Upson Metal Fabricators v. Superior Court

Opinion

McDANIEL, Acting P. J. This action began when petitioner Upson Metal Fabricators sued Maijorie Baldwin in the Small Claims Court of Riverside County. The complaint sought $1,500 as the amount due under a construction contract.

Ms. Baldwin filed a defendant’s claim (Code Civ. Proc., § 116.8) against petitioner for $1,150, alleging poor workmanship and materials. After trial in the small claims court, judgment was entered against Upson Metal Fabricators on its claim, but in favor of Ms. Baldwin on her defendant’s claim. Petitioner timely presented a notice of appeal to the clerk of the municipal court, but the clerk refused to accept it. This refusal was apparently prem[69]ised upon a ruling by the Riverside County Superior Court rendered in another case, in which it held that no appeal would lie from a judgment in favor of a defendant on an affirmative claim.

We stayed enforcement of the judgment in favor of Ms. Baldwin and requested a response to the petition. Although none has been received, the issues are clear and we deem the case appropriate for the issuance of a peremptory writ in the first instance (Palma v. U.S. Industrial Fasteners, Inc. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 171 [203 Cal.Rptr. 626, 681 P.2d 893]).

Petitioner has been denied permission to file its notice of appeal by the municipal court. Although that court has apparently acted in accordance with a directive from the superior court, it is the lower court which has directly refused to afford petitioner its legal rights, and which should have been named as respondent in this action (see Skaff v. Small Claims Court (1968) 68 Cal.2d 76 [65 Cal.Rptr. 65, 435 P.2d 825]). There is, at this time, no relief which can be given against respondent superior court.

Despite this basic procedural flaw, we are persuaded that petitioner’s contentions are correct and that the parties should be given such guidance as the form of the petition makes possible.

The legislative history surrounding the amendment of Code of Civil Procedure section 117.8 (Stats. 1976, ch. 1289, § 2, pp. 5769-5770) reflects no intention whatsoever to alter the rule of Skaff, supra, 68 Cal.2d 76; it merely clarifies that a defendant who files a claim is also bound by a judgment against him. The principles underlying the decision in Skajf remain applicable; as plaintiff has not selected the forum in which to litigate defendant’s claim against him, he may not be deprived of his right to appeal an unfavorable decision.