Bambula v. Superior Court

• Decision Date: 19 November 1985
• Citation: 220 Cal.Rptr. 223,174 Cal.App.3d 653
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: Robert D. BAMBULA et al., Petitioners, v. The SUPERIOR COURT of Amador County, Respondent, Dan WHITE, etc., et al., Real Parties in Interest. Civ. 25468.

Page 223

220 Cal.Rptr. 223

174 Cal.App.3d 653

Robert D. BAMBULA et al., Petitioners, v. The SUPERIOR COURT of Amador County, Respondent Dan WHITE, etc., et al., Real Parties in Interest.

Civ. 25468.

Court of Appeal, Third District, California.

Nov. 19, 1985.

Daniel G. Nauman, Sacramento, for petitioners.

No appearances for respondent and real parties in interest.

PUGLIA, Presiding Justice.

Petitioners seek a writ of mandate to compel the assigned trial judge to refrain from presiding over further proceedings in the underlying action. The dispositive issue in this proceeding is whether a trial judge's determination of a summary judgment motion involves "contested fact issues relating to the merits" of the action within the meaning of Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6. We conclude it does not.

Petitioners' action for fraud, negligence, breach of broker's duties, breach of warranty and conspiracy is presently assigned to Judge Martin H. Ryan. Petitioners moved for peremptory disqualification of Judge Ryan pursuant to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6. ¹ Judge Ryan denied the motion on the ground it was "untimely filed." Petitioners filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied by Judge Ryan on the ground that he had "heard and determined contested issues of fact preceding the filing of the motion, ..."

After petitioner filed the instant petition, we notified all parties that the court was considering issuing a peremptory writ in the first instance and invited opposition. No opposition has been received. We shall issue a peremptory writ of mandate.

"It is settled that the challenged judge may rule on the timeliness of a peremptory challenge." (Micro/Vest Corp. v. Superior Court (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 1085, 1089, 198 Cal.Rptr. 404, citing Andrews v. Joint Clerks etc. Committee (1966) 239 Cal.App.2d 285, 294, 48 Cal.Rptr. 646; Lewis v. Linn (1962) 209 Cal.App.2d 394, 399-400, 26 Cal.Rptr. 6.)

"Prior to 1965, if a party failed to exercise his section 170.6 rights before a pretrial hearing involving a contested issue of law or fact, he lost his right to peremptorily disqualify the judge." (In re Abdul Y. (1982) 130 Cal.App.3d 847, 857, 182 Cal.Rptr. 146, citing Swartzman v. Superior Court (1964) 231 Cal.App.2d 721, 41 Cal.Rptr. 721.) "In 1965, the Legislature, at the suggestion of the State Bar of California, adopted the following amendment to section 170.6, subdivision 2: 'The fact that a judge has presided at or acted in connection with a pretrial conference or other hearing, proceeding or motion prior to trial and not involving a determination of contested fact issues relating to the merits shall not preclude the later making of the motion [to disqualify] provided for herein at the time and in the manner hereinbefore provided.' [Citation.]" (Kohn v. Superior Court (1966) 239 Cal.App.2d 428, 429-430, 48 Cal.Rptr. 832.) (Emphasis in original.) "The underlined language is at the heart of, reflects the motivating purpose of the 1965 amendment. This addition preserves the right of a party to disqualify a judge under ... section 170.6 notwithstanding the fact the judge had heard and determined an earlier demurrer or motion, or other matter not involving 'contested fact issues' relating 'to the merits' without challenge in the same cause. [Citation.]" (In re Jose S. (1978) 78 Cal.App.3d 619, 626, 144 Cal.Rptr. 309; accord, Brown v. Swickard (1985) 163 Cal.App.3d 820, 825, 209 Cal.Rptr. 844.)

Since the 1965 amendment to section 170.6, "[a] variety of pretrial motions have been found not to involve a determination of contested fact issues" relating to the merits. (In re Abdul Y., supra, 130 Cal.App.3d at pp. 858-859, fn. 9, 182 Cal.Rptr. 146, citing People v. Montalvo (1981) 117 Cal.App.3d 790, 173 Cal.Rptr. 51 (plea bargain); In re Jose S., supra, 78 Cal.App.3d 619, 144 Cal.Rptr. 309 (in chambers review of polygraph report); People v. Hunter (1977) 71 Cal.App.3d 634, 139 Cal.Rptr. 560 (motion to amend information); Los Angeles County Dept. of Pub. Social Services v. Superior Court (1977) 69 Cal.App.3d 407, 138 Cal.Rptr. 43 (motion to transfer and motion for continuance); Zdonek v. Superior Court (1974) 38 Cal.App.3d 849, 113 Cal.Rptr. 669 (demurrer to complaint); Fraijo v. Superior Court (1973) 34 Cal.App.3d 222, 109 Cal.Rptr. 909 (plea bargain); Hospital Council of Northern Cal. v. Superior Court (1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 331, 106 Cal.Rptr. 247 (motion for judgment on the pleadings); Kohn v. Superior Court, supra, 239 Cal.App.3d 428, 48 Cal.Rptr. 832 (motion to dismiss pursuant to Pen.Code, § 995).)

In the underlying action, Judge Ryan has ruled on only two contested matters: a motion for summary judgment as to certain parties and a motion for new trial or reconsideration of the summary judgment ruling. In ruling on a summary judgment motion, the judge does not pass upon or determine issues of fact but rather decides whether a triable issue of fact exists. (Church v. Arko (1977) 75 Cal.App.3d 291, 295, 142 Cal.Rptr. 92.) Therefore, the resolution of a summary judgment motion does not involve the determination of contested fact issues. For the same reason, determination of a motion to reconsider summary judgment would not involve determination of contested fact issues. Consequently, Judge Ryan had not ruled on a contested fact issue prior to filing the peremptory challenge.

Moreover, the peremptory challenge was timely despite the 1982 amendment to subdivision (2) of section 170.6, which reads: "If the court in which the action is pending is authorized to have no more than one judge and the motion claims that the duly elected or appointed judge of that court is prejudiced, the motion [to disqualify that judge] shall be made before the expiration of 30 days from the date of the first appearance in the action of the party who is making the motion or whose attorney is making the motion." Amador County is authorized to have one judge of the superior court. (Cal.Const., art. VI, § 4; Gov.Code, § 69580 et seq.) Petitioners first appeared in the action on May 27, 1981, when they filed their complaint. (Brown v. Swickard, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d at pp. 826-827, 209 Cal.Rptr. 844; 2 Witkin, Cal.Procedure (3d ed.1985) Jurisdiction, §§ 115, 141, pp. 491, 522-524.) The peremptory challenge was not filed until July of 1985. Petitioner's peremptory challenge is not barred by operation of the 30-day rule because the 1982 amendment to subdivision (2) of section 170.6 can only be applied prospectively to appearances made on or after its effective date, January 1, 1983. (Brown v. Swickard, supra, 163 Cal.App.3d at pp. 826-830, 209 Cal.Rptr. 844)

Since petitioners' section 170.6 challenge was timely filed and supported by a sufficient declaration of prejudice, Judge Ryan's jurisdiction was "strictly limited to ... recusing himself." (People v. Hall (1978) 86 Cal.App.3d 753, 756-757, 150...