Whitaker, In re
| Decision Date | 06 May 1992 |
| Docket Number | No. A057347,A057347 |
| Court | California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals |
| Parties | In re Finding of Fred A. WHITAKER as a Vexatious Litigant. |
Today, we take one small step to eliminate an obvious waste of judicial resources. We hold that Fred A. Whitaker comes within the statutory definitions of a vexatious litigant. (Code Civ.Proc., § 391, subd. (b); statutory references hereafter are to this code.) We further hold that Whitaker, not having been deterred by numerous determinations to the same effect by the Alameda Superior Court, shall henceforth be required to obtain the permission of the presiding judge or justice for any court of this state in which he proposes to commence any litigation.
This matter arose when we began work on Whitaker's latest appeal (Whitaker v. Department of Social Services of Alameda County, A055479). That action ended in the trial court with a dismissal after Whitaker failed to furnish security as required by an order declaring him a vexatious litigant. Our attention was first drawn by the fact that the primary emphasis of Whitaker's briefs was a challenge to the constitutionality of the vexatious litigant statutes, an argument identical to one rejected by this court in an unrelated appeal only last year. (Whitaker v. Bay Area Rapid Transit District, A049779, nonpub. opn. filed April 23, 1991.) We also noted that the respondent on Whitaker's latest appeal specifically requested issuance of a so-called "prefiling order" authorized by section 391.7 and first used by an appellate court in In re Luckett (1991) 232 Cal.App.3d 107, 283 Cal.Rptr. 312. Following the procedure pioneered by Division Three of the Fourth District in Luckett, we issued an order to Whitaker to show cause why the relief requested by respondent should not be granted. The matter was set for a hearing, at which time Whitaker appeared and submitted arguments.
One of the statutory definitions of a vexatious litigant is "a person who ... [i]n the immediately preceding seven-year period has commenced, prosecuted, or maintained in propria persona at least five litigations other than in a small claims court that have been (i) finally determined adversely to the person or (ii) unjustifiably permitted to remain pending at least two years without having been brought to trial or hearing." (§ 391, subd. (b)(1).)
The records before us show that since 1985 Whitaker has filed at least twenty-four actions in the Alameda Superior Court. In five of these actions a demurrer was sustained without leave to amend. ** 1 In one a defense motion for summary judgment was granted.** 2 Another had the trial court granting a defense motion to strike Whitaker's complaint.** 3 In yet another, the court ended one action when it denied Whitaker leave to file an untimely claim against a governmental entity.** 4 Two actions involved complaints filed by Whitaker in 1986 which did not get off the ground because Whitaker never effected service on the intended opposing parties.** 5 In one case a dismissal with prejudice was entered against Whitaker.** 6 In another, Whitaker lost in something like a default situation.** 7 In no less than thirteen of the actions Whitaker was ordered to furnish security as required by orders finding him to be a vexatious litigant.** 8 The bottom line is that Whitaker has not won any of the actions he began in the Alameda Superior Court.
In this court Whitaker's score is only minusculely better. He has filed 35 writ and appeal proceedings. Of his 19 petitions for extraordinary writs, 2 were dismissed for procedural defects,** 9 and 17, including 6 generated by a single superior court action, were summarily denied.** 10 With respect to Whitaker's 16 appeals, 7 were dismissed,** 11 8 were affirmed,** 12 and only one was reversed.** 13 That the reversal involved only a pretrial matter in a case subsequently resolved against Whitaker.** 14
Another of the statutory definitions of a vexatious litigant is "a person who ... [i]n...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Wolfgram v. Wells Fargo Bank
...the declaration by the Fifth District Court of Appeal that "The vexatious litigant statutes are constitutional. (In re Whitaker (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 54, 56, 8 Cal.Rptr.2d 249[ ].)" (Childs v. PaineWebber Incorporated (1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 982, 993, 35 Cal.Rptr.2d 93.) We are unaware of any ......
-
State v. Harrison
...Court (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 838, 841; Stats. 1963, ch. 1471, 1, p. 3038.) These statutes, which are constitutional (In re Whitaker (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 54, 56), "were enacted to require a person found to be a vexatious litigant to put up security for the reasonable expenses of a defendant w......
-
Falcone v. Fyke, s. H034104
...and the taxpayers of this state are damaged by what amounts to a waste of this court's time and resources.’ ” ( In re Whitaker (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 54, 57, 8 Cal.Rptr.2d 249.) We find that Kathey is a vexatious litigant within the meaning of section 391, subdivision (b)(1). Pursuant to sect......
-
Forrest v. State
...1168, 21 Cal.Rptr.2d 886["[e]very court has the power `[t]o compel obedience to its ... orders....'"].) 9. In In re Whitaker (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 54, 57, 8 Cal.Rptr.2d 249, the court recognized that it is not only the opposing parties that are injured by vexatious litigants but also litigan......