People v. American Bankers Ins. Co.

• Decision Date: 31 October 1989
• Citation: 215 Cal.App.3d 1363,264 Cal.Rptr. 152
• Court: California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
• Parties: The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE COMPANY OF FLORIDA, Defendant and Appellant. G006659.

Page 152

264 Cal.Rptr. 152

215 Cal.App.3d 1363

The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE COMPANY OF FLORIDA, Defendant and Appellant.

G006659.

Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 3, California.

Oct. 31, 1989.

Nunez & Bernstein and E. Alan Nunez, for defendant and appellant.

Adrian Kuyper, County Counsel, and Karyn K. Driessen, Deputy County Counsel, Santa Ana, for plaintiff and respondent.

SCOVILLE, Presiding Justice.

American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, for itself and its agents, appeals from an order denying its motion to set aside summary judgment and to exonerate its bail bond. ¹

Richard Powe, defendant in this matter, was released on a $4,000 bail bond posted by American and Albert Ramirez Bail Bonds. Powe pleaded guilty and a probation and sentencing hearing was set for June 24, 1987. Powe failed to appear on June 24. The minute order for that day reflects that a bench warrant was issued for Powe and held until June 25, 1987. The sentencing hearing was "trailed" to the same day. On June 25, Powe again failed to appear. The minute order states, "Csl. for defendant, Jerome Goldfein, conferred with Court in chambers re: continuance." The sentencing hearing was continued to July 9, 1987, and the minute order reflects, "Bench warrant hold to remain." On July 9, 1987, when Powe again did not appear, the court ordered bail forfeited. Notice of forfeiture of bail bond was sent to American and Albert Ramirez Bail Bonds.

On January 15, 1988, summary judgment pursuant to Penal Code section 1306 was entered in favor of the County of Orange (County). On January 28, 1988, American filed a motion to vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bond which was denied by the trial court.

American contends the trial court's failure to declare the bond forfeited on June 24, 1987, the first day Powe failed to appear for his probation and sentencing hearing, deprived the court of jurisdiction over the bond because there is no showing on the record that the trial court had "reason to believe that sufficient excuse may [have existed] for [Powe's] neglect to appear...." (Pen.Code, § 1305, subd. (b).) We agree and reverse the trial court's order denying American's motion to vacate the summary judgment and exonerate the bond.

In the normal course of events, where a bailed defendant fails to appear for a scheduled court hearing without sufficient excuse, the trial court is required to enter the nonappearance in the minutes of the court and immediately forfeit the bail with notice to the surety and its agent. (Pen.Code, § 1305, subd. (a); People v. United Bonding Ins. Co. (1971) 5 Cal.3d 898, 907, 98 Cal.Rptr. 57, 489 P.2d 1385.)

Penal Code section 1305, subdivision (b), allows one exception to the general rule where "the court has reason to believe that sufficient excuse may exist for [defendant's] neglect to appear ..., the court may continue the case for such period as it deems reasonable to enable the defendant to appear without ordering a forfeiture of bail or issuing a bench warrant."

In the case before us there is no indication on the record that on June 24, 1987, the trial court "had reason to believe that sufficient excuse may exist" for Powe's failure to appear. Under these circumstances, American contends, the trial court had no jurisdiction to grant a continuance and should have declared a forfeiture. County argues there is no requirement the record must reflect the trial court's exercise of its discretion to grant a continuance under Penal Code section 1305, subdivision (b) and since the record does not affirmatively indicate the trial court abused its discretion when it granted the continuance on June 24, we must presume the trial court properly exercised its discretion.

The County relies on People v. Wilshire Ins. Co., supra, 53 Cal.App.3d 256, 125 Cal.Rptr. 529, which seems to support the County's position in part. In that case, a bailed defendant did not appear on a designated date set for plea negotiations but his counsel did. The reporter's transcript of proceedings on that day reflected defense counsel's statement that his client " ' ... was arrested after bailing out on this particular offense.'...." Counsel requested a continuance and stated " '... I'll attempt to have him here at that time.' " (Id. at p. 258, 125 Cal.Rptr. 529.) When the defendant failed to appear on the continued date, the court declared the bail forfeited. The surety challenged the court's jurisdiction to continue the matter in the first instance. The court, referring to the then recent addition of subdivision (b) to Penal Code section 1305, stated: "By its terms, the amendment allows the court to continue the hearing without declaring a forfeiture if it 'has reason to believe that sufficient excuse may exist for his neglect to appear....' It does not require the court to make an immediate determination as to whether sufficient excuse exists. This specific authorization to continue the hearing reflects a vital change from the pre-existing law which the Supreme Court interpreted in United Bonding. By conspicuously deleting from subdivision (b) the express provisions retained in subdivision (a) to the effect that 'the court shall direct the fact [of failure to appear] to be entered upon its minutes, ...' the Legislature intended the very simple alternative of a reasonable continuance without any specific minute order. Since the court is thus specifically authorized by the amendment to postpone its decision, it certainly retains jurisdiction to declare a forfeiture at a later time. [p ] The only condition for the continuance under subdivision (b) is that the court have 'reason to believe that sufficient excuse may exist for [defendant's] neglect to appear or surrender himself.' The trial court had the duty to determine the existence or nonexistence of the condition; defense counsel's statement to the court was sufficient to support the implied finding that the condition existed (see People v. Lawler (1973) 9 Cal.3d 156, 160 [107 Cal.Rptr. 13, 507 P.2d 621] ..., and it is presumed that the court's duty was regularly performed. (Evid.Code, § 664; In re Johnson (1965) 62 Cal.2d 325, 330 [42 Cal.Rptr. 228, 398 P.2d 420]....)" (People v. Wilshire Ins. Co., supra, 53 Cal.App.3d at p. 261, 125 Cal.Rptr. 529, emphasis in original.)

The County points to the court's language in People v. Wilshire Ins. Co., indicating no specific minute order is required and argues where the record is silent we must presume the court's duty has been regularly performed. We disagree. We note first that the court in People v. Wilshire Ins. Co. stated the trial court had a duty to determine whether there was reason to believe that a sufficient excuse existed for the defendant's nonappearance. In addition, the court found evidentiary support for "the implied finding that the condition existed" in defense counsel's statement to the court indicating defendant had been arrested after his release on bail. (Id. at p. 261, 125 Cal.Rptr. 529; People v. Surety Ins. Co. (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 197, 201, 127 Cal.Rptr. 451 [same result where defense counsel told court defendant was seeking medical treatment due to severe internal bleeding].)

In People v. Surety Ins. Co. (1984) 160 Cal.App.3d 963, 206 Cal.Rptr. 836, when the bailed defendant failed to appear the trial court issued a bench warrant. Defense counsel stated: " 'If the Court would hold that, say, until Monday, I will endeavor to have him brought in.' " (Id. at p. 965, 206 Cal.Rptr. 836.) The court stated it would hold the bench warrant. The minute order for that day indicated, " 'defendant fails to appear without sufficient excuse. B.W. [bench warrant] ordered issued and held until May 26, 1981.' " (Ibid., court's italics.) When the defendant failed to appear on May 26 the court ordered the bail bond forfeited. The appellate court noted that defense counsel did not make any statement indicating he knew of any facts that would excuse defendant's failure to appear. The court held, "The absence of any statements or actions by defendant or his counsel, from which it could be implied that defendant had justification for his absence, compels the conclusion that the trial court did not have reason to believe that sufficient excuse may have existed for defendant's failure to appear or surrender himself. Accordingly, the trial court did not retain jurisdiction to declare a forfeiture." (Id. at p. 969, 206 Cal.Rptr. 836.)

In People v. Surety Ins. Co. (1985) 165 Cal.App.3d 22, 211 Cal.Rptr. 204, a bailed defendant failed to appear for sentencing. Her attorney also failed to appear, but the attorney's secretary sent a letter indicating the attorney's father had passed away. The trial court stated on the record " '[The] letter indicates that Mr. Collins' father died and that Mr. Collins would be out of town and asked this matter be continued to July 15th, but there's no reason I'm aware of why the Defendant should not be here to hear whatever action the Court desired to take.' " (Id. at p. 25, 211 Cal.Rptr. 204, emphasis in original.) The court ordered a bench warrant issued and held and continued the matter to July 14. On that date defense counsel appeared and represented to the court that defendant was unable to appear because of a medical emergency involving her child. The trial court again continued the matter to July 22. When defendant failed to appear on that date, the trial court ordered the bail forfeited.

The appellate court held the trial court should have declared the bail forfeited on the first occasion defendant failed to appear without an excuse. The court noted the statement of the Supreme Court in People v. United Bonding Ins. Co., supra, 5 Cal.3d at p. 906, 98 Cal.Rptr. 57, 489 P.2d 1385 that there must be " 'some rational basis' for belief at the time of...