RCA Service Co. v. Superior Court

Opinion

SCOTT, Acting P. J. Petitioner seeks writ of mandate compelling the trial court to grant petitioner’s request for a writ of possession to recover telephone equipment leased to real party in interest. Real party’s only defense to the claim of possession is that the equipment was defective. We conclude that real party’s alleged right to damages based upon the defects is independent of petitioner’s right to possession. Thus, petitioner is entitled to a writ of possession.

Real party in interest leased television and telephone equipment from petitioner and failed to make full payment on the lease agreements, alleging defects [3]in the telephone equipment. On March 3, 1982, petitioner filed a complaint seeking repossession, followed by an application for a writ of possession (Code Civ. Proc., § 512.060). The trial court granted the writ regarding the televisions, but denied the writ insofar as it sought return of the telephone equipment.

Code of Civil Procedure section 512.060 provides in part: “(a) At the hearing, a writ of possession shall issue if both of the following are found:

“ (1) The plaintiff has established the probable validity of his claim to possession of the property.

“(2) The plaintiff has provided an undertaking as required by Section 515.010.”

Code of Civil Procedure section 511.090 defines “probable validity”: “A claim has ‘probable validity’ where it is more likely than not that the plaintiff will obtain a judgment against the defendant on that claim.”

The facts of the instant case establish the “probable validity” of petitioner’s claim for possession. Petitioner did not sell, but merely leased, equipment to real party. Whatever real party’s right may be to damages for the alleged defects in the equipment, it cannot defeat petitioner’s ownership rights and right to reclaim the equipment. The claim for possession and the claim for damages are unrelated. Real party does not contend that either the contract or any legal theory establishes that the lessee may obtain ownership rights in the leased equipment in lieu of damages.

Real party no doubt would prefer to retain possession as a bargaining tool or to insure easy access to petitioner’s assets in the event of a money judgment in favor of real party. However, real party is not without protection, in light of the requirement that petitioner file a written undertaking which will provide for payment to real party “of any sum he may recover against plaintiff” (Code Civ. Proc., § 515.010, subd. (a)) and in light of real party’s opportunity to file an undertaking to prevent petitioner from taking possession (Code Civ. Proc., § 515.020).