Sarale v. Pacific Gas & Electric Company et al
Filing
24
ORDER signed by District Judge Troy L. Nunley on 12/10/2015 GRANTING defendants' 13 14 Motions to Dismiss Complaint WITH PREJUDICE. (Marciel, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11
12
13
14
WILLIAM R. SARALE; JULIE ANN
SARALE; JULIE ANN SARALE, as
TRUSTEE OF THE JAMES J. CAVALLI
TESTAMENTARY TRUST; JULIE ANN
SARALE, as TRUSTEE OF THE EVA M.
CAVALLI 2007 TRUST,
17
18
19
20
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’
MOTIONS TO DISMISS WITH
PREJUDICE
Plaintiffs,
15
16
No. 2:14-cv-02573-TLN-CKD
v.
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC
COMPANY, a California Corporation;
CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT SYSTEM
OPERATOR CORPORATION, a
California Nonprofit Public Benefit
Corporation; DORA 1-50,
Defendant.
21
22
This matter is before the Court pursuant to Defendant Pacific Gas & Electric Company
23
(“PG&E”) and California Independent System Operator Corporation’s (“CAISO”) (together
24
“Defendants”) Motions to Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
25
12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) (“Rule 12(b)(1)” and “Rule 12(b)(6)”). (ECF No. 14; ECF No. 13.)
26
Plaintiffs William R. Sarale and Julie Ann Sarale (“Plaintiffs”) filed Oppositions to Defendants’
27
motions. (ECF No. 17; ECF No. 18.) The Court has carefully considered the arguments raised in
28
Defendants’ motions and replies, as well as Plaintiffs’ oppositions. For the reasons set forth
1
1
below, Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss as to all counts are GRANTED with PREJUDICE.
2
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
3
Plaintiffs own approximately 40 acres on 8-Mile Road in northeast San Joaquin County.
4
(ECF No. 1 at ¶ 9.) Plaintiffs or their family have farmed the property since 1922. (ECF No. 1 at
5
¶ 9.) In 1915, PG&E obtained an easement for a 50-foot right of way for electrical powerlines.
6
(ECF No. 1 at ¶10.) This easement gave PG&E the “right of erecting, constructing,
7
reconstructing, replacing, repairing, maintaining, and using for the transmission and distribution
8
of electricity, a single line of towers and wires suspended thereon and supported thereby.” (ECF
9
No. 14-1 at 21; ECF No. 13-4 at 15.) The easement requires PG&E to “avoid as far as it is
10
reasonably can, interfering with the use by [Plaintiffs] of such lands for mining, agriculture, and
11
other purposes.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 22; ECF No. 13-4 at 16.) However, the easement also gives
12
PG&E the “full right and liberty of cutting and clearing away all trees and brush on either side of
13
the center line whenever necessary or proper for the convenient use and enjoyment of the said
14
line of towers and wires.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 22; ECF No. 13-4 at 16.)
15
Walnut trees were grown under the power lines. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 9–11.) From 1915 to
16
2004, PG&E maintained the lines by annually cutting the walnut trees to approximately 10 feet of
17
clearance from the powerlines. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 11.) Beginning in 2004, PG&E began cutting a
18
20 foot clearance. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 15.) Plaintiffs allege this increase in clearance resulted in the
19
walnut trees losing many of their crop-producing branches. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 15.) Plaintiffs allege
20
that the increased trimming led to the loss of 50 tons of walnuts with a value of $120,000 and
21
physical damages to trees in excess of $2,000. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 58.)
22
On October 25, 2007, Plaintiffs filed a complaint in San Joaquin County Superior Court
23
seeking declaratory relief as to the existence of an easement and defining property rights under
24
said easement; an injunction against PG&E prohibiting the threat of repeated destruction of
25
Plaintiffs’ trees if they refused to grant expanded easements; damages for the harm to the
26
property; and a civil rights violation. (ECF No. 14-1 at 7–24; ECF No. 13-4 at 4–9.) On a
27
motion to dismiss, the San Joaquin County Superior Court found that the California Public
28
Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) had proper jurisdiction over the case and that Plaintiffs must:
2
1
first seek a finding from the [CPUC] that PG&E’s vegetation
management practices are excessive or otherwise out of
conformance with [CPUC] regulations. If the [CPUC] found in
[Plaintiffs’] favor on these matters, [Plaintiffs] might then seek
damages before [the superior court] for the wrongs they allege.
2
3
4
(ECF No. 14-1 at 32; ECF No. 13-5 at 11.) The San Joaquin County Superior Court therefore
5
dismissed the case. (ECF No. 14-1 at 32; ECF No. 13-5 at 11.)
Plaintiffs appealed the San Joaquin County Superior Court judgment. (ECF No. 14-1 at
6
7
32; ECF No. 13-5 at 11.) The California Court of Appeal affirmed the Superior Court’s decision
8
to dismiss based on jurisdiction and briefly addressed the easement. (ECF No. 14-1 at 26–50;
9
ECF No. 13-5 at 3–42.) The California Court of Appeal noted that Plaintiffs questioned the
10
existence of the easement, but attached the grant of easement to their complaint. (ECF No. 14-1
11
at 39–40; ECF No. 13-5 at 22–24.) The California Court of Appeal stated that the easement did
12
indeed exist and further found that the grant of demurrer was properly granted without leave to
13
amend because there was no remaining question of fact. (ECF No. 14-1 at 39–40; ECF No. 13-5
14
at 22–24.)
Plaintiffs then brought their complaint before the CPUC on June 29, 2011. (ECF No. 1 at
15
16
¶ 52.) In that complaint, Plaintiffs alleged taking of property; requested injunctive relief; and
17
requested declaratory relief as to false and misleading representations. (ECF No. 14-1 at 65–69;
18
ECF No. 13-6 at 12–16.) The CPUC decided that PG&E’s extended trimming was reasonable
19
and within the scope of the regulations that control vegetation management near transmission
20
lines.1 (ECF No. 14-1 at 96–98; ECF No. 13-7 at 18–20.) Specifically, General Order 95 (“GO
21
95”), Appendix E, requires a ten-foot minimum vegetation clearance for 115kV transmission
22
lines, the type of lines on Plaintiffs’ property. (ECF No. 14-1 at 97; ECF No. 13-6 at 19.) The
23
CPUC explicitly stated that this must be treated as a minimum and not misinterpreted as a
24
maximum. (ECF No. 14-1 at 109; ECF No. 13-7 at 9.) Additionally, CAISO standards require
25
Participating Transmission Owners, including PG&E, to submit Transmission Vegetation
26
Management Program standards (“TVMP”). (ECF No. 14-1 at 110; ECF No. 13-7 at 10.)
27
1
28
“Regulations with respect to vegetation management near transmission lines are governed by CAISO, GO 95, Rules
35 and 37, and the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC).” (ECF No. 14-1 at 108.)
3
1
PG&E’s TVMP required the 20-foot clearance, and once submitted CAISO annually audits
2
PG&E to ensure they are following the TVMP requirement. (ECF No. 41-1 at 98; ECF No. 13-6
3
at 20.) Thus, CAISO indirectly requires PG&E to trim encroaching vegetation to a 20-foot
4
clearance. (ECF No. 41-1 at 98; ECF No. 13-6 at 20.)
The CPUC declined to rule on the scope and meaning of the easement, stating that “it is
5
6
for the Courts, not the Commission, to interpret easements and determine parties’ respective
7
property rights under an easement.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 136; ECF No. 13-8 at 14.) Plaintiffs filed
8
an appeal with the CPUC which was denied on May 1, 2014. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 53.) Then, in
9
accordance with CPUC rules, Plaintiffs filed a request for rehearing which was denied on October
10
3, 2014. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 54.) This constituted the CPUC’s final ruling on the issue. (ECF No. 1
11
at ¶ 54.)
12
Plaintiffs did not appeal the agency decision to the California Superior Court, but instead
13
filed the instant complaint on October 31, 2014 against PG&E and CAISO. (ECF No. 1.) While
14
PG&E has been a named defendant in all of the prior actions, CAISO has only now been joined in
15
the case. (ECF No. 13-1 at 7.) CAISO is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation vested
16
with regulatory power related to the distribution of electrical energy. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 6.) While
17
Plaintiffs’ reasons for joining CAISO are not stated explicitly in their complaint or briefing, the
18
Court gathers that Plaintiffs take issue with CAISO’s application of regulations which allowed
19
PG&E to increase its tree trimming and alleged representations that such an increase was required
20
under those regulations. (See ECF No. 1.)
21
The Complaint alleges a physical taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment and 42
22
U.S.C. § 1983; conspiracy to defraud and fraud; taking and damaging of property without just
23
compensation under Cal. Const. Art. I, Sec. 18 and inverse condemnation; common law trespass
24
and trespass in violation of Cal. Civ. Code § 3346 and Cal. Code Civ. P. § 1021.9; and violation
25
of civil rights under Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1. (ECF No. 1.) Counts I through IV are alleged against
26
PG&E and CAISO, and Count V (civil rights violation) is alleged against PG&E only. (ECF No.
27
1.)
28
Defendants have filed motions to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6). (ECF No. 14;
4
1
ECF No. 13.) Defendants argue that the Complaint should be dismissed for lack of subject matter
2
jurisdiction under the Burford Abstention Doctrine and the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine. (ECF No.
3
14 at 7–11; ECF No. 13 at 8–11.) Additionally, they argue that the claims are time barred and
4
should be dismissed for failure to state a claim due to Collateral Estoppel and Res Judicata. (ECF
5
No. 14 at 11–18; ECF No. 13 at 13–18.) CAISO further argues that Plaintiffs cannot state a claim
6
because of the existence of the easement. (ECF No. 14 at 19–20.)
7
8
II.
STANDARD OF LAW
A. Rule 12(b)(1)
9
A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(1) challenges the court’s subject matter jurisdiction
10
over the claims asserted. The party seeking to invoke the court’s jurisdiction bears the burden of
11
establishing it. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377, 114 S.Ct. 1673,
12
128 L.Ed.2d 391 (1994); Stock West, Inc. v. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, 873
13
F.2d 1221, 1225 (9th Cir.1989). A Rule 12(b)(1) motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter
14
jurisdiction may be made on the grounds that the complaint fails to present such a jurisdictional
15
basis, i.e., that the lack of jurisdiction appears from the “face of the complaint,” or as a matter of
16
fact, i.e., lack of jurisdiction based on extrinsic evidence apart from the pleadings. Warren v. Fox
17
Family Worldwide, Inc., 328 F.3d 1136, 1139 (9th Cir.2003).
18
19
B. Rule 12(b)(6)
A motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure
20
12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of a complaint. Navarro v. Block, 250 F.3d 729, 732 (9th Cir.
21
2001). Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) requires that a pleading contain “a short and plain
22
statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” See Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556
23
U.S. 662, 678–79 (2009). Under notice pleading in federal court, the complaint must “give the
24
defendant fair notice of what the claim…is and the grounds upon which it rests.” Bell Atlantic v.
25
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007) (internal quotations omitted). “This simplified notice
26
pleading standard relies on liberal discovery rules and summary judgment motions to define
27
disputed facts and issues and to dispose of unmeritorious claims.” Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A.,
28
534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002).
5
1
On a motion to dismiss, the factual allegations of the complaint must be accepted as true.
2
Cruz v. Beto, 405 U.S. 319, 322 (1972). A court is bound to give plaintiff the benefit of every
3
reasonable inference to be drawn from the “well-pleaded” allegations of the complaint. Retail
4
Clerks Int’l Ass’n v. Schermerhorn, 373 U.S. 746, 753 n.6 (1963). A plaintiff need not allege
5
“‘specific facts’ beyond those necessary to state his claim and the grounds showing entitlement to
6
relief.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570. “A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads
7
factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable
8
for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556 (2007)).
9
Nevertheless, a court “need not assume the truth of legal conclusions cast in the form of
10
factual allegations.” United States ex rel. Chunie v. Ringrose, 788 F.2d 638, 643 n.2 (9th Cir.
11
1986). While Rule 8(a) does not require detailed factual allegations, “it demands more than an
12
unadorned, the defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678. A
13
pleading is insufficient if it offers mere “labels and conclusions” or “a formulaic recitation of the
14
elements of a cause of action.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555; see also Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678
15
(“Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory
16
statements, do not suffice”). Moreover, it is inappropriate to assume that the plaintiff “can prove
17
facts that it has not alleged or that the defendants have violated the…laws in ways that have not
18
been alleged[.]” Associated Gen. Contractors of Cal., Inc. v. Cal. State Council of Carpenters,
19
459 U.S. 519, 526 (1983).
20
Ultimately, a court may not dismiss a complaint in which the plaintiff has alleged “enough
21
facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 697 (quoting
22
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). Only where a plaintiff fails to “nudge[] [his or her] claims … across
23
the line from conceivable to plausible[,]” is the complaint properly dismissed. Id. at 680. While
24
the plausibility requirement is not akin to a probability requirement, it demands more than “a
25
sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Id. at 678. This plausibility inquiry is “a
26
context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial experience and
27
common sense.” Id. at 679.
28
In ruling upon a motion to dismiss, the court may consider only the complaint, any
6
1
exhibits thereto, and matters which may be judicially noticed pursuant to Federal Rule of
2
Evidence 201. See Mir v. Little Co. of Mary Hosp., 844 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1988); Isuzu
3
Motors Ltd. v. Consumers Union of United States, Inc., 12 F. Supp. 2d 1035, 1042 (C.D. Cal.
4
1998).
5
If a complaint fails to state a plausible claim, “[a] district court should grant leave to
6
amend even if no request to amend the pleading was made, unless it determines that the pleading
7
could not possibly be cured by the allegation of other facts.” Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130
8
(9th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (quoting Doe v. United States, 58 F.3d 484, 497 (9th Cir. 1995)); see
9
also Gardner v. Marino, 563 F.3d 981, 990 (9th Cir. 2009) (finding no abuse of discretion in
10
denying leave to amend when amendment would be futile). Although a district court should
11
freely give leave to amend when justice so requires under Rule 15(a)(2), “the court’s discretion to
12
deny such leave is ‘particularly broad’ where the plaintiff has previously amended its
13
complaint[.]” Ecological Rights Found. v. Pac. Gas & Elec. Co., 713 F.3d 502, 520 (9th Cir.
14
2013) (quoting Miller v. Yokohama Tire Corp., 358 F.3d 616, 622 (9th Cir. 2004)).
15
16
III.
ANALYSIS
A. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
17
Plaintiffs contend that the Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331, 1332, 1343,
18
and 1367 and 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 1.) Defendants do not dispute that this Court
19
has original jurisdiction under these statutes, but rather argue that the Complaint should be
20
dismissed under the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine and the Burford Abstention Doctrine. (ECF No.
21
14 at 7–11; ECF No. 13 at 8–11.)
22
23
i. Rooker-Feldman Doctrine
Defendants argue that Plaintiffs’ Complaint brings a forbidden de facto appeal of the state
24
court decision because the issues are “inextricably intertwined” with the state court decision.
25
(ECF No. 14 at 7–11; ECF No. 13 at 8–11.) The Rooker-Feldman doctrine bars subject matter
26
jurisdiction if a “federal plaintiff asserts as a legal wrong an allegedly erroneous decision by a
27
state court, and seeks relief from a state court judgment based on that decision...If, on the other
28
hand, a federal plaintiff asserts as a legal wrong an allegedly illegal act or omission by an adverse
7
1
party, Rooker–Feldman does not bar jurisdiction.” Noel v. Hall, 341 F.3d 1148, 1164 (9th Cir.
2
2003). Thus, Rooker-Feldman “applies only when the federal plaintiff both asserts as her injury
3
legal error or errors by the state court and seeks as her remedy relief from the state court
4
judgment.” Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc., 359 F.3d 1136, 1140 (9th Cir. 2004) (emphasis original).
5
Here, Plaintiffs allege taking, fraud, trespass, and violation of civil rights against
6
Defendants PG&E and CAISO. (ECF No. 1.) They request monetary damages for these injuries
7
from the named Defendants. (ECF No. 1.) Nowhere in the Complaint do Plaintiffs allege harm
8
resulting from a state court decision, nor do they seek relief from the state court judgment as a
9
remedy. (ECF No. 1.) Thus, the Rooker-Feldman doctrine does not apply.
10
Defendants assert that because issues in the instant complaint are inextricably intertwined
11
with the state court decision the case should be dismissed under Rooker-Feldman. However, the
12
Ninth Circuit clarified the operation of “inextricably intertwined” issues in Noel v. Hall:
13
The federal suit is not a forbidden de facto appeal because it is
“inextricably intertwined” with something. Rather, it is simply a
forbidden de facto appeal. Only when there is already a forbidden
de facto appeal in federal court does the “inextricably intertwined”
test come into play: Once a federal plaintiff seeks to bring a
forbidden de facto appeal, as in Feldman, that federal plaintiff may
not seek to litigate an issue that is “inextricably intertwined” with
the state court judicial decision from which the forbidden de facto
appeal is brought.
14
15
16
17
18
Noel, 341 F.3d at 1158. Because there is not an underlying forbidden de facto appeal, the issues
19
intertwined with the state court decision in the instant case may not be dismissed under Rooker-
20
Feldman.2
21
ii. Burford Abstention Doctrine
22
Defendants argue that the Complaint should be dismissed under the Burford Abstention
23
Doctrine because the instant matter involves a complicated regulatory scheme and is of great state
24
interest. (ECF No. 14 at 7–11; ECF No. 13 at 8–11.) Plaintiffs contend that their complaint does
25
not challenge the CPUC’s regulation or its application of the regulation. (ECF No. 17 at 4–5;
26
2
27
28
Plaintiffs argue that because their Complaint has a fraud claim in it, the Rooker-Feldman Doctrine per se does not
apply. (ECF No. 17 at 11.) This is a misguided characterization of the law. A fraud claim can only overcome
Rooker-Feldman if the plaintiffs are claiming injury from an erroneous state court decision because of extrinsic fraud
perpetrated by a third-party upon the state court which resulted in the erroneous decision. Kougasian v. TMSL, Inc.,
359 F.3d 1136, 1140–41 (9th Cir. 2004).
8
1
ECF No. 18 at 7–11.)
2
The Supreme Court has defined the Burford Abstention Doctrine, holding that
3
[w]here timely and adequate state-court review is available, a
federal court sitting in equity must decline to interfere with the
proceedings or orders of state administrative agencies: (1) when
there are ‘difficult questions of state law bearing on policy
problems of substantial public import whose importance transcends
the result in the case then at bar’; or (2) where the ‘exercise of
federal review of the question in a case and in similar cases would
be disruptive of state efforts to establish a coherent policy with
respect to a matter of substantial public concern.’
4
5
6
7
8
New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc. v. Council of City of New Orleans, 491 U.S. 350, 361 (1989)
9
(quoting Colorado River Water Conservation Dist. v. United States, 424 U.S. 800 (1976))
10
(emphasis added).
11
However, the Supreme Court was careful to emphasize that such abstention is the
12
exception and not the rule. New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc., 491 U.S. at 359; Cohens v. Virginia,
13
19 U.S. 264, 56 (1821) (“We have no more right to decline the exercise of jurisdiction which is
14
given, than to usurp that which is not given. The one or the other would be treason to the
15
Constitution”); Chicot County v. Sherwood, 148 U.S. 529, 534 (1893) (“[T]he courts of the
16
United States are bound to proceed to judgment and to afford redress to suitors before them in
17
every case to which their jurisdiction extends. They cannot abdicate their authority or duty in any
18
case in favor of another jurisdiction”). Furthermore, the Court limited such abstention to
19
equitable remedies. New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc., 491 U.S. at 359 (“[This] principle does not
20
eliminate…the federal courts’ discretion in determining whether to grant certain types of relief….
21
Thus, there are some classes of cases in which the withholding of authorized equitable relief
22
because of undue interference with state proceedings is the normal thing to do.”) (internal
23
quotation and citation omitted) (emphasis added).
24
Here, Plaintiffs only ask for monetary damages. (ECF No. 1.) They are not requesting
25
equitable remedies. (ECF No. 1.) As such, this Court is not sitting in equity and therefore cannot
26
apply the Burford Abstention Doctrine.
27
///
28
///
9
B. Failure to State a Claim3
1
i. 1915 Easement4
2
3
This case presents a threshold question of the existence and scope of the 1915 grant of
4
easement across Plaintiffs’ land. Plaintiffs’ claims rely on the nonexistence and limited scope of
5
the easement. In their Complaint, Plaintiffs allege that Defendants exceeded the scope of the
6
easement, and imply that an easement may not exist at all (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 86), yet simultaneously
7
acknowledge that an easement was granted in 1915 (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 10). Defendant CAISO
8
argues that PG&E was acting under and within the bounds of the easement when it entered the
9
property to cut the walnut trees. (ECF No. 13-1 at 23.) Neither party contests that the document
10
filed before this Court for judicial notice is the grant of easement in question. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 10;
11
ECF No. 14-1 at 21–22.)
12
a. Existence of the Easement
13
Defendants both argue that the issue of the existence of the easement is precluded because
14
it was already decided in the state courts. (ECF No. 13-1 at 12; ECF No. 14 at 19.) In its
15
consideration of this case, the California Court of Appeal established the existence of the
16
easement. (ECF No. 14-1 at 39; ECF No. 13-5 at 22–24.) In relevant part the California Court of
17
Appeal states:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3
Defendants make additional arguments that Plaintiffs’ claims should be dismissed because they are time barred, and
barred because of issue and claim preclusion. However, because the Court dismisses the Complaint on other grounds
it does not reach these arguments.
4
A court may consider documents external to the pleadings in a motion to dismiss under the incorporation by
reference doctrine where the contents of the documents are alleged in the complaint and neither party questions the
authenticity of the documents. Knievel v. ESPN, 393 F.3d 1068, 1076 (9th Cir. 2005). Here, all documents supplied
by the parties are from state court and state agency proceedings referenced in the Complaint. (ECF No. 1)
Additionally, neither side disputes the authenticity of the documents except to ensure that all documents are
complete. (ECF No. 17-1 at 1–2; ECF No. 18-1 at 1–2.) As such the Court takes judicial notice of: the First
Amended Complaint of Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Joaquin Superior Court, Case No.
CV033900; Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas & Electric Company/Wilbur v. Pacific Gas& Electric Company, 189
Cal.App.4th 225 (2010); California Supreme Court Denial of Petition for Review of Third District Court of Appeal
Case Nos. C059873/C060515; the Complaint and all exhibits (as requested by Plaintiffs in ECF No. 18-1 at 2) filed
in Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., California Public Utilities Commission, Case C.11.06-024; Presiding
Officer’s Decision Dismissing Complaint in the action styled Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., California
Public Utilities Commission, Case C.11.06-024 (September 13, 2013); Modified Presiding Officer’s Decision
Dismissing Complaint in the action styled Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., California Public Utilities
Commission, Case C.11.06-024, D.14-05-008, 2014 WL 1931954 (May 7, 2014); Order Modifying Decision (D.) 1405-008 and Denying Rehearing, as Modified in the action styled Sarale et al. v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co.,
California Public Utilities Commission, Case C.11.06-024, D.14-10-026, 2014 WL 5038597 (October 2, 2014).
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
On appeal from a judgment of dismissal after the sustaining of a
demurrer, a court must “treat as true not only the complaint’s
material factual allegations, but also facts that may be implied or
inferred from those expressly alleged.” (Poseidon Development,
Inc. v. Woodland Lane Estates, LLC (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 1106,
1111–1112, 62 Cal.Rptr.3d 59.) We also “accept as true both facts
alleged in the text of the complaint and facts appearing in exhibits
attached to it. If the facts appearing in the attached exhibit
contradict those expressly pleaded, those in the exhibit are given
precedence. (Dodd v. Citizens Bank of Costa Mesa (1990) 222
Cal.App.3d 1624, 1626–1627 [272 Cal.Rptr. 623].)” (Mead v.
Sanwa Bank California (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 561, 567–568, 71
Cal.Rptr.2d 625.) Here, the grant of a right-of-way attached by the
Sarales to their first amended complaint conclusively negates an
allegation of the Sarales’ complaint, namely the nonexistence of the
utility easement on their land. The Sarales’ allegation cannot
withstand the clear proof of the easement’s existence provided by
the language of the 1915 grant….
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
In short, there is no remaining factual dispute in the Sarales’ case
because the existence of the easement is established by the exhibit
attached to their complaint. (Mead v. Sanwa Bank California,
supra, 61 Cal.App.4th at pp. 567–568, 71 Cal.Rptr.2d 625.) For
lack of factual dispute in the Sarales’ case, the demurrer was
properly granted without leave to amend and the judgment of
dismissal correctly entered.
Sarale v. Pacific Gas and Electric Co., 189 Cal. App. 4th 225, 245 (2012). (ECF No. 14-1 at 39;
ECF No. 13-5 at 22–24.)
Because the California Court of Appeal has already ruled on the existence of the
easement, the parties are precluded from relitigating the issue. California law requires six
elements for an issue to be precluded: “(1) ‘the issue sought to be precluded from relitigation
must be identical to that decided in a former proceeding’; (2) the issue to be precluded ‘must have
been actually litigated in the former proceeding’; (3) the issue to be precluded ‘must have been
necessarily decided in the former proceeding’; (4) ‘the decision in the former proceeding must be
final and on the merits’; (5) ‘the party against whom preclusion is sought must be the same as, or
in privity with, the party to the former proceeding’; and (6) application of issue preclusion must
be consistent with the public policies of ‘preservation of the integrity of the judicial system,
promotion of judicial economy, and protection of litigants from harassment by vexatious
litigation.’” Kasdan v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, 2014 WL 6669354, *4 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 24, 2014).
Here, all six elements are met. First, the issue of the existence of the easement is identical
28
11
1
to the issue decided by the California Court of Appeal. Second, the issue was actually litigated in
2
state court where Plaintiffs questioned the existence of the easement and submitted the grant with
3
their complaint. Third, a decision on the merits was reached; the issue was necessarily decided as
4
Plaintiffs presented the question of property rights to the court and in determining those rights the
5
California Court of Appeal decided the issue of the existence of the easement. Fourth, the
6
California Court of Appeal decision was final and on the merits, it affirmed the motion to dismiss
7
and considered the grant before it. Fifth, the Plaintiffs here are the same Plaintiffs in front of the
8
California Court of Appeal. Finally, the sixth element is met because judicial economy is not
9
promoted by the relitigation of this issue.
10
For the foregoing reasons the easement is deemed to exist and is valid. However, before
11
the Court can determine the sufficiency of the Complaint, it must first determine the scope of the
12
easement.
13
b. Scope of the Easement
14
“Since the land [the deed] describe[d] is situated in California, interpretation of the deeds
15
is governed by California law.” Los Angeles & Salt Lake R.R. Co v. U S, 140 F.2d 436, 437 (9th
16
Cir. 1944). “An easement is a restricted right to specific, limited, definable use or activity upon
17
another’s property, which right must be less than the right of ownership.” Mesnick v. Caton, 183
18
Cal. App. 3d 1248, 1261 (1986). The extent and scope of an easement is “determined by the
19
terms of the grant, or the nature of the enjoyment by which it was acquired.” Cal. Civ. Code §
20
806. In an express easement, “the only interests that are transferred from the grantor to the
21
grantee are the interests expressed in the grant and those necessarily incident to the interests.”
22
Tri-Dam v. Michael, No. 1:11-CV-2138-AWI-SMS, 2014 WL 1285644, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 28,
23
2014) (citing Pasadena v. California–Michigan Land & Water Co., 17 Cal.2d 576, 579 (1941)).
24
An easement, “unless it is ambiguous, must be construed by a consideration of its own terms.
25
The meaning and intent thereof is a question of law ....” Gray v. McCormick, 167 Cal.App.4th
26
1019, 1024 (2008) (citation omitted); Scruby v. Vintage Grapevine, Inc., 37 Cal. App. 4th 697,
27
702-03, 43 Cal. Rptr. 2d 810 (1995), as modified on denial of reh’g (Sept. 6, 1995) (”In
28
construing an instrument conveying an easement, the rules applicable to the construction of deeds
12
1
generally apply. If the language is clear and explicit in the conveyance, there is no occasion for
2
the use of parol evidence to show the nature and extent of the rights acquired”).
Here, there is a grant5 from 1915 giving PG&E the “right of erecting, constructing,
3
4
reconstructing, replacing, repairing, maintaining, and using for the transmission and distribution
5
of electricity, a single line of towers and wires suspended thereon and supported thereby.” (ECF
6
No. 14-1 at 21; ECF No. 13-4 at 15.) The grant requires that PG&E “avoid so far as it reasonably
7
can, interfering with the use of such lands for agriculture” (hereinafter “interference clause”).
8
(ECF No. 14-1 at 22; ECF No. 13-4 at 16.) However, the grant then gives PG&E the “full right
9
and liberty of cutting and clearing away all trees and brush on either side of said center line
10
whenever necessary and proper for the convenient use and enjoyment of the said line of towers
11
and wires and right of way.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 22; ECF No. 13-4 at 16.) Because there is a
12
written grant, the scope of the easement is determined by the language of that grant.
13
Under this grant, PG&E has a clear right to cut and even clear completely all trees and
14
brush that might interfere with the power lines. Even if PG&E’s right to cut and clear the land
15
under the lines is tempered by the interference clause, the clause itself imparts a significant
16
amount of discretion on PG&E. PG&E only has to avoid interference with agriculture use, “so
17
far as it reasonably can.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 22; ECF No. 13-4 at 16.) While PG&E’s earlier
18
practice of trimming the trees to a ten (10) foot clearance may have interfered less with
19
agriculture, their policy to increase trimming to twenty (20) feet of clearance is not unreasonable.
20
Trees coming into contact with power lines present a significant danger, not only of power
21
outages, but of fire. Even the CPUC in its decision noted that “…having already determined that
22
Defendant’s conduct is necessary, proper, and reasonable, the Commission holds that, should a
23
proper easement exist, Defendant has acted prudently and reasonably in accommodating the
24
agricultural use of the land.” (ECF No. 14-1 at 95; ECF No. 13-7 at 14.) The CPUC decision
25
further stated that “[b]ased on the evidence in this case, it was reasonable to find that 20 foot
26
trims did accommodate the agricultural use of the land so far as was practicable.” (ECF No. 14-1
27
at 136; ECF No. 13-8 at 14.) The Court agrees with the CPUC that PG&E’s actions were
28
5
The Court has taken judicial notice of this document.
13
1
reasonable under both the regulations and the easement. Thus, the Court finds that a valid
2
easement exists and that PG&E acted within the terms of that easement in their trimming
3
practices.
4
5
6
ii. First Cause of Action: Physical Taking in Violation of the Fifth
Amendment and 42 U.S.C. §1983
A per se taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment occurs when there is (1) a permanent
7
physical invasion of property; or (2) where regulation denies all economically beneficial or
8
productive use of land. Lucas v. S. Carolina Coastal Council, 505 U.S. 1003, 1015 (1992). Here,
9
there is no taking under either category because PG&E was acting at all times within its rights as
10
granted by the 1915 easement. This precludes the existence of an invasion, negating the first
11
category, and PG&E was acting under its property rights, not under a regulation, negating the
12
second category. Furthermore, because PG&E had the right to cut and clear all trees and brush
13
under the grant, Plaintiffs will be unable to amend the complaint to include facts which would
14
state a claim. Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130. The Court therefore GRANTS Defendants’ Motions to
15
Dismiss as to the first cause of action with PREJUDICE.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
iii. Second Cause of Action: Conspiracy to Defraud and Fraud
Plaintiffs allege fraud and conspiracy to defraud on the basis that PG&E and CAISO
misrepresented existing regulations. (ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 60–79.) Specifically, Plaintiffs contend
PG&E has made and continues to make false and misleading
representations to growers, including Plaintiffs, to induce in
Plaintiffs and property owners the mistaken belief that PG&E has
the right, without compensation for property taken or destroyed, to
conduct such excessive, destructive trimming and that such
trimming was required by law including representations (i) that
excessive trimming is mandated by CAISO regulation requiring a
minimum clearance between 115kV lines and vegetation of 10 feet
be maintained at all times, where, in truth, CAISO had issued no
such prescriptive regulation and the 19 inch minimum clearance set
forth in GO 95 was the only governing law or regulation these
115kv lines, and (ii) CAISO regulation requires a clearance at time
of trimming of 20 feet between 115kV lines and vegetation be
maintained at all times, rather than the 10 foot clearance set by GO
95 where, in truth, CAISO had issued no such regulation and the 10
foot time of trimming clearance set forth in GO 95 was the only
applicable regulatory guideline and, (iii) that trimming beyond the
minimum clearances set by GO 95 is required by unspecified
directives and regulations of federal agencies identified as FERC,
14
1
NERC, and WECC where, in truth, FERC, NERC, and WECC had
issued no such directives or regulations as to the 115kV lines at the
Property.
2
3
(ECF No. 1 at ¶ 62.)
4
Defendants note that “to plead fraud in California, plaintiffs must plead a false
5
representation, knowledge of its falsity, intent to defraud, justifiable reliance, and damages.”
6
(ECF No. 13-1 at 20) (citing Grant v. Pensco Trust Co., LLC, 2013 WL 4772673, *3 (N.D. Cal.
7
Sept 3, 2013)). Here, Plaintiffs fail to adequately allege “damages resulting from reliance on a
8
misrepresentation.” Bldg, Permit Consultants, Inc. v. Mazur, 122 Cal. App. 4th 1400, 1415
9
(2004). All damages that Plaintiffs allege are a result of PG&E’s actions that were and are within
10
the scope of the easement. Because all alleged damages were the result of legal activity,
11
Plaintiffs have failed to plead any damages resulting solely from any alleged misrepresentation.
Further, Plaintiffs’ fraud claims turn on the issue of whether PG&E had the right to cut
12
13
vegetation back to a 20-foot clearance under CAISO regulations. (ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 60–79.)
14
Fraud requires that a false representation be made with knowledge of its falsity. Grant, WL
15
4772673, *3. If PG&E was within its rights to cut back the trees, then there was no false
16
representation. This issue has already been decided by the CPUC which held that PG&E was
17
acting within the scope of the regulations. (ECF No. 14-1 at 122–138; ECF No. 13-8 at 1–16.) In
18
order for Plaintiffs’ fraud claims to be granted the underlying CPUC decision would have to be
19
overturned. However, this Court does not have jurisdiction to do so. Under Cal Pub. Util. §
20
1759(a) only the California Supreme Court or California Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to
21
“review, reverse, correct, or annul any order of decision of the commission.” As this Court is not
22
an appellate court it cannot overturn the CPUC decision. Because Plaintiffs’ fraud claims would
23
require such action on the part of the Court, the Plaintiffs have failed to plead sufficient facts to
24
allege fraud and any amendment would be futile because the underlying issue has already been
25
decided. Therefore, the Court GRANTS Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss as to the second cause
26
of action with PREJUDICE.
27
///
28
///
15
1
iv. Third Cause of Action: Taking and Damaging of Property in Violation
2
of Art. I, Sec. 19 of the California Constitution
3
The California Constitution provides: “Private property may be taken or damaged for
4
public use only when just compensation ... has first been paid to, or into the court for, the owner.”
5
Cal. Const., art. I, § 19. Plaintiffs allege that there has been a taking, but for the reasons
6
discussed above, section b.ii. supra, PG&E was acting at all times within the rights granted to
7
them in the easement. Therefore, no taking occurred and Plaintiffs will be unable to amend their
8
complaint on these facts to state a claim because PG&E was acting within its rights. The Court
9
GRANTS Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss as to the third cause of action with PREJUDICE.
10
11
v. Fourth Cause of Action: Common Law Trespass
Plaintiffs contend that Defendants’ actions amount to trespass. (ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 85–88.)
12
However, as Defendants’ state, “[t]respass is an unlawful interference with possession of
13
property.” (ECF No. 13-1 at 23) (citing Girard v. Ball, 125 Cal. App. 3d 772, 788 (1981)). Here,
14
there was no unlawful interference with Plaintiffs’ property because PG&E acted within their
15
rights under the easement. Furthermore, Plaintiffs do not make any allegations that CAISO ever
16
entered their land. (ECF No. 1 at ¶¶ 85–88.) Therefore, no trespass occurred because PG&E was
17
acting at all times under their rights and CAISO never entered Plaintiffs’ land or caused others to
18
unlawfully enter their land. Because the easement gives PG&E the right to enter, cut, and clear
19
the land Plaintiffs are unable to amend the cause of action to state a claim. The Court GRANTS
20
Defendants’ Motions to Dismiss as to the fourth cause of action with PREJUDICE.
21
22
vi. Fifth Cause of Action: Violation of Civil Rights
Plaintiffs claim violation of civil rights under Cal. Civ. Code § 52.1, alleging that PG&E
23
attempted to interfere, and interfered with Plaintiffs’ right to own, posses, and protect property
24
under 42 U.S.C. § 1982 and Cal. Civ. Code § 671. (ECF No. 1 at ¶ 90.) “In order to allege a
25
claim under Section 52.1, a plaintiff must show (1) intentional interference or attempted
26
interference with a state or federal constitutional or legal right, and (2) the interference or
27
attempted interference was by threats, intimidation, or coercion.” Shay v. Cnty. of Los Angeles, et
28
al., No. 2:15-cv-04607-CAS-RAO, 2015 WL 6513632, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Oct. 26, 2015) (citing
16
1
2
Allen v. City of Sacramento, 234 Cal. App. 4th 41, 67 (2015)).
Here, Plaintiffs have failed to meet the first requirement. They have not shown
3
interference or attempted interference with a state or federal constitutional or legal right because
4
PG&E was acting within its rights under the easement at all times. Plaintiffs did not, under these
5
circumstances, have the right to deny PG&E access, and Plaintiffs’ right to own, possess, and
6
protect property under state and federal statutes was not violated. Accordingly, it is not possible
7
for Plaintiffs to amend this cause of action to state a claim. Therefore, the Court GRANTS
8
Defendants’ Motions to dismiss as to the fifth cause of action with PREJUDICE.
9
10
11
IV.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Court hereby GRANTS Defendants’ Motions to
Dismiss Plaintiffs’ Complaint with PREJUDICE. (ECF No. 14; ECF No. 13.)
12
13
14
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: December 10, 2015
15
16
Troy L. Nunley
United States District Judge
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
17
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?