Baize v. Superior Court CA4/1 (2016) · DecisionDepot
Baize v. Superior Court CA4/1
California Court of Appeal Jan 5, 2016 No. D067884Unpublished
Filed 1/5/16 Baize v. Superior Court CA4/1 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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
DEBBIE BAIZE, D067884
Plaintiff and Appellant,
v. (Super. Ct. No. 37-2015-00011090- CU-HR-CTL) SUPERIOR COURT OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY,
Defendant and Respondent.
APPEAL from an order of the Superior Court of San Diego County, Tamila E.
Ipema, Judge. Affirmed.
Debbie Baize, in pro. per., for Plaintiff and Appellant.
No appearance for Defendant and Respondent.
Debbie Baize sought a civil harassment restraining order against her apartment
manager, Johnson Numan, and his 12-year-old son, Tanner Numan. The trial court
denied the restraining order because it had denied Baize's application for a restraining
order based on the same facts the day before. Baize appeals, in propria persona, from the
trial court's second order denying her request for a restraining order. We affirm.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On April 1, 2015, Baize requested a restraining order against the Numans, which
the trial court denied. The next day, Baize again sought a restraining order against the
Numans. Baize alleged that Johnson made her feel uncomfortable by asking questions
regarding her daily plans, Tanner once followed her to a store and told Johnson lies about
Baize, Johnson paid another tenant to attack Baize, and Johnson attacked her while she
was on her way to the restroom. Baize stated that as a result of the harassment, she
feared for her life.
In her second application for a restraining order, Baize noted that Johnson had
obtained a temporary restraining order against her. She further noted that the trial court
had denied her request for a restraining order against the Numans a day earlier. Baize
explained that she "was not able to say everything [she] wanted to say at the hearing
yesterday, that is why I am now applying for another restraining order today."
The trial court denied Baize's second restraining order request, stating "[t]he Court
has already ruled on this case on 4-1-2015 (yesterday). This case is res judicata which
means it was dismissed with prejudice after the judge heard all the facts. [Baize] cannot
bring another complaint based on the same facts. If there are any future incidents,
[Baize] may return and file another request."
DISCUSSION
I. Notice of Appeal
To be sufficient, the notice of appeal must "identif[y] the particular judgment or
order being appealed." (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.100(a)(2).) Notices of appeal are
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liberally construed so as to protect the right of appeal if it is reasonably clear what
appellant was trying to appeal from and so long as the respondent could not possibly have
been misled or prejudiced. (Luz v. Lopes (1960) 55 Cal.2d 54, 59; D'Avola v. Anderson
(1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 358, 361.) In the absence of a sufficient notice of appeal, there is
no appellate jurisdiction. (See Beets v. Chart (1889) 79 Cal. 185; Norman I. Krug Real
Estate Investments, Inc. v. Praszker (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 35, 47.)
Here, Baize makes largely indiscernible arguments regarding testimony presented
and proceedings in the trial court. It is unclear whether that testimony and those
proceedings were in conjunction with Baize's first or second request for a restraining
order; however, we presume Baize's arguments relate to the first proceeding as they
concern issues other than the trial court's res judicata finding. Baize did not appeal from
the first order denying her request for a restraining order. However, even if we construe
Baize's notice of appeal as identifying the first order denying her request for a restraining
order, her appeal fails as she has not shown error.
II. Baize Failed to Meet Her Burden to Show Error
"[I]t is settled that: '[a] judgment or order of the lower court is presumed correct.
All intendments and presumptions are indulged to support it on matters as to which the
record is silent, and error must be affirmatively shown. This is not only a general
principle of appellate practice but an ingredient of the constitutional doctrine of reversible
error.' " (Denham v. Superior Court (1970) 2 Cal.3d 557, 564.) " 'A necessary corollary
to this rule is that if the record is inadequate for meaningful review, the appellant defaults
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and the decision of the trial court should be affirmed.' " (Gee v. American Realty &
Construction, Inc. (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 1412, 1416.)
Baize did not provide us with a reporter's transcript of any proceedings in the trial
court. In the absence of a reporter's transcript, all presumptions and inferences must be
drawn in support of the trial court's decision. (Mears v. Mears (1962) 201 Cal.App.2d
408, 413; Estate of Fain (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 973, 992 ["Where no reporter's transcript
has been provided and no error is apparent on the face of the existing appellate record,
the judgment must be conclusively presumed correct as to all evidentiary matters. To put
it another way, it is presumed that the unreported trial testimony would demonstrate the
absence of error" (italics omitted)].) Accordingly, Baize failed to meet her burden to
show error.
III. Adequacy of Baize's Brief
Baize filed an opening brief consisting of a short one-page outline of her
arguments, which are nearly impossible to ascertain, followed by several pages which
appear to be photocopies of pages from various treatises. Baize did not elaborate on her
arguments or cite to facts or authority supporting her arguments. (See California Rules of
Court, Rule 8.204(a).) Based on Baize's brief and the record before us, we are unable to
discern or evaluate her arguments. (See Paterno v. State of California (1999) 74
Cal.App.4th 68, 106 ["An appellate court is not required to examine undeveloped claims,
nor to make arguments for parties."]; People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 793
[appellate court's role is to evaluate legal argument with citation of authorities on the
points made].)
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Baize's deficient briefing, combined with the inadequate record, compel us to
conclude she has forfeited any cognizable appellate contentions. In reaching our
conclusion, we are mindful that Baize represents herself on appeal. However, her status
as a party appearing in propria persona does not provide a basis for preferential
consideration. "A party proceeding in propria persona 'is to be treated like any other
party and is entitled to the same, but no greater[,] consideration than other litigants and
attorneys.' [Citation.] Indeed, ' "the in propria persona litigant is held to the same
restrictive rules of procedure as an attorney." ' " (First American Title Co. v. Mirzaian
(2003) 108 Cal.App.4th 956, 958, fn. 1; Leslie v. Board of Medical Quality Assurance
(1991) 234 Cal.App.3d 117, 121.)
DISPOSTION
The order is affirmed. Respondent is awarded costs on appeal.
McINTYRE, J.
WE CONCUR:
McCONNELL, P. J.
AARON, J.
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AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court affirmed the denial of a second request for a civil harassment restraining order, holding that the appellant failed to meet her burden of showing error due to an inadequate record and deficient briefing.
Issues
Whether the trial court erred in denying a second application for a restraining order based on the doctrine of res judicata.
Whether the appellant met her burden to show error in the absence of a reporter's transcript.
Whether the appellant's opening brief provided sufficient legal argument and authority for appellate review.
Disposition. Affirmed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“In the absence of a reporter's transcript, all presumptions and inferences must be drawn in support of the trial court's decision.”
“Baize's deficient briefing, combined with the inadequate record, compel us to conclude she has forfeited any cognizable appellate contentions.”