California Court of Appeal Dec 10, 2014 No. E058128MUnpublished
Filed 12/10/14 Flynn v. Vinson CA4/2
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
STEPHEN FLYNN,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E058128
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIC1208403)
A. KAY VINSON et al., ORDER MODIFYING OPINION AND DENYING PETITION FOR Defendants; REHEARING
DIANA SERAFIN et al., [NO CHANGE IN JUDGMENT]
Real Parties in Interest and Appellants.
THE COURT
The petition for rehearing filed on December 2, 2014, is denied. On the court’s
own motion, the opinion filed in this matter on November 18, 2014, is modified as
follows:
1. On page 19, delete footnote No. 9.
1
2. On page 20, replace the last paragraph, which begins “The language from
Perry that Flynn quotes . . . ,” with the following two new paragraphs and a new footnote
No. 9:
The language from Perry that Flynn quotes cannot be divorced from its proper
context—the ability of a ballot initiative proponent to defend the initiative when public
officials abandon their duty to do so. The court in Perry was only concerned with an
Nor does this court’s decision in Mission Springs Water Dist. v. Verjil (2013) 218
Cal.App.4th 892 (Verjil) [Fourth Dist., Div. Two]—which Flynn first addressed during
oral argument9—have any bearing here. There, one issue was whether, for purposes of
the SLAPP Act (§ 425.16), a suit against ballot initiative proponents for a declaratory
9 During oral argument, Flynn also relied on an interim order of the Supreme Court issued in an original proceeding still pending before that court. (Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. v. Bowen (S220289).) Though reported in the news media, that order was not a published decision and, therefore, may not be cited by any party or relied upon by any court of this State.
2
judgment arose from the proponents’ acts in furtherance of their personal rights. (Verjil,
at p. 902.) This court relied on Perry for the proposition “that initiative proponents have
a constitutional stake in preelection litigation over their initiative that is distinct from the
general public’s stake in postenactment litigation over a statute” (Verjil, at p. 906) and,
therefore, we concluded the proponents satisfied the “arising from” prong for a SLAPP
motion (id. at pp. 906-908). As in Perry, this court had no need to decide whether the
initiative proponents were also acting to advance an important public right.
3. On page 22, replace the first paragraph, which begins “So too here,” with
the following paragraph:
So too here. Flynn delayed filing his preelection challenge until well into the
initiative process and, by that time, the right of the voters to have their say on Measure N
was clearly implicated. By successfully opposing Flynn’s petition, Serafin enforced that
important right of the electors, as well as enforcing their own rights.
These modifications do not change the judgment.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
McKINSTER Acting P. J. We concur:
KING J.
3
CODRINGTON J.
4
Filed 11/18/14 (unmodified version)
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.
IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION TWO
STEPHEN FLYNN,
Plaintiff and Respondent, E058128
v. (Super.Ct.No. RIC1208403)
A. KAY VINSON et al., OPINION
Defendants;
DIANA SERAFIN et al.,
Real Parties in Interest and Appellants.
APPEAL from the Superior Court of Riverside County. Daniel A. Ottolia, Judge.
Affirmed in part; reversed in part with directions.
Lepiscopo & Associates, Peter D. Lepiscopo, William P. Morrow, James M.
Griffiths and Michael W. Healy for Real Parties in Interest and Appellants.
1
Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, Charles H. Bell, Jr., Thomas W. Hiltachk and Paul T.
Gough for Plaintiff and Respondent.
No appearance for Defendants.
INTRODUCTION
Real parties in interest and appellants Diana Serafin and Robin Nielson
(collectively Serafin)1 succeeded in opposing a preelection challenge to Measure N, the
Murrieta Prohibition of Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems Act, which was a local
ballot initiative they proposed for the removal of red light cameras in the City of
Murrieta. Although the superior court initially granted a mandamus petition filed by
plaintiff Stephen Flynn against the city clerk and other city and county officials, and
ordered Measure N removed from the ballot, Serafin successfully petitioned this court for
a writ of mandate directing the trial court to deny Flynn’s petition and allow Measure N
to remain on the November 6, 2012, ballot. (Diana Serafin et al. v. Superior Court
After we issued our remittitur, Serafin filed a motion seeking attorney fees under the
private attorney general doctrine codified in Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5,2 and
filed memorandums of costs. In postjudgment proceedings, the trial court denied Serafin
their fees without prejudice, concluding Serafin’s request was premature and they did not
1 We use “Serafin” for ease of reference with respect to real parties in interest. No disrespect is intended toward Ms. Nielson.
2 Unless otherwise indicated, all undesignated statutory references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.
2
show that they were the prevailing party because the validity of Measure N had not yet
been litigated in a postelection challenge. The trial court also granted motions to tax
costs filed by the city and county defendants, finding Serafin had not prevailed against
defendants because they had not opposed or supported Flynn’s preelection challenge and
had not participated in the writ proceedings in this court.
We have jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a postjudgment order denying
attorney fees, so we deny Flynn’s request that we dismiss the appeal. On the merits, we
conclude Serafin was not required to establish that Measure N survived a postelection
challenge before moving for attorney fees. Serafin’s main goal in opposing Flynn’s
preelection challenge was to ensure that the voters of Murrieta had the opportunity to
exercise their right to vote on a ballot initiative. Serafin was entirely successful in that
endeavor and, in the process, they vindicated an important public right. We also
conclude Flynn interfered with the exercise of an important right, and he is the type of
party who is liable for attorney fees under section 1021.5. Therefore, we reverse the
order denying Serafin’s motion for attorney fees and taxing their costs with respect to
Flynn, and remand for the trial court to conduct a hearing on the merits of the requests for
attorney fees and costs from Flynn. However, because Serafin provides no argument for
reversing the court’s separate orders taxing costs with respect to the city and county
parties, we affirm those orders.
3
I.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
In his petition in the superior court filed on June 5, 2012, Flynn prayed for a writ
of mandamus directing defendants (the Murrieta city clerk and city council) to remove
Measure N from the ballot for the November 6, 2012, general election and, if necessary,
directing defendants (the county board of supervisors and registrar of voters) to not
conduct an election on Measure N.3 The petition named Diana Serafin and Robin
Nielson as real parties in interest, and alleged they were the proponents of Measure N
who had collected the signatures necessary for placing the initiative on the ballot.
According to Flynn, Measure N improperly asked the voters to exercise authority over
automated traffic enforcement systems (ATES) that the Legislature squarely addressed to
the city council and, even if the electors could adopt an initiative addressing the adoption
or removal of an ATES, Measure N was improper because it did not actually adopt an
ordinance removing an ATES, but directed the city council to adopt one. Finally, Flynn
argued his preelection challenge was the appropriate means of addressing the legality of
Measure N, and that the trial court should not exercise discretion to permit the election to
go forward and wait for a postelection challenge.
3 The defendants in the superior court mandamus proceeding made no appearances in this appeal.
4
In their opposition, Serafin’s main contention was that the trial court should permit
Measure N to remain on the November 6, 2012, ballot, and that the validity of the
initiative should be tested in a postelection challenge. Serafin also argued the petition
should be denied because Flynn did not identify a mandatory or ministerial duty that
defendants failed to exercise, for purposes of mandamus relief under Code of Civil
Procedure section 1085 or Elections Code section 13314. Serafin’s final argument in
opposition to the petition addressed the legality of Measure N, but even in that context
Serafin continued to argue that the election should go forward and the measure’s validity
should be tested in a postelection challenge.
After taking the matter under submission, on August 3, 2012, the trial court granted the
petition. The court agreed with Flynn that removal of an ATES was not a proper subject
for a ballot initiative and, even if it were proper, Measure N did not actually adopt an
ordinance to that effect. The court also concluded that a preelection challenge was
appropriate, especially when the illegality of the measure was so clearly demonstrated.
On August 8, 2012, Serafin filed a petition for writ of mandate in the California Supreme
Court and requested an immediate stay of the trial court’s order. The same day, the
Supreme Court ordered the case transferred to this court (Serafin v. Superior Court
(Flynn) (Aug. 8, 2012, S204561) 2012 Cal. Lexis 7600 (Serafin I)). Two days later, we
granted a stay. After receiving an opposition from Flynn, we concluded that, although it
was not necessarily improper for the trial court to entertain a preelection challenge to
Measure N, it was nonetheless unwise under the facts of this case, especially in light of
5
Flynn’s substantial delay in filing his petition in the superior court. (Serafin II, supra,
E056868.) We therefore granted Serafin’s petition and ordered that a peremptory writ of
mandate issue directing the superior court to set aside its order granting Flynn’s petition
and to enter a different order, and we awarded Serafin their costs. (Ibid.) On October 9,
2012, we granted Serafin’s motion for early issuance of the remittitur, which the trial
court received the next day.
On October 15, 2012, Serafin filed a motion for attorney fees under section 1021.5, and
filed a memorandum of costs and a memorandum of costs on appeal. Serafin argued they
were entitled to recover attorney fees under the private attorney general doctrine because
they were the prevailing party and succeeded in enforcing an important public right, to
wit, the right of the electors of Murrieta to vote on Measure N. Serafin sought fees and
costs against Flynn and the city and county defendants, jointly and severally, because
defendants had refused to defend Measure N and allegedly abdicated their duty to defend
the initiative. In the motion and supporting declarations and billing statements, Serafin
contended they had incurred $86,895 in reasonable attorney fees opposing Flynn’s
petition in the superior court, and an additional $42,525 in reasonable attorney fees in the
original proceeding filed in the Supreme Court, which was transferred to this court for
decision. Serafin also argued they were entitled to a multiplier of their lodestar by a
factor of 2 or 3. Finally, Serafin contended they had incurred $1,344.94 in costs in the
superior court, and $1,093.15 in costs in the Supreme Court and in this court.
6
The trial court entered an order on October 24, 2012, vacating its prior order granting
Flynn’s petition. Two days later, the trial court entered a judgment denying Flynn’s
petition. The judgment left the matter of attorney fees and costs to be determined at a
later date.
Flynn opposed the motion for attorney fees, primarily contending (1) he did not interfere
with the exercise of a legal right, (2) he was not the type of party who was liable for
attorney fees under section 1021.5, (3) Serafin was not a prevailing party because they
had not yet established Measure N’s validity in a postelection proceeding, and (4) Serefin
had not succeeded in enforcing an important public right. Flynn also opposed Serafin’s
request for attorney fees as unsupported by the evidence and excessive, and argued that a
multiplier was unwarranted. The city and county defendants each filed two motions to
tax Serafin’s costs (including attorney fees) at the trial and appellate levels, primarily
contending they did not oppose or support Flynn’s petition and, as a result, Serafin cannot
be said to have prevailed against them.
7
At the November 6, 2012, general election, Measure N was approved by 57.26 percent of
the Murrieta electors who cast votes.4 Before Serafin’s request for attorney fees and
costs was heard, Flynn filed a notice of related case and requested that the trial court take
judicial notice of the petition in Safe Streets for Murrieta, No on Proposition N v. City
Council of the City of Murrieta (Super. Ct. Riverside County, 2012, case No.
RIC1217545) (Safe Streets for Murrieta), which was filed soon after the election.
During the hearing5 on Serafin’s motion for attorney fees and memorandums of costs, the
trial court stated its tentative decision that it would deny Serafin their attorney fees
because the motion was “not yet ripe” and Serafin had not shown they were a prevailing
party, in that the substantive merits of Flynn’s challenge to Measure N had not yet been
determined in Safe Streets for Murrieta. The court also stated its tentative decision to
grant defendants’ four motions to tax costs because they had not litigated in the superior
court writ proceedings, and they were not parties to the original proceeding filed in the
Supreme Court and decided in this court. The court granted Flynn’s request to take
judicial notice of the petition filed in Safe Streets for Murrieta.
4 Riverside County election results from the Consolidated Presidential Election, held on November 6, 2012. (<http://www.election.co.riverside.ca.us/eresults/69/ Election%20Result.htm> [as of Nov. 18, 2014].)
5 When Serafin filed the notice of appeal, they did not designate any reporter’s transcripts to be made part of the record on appeal. By order dated July 9, 2013, this court granted Serafin’s motion to augment the record on appeal with the reporter’s transcript of the hearing conducted on December 13, 2012. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.155(a)(1)(B).)
8
Serafin argued they were entitled to attorney fees because they were “100 percent”
successful in the trial court and in this court by achieving their goal of “protect[ing] the
electoral and the initiative process and ensur[ing] that the people of the city of Murrieta
would be able to exercise their franchise to vote.” Flynn argued he was not liable for
attorney fees under section 1021.5 because: (1) the “substantive issues in the case” had
not yet been decided, to wit, the legality of Measure N; (2) he was not the type of party
liable for such fees in that he “did not engage in any conduct which violated the rights of
the other parties”; and (3) Serafin’s defense of Measure N in a preelection challenge only
resulted in their “enforcing [a] private right at that point in time.” After hearing
additional argument, the trial court took the motion for attorney fees and the four motions
to tax costs under submission.
The trial court subsequently entered orders denying Serafin’s motion for attorney fees
and granting the city and county defendants’ motions to tax costs. In a written ruling, the
trial court stated: “The Court finds that, although Real Parties in Interest Serafin and
Nielson enforced an important public right by appealing this matter to ensure that the
initiative remained on the ballot, the Request for Attorneys Fees is premature because the
Courts have not yet ruled on the substantive merit of Petitioner’s claim. Hence, Serafin
and Nielson cannot be deemed ‘successful parties’ for purposes of CCP § 1021.5.” The
court noted that, if Serafin were to successfully defend Measure N in Safe Streets for
Murrieta, they “would be entitled to attorney fees, which would include fees for work
performed on this Petition as well.” Finally, the trial court stated that Serafin was not
9
entitled to recover attorney fees and costs from defendants because the city and county
“were not parties to the appeal and did not . . . support the writ. Hence, Serafin and
Nielson did not prevail against these parties.”
Serafin timely filed a notice of appeal from the orders denying the motion for attorney
fees and taxing their costs.
Serafin chose not to intervene in Safe Streets for Murrieta to defend the substantive
merits of Measure N and, in that case, the trial court granted the petition for writ of
mandate and entered a judgment preventing the City of Murrieta from enforcing or
implementing Measure N.6 No appeal was filed in that case.
6 The parties filed separate applications requesting that we take judicial notice of various pleadings and documents filed in the superior court in Safe Streets for Murrieta, supra, case No. RIC1217545. By orders dated May 20 and July 9, 2013, we deferred ruling on those requests. Although we conclude the result in Safe Streets for Murrieta is not determinative in this appeal, see post pages 16-19, we nonetheless take judicial notice of the reporter’s transcript and of the judgment in that case simply for purposes of providing the conclusion to the story of Measure N. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459, subd. (a).) We deny the remainder of the requests for judicial notice because those documents are not relevant to the issues raised in this appeal. (Gonzalez v. Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 89, 97, fn. 8 [Fourth Dist., Div. Two]; see Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.252(a)(2)(A).)
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II.
DISCUSSION
A.
This Court Has Jurisdiction to Hear an Appeal from a Postjudgment Order
Denying Attorney Fees
As a threshold matter, Flynn contends this court lacks jurisdiction to hear Serafin’s
appeal and should dismiss it because the order denying Serafin’s motion for attorney fees
was an interlocutory order or judgment, and hearing this appeal now would run afoul of
the one final judgment rule. (§ 904.1, subd. (a)(1).) Serafin responds that the order
denying their motion for attorney fees came after the trial court entered a final judgment
denying Flynn’s petition, and that this court has jurisdiction to hear an appeal from a
postjudgment order under section 904.1, subdivision (a)(2). We agree with Serafin.
“The right to appeal is conferred by statute. (Dana Point Safe Harbor Collective v.
Superior Court (2010) 51 Cal.4th 1, 5 . . . .) Code of Civil Procedure section 904.1,
subdivision (a) lists appealable judgments and orders. These include ‘an order made after
a judgment made appealable by paragraph (1).’ (Code Civ. Proc., § 904.1, subd. (a)(2)
(section 904.1(a)(2)).) Under section 904.1(a)(2), postjudgment orders granting or
denying motions for attorney fees are deemed to be appealable. (Lakin v. Watkins
Associated Industries (1993) 6 Cal.4th 644, 648 . . .; see Eisenberg et al., Cal. Practice
Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group 2013) ¶ 2:156, p. 2-72.15 (rev.# 1,
2013).)” (Apex LLC v. Korusfood.com (2013) 222 Cal.App.4th 1010, 1014-1015.)
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On October 9, 2012, this court issued its remittitur in Serafin II, supra, E056868, and the
superior court received it the next day. Serafin filed their motion for attorney fees and
memorandums of costs on October 15, 2012. On October 24, 2012, the trial court
entered an order vacating its prior order granting Flynn’s petition. Two days later, the
trial court entered a final judgment denying the petition. After taking under submission
Serafin’s motion for attorney fees and memorandums of costs, on January 10, 2013, the
trial court entered its orders denying Serafin’s motion for attorney fees and taxing their
costs. Serafin timely filed a notice of appeal on February 14, 2013.
The order denying Serafin’s motion for attorney fees came after the entry of judgment, so
Flynn’s characterization of that order as a nonappealable interlocutory order or judgment
is simply incorrect. Because we have jurisdiction to hear appeals from postjudgment
orders denying attorney fees, we deny Flynn’s request to dismiss the appeal.
B.
Serafin Was Entitled to Attorney Fees from Flynn Once the Superior Court
Entered Its Judgment in This Case Because They Enforced an Important
Public Right by Successfully Opposing Flynn’s Preelection Challenge
Serafin argues the trial court erred by denying the motion for attorney fees under
section 1021.5, as premature, because they were completely successful in opposing
Flynn’s preelection challenge and had enforced an important right of the electors of
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Murrieta to vote on a ballot initiative.7 Serafin contends the trial court incorrectly
interpreted section 1021.5 to require that the proponent of a ballot initiative must show
the initiative was adopted by the electorate, and that the ballot initiative must survive a
postelection challenge before Serafin can move for attorney fees incurred in a preelection
challenge. Finally, in their reply brief, Serafin argues that an award of attorney fees
against Flynn is appropriate because, by prosecuting a preelection challenge to
Measure N, he interfered with the voters’ franchise rights. We agree and reverse the
order denying Serafin their attorney fees from Flynn.
i. Serafin Was the Successful Party in This Case
“Section 1021.5 provides, in pertinent part, that ‘[u]pon motion, a court may award
attorneys’ fees to a successful party . . . in any action which has resulted in the
enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest if . . . a significant benefit
. . . has been conferred on the general public . . . .’ Section 1021.5 is one of many
‘statutory exceptions’ that authorize a trial court to deviate from the generally applicable
‘American rule’ that each party bears its own costs and attorney fees. [Citation.]” (Olson
v. Automobile Club of Southern California (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1142, 1147.) “The
Legislature enacted the provision to codify the private attorney general doctrine
7 Serafin presents no arguments on appeal for reversing the trial court’s orders denying their attorney fees and costs with respect to the city and county defendants. It is a “cardinal rule of appellate review that a judgment or order of the trial court is presumed correct and prejudicial error must be affirmatively shown.” (Foust v. San Jose Construction Co., Inc. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 181, 187, citing Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564.) We therefore affirm the orders granting defendants’ motions to tax costs.
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previously developed by the courts. [Citations.] The doctrine rests on the recognition
that privately initiated lawsuits, while often essential to effectuate important public
policies, will as a practical matter frequently be infeasible without some mechanism
authorizing courts to award fees. [Citations.] Accordingly, ‘“the fundamental objective
of the doctrine is to encourage suits enforcing important public policies by providing
substantial attorney fees to successful litigants in such cases.”’ [Citation.]” (Vasquez v.
State of California (2008) 45 Cal.4th 243, 250.)
“The terms ‘prevailing party’ and ‘successful party,’ as used in section 1021.5, are
synonymous. [Citation.]” (McGuigan v. San Diego (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 610, 625
(McGuigan).) In order to effectuate the public policy behind the private attorney general
doctrine, the courts “have taken a broad, pragmatic view of what constitutes a ‘successful
party.’” (Graham v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. (2004) 34 Cal.4th 553, 565.) “‘The term
“successful party,” as ordinarily understood, means the party to litigation that achieves its
objectives.’ [Citation.] ‘“A lawsuit’s ultimate purpose is to achieve actual relief from an
opponent. . . . On this common understanding, if a party reaches the ‘sought-after
destination,’ then the party ‘prevails’ regardless of the ‘route taken.’”’” (Wal-Mart Real
Estate Business Trust v. City Council of San Marcos (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 614, 621
(Wal-Mart).) Recovery of attorney fees under section 1021.5 is not limited to successful
plaintiffs or petitioners, and a successful defendant or real party in interest may recover
their fees. (Id. at p. 622; 1 Cal. Attorney Fee Awards (Cont.Ed.Bar 3d ed. 2014) Fee-
Shifting Statutes, § 3.19, p. 3-19.)
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“‘On review of an award of attorney fees after trial, the normal standard of review is
abuse of discretion. However, de novo review of such a trial court order is warranted
where the determination of whether the criteria for an award of attorney fees and costs in
this context have been satisfied amounts to statutory construction and a question of law.’
[Citation.] Although ‘the decision whether to award attorney fees under section 1021.5
rests initially with the trial court’ [citation], the court does not have the discretion to
award such fees unless the statutory criteria have been met as a matter of law. Where the
material facts are undisputed, and the question is how to apply statutory language to a
given factual and procedural context, the reviewing court applies a de novo standard of
review to the legal determinations made by the trial court. [Citation.]” (McGuigan,
supra, 183 Cal.App.4th at pp. 622-623.)
The trial court concluded Serafin was not the prevailing party, and their motion for
attorney fees was not ripe because the legality of Measure N had not yet been established
in a postelection challenge. Although Flynn made this argument in his opposition to the
attorney fee motion, he does not repeat it in the brief he filed in this court.8 We find no
support whatsoever in the actual language of section 1021.5 or in the published decisions
8 Likewise, Flynn no longer contends Serafin’s motion was premature because it was filed before the voters had adopted Measure N. The trial court did not rely on that ground when it denied Serafin’s motion, for the obvious reason that the hearing on the motion took place after Measure N’s passage at the November 6, 2012, election. For the same reasons that we conclude Serafin was not required to obtain a favorable result on the legality of the initiative before moving for attorney fees, we also conclude Serafin was not required to show the measure was actually adopted before moving for attorney fees. (Cf. Press v. Lucky Stores, Inc. (1983) 34 Cal.3d 311, 316 [ballot initiative proponents were entitled to attorney fees for enforcing their First Amendment right to gather [footnote continued on next page]
15
for the trial court’s conclusion that Serafin had to successfully defend Measure N in a
postelection challenge before moving for attorney fees.
In Wal-Mart, the city of San Marcos, California, approved land use amendments to
permit the development of a second Wal-Mart store. In response, two city residents
submitted to the city clerk the necessary signatures for a voter referendum challenging
the city’s decision and putting approval of the second store to a vote of the electors, and
thereafter the city clerk delivered the signatures to the county registrar of voters for
verification. (Wal-Mart, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 618.) Wal-Mart Real Estate
Business Trust responded to the proposed referendum by filing suit against the city, the
city clerk, and the county registrar of voters, seeking a writ of mandate to prevent or
postpone a vote on the referendum based on alleged Elections Code violations. (Ibid.)
The defendants did not oppose the petition, but the proponents of the referendum, who
were named as real parties in interest, did. (Id. at pp. 618-619.) Among other things, the
real parties in interest argued “a pre-ballot challenge to a referendum is a disruption of
the electoral process the court should not permit absent a compelling showing the
substantive provisions of the referendum are invalid . . . .” (Id. at p. 619.) The trial court
agreed, and entered a judgment denying the petition for writ of mandate. (Ibid.) Sixty-
[footnote continued from previous page] [footnote continued from previous page] [footnote continued from previous page] [footnote continued from previous page] signatures in front of a supermarket, notwithstanding subsequent defeat of the ballot initiative by voters].)
16
one percent of the electors subsequently disapproved of the city’s actions, and neither
Wal-Mart nor the owner of the property brought a postelection challenge. (Ibid.)
The real parties in interest then moved for their attorney fees under section 1021.5,
contending their opposition to the mandate petition enforced important rights of the
general public or a large class of persons. (Wal-Mart, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at p. 619.)
A different superior court judge heard the motion. The second judge “denied the motion
on the ground the judge who denied Wal-Mart’s petition for lack of ripeness ‘did not
make any substantive rulings on this case,’ and ‘it would be a stretch to then . . . conclude
that something that was not adjudicated . . . leads to a significant benefit.’” (Ibid.)
On appeal, Wal-Mart supported the denial of attorney fees, arguing the real parties in
interest “were not ‘successful parties’ within the meaning of section 1021.5 because in
denying Wal-Mart’s petition for writ relief ‘all . . . they achieved . . . was the [t]rial
[c]ourt’s acknowledgment . . . that Wal-Mart’s suit had come too early, and needed to
await the results of the referendum elections.’” (Wal-Mart, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at
p. 621.) The appellate court disagreed. “In bringing its petition, Wal-Mart sought to
keep the referendum off the ballot. In opposing the petition, on ripeness and other
grounds, [real parties in interest] sought dismissal of the petition to allow a vote on the
City’s action to proceed, and that is precisely the relief they obtained.” (Ibid.)
We find Wal-Mart persuasive and conclude it is controlling here. As Serafin argued at
the hearing on the attorney fee motion, the objectives of their opposition to Flynn’s
petition, and their objective in petitioning the Supreme Court for a writ of mandate, was
17
“to maintain the integrity of the electoral and initiative processes and to secure and
protect the public’s constitutional right to vote and power to directly enact laws.” Serafin
presented a defense to the validity of Measure N in the alternative, but that argument was
clearly subordinate to their main contentions that the trial court should permit the election
to go forward and, if needed, address the validity of the measure in a postelection
challenge.
In our opinion granting Serafin’s petition for writ of mandate, we concluded that, while
the trial court had the authority to address the legality of Measure N in a preelection
challenge, it was unwise to do so in this case because of Flynn’s substantial delay in
filing his lawsuit. (Serafin II, supra, E056868.) In light of Serafin’s limited objectives in
this case and the result that was ultimately obtained—a judgment denying Flynn’s
preelection challenge and allowing Measure N to go before the voters at the November 6,
2012, election—Serafin clearly meets the definition of a prevailing party. (Wal-Mart,
supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at pp. 621-622.) In short, Serafin was not required to wait until
the trial court determined the substantive merits of Flynn’s challenge to Measure N
before moving for attorney fees.
ii. Serafin Enforced an Important Public Right
Flynn argues that, even if Serafin was the prevailing party, they still are not entitled to
attorney fees because they only succeeded in enforcing their private, personal rights, and
not the important rights of a broader class of persons. We disagree.
18
Flynn relies exclusively on Perry v. Brown (2011) 52 Cal.4th 1116 (Perry) for the
proposition that defense of a ballot initiative in a preelection challenge only implicates
the proponent’s private rights.9 In Perry, the California Supreme Court answered a
question of state law certified to it by the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit,
to wit, whether the official proponents of a ballot initiative have a recognized interest in
the validity of the initiative, such that they may defend the initiative in court when public
officials otherwise tasked with defending the initiative decline to do so. (Id. at p. 1124.)
The Ninth Circuit believed—incorrectly it turned out (Hollingsworth v. Perry
(2013) __ U.S. , [133 S.Ct. 2652, 2662-2663])—that resolution of its certified
question was determinative of whether the proponents of Proposition 8 had standing
under article III of the United States Constitution to appeal a federal court order declaring
Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional. (Perry, at pp. 1132-1133.)
Perry had nothing whatsoever to do with attorney fees under section 1021.5, yet in his
brief Flynn quotes the following from that decision: “In the preelection setting, when a
proposed initiative measure has not yet been adopted as state law, the official proponents
of an initiative measure who intervene or appear as real parties in interest are properly
9 During oral argument before this court, Flynn addressed problems he perceived in our tentative decision by citing to a published appellate decision and an unpublished order from the California Supreme Court that were not addressed in either of his briefs. Generally, arguments raised for the first time during oral argument are waived. (Roberts v. Assurance Co. of America (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1398, 1408.) Moreover, if Flynn believed the authority he now cites mandated a modification of our tentative decision, he should have informed this court of that authority before oral argument. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.254(a).) Therefore, we decline to address those newly cited authorities.
19
viewed as asserting their own personal right and interest—under article II, section 8 of
the California Constitution and the California statutes relating to initiative proponents—
to propose an initiative measure and have the measure submitted to the voters for
approval or rejection. In preelection cases, the official initiative proponents possess a
distinct interest in defending the proposed initiative because they are acting to vindicate
their own right under the relevant California constitutional and statutory provisions to
have their proposed measure—a measure they have submitted to the Attorney General,
have circulated for signature, and have the exclusive right to submit to the Secretary of
State after signatures have been collected—put to a vote of the people. Because in the
preelection context the initiative measure has not been approved and enacted into law, the
state’s interest in defending the validity of an enacted state law does not come into play.”
(Perry, supra, 52 Cal.4th at pp. 1146-1147, fn. omitted.)
The language from Perry that Flynn quotes cannot be divorced from its proper context—
the ability of a ballot initiative proponent to defend the initiative when public officials
abandon their duty to do so. The court in Perry was only concerned with an initiative
proponent’s interests in appearing as a party in preelection and postelection challenges,
and the court had no occasion to decide whether the voters of the State of California had
an interest in voting on Proposition 8. “‘“It is axiomatic that cases are not authority for
propositions not considered.”’” (McWilliams v. City of Long Beach (2013) 56 Cal.4th
613, 626.)
20
There is no doubt that the voters of Murrieta had an interest in the result of this case
because at stake was their constitutional right to vote on a ballot initiative. (Cal. Const.,
art II, §§ 8, subd. (a), 11, subd. (a).) “Voter action by initiative is so fundamental that it
is described ‘not as a right granted the people, but as a power reserved by them.’
[Citation.] ‘Declaring it “the duty of the courts to jealously guard the right of the people”
[citation], the courts have described the initiative and referendum as articulating “one of
the most precious rights of our democratic process” [citation].’ [Citation.] Thus, courts
are required to liberally construe this power [citation] and accord it ‘extraordinarily broad
deference.’” (Native American Sacred Site & Environmental Protection Assn. v. City of
San Juan Capistrano (2004) 120 Cal.App.4th 961, 965-966.)
Again, the decision in Wal-Mart is instructive. In that case, the court held that
“opposition to Wal-Mart’s petition ‘resulted in the enforcement of an important right
affecting the public interest,’ and conferred ‘a significant benefit’ on a large class of
persons within the meaning of section 1021.5.” (Wal-Mart, supra, 132 Cal.App.4th at
p. 622.) “The electorate’s constitutional right to a referendum vote is . . . an important
right under section 1021.5, and [the real parties’ in interest] opposition to Wal-Mart’s
petition to thwart the vote, or at least delay it, protected the rights of thousands of
registered voters to proceed in accordance with state law.” (Id. at p. 623.)
So too here. Flynn delayed filing his preelection challenge until well into the initiative
process, and by that time the right of the voters to have their say on Measure N was
21
clearly implicated. By successfully opposing Flynn’s petition, Serafin enforced that
important right of the electors.
iii. Flynn Is the Type of Party Liable for Fees Under Section 1021.5
Relying on Adoption of Joshua S. (2008) 42 Cal.4th 945 (Joshua S.), Flynn also contends
he is not the type of party who is liable for attorney fees under section 1021.5 because he
did not interfere with the exercise of an important right. Once again, we disagree.
“In Joshua S., [the California Supreme Court] carved out a limited exception to [the
three] qualifications” under section 1021.5, “to be applied in cases where all three factors
are satisfied . . . .” (Serrano v. Stefan Merli Plastering Co., Inc. (2011) 52 Cal.4th 1018,
1026, 1027.) “[S]ection 1021.5 was not intended to impose fees on an individual seeking
a judgment that determines only his or her private rights, but who has done nothing to
adversely affect the public interest other than being on the losing side . . . .” (Joshua S.,
supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 958.) “This is not to say that a party cannot be held liable for
section 1021.5 attorney fees for engaging in litigation. When a party initiates litigation
that is determined to be detrimental to the public interest, attorney fees have been
imposed. In [Wal-Mart], for example, Wal-Mart attacked on technical grounds a
referendum that was to decide whether it could locate within the city, and the city was
awarded attorney fees after it prevailed in the litigation. Wal-Mart thus sought a
judgment that would adversely affect the public interest by preventing the city’s
electorate from exercising its power of referendum. [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 957.)
22
As in Wal-Mart, Flynn brought a preelection challenge to Measure N and sought a writ of
mandate directing the city to remove the initiative from the ballot. Flynn contends,
essentially, that by doing so he was merely protecting the integrity of the ballot initiative
process by ferreting out an illegal ballot measure before it could be submitted to the
voters in the first place. Had Flynn filed his preelection challenge earlier, his contention
may have had merit. But by delaying filing his petition for almost eight months after the
city clerk and county registrar of voters certified the sufficiency of the signatures to place
Measure N on the ballot, Flynn’s lawsuit necessarily implicated and interfered with the
right of the voters in Murrieta to vote on the measure. Therefore, we conclude Flynn
does not fall within the limited exception recognized in Joshua S., and he is the type of
party liable for attorney fees under section 1021.5.
iv. Flynn’s Additional Arguments
Finally, Flynn contends that, if we reverse the order denying Serafin’s motion for
attorney fees, we should make no findings of fact regarding the reasonableness of the
attorney fees Serafin seeks, the evidentiary basis for their request, or the appropriateness
of a multiplier. With this argument we agree. (See Bombardier Recreational Products,
Inc. v. Dow Chemical Canada ULC (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 591, 605 [authority to make
findings of fact on appeal under § 909 and Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.252(b) should be
used sparingly and only in exceptional circumstances].) On remand, the trial court shall
conduct a hearing and make findings of fact on these additional questions in the first
23
instance. As necessary, and in the trial court’s discretion, the trial court may take
additional evidence.
III.
DISPOSITION
The order denying Diana Serafin and Robin Nielson’s motion for attorney fees
against Stephen Flynn is reversed. The cause is remanded for further proceedings on the
amount of reasonable attorney fees and costs, and to determine whether a multiplier of
attorney fees is appropriate. Diana Serafin and Robin Nielson shall also recover from
Stephen Flynn their costs incurred in this appeal. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.278(a)(1).)
The orders granting A. Kay Vinson et al.’s motions to tax costs are affirmed.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS
McKINSTER Acting P. J. We concur:
KING J.
CODRINGTON J.
24
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that the appellants were entitled to attorney fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 1021.5 because they successfully opposed a preelection challenge, thereby enforcing the important public right of the electorate to vote on a ballot initiative. The court determined that the appellants were 'successful parties' regardless of the subsequent outcome of the initiative in postelection litigation.
Issues
Whether a party who successfully opposes a preelection challenge to a ballot initiative is a 'successful party' entitled to attorney fees under section 1021.5.
Whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying attorney fees on the grounds that the request was premature pending a postelection challenge.
Whether the appellants were entitled to attorney fees from the city and county defendants who did not participate in the writ proceedings.
Disposition. Affirmed in part; reversed in part with directions.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“Serafin’s main goal in opposing Flynn’s preelection challenge was to ensure that the voters of Murrieta had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote on a ballot initiative. Serafin was entirely successful in that endeavor”
“Serafin was not required to establish that Measure N survived a postelection challenge before moving for attorney fees.”
“By successfully opposing Flynn’s petition, Serafin enforced that important right of the electors, as well as enforcing their own rights.”