Congratulations to Woodland Hills Partner Eileen Gaisford and Associate Dustin Rabi on their Motion for Summary Judgment (“MSJ”) being granted in Los Angeles County Superior Court!
BWB&O’s client in this matter was the driver of vehicle who was involved in an auto v. auto collision. The Plaintiff, in this matter, filed suit against the client, alleging Negligence. However, it was determined that the Plaintiff in this matter had previously executed a settlement release as to our client, prior to the filing of the present Complaint.
Accordingly, BWB&O’s MSJ asserted that Plaintiff’s claim was barred under the affirmative defense of 1.) Accord and Satisfaction, codified as California Uniform Commercial Code § 3311, 2.) Release, 3.) Waiver, and 4.) the Doctrine of Estoppel, contending that the Plaintiff had previously reached a good faith settlement as full satisfaction to a bona fide dispute.
The matter was factually and evidentiary complicated by the fact that the Plaintiff had filed the complaint under a different name than the one that had previously signed the release and ultimately received the funds. The matter was further complicated by the fact that Plaintiff’s counsel had executed the release through a power of attorney and the Plaintiff was now alleging that he had never received the check.
The MSJ dealt with discrepancies through the application of the doctrine of unilateral mistake and to overcome the evidentiary issue as to authentication, a declaration was prepared and executed by the Plaintiff’s prior counsel.
Despite the unusual factual and evidentiary challenges, the Court ultimately agreed and held that the evidence and arguments before the Court presented no triable issue that Plaintiff’s claim was barred, and Summary Judgment was granted for BWB&O’s client.