLA did not advise the Wises of the necessity to
renew the judgment, and after 2004 the judgment became unenforceable. The Wises
brought this action alleging malpractice and obtained a judgment against DLA. On
appeal, DLA contends the evidence is insufficient to support the judgment against it
because there was no evidence the Wises' judgment against Cheng would have been
collectable even had it been renewed. DLA also contends on appeal (1) there was no
substantial evidence the statute of limitations on the malpractice claim had been tolled by
continuous representation, (2) the special verdict form was fatally flawed because it did
not submit to the jury the issue of whether there had been continuous representation
within four years of filing the complaint, and (3) even assuming the judgment as to
liability and damages was proper, there was no legal basis for the award of attorney fees
against DLA. We do not reach these contentions because of our conclusion that there
was no substantial evidence the judgment against Cheng was collectable.
1 During the relevant time, the Wises were represented by the law firm known as Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye, and later known as Gray Cary Ames & Friedenrich. DLA Piper LLC (US) is the successor in interest to that firm. For ease of reference, we refer to the firm as DLA regardless of time frame. 2
I
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
A. DLA's Representation of the Wises in the Cheng Matter
In 1987, the Wises loaned $350,000 to Cheng, who signed two promissory notes.
However, Cheng defaulted on the notes, and later filed for bankruptcy.
The Wises retained their attorney, Robert Copeland, for assistance. Copeland, a
DLA attorney, referred the matter to Mr. Breslauer (a fellow DLA attorney) to handle the
bankruptcy issues. DLA filed a complaint in the bankruptcy court contesting the
dischargeability of the debt owed by Cheng, alleging the loans were intended to be used
for Cheng's business but Cheng had embezzled the money for his own use. The Wises
and Cheng ultimately settled the complaint, with Cheng agreeing (1) to reaffirm the debt,
(2) to commence making payments on the new obligation commencing in mid-1994, and
(3) to stipulate that a judgment be entered against Cheng in state court in the event he
defaulted on his new payment obligations.
Cheng made no payments on the debt. Accordingly, DLA obtained a state court
judgment against Cheng, entered on August 1, 1994, for $605,184.50. DLA attorney
Breslauer, who represented the Wises in obtaining the judgment, told them "we have got
this judgment, it's good forever, until the cows come home." Breslauer also told the
Wises "[w]e will keep our ears to the ground" and "we can come back and bring in Mr.
Cheng for examinations from time to time, every six months, or surely once a year, if we
want, just for harassment purposes even, if you want to." However, DLA did not inform
the Wises the judgment would become invalid if not renewed within 10 years.
3
In 1994, DLA pursued collection efforts but determined Cheng was "dead broke,"
and a report from an asset search firm reported Cheng had no assets, had numerous other
creditors, had been sued in numerous other proceedings, and had state and federal tax
liens filed against him. Breslauer sent the asset search report to the Wises, and stated that
if they were aware of any banking relationships not reflected in the report, they should
contact Breslauer and DLA would "follow up." The Wises did not ask DLA to do
anything further to collect the judgment, because there was nothing else to do unless
something new came up.
Copeland left DLA in mid-1995 and took some of the Wises' matters with him to
his new firm. However, the Wises instructed that the Cheng bankruptcy issues were to
remain with Breslauer at DLA. When Breslauer left DLA at the end of 1995, the Cheng
bankruptcy matters apparently remained with DLA, because DLA attorney Rubin wrote
to the Wises in April 1996 explaining the status of the Cheng bankruptcy and told them
they would receive a final distribution check later in the year, and that the "remainder of
your judgment will survive this bankruptcy and is enforceable against Cheng's post-
bankruptcy assets." Rubin stated she would "continue to monitor this case" but told the
Wises "it is likely you will not receive any further notices except the one to allow the
creditor distribution."
In late 1996, DLA attorney Zander sent a letter to the Wises enclosing a check
from the bankruptcy trustee for $21,578.63, "representing the final distribution on your
claim in the [Cheng] bankruptcy case." DLA sent no further bills to the Wises on the
Cheng matter, although Rubin did send another letter to them in March 1998 that
4
enclosed a small check from the bankruptcy trustee and stated "[a]pparently, this is the
final distribution. . . . Give me a call if there is anything else we can do for you."
The Wises had no further contact with DLA until 2009. Although DLA closed the
Cheng file administratively, DLA did not notify the Wises it had ceased representing
them.
B. Subsequent Events
The Wises divorced in 1998. When dividing their marital assets, they contacted
Copeland at his new firm to help accomplish the division and assignment of the Cheng
judgment, with each receiving one-half. Copeland's new firm appeared as counsel of
record for the Wises in the state court lawsuit in which the judgment against Cheng had
been obtained and accomplished the division and assignment later in 1998. Copeland did
not advise the Wises of the need to renew the judgment within 10 years.
In 2004, the judgment expired as a matter of law. At trial, DLA stipulated its
representation of the Wises fell below the standard of care because it did not inform them
of the need to renew the judgment or calendar the 10-year expiration date on the
judgment. In 2009, the Wises discovered the judgment had been allowed to expire, and
filed the present action against DLA within one year of that discovery.
C. Evidence of Collectability: Cheng's Postbankruptcy Financial Condition
At trial, Cheng testified he has not owned any bank accounts, real estate, or any
other assets since his bankruptcy proceedings. He previously was licensed as a CPA, but
relinquished that license in the 1990's in part because he could not afford to pay for the
5
continuing education requirements. He had not filed a personal tax return in 17 years.2
Since his bankruptcy, the "only money" he has received to support his lifestyle was
derived from three sources: (1) financial support from his parents (until they passed away
six years before trial without leaving any estate to Cheng), (2) social security payments of
approximately $2000 per month, and (3) funds from investors in corporations Cheng had
formed. Cheng also testified that, for the foreseeable future, the only money he would
have coming to him would be social security payments and proceeds from investors in
the corporations. Although Cheng also stated he would be paid from "IBM sales," he
testified he (1) had a nonexclusive arrangement to market IBM products and services and
would be paid only if he sold an IBM product, (2) had no commitments from any
customers to purchase IBM products, and (3) had been working with IBM for 20 years
and had never been paid anything by IBM.
Cheng has a proven ability to convince investors to invest in corporate entities he
has formed. Between 2003 and 2011, he raised at least $1.3 million from investors in
OSCN and its subsidiaries, although Cheng estimated it was closer to $2 million. All of
2 Although Cheng testified at his deposition he received $5000 per month from Cheng Consulting Services for his services, he denied that at trial. Instead, he testified that Overseas Chinese Net (OSCN), a Nevada corporation Cheng formed, in return for the services provided by Cheng Consulting Services to OSCN, used OSCN funds to pay the rent on the property Cheng occupies and that houses the office of Cheng Consulting Services and OSCN. OSCN is the sole source of the monthly funds for Cheng Consulting Services. Because OSCN and its subsidiaries apparently have never generated any revenue, it appears the source of funds was limited to money from investors into OSCN. Indeed, after testifying that his companies had "less than $100" in its accounts, Cheng was asked how he expected to pay the next month's expenses, and he responded he was "looking for investors," but "[n]o one has written a check yet."
6
these investment monies, in return for which the investors received stock in the entities,
were paid into the corporations and were spent on operating expenses for the entities.
The operating expenses paid for by funds invested in OCSN included the rent on the La
Jolla house where Cheng lived, and his multiple trips to China. None of the funds were
given to Cheng personally. By the time of trial, OSCN had less than $100 in its bank
account. Cheng's biggest investor, Mr. White, had invested approximately $900,000 over
the years and, although he had put other investors in contact with Cheng, he cautioned
them they had to be willing to take a 100% risk on any funds invested. By the time of
trial, White had written off most of his investments because "[t]here was no viable
evidence that it was worth anything at that point," and White had told an investigator that
"nothing has happened since the beginning of the stock, so I consider it worthless."
Cheng agreed the stock was "worthless" and "could be used to wallpaper bathrooms."
Cheng testified that, "if any of these businesses . . . takes off and makes money,"
he would receive millions in back salary. However, none of the companies have any
contracts or agreements, and Cheng described the companies as "dead" without an
infusion of new investment funds. Since the stock market crash of 2008, Cheng has had
difficulty raising money from investors. Cheng was specifically asked about solicitation
materials he gave to a potential investor in 2009 seeking to persuade new investments in
his companies. Cheng conceded the companies listed in those solicitation materials were
dead, dormant, or had never even been formed. Until "2016 or thereabouts" the only
money Cheng could count on receiving was from social security.
7
D. Expert Opinions on "Collectability"
Plaintiff's Expert
Joel Selik, a collection attorney, testified for the Wises that the Cheng judgment
(1) could have been collected in the past and (2) might be collectable in the future. Selik
premised his opinion on "past collectability" on several facts. First, Selik testified "it
appears that Cheng had at least $2 million dollars, probably more since he gave a million
to Ohio State," because Mr. White had invested approximately $900,000 so it was
"absolutely uncontroverted that [Cheng] had money" that could have been reached by
"piercing the corporate veil . . . and all that money we'd be able to collect," and piercing
would have been "very easy in this particular case."
Second, Selik testified that although he had seen neither the deed to nor lease for
the La Jolla home in which Cheng lived, there was "a probability" (based on the length of
time Cheng had lived there and the amount of rent paid) he had an "ownership interest" in
the home on which a creditor could levy. Third, Selik relied on Cheng's statement that he
donated $1 million to his alma mater as indicative that Cheng had substantial assets after
the bankruptcy, although Selik conceded he did not independently verify either the
accuracy of Cheng's claim, or whether donations were made after (rather than before)
Cheng's bankruptcy. Cheng, a 1967 graduate of Ohio State University, testified he
donated over $1 million to the university "[o]ver the years," and had also raised
significant funds for Ohio State. However, there was no evidence these funds were
donated after the Wises' judgment had lapsed. Indeed, although Cheng received a
"Pacesetter" award from Ohio State's Fisher College of Business, that award was
8
conferred in 1986, and Cheng testified he had left the board of an Ohio State alumni
group after the bankruptcy.
Fourth, Selik relied on Cheng's testimony that he (Cheng) had made multiple trips
to China after the bankruptcy as indicating he was "spending a lot of money." The only
evidence for the funding of these trips was that Cheng used investor money for them, and
Selik's testimony contained no mention of any factual basis for his belief that Cheng used
personal resources for them. Indeed, Selik conceded he had not conducted an asset
search on Cheng, but nevertheless stated (when asked how Cheng could have paid the
judgment in response to pressure from his investors) that "[w]e have a few possible
sources and a few out there in the [ether] that I suspect."
Fifth, Selik expressed the opinion that Cheng had money hidden in foreign bank
accounts, although he conceded "we have no evidence of that." Finally, Selik believed a
determined collections effort could have included subpoenas requiring Cheng's investors
to appear at third-party debtor examinations, and these examinations would have induced
the investors either to put pressure on Cheng to pay the judgment or, alternatively, to loan
Cheng the money to pay the Wises.
On appeal, the Wises claim (without citation to the record) Cheng "testified that if
he had been aggressively pursued, he would have come up with [enough money to fully]
satisfy the judgment." We disregard this "testimony" in our analysis for several reasons.
First, the Wises' malpractice claim was not that DLA should have aggressively pursued
collection efforts before the judgment expired in late 2004, and therefore Cheng's
9
purported ability to raise funds to pay the judgment before that date has no relevance to
whether the Wises showed the judgment would have been collectable had it not expired.
Second, Cheng's "what if" surmises are doubly speculative, because it asks him to
speculate both as to what he would have done, and to how others would have reacted to
what he might have done (cf. Sargon Enterprises, Inc. v. University of Southern
California (2012) 55 Cal.4th 747, 780-781) and "speculation is not evidence, less still
substantial evidence." (People v. Berryman (1993) 6 Cal.4th 1048, 1081, disapproved on
other grounds by People v. Hill (1998) 17 Cal.4th 800, 823, fn. 1.)
Finally, and most importantly, Cheng did not testify he would have come up with
enough money to fully satisfy the judgment had he been pursued after 2004. Instead, the
Wises apparently refer to a declaration (not included in the record on appeal) prepared by
their counsel and signed by Cheng that stated "I am certain that if I had asked, I could
have and would have obtained stock equity investments from [OCSN investors] to satisfy
the entire judgment . . . ." Cheng's actual testimony, however, was that by the time he
signed the declaration he was not getting much money anymore from investors because
of the recession. Moreover, when specifically asked about the statement that he would
have obtained money from investors to pay the judgment, Cheng actually testified he
"wouldn't ask my investors to take their money and . . . satisfy the judgment" (italics
added), nor would he have "gotten anywhere with [such a request]," nor would he have
used investments made in the corporations to pay the Wises because "[t]hat's what Ponzi
schemes do."
10
Selik's opinion on "future collectability" was based on a single overarching theme:
because Cheng had been able to convince some "very important men" to invest in his
business proposals in the past, Cheng would likely be able to obtain investors in his new
business schemes in the future. After describing the various business schemes being
touted by Cheng as future avenues for investors,3 Selik stated Cheng is either "the person
to make them go or he is a scam artist [and] I don't know the answer to that question."
Although Selik conceded "there are a lot of indices of scam artistry" by Cheng, Selik
explained it made no difference to his opinion on future collectability "whether or not . . .
Cheng is a scam artist or if he's for real," because "[i]f he's really going forward, then we
might have something . . . in the millions and millions and millions to go after. If he's
just a scam artist, it's probably just a few million dollars in investments that we will be
going after." Specifically, Selik explained "[i]f he's scamming people for business deals,
my obligation [as a collection attorney] is [to] the client. I will be there to get the money
that he's scamming from somebody else."
Defendant's Expert
Miles Grant, a collection attorney, testified for DLA that the judgment could not
have been collected in the past or in the future. Grant conducted an extensive
investigation of Cheng's assets, which Selik described as "excellent," and determined that
Cheng has "been broke" and has "never had any assets" since 1991. Cheng owns no bank
3 Selik mentioned Cheng's "algae for oil" scheme, the "commodities and the trading money in gold," and Cheng's "Marco Polo" proposal. However, although Selik mentioned these future projects, he expressly disavowed that his opinions on "collectability" were reliant on any opinions as to "investment in China." 11
accounts in his name, drives a car--registered in the name of one of his companies--
against which debt is owed, and lives in a rental unit (in which he had no ownership
interest) not in good condition and furnished with "quite old" furniture.
Grant explained that a primary theme of Selik's opinion regarding collectability--a
creditor may use "reverse alter ego" to reach corporate assets to satisfy debts incurred by
a shareholder of the corporate entity--is an incorrect theory because the theory is no
longer available to creditors. Grant also testified Selik's theory that the creditor could
have subpoenaed Cheng's investors for third-party debtor examinations and thereby
pressured his investors to lend money to Cheng (or pressured Cheng to pay the judgment)
faced numerous factual and legal obstacles: first, the identities of the investors would be
unknown to the creditor unless Cheng cooperated with the creditor; second, many judges
would not permit a creditor to subpoena third-party investors because of the statutory
limitations on such subpoenas; finally, it is purely speculative that investors would then
have given or loaned Cheng an additional $1 million with which to pay the judgment.
II
RELEVANT LEGAL PRINCIPLES
A. Substantive Law: The Issue of Collectability
"The elements of a cause of action in tort for professional negligence are: (1) the
duty of the professional to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as other members of his
profession commonly possess and exercise; (2) a breach of that duty; (3) a proximate
causal connection between the negligent conduct and the resulting injury; and (4) actual
loss or damage resulting from the professional's negligence." (Budd v. Nixen (1971) 6
12
Cal.3d 195, 200.) A showing of the last element of damage requires the plaintiff to prove
that careful management of a lawsuit would have resulted in a favorable judgment and
collection thereof because there is no damage in the absence of these latter elements.
(Campbell v. Magana (1960) 184 Cal.App.2d 751, 754; accord, DiPalma v. Seldman
The plaintiff in a malpractice action must establish that the underlying judgment
lost as the result of the attorney's error could have been collected. (Garretson v. Harold
I. Miller (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 563, 571.) As this court explained in Hecht, Solberg,
Robinson, Goldberg & Bagley, LLP v. Superior Court (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th 579, 591:
"Although such a plaintiff is not required to offer proof that establishes causation 'with absolute certainty,' a plaintiff is still required to ' " 'introduce evidence which affords a reasonable basis
13
for the conclusion that it is more likely than not that the conduct of the defendant was a cause in fact of the result.' " [Citation.]' [Quoting Viner v. Sweet (2003) 30 Cal.4th 1232, 1243.] . . . In this sense, collectibility of the hypothetical underlying judgment against the named defendant is a component of the plaintiff's current case relating to damages, as caused by the current negligent attorney defendant, and is a fact-intensive inquiry.
"It is useful to consider the various factors bearing upon the issue of collectibility of an underlying judgment, . . . to establish the proper guidelines for discovery. Collectibility is part of the plaintiff's case, and a component of the causation and damages showing, rather than an affirmative defense which the Attorney Defendants must demonstrate. [Citations.] Collectibility is not a question only of the solvency of the defendant in an underlying case, such as in bankruptcy, but rather pertains to the defendant's ability to pay a judgment or some part of it. [Citing 4 Mallen & Smith, Legal Malpractice (2006 ed.) § 30.17, pp. 490-491.] . . . . Collectibility thus 'looks to the actual circumstances to determine whether the judgment "would have been collectable." ' (Id. at p. 494, fn. 40.) It is not enough for a plaintiff to present speculation or assumptions about an underlying defendant's ability to respond in damages, as opposed to proof of same. [Citation.] Admissible evidence on collectibility can include information about the basic solvency of the defendant in the underlying case, as shown by its assets, net worth or available proceeds from investments." (Italics added.)
When the plaintiff does not introduce evidence from which a trier of fact could
conclude, to a reasonable degree of certainty, the judgment would have been collectable,
a verdict in favor of the plaintiff must be reversed. (Filbin v. Fitzgerald (2012) 211
Cal.App.4th 154, 166; accord, Garretson v. Harold I. Miller, supra, 99 Cal.App.4th at
pp. 571-575 [affirming grant of JNOV where no evidence of collectability introduced].)
B. Standard of Appellate Review
On appeal, a jury's findings on collectability are reviewed for substantial evidence.
(Garretson v. Harold I. Miller, supra, 99 Cal.App.4th at p. 569.) We review the evidence
14
most favorably to the findings, resolving all conflicts and indulging all inferences in
support of the judgment. (In re Marriage of Mix (1975) 14 Cal.3d 604, 614.) Although it
is true that the testimony of a single witness, including the testimony of an expert, may be
sufficient to constitute substantial evidence (Leslie G. v. Perry & Associates (1996) 43
Cal.App.4th 472, 487), when an expert bases his or her conclusion on factors that are
"speculative, remote or conjectural," or on "assumptions . . . not supported by the record,"
the expert's opinion "cannot rise to the dignity of substantial evidence" and a judgment
based solely on that opinion "must be reversed for lack of substantial evidence." (Pacific
Gas & Electric Co. v. Zuckerman (1987) 189 Cal.App.3d 1113, 1135-1136 (Pacific Gas);
accord, Leslie G. v. Perry & Associates, supra.) Similarly, "[a]n expert's opinion that
assumes an incorrect legal theory cannot constitute substantial evidence." (Corrales v.
A demonstration of collectability here--whether Cheng was able to pay some or all
of the judgment--required the Wises to introduce admissible evidence (rather than
speculation or assumptions) as to " 'the actual circumstances to determine whether the
judgment "would have been collectable[]" ' " and "can include information about the
basic solvency of the defendant in the underlying case, as shown by [his or her] assets,
net worth or available proceeds from investments." (Hecht, Solberg, Robinson, Goldberg
& Bagley LLP v. Superior Court, supra, 137 Cal.App.4th at p. 591.) It appears the only
evidence concerning Cheng's personal net worth, income, or other assets came from the
15
testimonies of Cheng, Grant, and Selik. Grant's asset search revealed Cheng owns no
bank accounts in his own name, has "been broke since 1991," and has had no assets since
1991. Cheng's trial testimony, confirming this assessment, also verified he has not filed a
personal income tax return in 17 years, and has funded his lifestyle over those years from
social security, gifts from his parents, and money invested by third parties in his various
corporate entities. The Wises' contrary showing contained no affirmative evidence
Cheng has owned any assets in his own name since 1991. On appeal, the Wises argue the
testimony of one witness can be substantial evidence and the jury could have "decided
that Cheng was lying" when he denied having any assets or any current ability to pay the
judgment. "True as that may be, disbelief of [his] testimony does not constitute
affirmative evidence of the contrary proposition" (Viner v. Sweet (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th
1218, 1229), and hence the determination that Cheng was not credible simply means his
testimony has " 'no more effect than if it had not been given. It disappears from the
case . . . .' " (Hicks v. Reis (1943) 21 Cal.2d 654, 660.)
The Wises rely principally on Selik's testimony that the judgment against Cheng
was collectable in the past and would be collectable in the future, to assert there was
substantial evidence to support the finding of collectability. We have examined all of the
bases on which Selik relied for his opinions and conclude, for the following reasons, his
opinion does not provide substantial evidence to support the finding of collectability.
The principal thrust of Selik's testimony regarding past and future collectability
was that the Wises could have used "reverse piercing" and obtained funds placed in the
corporate entities by third-party investors to satisfy the judgment against Cheng. On
16
appeal, the Wises assert reverse piercing was not the only, or "arguably not even a
significant basis," for Selik's opinion. However, the first example they cited on appeal
for Selik's "other" bases for his opinion on collectability was Selik's testimony that a
creditor can file a motion to amend the judgment to include the corporate entity or file a
separate lawsuit. Selik did not state those were alternatives to reverse corporate piercing,
but instead testified those were the methods he would have employed to effect a reverse
corporate piercing. Moreover, it is irrelevant to our analysis whether reverse piercing
was the principal predicate for Selik's opinion, or was merely one of many bases for his
opinion, because our evaluation of whether substantial evidence supports the judgment
requires an examination of whether he had some basis for concluding the judgment would
have been collectable.
However, as DLA's appellate brief convincingly argues, the law precludes the
Wises from employing "reverse piercing" to obtain funds paid by third party investors
into Cheng's corporate entities to satisfy Cheng's personal debts. (Postal Instant Press,
Inc. v. Kaswa Corp. (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 1510, 1512-1513 ["a third party creditor
may not pierce the corporate veil to reach corporate assets to satisfy a shareholder's
personal liability"].) Because the Wises provide neither argument nor authority to the
contrary, we deem the point conceded. (Cf. Badie v. Bank of America (1998) 67
Cal.App.4th 779, 784-785.) When an expert premises an opinion on the assumption that
an incorrect legal theory applies, the opinion is entitled to no weight and cannot
constitute substantial evidence. (See, e.g., Corrales, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at p. 226.)
To the extent Selik's testimony that the judgment could have been collectable in the past
17
assumed the Wises could have pursued funds placed in the corporate entities by third-
party investors, Selik's opinion is premised on an incorrect legal theory that cannot
provide substantial evidence to support the finding of collectability. The Wises provide
neither argument nor authority undermining this legal argument and, accordingly, we
deem the point conceded. (Cf. Badie v. Bank of America (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 779,
784-785.) They appear to argue, however, that DLA's expert testified about the bar
against reverse piercing and the jury, as trier of fact, was entitled to weigh the evidence
and elect to credit the Wises' expert and discredit DLA's expert. However, although the
jury does decide factual issues, the Wises cite nothing to suggest a jury is entitled to
credit an erroneous legal theory.
Selik's other predicates for his opinion on past collectability fare no better. He
relied, for example, on his speculation that it is "probab[le] that [Cheng] has an
ownership interest" in the La Jolla home in which he lived.4 However, Selik conceded a
creditor cannot levy on rental property, and admitted he had seen neither the deed nor the
lease agreement for that property. The asset search by Grant, which Selik described as
"excellent," uncovered the recorded deeds to the property and showed Cheng did not hold
any ownership interest in that property. There was apparently no evidence suggesting the
recorded owner and lessor was a straw man acting for Cheng. Selik also relied on his
4 To the extent Selik's opinion on past collectability assumed Cheng must have had some degree of financial wherewithal in reliance on the fact the rent on the property was $5100 per month, the only evidence on the source of funds to pay this rent was that one of the corporate entities used corporate funds (obtained by capital infusions from investors) to pay the rent.
18
speculation that it is "likely" Cheng had or has money hidden in foreign bank accounts,
although Selik candidly admitted that "we have no evidence of that." He also relied on
Cheng's claim he donated $1 million to his alma mater of "over the years," but neither
independently verified the accuracy of this claim nor (more importantly) could testify to
whether any of those donations had been made after the judgment lapsed in 2004.
Finally, Selik's opinion on past collectability also appeared to assume that, because
Cheng made multiple expensive trips to China over the years, he must have had
significant financial resources to afford those trips. However, the only evidence as to the
source of funds to pay for these trips was that his corporate entities used corporate funds
(obtained by capital infusions from investors) to pay for those trips, and Selik cited no
facts suggesting Cheng had personal assets he used for these trips. Because each of these
predicates to Selik's opinion relied purely on speculation or assumptions unsupported by
the record, Selik's opinion on past collectability (to the extent it was based on the
forgoing assumptions and speculations) "cannot rise to the dignity of substantial
evidence" and a judgment based solely on that opinion "must be reversed for lack of
substantial evidence." (Pacific Gas, supra, 189 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1135-1136.)
The only remaining factor cited by Selik in support of his opinion on past
collectability was his conclusion that an aggressive collection effort could have included
subpoenaing Cheng's investors under third-party judgment debtor examination
procedures, and these examinations would have exerted pressure on these investors to
19
loan Cheng the money to pay the Wises.5 This final basis for Selik's opinion as to past
collectability cannot serve as an adequate foundation for his opinion both because it is
rooted in an incorrect legal theory and because it rests on speculation or assumptions
unsupported by the record. The Wises could not have even lawfully obtained a subpoena
requiring investors to appear unless their application for the subpoenas proved to the
court, by affidavit or otherwise, that the specific investor possessed or controlled property
in which Cheng had an interest, or that the specific investor was indebted to Cheng.
(Code Civ. Proc., § 708.120, subd. (a).) Selik never suggested, much less with any
evidentiary support, that the Wises could have satisfied these legal impediments to
obtaining the subpoenas necessary to begin applying "pressure" on the investors. Selik,
although admitting the statute contains these limitations on the creditor's ability to obtain
a subpoena, testified judges issue these subpoenas regardless of the statutory
requirements.
We decline to accord testimony any weight when it is premised on the assumption
that the law will not be followed by the courts. Moreover, even assuming a judge would
have disregarded the law and issued the subpoena, this aspect of the foundational facts
5 Selik also testified these examinations could have resulted in payment because Cheng would have been pressured (either by the investors or out of self-interest) to pay the judgment. In addition to the fallacious legal theory and speculative assumptions fatal to Selik's opinion on "investor loans to pay the judgment" as discussed below, Selik's belief Cheng would have paid the judgment fails for a third reason: it is based on the implicit predicate that Cheng had independent assets to which he would have resorted to respond to this pressure. Because there was no evidence Cheng had any assets to which he could have resorted, Selik's opinion that Cheng would have responded to these examinations by paying the judgment lacks any factual foundation and is therefore entitled to no weight. 20
relied on by Selik to conclude the judgment would have been collected in the past (i.e.
from loans by investors to Cheng because the investors "are going to want to protect their
investment") is speculative on multiple levels: it assumes the Wises would have
discovered the identities of the investors to be subpoenaed before investments dried up as
a result of the 2008 stock market crash6; more importantly, it required Selik to speculate
as to what investors might have done (e.g. loaned money to Cheng personally) under a
hypothetical set of historical facts without any evidence that Cheng's investors would
have in fact reacted as surmised by Selik. Selik apparently never spoke to any investors
to ask whether they would have loaned money to Cheng personally had they learned of
his indebtedness to the Wises. Although Jack White (who appears to have been Cheng's
largest investor) was a witness at trial, the Wises never asked him whether he would have
loaned money to Cheng personally had he learned of Cheng's indebtedness to them.
Because all of the predicates for Selik's opinion on past collectability rely on
speculation, factual assumptions unsupported by the record, or fallacious legal
assumptions, his opinion "cannot rise to the dignity of substantial evidence" and a
judgment based solely on his opinion "must be reversed for lack of substantial evidence."
(Pacific Gas, supra, 189 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1135-1136.)
6 Cheng testified that, after the stock market crash of 2008, he had difficulty raising money from investors. There was no evidence, had the judgment been renewed, the Wises would have learned the identities of the investors any earlier than they actually did (i.e. in 2009), well after the crash.
21
The Wises also rely on Selik's testimony that the judgment would have been
collectable in the future to assert there was substantial evidence to support the finding of
collectability. However, Selik's opinion on "future collectability," premised on his
prediction that Cheng would continue to convince investors to invest in his business
schemes, explained that (1) if Cheng succeeded in getting new investors and the business
became successful "we might have something in the . . . millions and millions and
millions to go after," and (2) even if the businesses continued to fail "it's probably just a
few million dollars in investments that we will be going after." The latter basis for Selik's
opinion on future collectability merely restates his "reverse piercing" theory and we
conclude, for the reasons already discussed, it is entitled to no weight and cannot
constitute substantial evidence. (Corrales, supra, 198 Cal.App.4th at p. 226.) We
conclude, for distinct reasons, the former basis for Selik's opinion on future collectability
is also entitled to no weight and cannot constitute substantial evidence to support the
finding of collectability. The trial evidence showed none of the companies have any
existing contracts or agreements, none of the companies have any assets, and the
companies were "dead" without an infusion of new investment funds, which (Cheng
conceded) had largely dried up. Selik's prediction of "millions and millions and millions
[for the Wises] to go after," notwithstanding the absence of capital and Cheng's historical
record of failed enterprises, is entirely speculative.
In Sargon Enterprises Inc. v. University of Southern California, supra, 55 Cal.4th
747, our Supreme Court recently cautioned against admitting such expert testimony
predicting the amount of lost profits for a start-up business, reasoning that:
22
"World history is replete with fascinating 'what ifs.' What if Alexander the Great had been killed early in his career at the Battle of the Granicus River, as he nearly was? What if the Saxon King Harold had prevailed at Hastings, and William, later called the Conqueror, had died in that battle rather than Harold? . . . Many serious, and not-so-serious, historians have enjoyed speculating about these what ifs. But few, if any, claim they are considering what would have happened rather than what might have happened. Because it is inherently difficult to accurately predict the future or to accurately reconstruct a counterfactual past, it is appropriate that trial courts vigilantly exercise their gatekeeping function when deciding whether to admit testimony that purports to prove such claims. [¶] An accountant might be able to determine with reasonable precision what [plaintiff's] profits would have been if it had achieved a [certain] market share . . . . The problem here, however, is that the expert's testimony provided no logical basis to infer that [plaintiffs] would have achieved that market share." (Id. at p. 781.)
Similarly, in Greenwich S.F., LLC v. Wong (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 739
(Greenwich), the court rejected an award of damages based on an expert's projection of
lost profits because the claimed lost profits were "uncertain, hypothetical and entirely
speculative." (Id. at p. 743.) There, the plaintiffs sought lost profits for breach of a real
property sales agreement, and "presented evidence of lost profits through the testimony of
[a] real estate appraiser," who testified about what the property would have been worth
had it been developed according to the intended plans and specifications. (Id. at p. 749.)
On appeal, the court found the resulting award of $600,000 in lost profits was without
substantial evidentiary support because the "occurrence and extent of the projected lost
profits were not proven with the requisite reasonable certainty in this case." (Id. at p.
760.) The court noted that, "The evidence in this case was insufficient to show that
[either plaintiff] was an established business or had a track record of successfully
23
developing or redeveloping properties. . . . [¶] . . . The existence of plans for a
development does not supply substantial evidence that the development is reasonably
certain to be built, much less that it is reasonably certain to produce profits." (Id. at
p. 763, italics added.)
In reversing the award, the court stated that "[t]he lost profits claim was based on
the assumption that [plaintiffs] would have constructed the residence according to the
plans and specifications without changes and that the venture would have been profitable.
These assumptions were inherently uncertain, contingent, unforeseeable and speculative.
The proposed real estate development project here involved numerous variables that
made any calculation of lost profits inherently uncertain." (Greenwich, supra, 190
Cal.App.4th at p. 766, fn. omitted.) Other cases are in accord. (See, e.g., Kids' Universe
v. In2Labs (2002) 95 Cal.App.4th 870, 877-878 [finding expert testimony insufficient to
demonstrate lost profits where a small toy store claimed flood damage to the store caused
by defendant led to $50 million in lost profits because plaintiff's new website would have
allowed it to compete in the Internet toy marketing business]; Vestar Development II,
LLC v. General Dynamics Corp. (9th Cir. 2001) 249 F.3d 958, 962 [applying California
law and holding too speculative award of lost profits for breach of agreement to negotiate
where plaintiff sought "future profits that it hoped to earn from the shopping center it had
planned to build on the parcel it was attempting to buy"].)
Selik's opinion that the Wises could collect their judgment in the future likewise
rested on the hope that, notwithstanding Cheng's track record over the preceding two
decades, one or more of Cheng's entities would earn future profits in an undeveloped
24
business for which no capital had yet materialized. Selik's opinion is based on
projections so "uncertain, hypothetical and entirely speculative" (Greenwich, supra, 190
Cal.App.4th at p. 743) that it cannot provide substantial evidence to support the
judgment.
We conclude there was no substantial evidence introduced by the Wises to support
a finding that the judgment against Cheng would have been collectable, either in the past
or in the future, had it been renewed. Accordingly, we reverse the judgment against
DLA, and direct that judgment be entered in its favor. (Kelly v. Haag (2006) 145
Cal.App.4th 910, 919.)
DISPOSITION
The judgment is reversed. DLA is entitled to costs on appeal.
McDONALD, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
McINTYRE, J.
25
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. In a legal malpractice action, a plaintiff must prove that the underlying judgment would have been collectible; because the plaintiffs failed to provide substantial evidence of the debtor's solvency or ability to pay, the judgment against the defendant law firm must be reversed.
Issues
Whether there was substantial evidence that the underlying judgment against the debtor was collectible.
Whether an expert's opinion based on speculation and incorrect legal theories constitutes substantial evidence of collectability.
Disposition. Reversed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“The element of collectibility requires a showing of the debtor's solvency.”
“It is not enough for a plaintiff to present speculation or assumptions about an underlying defendant's ability to respond in damages, as opposed to proof of same.”
“When the plaintiff does not introduce evidence from which a trier of fact could conclude, to a reasonable degree of certainty, the judgment would have been collectable, a verdict in favor of the plaintiff must be reversed.”