United Heritage Co. Ltd. v. Shirinyan CA2/2

Filed 7/15/25 United Heritage Co. Ltd. v. Shirinyan CA2/2

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

UNITED HERITAGE CO. B338382 LTD., (Los Angeles County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. 21STCP03123) v.

GARY SHIRINYAN,

Defendant and Appellant.

APPEAL from orders of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Lia Martin, Judge. Reversed with directions.

Farivar Law Firm and Fahim Farivar for Defendant and Appellant.

Brian M. Bush for Plaintiff and Respondent.

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After receiving a judgment in its favor from the federal district court in Wyoming, respondent United Heritage Co. Ltd. (United Heritage) filed an application for entry of judgment against appellant Gary Shirinyan (Shirinyan), pursuant to the Sister State Money Judgments Act (SSMJA) (Code Civ. Proc., § 1710.10 et seq.).1 Upon receiving a notice of entry of judgment, Shirinyan moved to vacate the entry of the “sister state” judgment. (§ 1710.40.) The trial court denied that motion, along with Shirinyan’s subsequent motion for reconsideration. Shirinyan appeals from both orders. After the parties briefed the appeal, we solicited supplemental briefing as to whether the SSMJA authorizes entry of judgment based on a federal court order. The parties agree that it does not, but dispute how that principle affects this appeal. We conclude that the entry of judgment must be vacated because it was not authorized by statute. Accordingly, we reverse and direct the trial court to vacate the entry of judgment on sister state judgment. BACKGROUND In November 2019, Shirinyan entered into a stock loan agreement (the contract) with United Heritage.2 Under the contract, United Heritage would give Shirinyan 2,200,000 shares of stock in Rafarma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Shirinyan would then sell those shares, return most of the profit (along with any unsold shares) to United Heritage, and retain a commission for himself. The contract contained a forum selection clause providing that