Arora v. Singh CA2/2

Filed 8/23/22 Arora v. Singh CA2/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

SURINDERPAL S. ARORA et al., B310707

Plaintiffs, Cross-defendants (Los Angeles County and Appellants, Super. Ct. No. 18STCV10316) v.

DALJEET SINGH et al.,

Defendants, Cross- complainants and Respondents.

APPEAL from an order and judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Randolph M. Hammock, Judge. Order reversed and judgment vacated.

Smith Law Firm and Craig R. Smith for Plaintiffs, Cross- defendants and Appellants.

Attlesey|Storm, Keith A. Attlesey and Marc W. Thomas for Defendants, Cross-complainants and Respondents. ___________________

Plaintiffs and appellants Surinderpal S. Arora and his wife, Sharanpreet K. Arora (collectively the Aroras) appeal from a judgment entered in favor of defendants and respondents Daljeet Singh (Singh) and his wife, Gurpreet Bindra (Bindra), following their successful motion to enforce a settlement agreement. (Code Civ. Proc., § 664.6.)1 The Aroras argue that they revoked their offer to settle before Singh and Bindra accepted it, rendering the purported settlement agreement unenforceable. We agree. The order is reversed and the judgment is vacated. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND In 2007, the parties entered into a partnership to manage residential properties. In 2018, Singh and Bindra told Surinderpal2 that they wanted to sell their interest in the partnership. This turned out to be the opening salvo in what would become a full-blown family feud, culminating in dueling lawsuits. After two years of litigation, the parties opened settlement talks. In these talks, the Aroras were represented by Craig Smith (Smith); Singh and Bindra were represented by Suoo Lee. On March 10, 2020, Lee drafted a written settlement agreement and sent it to the Aroras. On March 14, 2020, Smith sent Singh, Bindra, and Lee a redlined version of the agreement. The revised agreement contained several changes, including a provision allowing the Aroras to inspect one of the partnership’s