Perati v. Atkinson

Decision Date28 February 1963
Citation213 Cal.App.2d 472,28 Cal.Rptr. 898
CourtCalifornia Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
PartiesPaul F. PERATI, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Bennie ATKINSON and Charles Navarro, Defendants and Respondents. Civ. 20453.

Paul F. Perati, in pro. per.

Stanley Mosk, Atty. Gen., Leonard Sperry, Deputy Atty. Gen., and Robert E. Reed, Harry S. Fenton, Richard C. East and John W. Anderson, Sacramento, for respondent.

DRAPER, Presiding Justice.

Plaintiff appeals from judgment of dismissal entered upon sustaining of demurrer to his first amended complaint. Despite its designation, this is the third pleading filed by plaintiff.

Plaintiff, a civil service toll collector, has appeared without counsel throughout. His pleading is diffuse. His basic grievance concerns a 1958 examination conducted by the state personnel board for promotion to the rank of toll sergeant. Plaintiff was first in the written test, but failed in the oral examination, and thus was disqualified. The complaint discloses that he secured a peremptory writ of mandate requiring the board to make and file findings. This was done, and plaintiff then secured another peremptory writ requiring that the board conduct a hearing as to whether specific code sections had been complied with. The ultimate result of that proceeding is not stated.

The present complaint seeks damages against personnel board members and others. Only Navarro demurred. The complaint alleges that: on January 8, 1960, he directed plaintiff to 'watch for a possible 502,' giving the license number of the suspected automobile; later he called over the loudspeaker to plaintiff 'that's the car, hold him in the lane, take or get his car keys;' in fact, the driver was a woman, who gave no indication of intoxication. By clear inference, it is conceded that plaintiff did not attempt to stop the car. It is alleged that: Navarro then entered the fact of plaintiff's refusal in the official log; Navarro's acts were without authority, and his statements were knowingly untrue. At most, plaintiff seeks to assert Navarro's liability for injury to 'business relations' by depriving plaintiff 'of his right to the position of toll sergeant', and a liability for intentionally inflicting 'emotional distress' upon plaintiff.

Before recovery can be had for interference with a prospective business relationship or advantage, it must appear that the advantage would otherwise have been realized (Wilson v. Loew's, Inc., 142 Cal.App.2d 183, 298 P.2d 152). Here the alleged wrongful acts of respondent occurred in 1960...

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22 cases
  • Chicago Title Ins. Co. v. Great Western Financial Corp.
    • United States
    • California Supreme Court
    • August 28, 1968
    ...640, 376 P.2d 568), but only if it appears that the business advantage would otherwise have been realized. (Perati v. Atkinson, 213 Cal.app.2d 472, 28 Cal.Rptr. 898.) One with a financial interest in the business of another is privileged however, so long as he does not employ improper means......
  • Shepard v. Superior Court
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • December 19, 1977
    ...88, 468 P.2d 216; State Rubbish, etc. Assn. v. Siliznoff (1952) 38 Cal.2d 330, 336-337, 240 P.2d 282; Perati v. Atkinson (1963) 213 Cal.App.2d 472, 474, 28 Cal.Rptr. 898; Vargas v. Ruggiero (1961) 197 Cal.App.2d 709, 717-718, 17 Cal.Rptr. 568; Bowden v. Spiegel, Inc. (1950) 96 Cal.App.2d 79......
  • Crain v. Krehbiel
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Northern District of California
    • February 3, 1978
    ...Co., 268 Cal.App.2d 564, 74 Cal.Rptr. 216 (1968); Leavy v. Cooney, 214 Cal.App.2d 496, 29 Cal.Rptr. 580 (1963); Perati v. Atkinson, 213 Cal.App.2d 472, 28 Cal.Rptr. 898 (1963). The elements of a prima facie case for that tort are "(1) outrageous conduct by the defendant; (2) the defendant's......
  • Golden v. Dungan
    • United States
    • California Court of Appeals Court of Appeals
    • September 29, 1971
    ...564, 565, 74 Cla.Rptr. 216; Agostini v. Strycula (1965) 231 Cal.App.2d 804, 808--809, 42 Cal.Rptr. 314, and Perati v. Atkinson (1963) 213 Cal.App.2d 472, 474, 28 Cal.Rptr. 898.) Defendants contend that under no circumstances could unnecessarily pounding on the front door of a darkened house......
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