Sviridov v. City of San Diego (Oct. 13, 2011, D056801) [nonpub. opn.] (Sviridov II), and
Sviridov v. City of San Diego (Mar. 20, 2015, D064634) [nonpub. opn.] (Sviridov III).2
In Sviridov I, we described the background pertaining to Sviridov's November
2007 termination of his employment as a police officer, his October 2008 reinstatement
and payment of back pay and benefits, Sviridov's failure to return to work thereafter, and
his second termination. In the first appeal, Sviridov challenged an order denying his
petition for administrative mandamus in which he sought a determination by the Civil
Service Commission of the City of San Diego on the merits of his challenge to his first
termination. We concluded Sviridov's administrative claim was moot in light of the
decision to reinstate Sviridov and to pay his back pay and benefits.
The second appeal, Sviridov II, involved a demurrer and motion for summary
judgment on Sviridov's third amended complaint asserting claims for wrongful
termination stemming from his second termination, among others. We affirmed the
summary judgment but reversed the trial court's order sustaining defendants' demurrer to
Sviridov's ninth breach of contract cause of action and remanded the matter with
2 On our own motion, we take judicial notice of our prior unpublished appellate opinions. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(b)(1); Fink v. Shemtov (2010) 180 Cal.App.4th 1160, 1171.)
3
directions to grant Sviridov leave to amend his complaint to state a cause of action under
the POBRA and/or to seek appropriate mandamus relief.
Following remand, Sviridov filed a fourth amended complaint seeking relief under
POBRA without pursuing a writ of mandate. The court entered judgment after a bench
trial ordering Sviridov's reinstatement as a police officer and awarding him back pay and
benefits. We reversed the judgment in Sviridov III concluding Sviridov was not entitled
to POBRA relief because Sviridov did not timely appeal his termination with the office of
the chief of police as required by a memorandum of understanding with the San Diego
Police Officers' Association. We remanded the matter with directions to enter judgment
in favor of the City and stated the City was entitled to costs on appeal.
B
After the remittitur, the City filed a memorandum of costs seeking $90,387.28.
This included $46,489.01 in costs previously awarded after summary judgment was
entered in favor of the City in 2010, with interest thereon, as well as subsequent costs.
Sviridov moved to strike the City's cost bill in its entirety contending Williams,
supra, 61 Cal.4th 97 and POBRA preclude recovery of costs. He did not challenge any
particular item of cost or the reasonableness of the costs requested.
The City opposed the motion to strike stating it was entitled to costs as the
prevailing party under sections 1032 and 998 and neither POBRA nor Williams precluded
recovery of costs for the majority of claims in this case. The City presented evidence that
it served Sviridov with three statutory settlement offers under section 998 offering to
waive costs in exchange for a dismissal of the action at separate key times throughout the
4
litigation from 2008 through 2010, after initial investigation of the suit, prior to trial, and
after the grant of summary judgment. Sviridov rejected each offer. As a result, the City
contended it was entitled to costs under section 998.
Sviridov did not respond to the section 998 argument in his reply to the City's
opposition, and he did not challenge the reasonableness of the statutory settlement offers.
Rather, Sviridov reiterated his position that since all of his claims were intertwined with
FEHA claims, costs should not be awarded unless the action was objectively groundless
based upon Williams, supra, 61 Cal.4th 97 and Roman v. BRE Properties, Inc. (2015) 237
Cal.App.4th 1040, 1062, footnote 20 (Roman).3
The court denied the motion to strike stating Williams, supra, 61 Cal.4th 97 did
not apply because the only claim to survive to trial was the POBRA claim and
Government Code section 3309.5 does not bar recovery of ordinary costs by a prevailing
party. The court entered judgment in favor of the City and awarded the City its costs as
requested.
DISCUSSION
I
We review a trial court's prevailing party determination and an award of costs for
abuse of discretion. We independently review questions of law. (Litt v. Eisenhower
Medical Center (2015) 237 Cal.App.4th 1217, 1221.) In doing so, we review the court's
3 The appellate court in Roman concluded, unless a FEHA claim is frivolous "only those costs properly allocated to non-FEHA claims may be recovered by the prevailing defendant" under section 1032. (Roman, supra, 237 Cal.App.4th at p. 1062.)
5
ruling, not its reason for the ruling. (Davey v. Southern Pacific Co. (1897) 116 Cal. 325,
329.)
II
Sviridov contends approximately $70,000 in costs awarded as a result of the
summary judgment motion should be precluded by Government Code section 12965 and
Williams, supra, 61 Cal.4th 97 because the costs claimed were primarily incurred for
litigation of his FEHA claims and the judge who granted summary judgment denied the
City's motion for attorney fees stating Sviridov did not prevail "because of a failure of
proof," not because the action was "completely unreasonable, frivolous or meritless."
Sviridov also contends the remaining $20,000 reflecting costs incurred in defense of the
POBRA action should be precluded by the POBRA statute. The City contends these
statutes do not apply because Sviridov rejected reasonable statutory settlement offers and
it is entitled to costs pursuant to section 998, subdivision (c)(1).
The general rule for civil cases is "[e]xcept as otherwise expressly provided by
statute, a prevailing party is entitled as a matter of right to recover costs in any action or
proceeding." (§ 1032, subd. (b).)
In actions brought under FEHA, Government Code section 12965, subdivision (b)
states, "the court, in its discretion, may award to the prevailing party … reasonable
attorney's fees and costs, including expert witness fees." The Supreme Court in Williams,
supra, 61 Cal.4th 97 held this provision for a discretionary cost award is an "express
exception" to section 1032, subdivision (b)'s mandate to award costs to a prevailing party.
(Williams, at p. 105.) In authorizing discretionary awards of attorney fees and costs
6
under Government Code section 12965, subdivision (b), the Legislature "sought 'to
encourage persons injured by discrimination to seek judicial relief.' " (Williams, at
p. 112.) Because the statute makes awards for costs and attorney fees discretionary, the
Supreme Court determined the Legislature intended the court to exercise its discretion in
the same manner for both and the rule established by Christiansburg Garment Co. v.
648] applied to both attorney fees and costs. (Williams, at pp. 114–115.) Under this
standard, the court concluded "a prevailing defendant, …, should not be awarded fees and
costs unless the court finds the action was objectively without foundation when brought,
or the plaintiff continued to litigate after it clearly became so." (Id. at p. 115.)
A third statute is at issue here, however, because the City made statutory offers to
settle Sviridov's claim pursuant to section 998. Former subdivision (c)(1) of section 998
provided, "If an offer made by a defendant is not accepted and the plaintiff fails to obtain
a more favorable judgment or award, the plaintiff shall not recover his or her postoffer
costs and shall pay the defendant's costs from the time of the offer. In addition, in any
action or proceeding other than an eminent domain action, the court …, in its discretion,
may require the plaintiff to pay a reasonable sum to cover costs of the services of expert
witnesses, …, actually incurred and reasonably necessary in either, or both, preparation
for trial …, or during trial …, of the case by the defendant."4
4 Section 998, subdivision (c) was amended effective January 1, 2016, to limit expert witness costs to those incurred postoffer. (Id., subd. (c)(1); Stats. 2015, ch. 345, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2016.) Previously, and at the time judgment was entered in this case, the 7
Section 998 is itself an exception to section 1032's provision that only a prevailing
party is entitled to costs. (See Scott Co. v. Blount Inc. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1103, 1112
["Section 998 modifies the general rule of section 1032."].) It makes an award of
ordinary costs mandatory against a plaintiff who did not accept a statutory offer to
compromise and failed to obtain a more favorable judgment. It also gives the court
discretion to award reasonable expert witness costs. Section 998 is " 'a cost-shifting
statute which encourages the settlement of actions, by penalizing parties who fail to
accept reasonable pretrial settlement offers. A plaintiff who refuses a reasonable pretrial
settlement offer and subsequently fails to obtain a "more favorable judgment" is
penalized by a loss of prevailing party costs and an award of costs in the defendant's
favor.' " (Guerrero v. Rodan Termite Control, Inc. (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1435, 1440.)
In Seever v. Copley Press, Inc. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1562, the appellate court
explained that section 998 "is designed to create economic incentives on both parties to
settle rather than try their lawsuits. To do so, both sides must face some economic
consequences if it turns out they miscalculate and lose. Thus, seldom would a court
properly deny a successful defendant its entire section 998 cost award, even in a FEHA
case." (See Holman v. Altana Pharma US, Inc. (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 262, 281
[nothing in Gov. Code, § 12965 expressly disallows an award of expert costs under § 998
to a prevailing FEHA defendant].)
court had the prerogative to award expert witness costs incurred prior to the offer. (Regency Outdoor Advertising, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles (2006) 39 Cal.4th 507, 533.)
8
Sviridov did not respond substantively in his reply brief to the City's argument that
Williams does not apply because the court properly awarded costs under section 998.
Rather, he asserted, with no analysis or citation to legal authority, "just as [Williams,
supra, 61 Cal.4th 97], precludes a prevailing defendant from recovering costs under
section 1032, subd[ivision] (b)," then "so does Williams preclude a … successful
defendant from recovering as a prevailing party under … section 998." We deem the
failure to support this statement with reasoned argument a forfeiture. " ' "When an
appellant [asserts a point] but fails to support it with reasoned argument and citations to
authority, we treat the point as waived [or forfeited5]." ' [Citation.] 'We are not bound to
develop appellants' arguments for them.' " (Cahill v. San Diego Gas & Electric Co.
(2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 939, 956.) Failure to address any deficiency of the record
regarding section 998 issue discussed in the respondents' brief similarly forfeits any error.
(Christoff v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 118, 125; Eisenberg et
al., Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Appeals and Writs (The Rutter Group 2016) ¶ 9:77.1.)
Even if we were to consider Sviridov's perfunctory argument, a blanket application
of Williams to preclude section 998 costs unless the FEHA claim was objectively
groundless would erode the public policy of encouraging settlement in such cases. (See
Williams, supra, 61 Cal.4th at p. 108 [where a trial court has discretion under both Gov.
Code, § 12965, subd. (b) and § 998, the court "should consider the policies behind both
5 "[T]he correct legal term for the loss of a right based on failure to timely assert it is 'forfeiture,' because a person who fails to preserve a claim forfeits that claim. In contrast, a waiver is the ' "intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right." ' " (In re S.B. (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1287, 1293, fn. 2.)
9
statutes"].) Sviridov has not established the court did not properly consider the policies
of both provisions in making the award in 2015.
We also conclude Government Code section 3309.5 does not preclude an award of
costs in this case related to the POBRA action, particularly in light of the applicability of
section 998. Government Code section 3309.5, subdivision (d)(2) states, "If the court
finds that a bad faith or frivolous action or a filing for an improper purpose has been
brought pursuant to this chapter, the court may order sanctions against the party filing the
action, the party's attorney, or both, pursuant to Sections 128.6 and 128.7 of the Code of
Civil Procedure. Those sanctions may include, but not be limited to, reasonable
expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by a public safety department as the court
deems appropriate. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to subject actions or filings
under this section to rules or standards that are different from those applicable to other
civil actions or filings subject to Section 128.6 or 128.7 of the Code of Civil Procedure."
(Italics added.) This is a sanction statute allowing the court to impose sanctions against a
party and/or his or her attorney for frivolous actions brought under POBRA. The final
sentence plainly states this statute does not create "rules or standards" for POBRA that
are different from those applicable to "other civil actions." (Ibid.) This statute is not an
express exception to sections 1032 or 998.
10
DISPOSITION
The judgment is affirmed. Respondents shall recover their costs on appeal.
McCONNELL, P. J.
WE CONCUR:
NARES, J.
HALLER, J.
11
Filed 8/15/17
CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION
COURT OF APPEAL, FOURTH APPELLATE DISTRICT
DIVISION ONE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ALEKSEI E. SVIRIDOV, D069785
Plaintiff and Appellant,
(Super. Ct. No. 37-2008-00080855-
v. CU-WT-CTL)
CITY OF SAN DIEGO et al.,
ORDER CERTIFYING OPINION
Defendants and Respondents. FOR PUBLICATION
THE COURT:
The opinion in this case filed on July 28, 2017, was not certified for publication.
It appearing the opinion meets the standards for publication specified in California Rules
of Court, rule 8.1105(c), the requests pursuant to rule 8.1120(a) for publication are
GRANTED.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the opinion meets the standards for publication
specified in California Rules of Court, rule 8.1105(c); and
ORDERED that the words "Not to Be Published in the Official Reports" appearing
on page 1 of said opinion be deleted and the opinion herein be published in the Official
Reports.
McCONNELL, P. J.
Copies to: All parties
2
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. The court held that a prevailing defendant is entitled to recover costs under Code of Civil Procedure section 998 when a plaintiff rejects a statutory settlement offer and fails to obtain a more favorable judgment, even in cases involving FEHA or POBRA claims.
Issues
Whether a prevailing defendant's entitlement to costs under Code of Civil Procedure section 998 is precluded by the standards set forth in Williams v. Chino Valley Independent Fire Dist. for FEHA claims.
Whether Government Code section 3309.5 prohibits an award of costs for the defense of a POBRA claim unless the action was frivolous or brought in bad faith.
Disposition. Affirmed
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“We conclude the City is entitled to costs pursuant to section 998 and we affirm the judgment.”
“Section 998 is itself an exception to section 1032's provision that only a prevailing party is entitled to costs.”
“We also conclude Government Code section 3309.5 does not preclude an award of costs in this case related to the POBRA action, particularly in light of the applicability of section 998.”