Tag Archives: Assessment Collection

SB-1323 Foreclosure: equity sale: multiple listing.

Would expand the definition of an accessory dwelling unit to include a tiny home on wheels.

Current Status: Dead

FindHOALaw Quick Summary:

Existing law imposes various requirements to be satisfied before exercising a power of sale under a mortgage or deed of trust, including recording a notice of default, providing a mortgagor or trustor a copy of the recorded notice of default, providing notice of the time and place scheduled for the public auction sale of the real property and other notices related to the sale, determining the fees and expenses that may be paid from the sale, determining who may conduct the sale and act in the sale as an auctioneer for the trustee, determining the time and place where the auction sale may occur, and specifying how bids may be made and accepted at the auction sale.
This bill would amend to require that an equity sale of property under a power of sale of a mortgage or deed of trust be made by a real estate licensee and by publicly listing the property for sale on a multiple listing service with an initial listing price at the property’s appraised value. If the trustee receives multiple qualifying offers the bill would require the trustee to make counter offers to each offeror and comply with prescribed procedures.
The bill would require the trustee to reduce the listed price of the property if the trustee does not receive a qualifying offer within 30 days of listing the property, and every 30 days thereafter.
This bill would authorize the trustee to sell the property by public auction if the trustee does not receive a qualifying offer within 30 days of the 4th price decrease, or if a price decrease will result in the property’s listed price falling below the equity threshold.
The bill would also make conforming changes to the various requirements to be satisfied before exercising a power of sale under a mortgage or deed of trust, and would impose liability for damages resulting from specified violations of these provisions.
View more info on SB 1323
from the California Legislature's website

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Pre-Lien Dispute Resolution

Where an owner fails to remit assessment payments within a timely fashion, an association may record an assessment lien against the owner’s property to act as security for the payment of the owner’s delinquent assessment debt. (Civ. Code § 5675(a); See also “Notice of Delinquent Assessment (Assessment Lien).”) The assessment lien effectively prevents the owner from transferring title to the owner’s property and potentially from re-financing the property without first satisfying the owner’s assessment debt and having the assessment lien released.

Pre-Lien Offer of Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR)
Prior to recording an assessment lien, an association is required to offer the delinquent owner the opportunity to participate in internal dispute resolution (“IDR” aka “Meet & Confer”). (Civ. Code § 5670).) The purpose of IDR is to provide a non-judicial forum to resolve disputes between an owner and the association that will not result in a fee or charge to the owner. For information on the IDR procedure and its requirements, see “Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR).” When the association’s pre-lien offer of IDR is accepted by the owner, the association must participate in IDR prior to recording the assessment lien. (Civ. Code §§ 5670, 5910(c).)

Right to Request IDR; Pre-Lien Letter
At least thirty (30) days prior to recording an assessment lien, the association is required to provide the owner with a pre-lien letter that is sent via certified mail. (Civ. Code § 5660; See also “Pre-Lien Letter.”) The pre-lien letter must contain various items of information; one of those items is a statement as to the owner’s right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for IDR to the association. (Civ. Code § 5660(e).) If the owner requests IDR before the assessment lien is recorded, the association must participate in IDR prior to recording the assessment lien. (Civ. Code § 5670.)

Payment Plans

Absent contrary provisions in an association’s governing documents, an association is not legally required to propose or grant payment plans to owners who are delinquent in the payment of assessments to the association. However, an association is required to provide owners with the association’s standards for payment plans (if any exists), and the board is also required to consider a payment plan request that is submitted to the board by a delinquent owner. (Civ. Code §§ 5665(a), 5730(a).) These requirements are discussed below.

Notice of Payment Plan Standards
An association is required to provide the owners with the association’s standards for payment plans, if any exists. (Civ. Code §§ 5665(a), 5730(a).) The obligation of an association to inform owners of the association’s standards for payment plans must also be disclosed as part of the association’s “annual statement of collection procedures” that is a component of the association’s annual policy statement. (Civ. Code §§ 5730(a), 5310(a)(6).)

Owner’s Request to Meet with Board to Discuss Payment Plan
Notwithstanding whether an association has any standards for payment plans, an owner may submit a written request to meet with the board to discuss a payment plan. (Civ. Code § 5665(a).) The board is required to meet with the owner in executive session within forty-five (45) days of the postmark of the request, if the request is mailed within fifteen (15) days of the date of the postmark of the pre-lien letter, unless there is no regularly scheduled board meeting within that period, in which case the board may designate a committee of one or more directors to meet with the owner (i.e., an executive committee). (Civ. Code § 5665(b).)

*Exception – Time Share Interests
The owner of a time-share interest does not have the right to request that the association consider a payment plan. (Civ. Code §§ 5665(a), 5730(a).)

Components of Payment Plan
A payment plan may incorporate any assessments that accrue during the payment plan period. (Civ. Code § 5665(c).) Additional late fees may not accrue during the payment plan period if the owner is in compliance with the terms of the payment plan. (Civ. Code § 5665(c).)

Effect on Assessment Lien
A payment plan does not impede an association’s ability to record an assessment lien on the owner’s property in order to secure the assessment debt owed to the association. (Civ. Code § 5665(d).)

Default on Payment Plan
In the event that an owner defaults on the payment plan, the association may resume its assessment collection efforts from the point in time prior to entering into the payment plan. (Civ. Code § 5665(e).)

Payment Plans Not Subject to Inspection
Payment plans are not “association records” which are subject to inspection by an association’s members, other than the member who entered into the payment plan. (Civ. Code § 5215(a)(5)(B); See also “Records Not Subject to Inspection.”)

Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.780. Attorney’s Fees: Small Claims Appeal.

(a) The judgment of the superior court after a hearing on appeal is final and not appealable.

(b) Article 6 (commencing with Section 116.610) on judgments of the small claims court applies to judgments of the superior court after a hearing on appeal, except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d).

(c) For good cause and where necessary to achieve substantial justice between the parties, the superior court may award a party to an appeal reimbursement of (1) attorney’s fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the appeal, not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150), and (2) actual loss of earnings and expenses of transportation and lodging actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the appeal, not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150).

Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.710. Small Claims Appeal.

(a) The plaintiff in a small claims action shall have no right to appeal the judgment on the plaintiff’s claim, but a plaintiff who did not appear at the hearing may file a motion to vacate the judgment in accordance with Section 116.720.

(b) The defendant with respect to the plaintiff’s claim, and a plaintiff with respect to a claim of the defendant, may appeal the judgment to the superior court in the county in which the action was heard.

(c) With respect to the plaintiff’s claim, the insurer of the defendant may appeal the judgment to the superior court in the county in which the matter was heard if the judgment exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) and the insurer stipulates that its policy with the defendant covers the matter to which the judgment applies.

(d) A defendant who did not appear at the hearing has no right to appeal the judgment, but may file a motion to vacate the judgment in accordance with Section 116.730 or 116.740 and also may appeal the denial of that motion.

Code of Civil Procedure Section 116.231. Small Claims Court Limitations.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (d), no person may file more than two small claims actions in which the amount demanded exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), anywhere in the state in any calendar year.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (d), if the amount demanded in any small claims action exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), the party making the demand shall file a declaration under penalty of perjury attesting to the fact that not more than two small claims actions in which the amount of the demand exceeded two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) have been filed by that party in this state within the calendar year.

(c) The Legislature finds and declares that the pilot project conducted under the authority of Chapter 1196 of the Statutes of 1991 demonstrated the efficacy of the removal of the limitation on the number of actions public entities may file in the small claims courts on claims exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).

(d) The limitation on the number of filings exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) does not apply to filings where the claim does not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) that are filed by a city, county, city and county, school district, county office of education, community college district, local district, or any other local public entity. If any small claims action is filed by a city, county, city and county, school district, county office of education, community college district, local district, or any other local public entity pursuant to this section, and the defendant informs the court either in advance of the hearing by written notice or at the time of the hearing, that he or she is represented in the action by legal counsel, the action shall be transferred out of the small claims division. A city, county, city and county, school district, county office of education, community college district, local district, or any other local public entity may not file a claim within the small claims division if the amount of the demand exceeds five thousand dollars ($5,000).

Multani v. Witkin & Neal

(2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1428

[Assessment Collection; Redemption Rights] A nonjudicial foreclosure sale may be set aside where a HOA fails to notify the foreclosed owner of his/her redemption rights after the foreclosure sale.

Law office of Gary Kurtz and Gary Kurtz for Plaintiffs and Appellants.
Richardson Harman Ober, Kelly G. Richardson and Brian D. Moreno for Defendants and Respondents.

OPINION

ZELON, J.

INTRODUCTION

The Castle Green Homeowners Association notified Afshan and Rahim Multani that they were delinquent in paying their monthly assessment fees. After the Multanis disputed the debt, the association conducted a nonjudicial foreclosure sale of their condominium unit. The Multanis sued to set aside the foreclosure alleging irregularities in the sale notices and procedure. They further alleged that the association and its agents had committed tortious acts during the foreclosure process.

Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment or adjudication arguing that the court should dismiss the foreclosure claims because plaintiffs had actual knowledge of the foreclosure proceedings and failed to exercise their postsale right of redemption. Defendants also argued that plaintiffs’ tort claims were untimely and predicated on privileged conduct related to the foreclosure process. The court granted the motion.

We reverse the trial court’s dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure sale, concluding that defendants failed to demonstrate that they notified the plaintiffs of their right of redemption as required by Code of Civil Procedure section 729.050.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. Summary of Plaintiffs’ Complaint

1. Plaintiffs’ factual allegations

In January of 2010, plaintiffs Afshan and Rahim Multani filed a complaint against the Castle Green Homeowners Association (the Association) and [1435] numerous other parties arising from a foreclosure of the Multanis’ condominium unit.[1] The complaint alleged that, in 1998, plaintiffs had purchased a condominium unit in the “Castle Greens” building in Pasadena, California. Plaintiffs obtained financing to purchase the unit from Chase Bank, who later transferred the loan to IndyMac Bank.

In 2005, Rahim Multani returned from an overseas trip and was informed by the Association and its agents, LB Property Management and SBS Lien Services, that he was delinquent in paying his homeowner assessment fees. Although Multani paid the delinquent fees, he received a letter from SBS in August of 2005 alleging that he still owed approximately $2,000 in fees and costs. Multani met with SBS and issued a payment of $743.16 that was never credited to his account. In October, Multani attempted to pay the Association his monthly assessment but was told that the account had been referred to SBS “for collection.” One month later, the Association, acting through SBS, recorded a notice of delinquent assessment against the property in the amount of $3,317, which consisted of $2,229 in unpaid assessments and an additional $1,087 in attorney’s fees, costs, late fees and interest.

Throughout 2006, Multani and the Association continued to “disput[e] the validity of the amount … owed….” In February of 2007, Multani received a notice of sale informing him that the Association “intended to enforce the lien created by the November … recording of the Notice of Assessment by selling the Subject Property on March 27, 2007.” The Association alleged that Multani now owed almost $12,000 in assessment fees and costs. Although Multani disputed the Association’s accounting, he agreed to pay the full amount and the Association released the assessment lien.

Shortly after the lien was released, Multani contacted the Association and “requested that his account be given … credit f[or] … previously non-credited payments.” Between April and July of 2007, Multani continued to make his “required monthly assessment payments, but was never given the credit due on the account.” In February of 2008, the Association recorded a second notice of delinquent assessment lien against the property and, in June, recorded a “Notice of Default and Lien.” Six months later, on December 5, 2008, the Association and its trustee, Witkin & Neal, “set a sale date of the property to take place on January 27, 2009.” Multani “sent a letter disputing the validity of the amount owed” and requested alternative dispute resolution. The Association did not respond.

[1436] On January 5, 2009, “Indymac [Bank], the lender and beneficiary of the senior deed of trust [on the condominium unit], mistakenly instructed their [sic] trustee to foreclose … on the property.” Plaintiffs immediately filed a wrongful foreclosure action and IndyMac agreed to issue a notice of rescission of foreclosure, which was recorded on April 28, 2009. Plaintiffs contended that IndyMac’s actions had effectively “extinguish[ed] [the Association’s] lien and its Notice of Trustee’s Sale,” thereby requiring the Association to reinitiate the foreclosure process by recording a new lien.

The Association, however, elected to proceed and directed Witkin & Neal to record the notice of trustee sale set for January 27, 2009. In May of 2009, Multani informed the president of the Association, Randy Banks, that he “ha[d] been trying for some time to correct and rectify what seemed an impossible task of getting a [sic] accurate accounting on Plaintiffs’ account and getting the proper credits that were due.” Banks told Multani that he was unaware of the accounting discrepancies and would “provide assistance … with the outstanding issues regarding the [improper] Association assessments.”

Despite these assurances, on May 21, 2009, the Association placed a notice on the door of the Multanis’ condominium stating that they owed $13,640 for delinquent assessments and costs. Shortly after the notice was posted, the Multanis’ tenants informed them that the locks on the condominium unit had been changed. When Multani arrived at Castle Green to investigate the matter, he was met by Banks, who said that he had contacted the police and that Multani would be arrested if he did not leave the premises. Although Multani informed the responding officers that he was the legal owner of the condominium, he was forced to leave the building. Between May and October of 2009, Banks and other Association members continued to “harass[] Plaintiffs’ tenants,” causing them to vacate the condominium.

On July 23, 2009, the Association conducted a foreclosure sale of the Multanis’ condominium, which was purchased by ProValue Properties. Although the “property was estimated to be valued at approximately $400,000,” ProValue paid only $20,400, subject to IndyMac Bank’s $75,000 deed of trust. The Association and its trustee never notified the Multanis that the sale had been postponed from January 27 to July 23, nor did they provide any notice after the sale was completed.

In October of 2009, the Multanis signed a lease with new tenants who moved into the condominium. However, on November 19, the Multanis received a courtesy copy of an unlawful detainer complaint from the Los Angeles Superior Court stating that (1) a nonjudicial foreclosure of the condominium had occurred on July 23, 2009; (2) although originally scheduled to occur on January 27, 2009, the Association’s trustee had “from time [1437] to time postponed” the sale until July 23; and (3) a trustee deed of sale had been recorded on October 24, 2009, which was 90 days after the plaintiffs’ “right to redemption” had expired. Prior to receiving the unlawful detainer complaint, the plaintiffs were unaware of the foreclosure sale.

In November and December of 2009, ProValue repeatedly changed the locks on the condominium unit. Multani and his tenants had several disputes with ProValue, culminating in an altercation on December 17, 2009. Based on misrepresentations made by ProValue, the Pasadena police told Multani that he had to vacate the condominium by the end of the weekend or he would be arrested for trespassing. After being repeatedly harassed and threatened with arrest, Multani finally relinquished possession of the unit and elected to file a lawsuit against the Association, its agents — Witkin & Neal, SBS Lien Services and LB Property Management — and numerous other parties, including ProValue.

2. Summary of plaintiffs’ claims

The Multanis’ complaint asserted numerous claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure, including quiet title, wrongful foreclosure, rescission and declaratory relief. The Multanis alleged that the foreclosure was improper because the Association and its agents (collectively defendants) had failed to properly serve the notice of trustee sale or comply with other procedural requirements mandated under Civil Code section 2924 et seq. Plaintiffs also alleged that defendants had failed to comply with “Civil Code section 1367 et seq.,” which imposes additional procedural requirements on nonjudicial foreclosures conducted by homeowner associations for delinquent assessment fees. More specifically, plaintiffs alleged that defendants “failed to provide alternate dispute resolution as required by [Civil Code section 1367.4].” The Multanis further asserted that all of defendants’ foreclosure notices had been “effectively voided” when “Indymac Bank … conducted their non-judicial foreclosure sale of January 2009 and recorded the Deed Upon Sale.”

In addition to the foreclosure claims, the complaint alleged several tort claims based on defendants’ actions during the foreclosure process. Plaintiffs asserted claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and intentional infliction of emotional distress alleging that defendants had (1) “intentionally mixed up the accounting of Plaintiffs’ dues, imposed unwarranted dues and other charges, and confused Plaintiffs as to what was actually going on by repeated filings of notices, liens, and releases of liens by Defendants”; (2) “intentionally did not properly credit Plaintiffs’ account so as to further extract additional monies in the form of collections costs, attorneys fees and late penalties”; and (3) “conspired to conduct a [nonjudicial foreclosure] sale without any notice to prevent Plaintiffs from opposing such sale.”

[1438] The complaint also asserted claims for interference with contractual relations and interference with prospective economic advantage, which were predicated on defendants’ harassment of plaintiff’s condominium tenants. The complaint listed numerous additional statutory claims based on similar conduct, including violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Civ. Code, § 51 et seq.), violation of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Civ. Code, § 1788 et seq.), violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) (18 U.S.C § 1961 et seq.) and unfair business practices.

B. Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment or Summary Adjudication

1. Defendants’ motion and supporting evidence

a. Summary of motion for summary judgment or adjudication

In June of 2011, the Association and its agents filed a motion for summary judgment or, alternatively, summary adjudication. First, defendants asserted that the undisputed evidence showed the Multanis had “violated the `tender rule’ by failing to tender the full amount before the foreclosure sale.” Second, defendants argued that they had provided evidence demonstrating substantial compliance with all statutory notice requirements. Third, defendants contended that plaintiffs were not harmed by any alleged procedural irregularity because they had actual notice that the foreclosure sale was scheduled to occur on January 27, 2009. Fourth, defendants argued that, pursuant to Civil Code section 1058.5, IndyMac Bank’s rescinded January 5th foreclosure had no effect on the Association’s foreclosure.[2]

As to plaintiffs’ tort claims, defendants argued that all of the conduct alleged in the complaint was related to the “processing of [a] … foreclosure” and was therefore “covered by the Civil Code Section 47(b) absolute privilege.” The Association also argued that the allegations in the complaint demonstrated that plaintiffs’ interference claims were time-barred.

The Association’s agents, Witkin & Neal and LB Property Management, separately argued that all of the tort claims asserted against them should be dismissed because they were entitled to qualified immunity under Civil Code [1439] section 2924, subdivision (b) and defendants had “failed to articulate the alleged bad acts committed by [them].”

b. Summary of evidence filed in support of defendants’ motion

In support of their motion, defendants submitted a declaration from the chief operating officer of Witkin & Neal summarizing the actions the trustee had taken during the foreclosure proceedings. According to the declaration, on April 21, 2008, Witkin & Neal mailed plaintiffs a “pre-notice” of default letter informing them that a notice of delinquent assessment had been recorded against the property and that the current amount due on the account was $4,206.40. The letter further stated that plaintiffs had the right to “dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution.” A declaration of mailing indicated that the letter was sent to the Multanis’ condominium unit and a Pasadena post office box numbered “82341.”

The declaration also stated that, on June 23, 2008, Witkin & Neal mailed plaintiffs a notice of default and election to sell stating that the amount currently due totaled $5,494.73 and would continue to “increase until [the] account bec[a]me current.” A declaration of mailing indicated that the notice was sent to the same two addresses as the “pre-notice” letter and to a second Pasadena post office box numbered “92341.” On January 9, 2009, Witkin & Neal sent plaintiffs a notice of trustee’s sale informing them that (1) the sale was scheduled to occur on January 27, 2009; (2) the total unpaid balance was currently $10,267.62; and (3) the foreclosure sale was subject to a 90-day redemption period during which the owners could reclaim the property. A declaration of mailing indicated that the notice was sent to the same three addresses as the notice of default.

The declaration further alleged that, “at the time and place fixed in the Notice of Trustee’s Sale, [Witkin & Neal] did, by public announcement, and in a manner provided by law, postpone the sale date from time to time thereafter until July 23, 2009, when [Witkin & Neal] sold the Subject unit to ProValue Properties … for the sum of $20,200.” On July 31, 2009, defendants recorded a certificate of sale confirming that the property was sold to ProValue and that the sale was subject to a 90-day “right of redemption.” According to the declaration, plaintiffs “made no attempt to tender the full amount before the foreclosure sale date” and “failed to redeem the Subject Property during the 90-day right of redemption period.” At the expiration of the 90-day redemption period, Witkin & Neal recorded a trustee’s deed upon sale, dated November 6, 2009.

Defendants also submitted excerpts from Rahim Multani’s deposition in which he admitted that he stopped paying his assessment fees because he [1440] “felt that [a] claim of overpayment was not being handled correctly.” According to Multani, “no one gave [him] a correct accounting or breakdown of what the actual outstanding amount was owed.” Multani alleged that, in 2008, he had tried to pay the amount that he believed he owed but the Association rejected his payments. Thereafter, Multani made a “conscious decision” not to pay the “entire asserted balance” because he believed it was incorrect and was “always a moving target.” Multani also testified that, prior to December 16, 2009, he was unaware that the Association had actually held a foreclosure sale.

2. Plaintiffs’ opposition and supporting documentation

On August 10, 2011, plaintiffs submitted an opposition arguing that there were disputed issues of material fact as to whether defendants had complied with all of the mandated procedural requirements. Plaintiffs argued, in relevant part, that (1) “[d]efendants failed to provide notice to Plaintiffs for the secret sale [that occurred on July 23, 2009]”; (2) defendant failed to respond to Rahim Multani’s letter dated December 2008, in which he specifically requested alternative dispute resolution; and (3) IndyMac’s subsequently rescinded foreclosure “extinguished” any prior notices the Association had issued in relation to their own foreclosure. Plaintiffs also argued that they were excused from complying with the tender rule because they had disputed “the validity of the underlying debt.”

As to the tort claims, plaintiffs asserted that their complaint alleged numerous forms of noncommunicative conduct that were not privileged under Civil Code section 47 subdivision (b), including allegations that defendants had unlawfully harassed Multani and his tenants and repeatedly changed the locks on the condominium unit.

In support of their opposition, plaintiffs submitted a 14-page declaration from Rahim Multani that contained a detailed discussion of the accounting dispute that preceded the Association’s recording of the delinquency lien. Multani asserted that, in June of 2007, he paid the Association almost $12,000 to resolve a prior payment dispute that had begun in 2005, but that defendants failed to properly credit him for two prior payments totaling approximately $1,500 and then began to intentionally inflate their monetary claims. Multani alleged that, on December 22, 2008, he sent the Association board a letter in which he disputed the amount that he owed and requested alternate dispute resolution. The Association, however, never responded to the letter.

Multani’s declaration admitted that he knew defendants had scheduled a foreclosure sale for January 27, 2009, but asserted that he was led to believe [1441] the sale had been cancelled. Multani explained that, one day prior to the scheduled sale date, his attorney informed Witkin & Neal that IndyMac Bank had foreclosed on the property two weeks earlier. In response, Witkin & Neal allegedly stated “if that was the case, then there would be no sale taking place the next day.” According to Multani, Witkin & Neal never indicated that it might postpone the foreclosure sale, but then “surreptitious[ly]” sold the property to ProValue on July 23, 2009. Multani further stated that, after this “secret” sale occurred, defendants failed to provide him a notice of his right to redemption as required under Code of Civil Procedure section 729.050.[3]

Multani also asserted that, during the foreclosure sale, defendants committed numerous “criminal acts by changing the locks on the Subject property…; calling the Pasadena Police Department on more than one occasion to attempt to prevent [him] from [entering the subject property]; improperly having [him] detained; and attempt[ing] to place [him] under citizen’s arrest for trespassing ….”[4]

C. The Trial Court’s Ruling

At the hearing, plaintiffs argued that defendants had sent many of the foreclosure notices to the wrong address. According to plaintiffs’ attorney, Rahim Multani’s proper mailing address was post office box number 92341, but defendants had sent several of the notices to post office box number 82341. Plaintiffs’ counsel further argued that the proper address had been on file with the Association but, “at some point[,] the homeowners association started sending it to the wrong P.O. box.”

In response, defendants’ attorney argued that they had submitted several recordations of mailings in support of their motion showing that most of the notices had in fact been sent to post office box 92341. Counsel also argued that it was irrelevant whether defendants had mailed the notices to the correct address because plaintiffs had admitted they “had actual knowledge of the [foreclosure] process.” After the court informed the parties that it was going to take the matter under submission, the following exchange occurred:

“PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL: Your honor, can I just ask the court to take a look at [section] 729.050.

“COURT: And what is it?

[1442] “PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL: That talks about the requirements. Their certificate of sale.

“COURT: Oh yeah, I’m going to look at that.”

On August 23, 2011, the trial court filed an order granting judgment in favor of Witkin & Neal and LB Property Management and granting the Association judgment on 12 of the 15 remaining claims pleaded against it.[5] The court concluded that defendants were entitled to judgment on each of the four claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure because plaintiffs had admitted that they “failed to tender the amount of the debt prior to the sale or exercise [their] right[s] of redemption after the sale.”[6]

In addition, the court concluded that the following evidence demonstrated that plaintiffs were not “prejudice[ed]” by any “procedural irregularity” in the foreclosure proceedings: (1) prior to recording the notice of delinquent assessment, the Association sent plaintiffs a letter advising them of their right to alternative dispute resolution; (2) Witkin & Neal’s declaration demonstrated that defendants had properly complied with all statutory requirements when postponing the foreclosure sale from January 27, 2009, to July 23, 2009; and (3) plaintiffs admitted they had “actual knowledge of the foreclosure proceedings” and, “[d]espite such knowledge, [had] failed to exercise their 90-day statutory right of redemption.”

The trial court also concluded that defendants’ evidence showed that four notices had been sent to plaintiffs’ condominium unit and post office box 82341: (1) a notice to pay or lien, dated December 27, 2007; (2) a notice of delinquent assessment liens, which had been sent on February 28, 2008, and again on April 21, 2008; (3) a notice of default and election to sell, dated June 23, 2008; and (4) a notice of trustee’s sale, dated October 31, 2009. The latter two items were also sent to post office box 92341, which Multani had alleged to be his proper mailing address. The court further noted that plaintiffs had never specifically alleged that they did not receive any of these four items.

On the tort-based claims, the court ruled that defendants were entitled to dismissal of the fifth cause of action (fraud), eighth cause of action (breach of [1443] fiduciary duty) ninth cause of action (intentional infliction of emotional distress) and the 18th cause of action (unfair business practices) because each of those claims was predicated on “actions … subject to immunities set forth in [Civil Code sections] 47 and 2924(b).” In addition, the court ruled that plaintiffs’ 13th through 16th claims, which alleged interference with contractual relations and prospective economic advantage, were “time-barred.”

The court entered judgment in favor of Witkin & Neal and LB Property Management on September 12, 2011. Three claims, however, remained pending against the Association: violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, forcible detainer and a request for an accounting.

On September 23, the Association moved for judgment on the pleadings seeking dismissal “of these remaining claims … such that judgment [may be] entered in favor of the Association.” The trial court granted the motion on October 19, 2011, and entered a final judgment in favor of the Association on November 9, 2011. Plaintiffs filed a timely appeal of the trial court’s judgment and order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment or adjudication.[7]

DISCUSSION

A. Standard of Review

“`The standard for deciding a summary judgment motion is well-established, as is the standard of review on appeal.’ [Citation.] `A defendant moving for summary judgment has the burden of producing evidence showing that one or more elements of the plaintiff’s cause of action cannot be established, or that there is a complete defense to that cause of action. [Citations.] The burden then shifts to the plaintiff to produce specific facts showing a triable issue as to the cause of action or the defense. [Citations.] Despite the shifting burdens of production, the defendant, as the moving party, always bears the ultimate burden of persuasion as to whether summary judgment is warranted. [Citation.]’ [Citation.]” (Hypertouch, Inc. v. ValueClick, Inc.(2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 805, 817 [123 Cal.Rptr.3d 8] (Hypertouch).)

“`On appeal, we review de novo an order granting summary judgment. [Citation.] The trial court must grant a summary judgment motion when the [1444] evidence shows that there is no triable issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. [Citations.] In making this determination, courts view the evidence, including all reasonable inferences supported by that evidence, in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. [Citations.]’ [Citation.]” (Hypertouch, supra,192 Cal.App.4th at p. 818.) “The same standards apply to motions for summary adjudication.” (Id. at fn. 3.)

B. Defendants Failed to Satisfy Their Initial Burden of Production on Plaintiffs’ Foreclosure Claims

Plaintiffs argue that the trial court erred in dismissing each of their claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure sale because there are triable issues of fact as to whether defendants complied with numerous procedures required under the Civil Code and the Code of Civil Procedure. We reverse the trial court’s dismissal of the foreclosure claims, concluding that defendants failed to demonstrate that they notified plaintiffs of their right to redemption or the applicable redemption period as required under section 729.050.[8]

1. The postsale right to redemption in nonjudicial foreclosures by a homeowner association for delinquent assessment fees

(1) Special procedures govern nonjudicial foreclosures initiated by a homeowner association for the collection of delinquent assessment fees. Under the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act (Civ. Code, § 1350 et seq.) (the Act), which governs common interest developments (CID) in California,[9] the amount of any unpaid association assessment, plus the reasonable costs of collection, late charges, and interest, constitute a “debt of the owner of the separate interest.” (Civ. Code, § 1367.1, subd. (a); see Civ. Code, § 1366, subd. (e)(1)-(3).) After complying with various notice requirements (see Civ. Code, § 1367.1, subds. (a)-(c)), an association may record a lien of delinquent assessment against the property (see Civ. Code, § 1367.1, subd. (e)) and then enforce the lien through a nonjudicial foreclosure “conducted in accordance with [Civil Code] [s]ections 2924, 2924b and 2924c applicable to the exercise of powers of sale in mortgages and deeds of trust.” (Civ. Code, § 1367.1, subd. (g).)

As a general rule, the debtor in a nonjudicial foreclosure may avoid the loss of the property by “pay[ing] all amounts due at any time prior to the [1445] sale …” (Knapp v. Doherty (2004) 123 Cal.App.4th 76, 86-87 [20 Cal.Rptr.3d 1] (Knapp).) However, “[o]nce the … sale is completed, the trustor has no further rights of redemption.” (Id. at p. 87.) Prior to 2006, these same rules applied to nonjudicial foreclosures by an association for delinquent assessments.

In 2005, however, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill No. 137 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) (Stats. 2005, ch. 452, § 5, p. 3649), which placed numerous limitations on an association’s ability to utilize foreclosure as a means to collect assessments. The legislative history indicates that Senate Bill No. 137 was intended to “institute … important procedural … requirements to protect CID homeowners” from the “extreme hammer of non-judicial foreclosure in order to collect relatively small amounts of overdue assessments.” (Off. of Assem. Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 137 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) as amended Sept. 1, 2005, pp. 4, 3.) Supporters of the Bill argued that there had been “too many instances” in which “CID associations [had] … initiated [foreclosures] for relatively small amounts …, [and then] sold [the property] for an all-too-often shockingly small fraction of its actual value.” (Id. at pp. 3-4.) The bill sought to avoid similar outcomes in the future by providing “CID homeowners” additional “due process protections.” (Ibid.)

(2) Senate Bill No. 137 added Civil Code section 1367.4, which prohibits (with certain exceptions) the use of foreclosure to collect delinquent assessments that total less than $1,800. (Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (b).) Although the statute permits an association to “use … nonjudicial foreclosure” for delinquent assessments exceeding $1,800 (Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)), section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4) requires that the association provide CID owners a right to redeem the property within 90 days after the sale: “A nonjudicial foreclosure by an association to collect upon a debt for delinquent assessments shall be subject to a right of redemption. The redemption period within which the separate interest may be redeemed from a foreclosure sale under this paragraph ends 90 days after the sale….” A similar provision appears in section 729.035, which was also added as part of Senate Bill No. 137: “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the sale of a separate interest in a common interest development is subject to the right of redemption within 90 days after the sale if the sale arises from a foreclosure by the association of a common interest development pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 1367.1 of the Civil Code, subject to the conditions of Section 1367.4 of the Civil Code.”[10]

[1446] The redemption process, which is normally available only in the context of judicial foreclosure, is governed by requirements set forth in the Code of Civil Procedure.[11] Section 729.040 mandates that, following a foreclosure subject to a right of redemption, the trustee must deliver a “certificate of sale” to the purchaser and record a duplicate of the certificate in the office of the county recorder. (Id., subd. (a).) Under section 729.050, the trustee must also promptly notify the debtor of his redemption rights: “If property is sold subject to the right of redemption, promptly after the sale the levying officer or trustee who conducted the sale shall serve notice of the right of redemption on the judgment debtor. Service shall be made personally or by mail. The notice of the right of redemption shall indicate the applicable redemption period.”

Sections 729.060 to 729.090 describe how the debtor may redeem his or her property following the foreclosure sale. “[S]ection 729.060, subdivision (a) requires `[a] person who seeks to redeem the property [to] deposit the redemption price with the levying officer who conducted the sale before the expiration of the redemption period.’ Subdivision (b) of this statute defines the redemption price as `the total of the following amounts…. [¶] (1) The purchase price at the sale. [¶] (2) The amount of any assessments or taxes and reasonable amounts for fire insurance, maintenance, upkeep, and repair of improvements on the property. [¶] (3) Any amount paid by the purchaser on a prior obligation secured by the property to the extent that the payment was necessary for the protection of the purchaser’s interest. [¶] (4) Interest on the amounts described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)….’ In addition, subdivision (c) of … section 729.060 authorizes an offset to the redeeming party for `[r]ents and profits from the property paid to the purchaser or the value of the use and occupation of the property to the purchaser….'” (Barry v. OC Residential Properties (2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 861, 866 [123 Cal.Rptr.3d 727] (Barry).)

[1447] (3) Section 729.070 establishes “a procedure allowing one `seeking to redeem the property [who] disagree[s with the purchaser’s claimed] redemption price’ to petition `the court for an order determining the redemption price ….’ [Citation.]” (Barry, supra, 194 Cal.App.4th at pp. 866-867.) If the debtor does not deposit the redemption price or otherwise file a petition challenging the redemption price within the applicable redemption period, the trustee must deliver an executed trustee’s deed to the purchaser and provide the debtor notice that the trustee sale has occurred. (§ 729.080, subd. (a).) If, however, the debtor tenders “the redemption price determined by court order or agreed upon by the purchaser … [¶] … the effect of the sale is terminated and the person who redeemed the property is restored to the estate therein sold at the sale.” (§ 729.080, subds. (c), (d).)

2. Defendants failed to make a prima facie showing that plaintiffs cannot establish the elements necessary to set aside the foreclosure sale

Plaintiffs contend that the trial court erred in dismissing their foreclosure claims because defendants failed to notify them of their right of redemption as required under section 729.050.

a. Defendants have waived any argument regarding plaintiffs’ failure to plead a violation of section 729.050

Before addressing the merits of this argument, we assess defendants’ contention that we should “disregard[]” this “alleged [procedural] violation” because it “is outside the scope of the Second Amended Complaint.”

(4) Generally, “[a] defendant moving for summary judgment need address only the issues raised by the complaint; the plaintiff cannot bring up new, unpleaded issues in his or her opposing papers. [Citation.]” (Government Employees Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2000) 79 Cal.App.4th 95, 98-99, fn. 4 [93 Cal.Rptr.2d 820].) Defendants assert that, in this case, plaintiffs’ “allegation that [the Association and its trustee] somehow violated … [s]ection 729.050 … does not exist in the [second amended complaint],” which prohibits them from raising the issue on appeal.

Plaintiffs’ complaint, however, alleges that defendants “conducted the foreclosure proceedings unlawfully in that they did not follow the California non-judicial foreclosure sale procedures prescribed by … Civil Code § 2924 and 1367.” The complaint also alleges violation of “§ 1367 et seq.” As discussed above, Civil Code section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4) requires the association to provide CID owners a 90-day period to redeem the property, which triggers the trustee’s notice requirements under section 729.050.

[1448] (5) In any event, defendants have forfeited this issue. When a plaintiff opposes a motion for summary judgment or adjudication by raising an “unpleaded issue,” the defendant’s failure to “object to [the] injection of [the] unpleaded theory … [constitutes a] waive[r].” (Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 90; see Stalnaker v. Boeing Co.(1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 1291, 1302 [231 Cal.Rptr. 323].) The purpose of this objection requirement is to ensure that, if the objection is sustained, the plaintiff has an opportunity to request leave to amend the pleading to raise the unpleaded theory. (See Stalnaker, supra, 186 Cal.App.3d at p. 1302.)

In the trial court, plaintiffs’ opposition papers included a declaration from Rahim Multani in which he alleged that defendants did not comply with section 729.050’s notice requirements. Although defendants objected to numerous statements in Multani’s declaration on the ground that they introduced issues outside the pleadings, defendants did not raise this objection in regards to Multani’s statements about section 729.050. Moreover, during oral argument, plaintiffs’ attorney specifically requested that the trial court review section 729.050 and determine whether defendants had demonstrated compliance with its requirements. Defendants did not object to this request and the trial court agreed that it would consider the issue. Under these circumstances, “we deem waived defendants’ objection to plaintiffs’ … mode of pleading and argument.” (Stalnaker v. Boeing Co., supra, 186 Cal.App.3d at p. 1302; see id. at fn. 7 [finding waiver where “the newly introduced theory was … presented to the trial court, without defendants’ objection”].)

b. Defendants failed to make a prima facie showing that they were entitled to dismissal of plaintiffs’ claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure

As the party moving for summary adjudication of plaintiffs’ foreclosure claims, defendants had the “`initial burden of production to make a prima facie showing'” that “`one or more elements of the plaintiff’s cause of action cannot be established.'” (Hypertouch, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at pp. 838, 818.)

(6) “The rights and powers of trustees in nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings have long been regarded as strictly limited and defined by the contract of the parties and the statutes.” (I. E. Associates v. Safeco Title Ins. Co. (1985) 39 Cal.3d 281, 287 [216 Cal.Rptr. 438, 702 P.2d 596].) “Because nonjudicial foreclosure is a `drastic sanction’ and a `draconian remedy’ [citation], `”[t]he statutory requirements must be strictly complied with, and a trustee’s sale based on statutorily deficient notice of default is invalid.”‘ [Citation.]” (Ung v. Koehler (2005) 135 Cal.App.4th 186, 202-203 [37 Cal.Rptr.3d 311]; see Holland v. Pendleton Mtge. Co. (1943) 61 Cal.App.2d 570, 573-574 [143 P.2d [1449] 493] [foreclosure sale invalid where trustee fails to comply with statutory notice procedures]; 4 Miller & Starr, Cal. Real Estate (3d ed. 2011) § 10:210, p. 670 [“A sale of the collateral by an exercise of the power of sale in violation of the statutory limitations on the power is invalid.”].)

To set aside a foreclosure, a plaintiff must generally establish three elements: “(1) the trustee … caused an illegal, fraudulent, or willfully oppressive sale of real property pursuant to a power of sale in a mortgage or deed of trust; (2) the party attacking the sale … was prejudiced or harmed; and (3) in cases where the trustor … challenges the sale, the trustor … tendered the amount of the secured indebtedness or was excused from tendering.” (Lona v. Citibank, N.A. (2011) 202 Cal.App.4th 89, 104 [134 Cal.Rptr.3d 622] (Lona).) Defendants argue that their moving papers made a prima facie showing that plaintiffs cannot establish any of these three elements.

i. Defendants introduced no evidence that they complied with section 729.050

(7) “Justifications … which satisfy the first element [(to set aside a foreclosure)] include the trustee’s … failure to comply with the statutory procedural requirements for the notice or conduct of the sale.” (Lona, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at p. 104.) Although there is generally no “postsale right of redemption” in nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings (Alliance, supra, 10 Cal.4th at p. 1236), a nonjudicial foreclosure by an association for delinquent assessments is “subject to the right of redemption within 90 days after the sale.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 729.035; see Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)(4).) As a result, the trustee who conducts the sale must “promptly … serve notice of the right of redemption on the judgment debtor,” which “shall indicate the applicable redemption period.” (§ 729.050.)

Defendants have failed to provide any evidence that they complied with this statutory requirement. In support of their motion for summary adjudication, defendants submitted evidence that they mailed the Multanis the following notices regarding the foreclosure proceedings: (1) a “pre-notice of Default letter,” mailed April 21, 2008; (2) a “Notice of Default and Election to Sell,” mailed June 23, 2008; (3) a “Notice of Board Decision to Foreclose and Notice of Default,” mailed October 7, 2008; and (4) a “Notice of Trustee’s Sale,” mailed January 9, 2009. Defendants also submitted evidence that, following the foreclosure sale, the trustee recorded a “Certification of Sale” on July 31, 2009, and then recorded the “Trustee’s Deed Upon sale … [a]fter the 90-day right of redemption period expired.”

Defendants, however, have cited no evidence in the record — and we have located none — demonstrating that it mailed the Multanis a notice of right to [1450] redemption as required under section 729.050. Instead, defendants contend that they had no burden to present evidence that they complied with section 729.050 because “[a] nonjudicial foreclosure sale is accompanied by a common law presumption that it `was conducted regularly and fairly.’ [Citations.]” (Lona, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at p. 105.) Defendants appear to assert that this presumption was, standing alone, sufficient “`to make a prima facie showing'” (Hypertouch, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 836) that plaintiff could not demonstrate any procedural irregularity in the foreclosure proceedings.

(8) Defendants have not cited any authority indicating that this common law presumption of regularity applies to the postsale redemption procedures at issue here. All of the cases they cite applied the presumption in the context of standard nonjudicial foreclosures that were not subject to statutory redemption. Even if the common law presumption were to apply to redemption procedures, however, a defendant moving for summary adjudication of claims seeking to set aside a foreclosure may not discharge his or her initial burden of production by merely referencing the presumption. The presumption, which is rebuttable (see 6 Angels, Inc. v. Stuart-Wright Mortgage, Inc. (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 1279, 1284 [102 Cal.Rptr.2d 711]), merely requires that the party “attacking the sale … [must] `… plead[] and prove[] an improper procedure and the resulting prejudice.’ [Citation.]” (Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 86, fn. 4.) Thus, the plaintiff has the burden to allege in its pleading that a prejudicial irregularity occurred and then to prove that allegation at trial.

For the purposes of summary judgment or adjudication, however, defendants still must make a prima facie showing that plaintiffs could not prove that any irregularity occurred. This initial burden required defendants here to “`present evidence'” that they complied with the statutory procedures applicable to this foreclosure. (Hypertouch, supra, 192 Cal.App.4th at p. 838.) Their failure to do so means that they failed to “`conclusively negate[]'” the first element of plaintiffs’ foreclosure claims. (Ibid.)

ii. Defendants did not make a prima facie showing that plaintiffs suffered no harm from the procedural defect

The second element necessary to set aside a foreclosure requires the plaintiff to show that he or she was “prejudiced or harmed” by defendants’ failure to comply “with the statutory procedural requirements” for the foreclosure sale. (Lona, supra,202 Cal.App.4th at p. 104 [to challenge a sale successfully there must be evidence of a failure to comply with the procedural requirements for the foreclosure sale that caused prejudice to the person attacking the sale].)

[1451] (9) Section 729.050’s notification requirement serves two purposes. First, it ensures that the debtor is aware that the property may still be redeemed. Second, it informs the debtor the date on which his or her redemption rights expire. Presumably, a debtor who has not received such notice has been harmed or prejudiced by the fact that they were not informed of those rights. (See Residential Capital v. Cal-Western Reconveyance Corp. (2003) 108 Cal.App.4th 807, 822 [134 Cal.Rptr.2d 162] (Residential Capital) [“The inquiry is whether … there is a … defect in the statutory procedure that is prejudicial to the interests of the trustor and claimants.”].)

Defendants, however, contend that no such prejudice occurred here because plaintiffs were provided enough information to independently calculate when their redemption period was set to expire. In support, defendants cite evidence indicating that, prior to the foreclosure sale, they provided plaintiffs a statutorily required notice of intent to sell stating that (1) the foreclosure sale was scheduled to occur on January 27, 2009, and (2) the sale would be subject to a right of redemption that would end 90 days after the sale date. Defendants assert that, based on this information, plaintiffs could have determined when their right to redemption ended and therefore were not harmed by the trustee’s failure to comply with section 729.050.

(10) For the purposes of this appeal, we assume that defendants did in fact make a prima facie showing that they properly notified plaintiffs that the foreclosure sale was originally scheduled to occur on January 27 and that the sale would be subject to a 90-day right of redemption.[12] Such evidence, however, is insufficient to demonstrate that plaintiffs suffered no prejudice or harm from defendants’ failure to comply with the notice requirements of section 729.050. Defendants’ argument is predicated on the assumption that a debtor has an independent duty to calculate the applicable redemption period based on information received during the foreclosure process. Section 729.050, however, specifically relieves the debtor of any such burden by requiring the trustee to provide notice of the applicable redemption period promptly after the foreclosures sale.

This postsale notice requirement is of heightened importance where, as here, the trustee postponed the original sale date without individualized notice to the debtor. Civil Code section 2924g permits a trustee to postpone a foreclosure sale for up to a year by making a public announcement “at the time and place last appointed for sale…. No other notice of postponement [1452] need be given.” (Civ. Code, § 2924g, subd. (d).)[13] Although the foreclosure in this case was originally scheduled for January 27, 2009, defendants’ moving papers state that “[a]t the time and place fixed in the [notice of sale, the trustee] did, by public announcement … postpone the sale date from time to time … until July 23.” Defendants provided no evidence that they gave plaintiffs any notice regarding the postponements beyond the public announcement requirements described in Civil Code section 2924g. Thus, without the section 729.050 notice, plaintiffs could have only determined their applicable redemption period by attending each of the scheduled sale dates or otherwise researching when, exactly, the sale occurred. Again, section 729.050 relieved them of any such obligation.

(11) Defendants’ argument would also permit homeowner associations to ignore section 729.050 without consequence. Defendants were statutorily required to send the presale notice that contained the information they now contend remedied any harm from their subsequent failure to comply with section 729.050. The Civil Code requires that, before conducting a foreclosure sale predicated on delinquent assessment fees, the association must provide a notice of sale that includes the date of the sale and a statement “that the property is being sold subject to the right of redemption.” (Civ. Code, §§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(4), 2924b, subd. (b), 2924f.) Thus, defendants are essentially arguing that a trustee who complies with this presale notice requirement need not comply with section 729.050’s postsale notice requirement. This argument is the antithesis of the statutory scheme, which imposes a duty to provide a presale notice referencing the right to redemption and a postsale notice stating the applicable redemption period. The Legislature plainly concluded that, for the purpose of protecting a CID owner’s due process rights, both forms of notice are necessary.

The primary authority defendants cite in support of their assertion that plaintiffs cannot establish harm is Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th 76, which held that “a slight deviation from statutory notice requirements” does not always require a court to “invalidate a foreclosure sale, where the trustee otherwise complies fully with the Civil Code.” (Id. at p. 93.) The plaintiff in Knapp provided evidence that the defendant had served a notice of sale prematurely. Under the Civil Code, the trustee was required to comply with multiple timing requirements when serving the notice of sale: Civil Code section 2924 required the trustee to serve the notice no earlier than “`three months’ following recordation of the notice of default” (id. at p. 92), while [1453] section 2924b required that the trustee serve the notice “at least 20 days prior to the sale” (id. at p. 88). The court explained that the evidence showed the trustee “served the [s]ale [n]otice on … a date that was slightly less than three months after recordation of the [d]efault [n]otice,” but 29 days prior to the sale date. (Id. at p. 92.) “Thus, while the [s]ale [n]otice did not comply fully with the three-month requirement under section 2924, it provided more than the 20 days notice mandated under section 2924b ….” (Ibid., italics omitted.)

The court ruled that, under such circumstances, the foreclosure need not be set aside, concluding: “[T]he slight procedural irregularity in the service of the [s]ale [n]otice did not cause any injury to [b]orrowers. They had notice of the original sale date; the trustee’s sale did not go forward until almost one year after the date noticed. There was no prejudicial procedural irregularity.” (Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 94, italics omitted.) In the court’s view, the “[b]orrowers’ objection to the premature notice [wa]s, in effect, a criticism that the trustee provided too much notice of the sale. There [wa]s no evidence that they were prejudiced by the premature mailing of the notice. Given the fact that the trustee’s sale did not occur until almost a year after service of the [s]ale [n]otice, it is difficult to imagine how [b]orrowers could claim any prejudice.” (Id. at p. 96.)

In reaching its holding, the court specifically differentiated prior decisions setting aside foreclosure sales in which the debtor had been denied a “`substantial statutory right'” that was likely to result in prejudice. (Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 94.) According to the court, “no such substantial statutory right was abridged by trustee’s premature mailing of the [s]ale [n]otice, which otherwise gave [b]orrowers adequate and timely notice of the trustee’s sale.” (Ibid.)

The facts in Knapp bear little resemblances to the facts in this case. Defendants’ failure to comply with section 729.050 was not “a slight deviation from statutory notice requirements.” (Knapp, supra, 123 Cal.App.4th at p. 93.) Defendants did not, as in Knapp, send a statutorily required notice “slightly” prematurely; instead, the evidence suggests that they completely failed to send the notice required under section 729.050. Moreover, unlike in Knapp, defendants have provided no evidence that plaintiffs were not harmed by the procedural defect. Nothing in defendants’ moving papers demonstrates that, despite the lack of section 729.050 notice, plaintiffs were actually aware of the date on which their redemption rights were set to expire but elected not to redeem. At most, defendants have shown that plaintiffs might have been able to calculate when their redemption rights expired based on information that was provided in other statutorily mandated presale notices.

[1454] (12) In sum, defendants have failed to make a prima facie showing that their failure to comply with section 729.050 was not “prejudicial to the interests of the … claimants.” (Residential Capital, supra, 108 Cal.App.4th at p. 822.) Because defendants have provided no evidence that plaintiffs were notified, or were otherwise aware of the actual date on which their right to redemption expired, we cannot conclude that plaintiffs suffered no prejudice.[14]

iii. Defendants failed to establish that the tender rule precluded plaintiffs from seeking to set aside the foreclosure sale

Defendants argue that plaintiffs cannot satisfy the third element necessary to set aside a foreclosure sale, which requires a showing that “the trustor … tendered the amount of the secured indebtedness or was excused from tendering.” (Lona, supra,202 Cal.App.4th at p. 104.) Defendants assert that plaintiffs have admitted they never offered to pay the full amount of the debt and are therefore precluded from challenging the foreclosure sale.

(13) The tender requirement is rooted in the equitable nature of an action to set aside a nonjudicial foreclosure. “Because the action is in equity, a defaulted borrower who seeks to set aside a trustee’s sale is required to do equity before the court will exercise its equitable powers. [Citation.] Consequently, as a condition precedent to an action by the borrower to set aside the trustee’s sale on the ground that the sale is voidable because of irregularities in the sale notice or procedure, the borrower must offer to pay the full amount of the debt for which the property was security. [Citation.] `The rationale behind the rule is that if [the borrower] could not have redeemed the property had the sale procedures been proper, any irregularities in the sale did not result in damages to the [borrower].’ [Citation.]” (Lona, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at p. 112.)

(14) There are, however, several exceptions to the requirement. “First, if the borrower’s action attacks the validity of the underlying debt, a tender is [1455] not required since it would constitute an affirmation of the debt. [Citations.] [¶] Second, a tender will not be required when the person who seeks to set aside the trustee’s sale has a counterclaim or setoff against the beneficiary. In such cases, it is deemed that the tender and the counterclaim offset one another, and if the offset is equal to or greater than the amount due, a tender is not required. [Citation.] [¶] Third, a tender may not be required where it would be inequitable to impose such a condition on the party challenging the sale [Citation.] …. [¶] Fourth, no tender will be required when the trustor is not required to rely on equity to attack the deed because the trustee’s deed is void on its face. [Citation.]” (Lona, supra, 202 Cal.App.4th at pp. 112-113.)

(15) As discussed above, a nonjudicial foreclosure by an association predicated on delinquent assessment fees is unique in that the CID owner is entitled to a postsale right of redemption. (See Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)(4); Code Civ. Proc., § 729.035.) Under these redemption rights, the property owner is entitled to receive notice of the applicable redemption period and then pay the redemption price or contest the redemption price through a judicial proceeding. (See §§ 729.050-729.080.) Therefore, unlike most forms of nonjudicial foreclosure, CID owners are provided an opportunity to avoid the loss of their property either by tendering the amount of the debt prior to the sale or paying the applicable redemption price — which consists of the purchase price and various other costs — after the sale.

(16) Defendants assume, without discussion, that the tender requirement applies where, as here, the debtor is seeking to set aside a nonjudicial foreclosure subject to a statutory, postsale right of redemption. Although we have found no authority analyzing the issue, we conclude that a debtor is properly excused from complying with the tender requirement where the nonjudicial foreclosure is subject to a statutory right of redemption and the trustee has failed to provide the notice required under section 729.050.

Applying the tender rule under such circumstances would be inconsistent with the statutory scheme. CID owners who were denied their statutory right to be notified of the redemption process could only challenge the denial of that right by offering to tender the amount of the secured debt. In other words, CID owners could only challenge an association’s failure to provide notice of the redemption process by offering to forego the redemption process. Such an outcome would be neither logical nor equitable.

Defendants argue that even if plaintiffs were not required to tender the amount of the secured debt as a condition of bringing their suit, they were [1456] nonetheless required to tender the redemption price, thereby ensuring that they could have redeemed the property had section 729.050 been properly followed. Defendants’ argument overlooks the fact that, under the statutory framework governing redemption, if the debtor and the purchaser disagree on the proper redemption price, the debtor may seek a judicial determination of the appropriate price. (See § 729.070.) Under defendants’ theory, however, CID owners would have to affirm the purchaser’s claimed redemption price through an offer of tender — thereby effectively waiving their right to seek a judicial determination of the redemption price — as a condition of challenging an association’s failure to comply with section 729.050. Given that the tender rule is inapplicable where the debtor’s action attacks the validity of the underlying debt, the rule should not be applied in a manner that would require a CID owner who never received notice of his redemption rights to forego any challenge to the redemption price.

Because defendants failed to make a prima facie showing that plaintiffs cannot establish any of the three elements necessary to set aside the foreclosure, it is not entitled to summary adjudication on plaintiffs second, third, sixth or seventh causes of action.

C. Plaintiffs Have Forfeited Any Claim of Error Regarding Additional Causes of Action Pleaded in the Second Amended Complaint

In addition to their four claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure, plaintiffs’ second amended complaint asserts 13 tort and statutory-based claims arising from various acts that defendants allegedly committed during the foreclosure process. The trial court dismissed all 13 of these additional claims at various points in the proceedings. The court sustained a demurrer without leave to amend on two of the claims — violations of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and RICO — prior to the hearing on the motion for summary adjudication. The trial court’s order granting defendants’ motion for summary adjudication dismissed four of the claims — fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices — on the basis that each claim was predicated on “actions … subject to immunities set forth in [Civil Code sections] 47 and 2924(b).” The summary adjudication order also dismissed plaintiffs’ four interference claims, concluding that they were “time barred.” Finally, the court dismissed the remaining three claims for violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, accounting and forcible detainer pursuant to an order granting defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings.

[1457] Although a large majority of plaintiffs’ 60-page brief argues that we should reinstate their foreclosure claims because there is evidence defendants committed various procedural irregularities, the final five pages of the brief asserts that their “claims for wrongful closure are not based on a communicative act” and are therefore not precluded under the “litigation privilege.” (See Civ. Code, § 47, subd. (b).) In the course of this discussion, plaintiffs allude to various other claims in their complaint. Specifically, plaintiffs assert that Civil Code “[s]ection 47(b)(2), does not bar Plaintiffs’ cause of action for intentional interference with contractual relations because it is based upon an alleged tortious course of conduct. While the isolated act of filing a notice of lien was communicative, it was only one act in the overall course of conduct alleged in Appellant’s eight through twentieth causes of action.” This five-page section of the brief does not include a single citation to the record.

For the purposes of this appeal, we need not assess whether the litigation privilege applies to plaintiffs’ claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure sale. The trial court’s order granting the motion for summary adjudication demonstrates that it dismissed those particular claims based on its finding that plaintiffs had not complied with the tender rule and had not been prejudiced by any “procedural irregularity,” not because the claims were precluded under the litigation privilege. For the reasons discussed above, we have reversed the trial court’s dismissal of those claims.

(17) As to the remaining causes of action set forth in the second amended complaint, plaintiffs have forfeited any claim of error. “[I]t is appellant’s burden to affirmatively show error. [Citation.] To demonstrate error, appellant must present meaningful legal analysis supported by citations to authority and citations to facts in the record that support the claim of error. [Citations.]” (In re S.C. (2006) 138 Cal.App.4th 396, 408 [41 Cal.Rptr.3d 453] (S.C.).) “Mere suggestions of error without supporting argument or authority other than general abstract principles do not properly present grounds for appellate review.” (Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control v. Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Bd. (2002) 100 Cal.App.4th 1066, 1078 [123 Cal.Rptr.2d 278].) “Hence, conclusory claims of error will fail.” (S.C., supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 408.)

Plaintiffs’ conclusory assertions that the litigation privilege does not apply to their “cause of action for intentional interference with contractual relations” or their “eight through twentieth causes of action”[15] does not constitute “adequate factual or legal analysis.” (Placer County Local Agency Formation Com. v. Nevada County Local Agency Formation Com. (2006) 135 [1458] Cal.App.4th 793, 814 [37 Cal.Rptr.3d 729].) The record demonstrates that most of these claims were not dismissed pursuant to the litigation privilege. The trial court dismissed the plaintiffs’ 13th through 16th claims, which allege interference with contract relations and prospective economic advantage, based on the statute of limitations. The 10th and 11th claims for violations of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Practices Act and RICO were dismissed pursuant to an order sustaining a demurrer that is not in the record and was not appealed by plaintiffs. Plaintiffs’ 12th and 17th claims for forcible detainer and an accounting were dismissed pursuant to an order granting defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings. Plaintiffs, however, provide no independent legal analysis of that motion or the resulting order.

Plaintiffs’ discussion of the litigation privilege consists of little more than a summary of general abstract principles that is devoid of a single citation to the record. (See generally Metzenbaum v. Metzenbaum (1950) 96 Cal.App.2d 197, 199 [214 P.2d 603] [“[A]n appellate court cannot be expected to search through a voluminous record to discover evidence on a point raised by appellant when his brief makes no reference to the pages where the evidence on the point can be found in the record.”].) Although plaintiffs’ brief summarizes various holdings pertaining to different aspects of the litigation privilege, it fails to adequately explain how those holdings relate to the nonforeclosure claims asserted in the complaint.

In sum, to the extent plaintiffs were requesting that we reverse the trial court’s dismissal of any claims beyond those seeking to set aside the foreclosure sale, they failed “to provide meaningful legal analysis and record citations for [their] complaints.” (S.C., supra, 138 Cal.App.4th at p. 408.)[16] These claims have therefore been abandoned. (Reyes, supra, 65 Cal.App.4th at p. 466, fn. 6.)

DISPOSITION

The trial court’s judgment is reversed and the case is remanded for further proceedings. The trial court’s order granting defendants’ motion for summary judgment, or, in the alternative, summary adjudication is reversed to the [1459] extent it dismisses plaintiffs’ second, third, sixth and seventh claims. The trial court’s order granting defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings is affirmed. Each party shall its own costs.

Perluss, P. J., and Jackson, J., concurred.


[1] This factual summary is predicated on the allegations in plaintiffs’ second amended complaint, which was filed on June 28, 2010.

[2] Civil Code section 1058.5, subdivision (b) states, in relevant part: “Where a trustee’s deed is invalidated by a pending bankruptcy or otherwise, recordation of a notice of rescission of the trustee’s deed … shall restore the condition of record title to the real property described in the trustee’s deed and the existence and priority of all lienholders to the status quo prior to the recordation of the trustee’s deed upon sale….”

[3] Unless otherwise noted, all further statutory citations and references are to the Code of Civil Procedure.

[4] Defendants filed objections to numerous aspects of Rahim Multani’s deposition. The record, however, does not indicate whether the court ruled on the objections, and defendants have not asserted there were any erroneous evidentiary rulings.

[5] The record indicates that, several months prior to the hearing on the motion for summary judgment or adjudication, the trial court had sustained a demurrer to plaintiffs’ claims alleging violations of the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and RICO. Appellants do not challenge that ruling.

[6] Plaintiffs sought to set aside the foreclosure in four separate claims: declaratory relief, quiet title, wrongful foreclosure and rescission. We refer collectively to these four claims as the “foreclosure claims” or as “claims seeking to set aside the foreclosure.” Plaintiffs also pleaded a claim for cancellation of deed against ProValue, which is not a party to this appeal.

[7] Plaintiffs’ notice of appeal and portions of their appellate brief also allude to the trial court’s order granting the Association’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. As discussed in more detail below, however, the brief contains insufficient legal analysis of any of the three claims dismissed in that order. Plaintiffs have therefore abandoned any claim of error regarding the trial court’s order granting defendants’ motion for judgment on the pleadings. (Reyes v. Kosha (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 451, 466, fn. 6 [76 Cal.Rptr.2d 457] (Reyes).)

[8] Plaintiffs raise numerous additional arguments as to why we should reverse the trial court’s dismissal of their foreclosure claims. Because we reverse the dismissal of those claims based on defendants’ failure to provide evidence demonstrating compliance with section 729.050, we need not address plaintiffs’ additional arguments.

[9] The parties do not dispute that the Multanis’ condominium unit was part of a common interest development governed by the Act.

[10] Civil Code section 1367.4 imposes various other conditions on an association’s use of nonjudicial foreclosure. First, “[p]rior to initiating [the] foreclosure,” the association must “offer the owner and, if so requested by the owner, participate in” various, enumerated forms of alternative dispute resolution, including binding arbitration. (Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)(1).) Second, the statute requires that the decision to initiate foreclosure must be made by the association’s board of directors in an open vote. (Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)(2).) Third, the board must provide the owner notice of its decision. (Civ. Code, § 1367.4, subd. (c)(3).)

[11] A judicial foreclosure involves significant “court oversight” (Arabia v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, L.P. (2012) 208 Cal.App.4th 462, 470 [145 Cal.Rptr.3d 678]) and provides the creditor and the debtor certain rights that are generally not available in nonjudicial foreclosure: “In a judicial foreclosure, if the property is sold for less than the amount of the outstanding indebtedness, the creditor may seek a deficiency judgment, or the difference between the amount of the indebtedness and the fair market value of the property, as determined by a court, at the time of the sale. [Citation.] However, the debtor has a statutory right of redemption … for a period of time after foreclosure. [Citation.]” (Alliance Mortgage Co. v. Rothwell (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1226, 1236 [44 Cal.Rptr.2d 352, 900 P.2d 601] (Alliance).) By contrast, in a nonjudicial foreclosure, there “is no oversight by a court, … the debtor has no postsale right of redemption[,] … [and] the creditor may not seek a deficiency judgment.” (National Enterprises, Inc. v. Woods (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 1217, 1226 [115 Cal.Rptr.2d 37].)

[12] Plaintiffs argue that the notice of sale was ineffective because there is a triable issue of fact as to whether defendants sent it to the correct address. For the purpose of our analysis, however, we need not resolve that dispute.

[13] The Civil Code has since been amended to require that, as of January 1, 2011, “whenever a sale is postponed for a period of at least 10 business days pursuant to Section 2924g, a mortgagee, beneficiary, or authorized agent shall provide written notice to a borrower regarding the new sale date and time, within five business days following the postponement.” (Civ. Code, § 2924, subd. (a)(5).)

[14] Defendants also argue that plaintiffs were not harmed by the trustee’s failure to comply with section 729.050 because, shortly after the foreclosure sale, the trustee recorded a certificate of sale referencing the date of the sale and the 90-day redemption period. According to defendants, the trustee’s recording of the certificate provided plaintiffs “constructive notice of the right to redemption.” This argument fails for the same reasons discussed above. First, the argument presumes that plaintiffs had a duty to monitor whether a certificate of sale was recorded against their property. The Legislature relieved CID owners of any such duty by requiring that the trustee provide notice of the redemption period promptly after the sale pursuant to section 729.050. Second, the trustee’s act of recording a certificate of sale that included the sale date and a statement regarding the right to redemption was statutorily mandated under section 729.040. Thus, defendants argue that a trustee who complies with section 729.040’s recording requirements need not comply with section 729.050’s postsale notice requirements. Such an outcome would be inconsistent with the legislative scheme.

[15] Although plaintiffs’ brief references their “eight through twentieth causes of action,” the second amended complaint only contains 18 claims.

[16] The final paragraph of plaintiffs’ brief asserts that “Respondents were awarded attorneys’ fees as prevailing parties” and requests that the “award of costs and attorney’s fees … be vacated.” This portion of the brief does not contain any citation to legal authority or the record. Moreover, plaintiffs failed to include a copy of the order awarding fees and costs in the appellate record. Without such materials, we have no basis to review the order. (Bennett v. McCall (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 122, 127 [23 Cal.Rptr.2d 268], citing Buckhart v. San Francisco Residential Rent Etc., Bd. (1988) 197 Cal.App.3d 1032, 1036 [243 Cal.Rptr. 298] [“The appellant must affirmatively demonstrate error by an adequate record.”].)

Diamond v. Superior Court

(2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 1172

[Assessment Collection; Notice Requirements] A HOA must strictly adhere to the statutory lien and foreclosure notice requirements in order to perfect an assessment lien and foreclose on a homeowner’s property.

Law Offices of Louis Spitters and Laurence Louis Spitters for Petitioner.
Barbara A. Jones as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Petitioner AARP.
Edward F. Cullen; Law Offices of Charles L. Morrone and Charles L. Morrone for Real Party in Interest.

OPINION

BAMATTRE-MANOUKIAN, J. —

I. INTRODUCTION

Petitioner Arlyne M. Diamond owns a townhouse-style unit in the Casa Del Valle common interest development, which is managed by real party in interest Case Del Valle Homeowners Association (Association). After Diamond failed to pay a $9,750 special assessment by the due date, the Association’s collection efforts included recording an assessment lien on her townhouse property and filing the instant action for judicial foreclosure. Diamond moved for summary judgment on the ground that the Association could not foreclose because the assessment lien was not valid, since the Association had not complied with the prelien and preforeclosure notice requirements set forth in the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act (Davis-Stirling Act), Civil Code sections 1367.1 and 1367.4.[1] The trial court denied the summary judgment motion, finding that the Association had substantially complied with the statutory notice requirements.

On appeal, Diamond argues that a homeowners association must strictly comply with the notice requirements of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 in order [1177] to perfect an assessment lien and foreclose on a homeowner’s property in a common interest development. For the reasons stated below, we agree. Since the Association’s failure to strictly comply with all of the statutory notice requirements is undisputed, we will issue a peremptory writ of mandate directing the trial court to vacate its order denying Diamond’s motion for summary judgment and enter a new order granting the motion.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Our factual summary is drawn from Diamond’s separate statement of facts, the Association’s response, and the evidence submitted by the parties in connection with Diamond’s motion for summary judgment.

In 1978, Diamond purchased a unit in the Casa Del Valle common interest development, which is managed by the Association through its board of directors (Board). The Association’s current governing documents are the “1998 Amended and Restated Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions” (CC&Rs). The CC&Rs provide that the Board may levy a special assessment to raise funds for “unexpected operating or other costs … or such other purposes as the Board in its discretion considers appropriate.” Where a levied assessment is delinquent, the CC&Rs also provide that the Association “may record a notice of delinquent Assessment and establish a lien against” the owner’s lot and may enforce the assessment lien by any manner permitted by law, including judicial foreclosure.

In 2006, the Board decided to replace all of the roofs in the development and engage in other repair projects. Since the Association’s reserve funds were insufficient, the Board determined that a special assessment was needed to raise funds to pay for the roof replacement and the repair projects. In March 2007, a special assessment in the amount of $9,750 per unit was approved in a special election by a majority of the voting members of the Association.

Due to her financial situation, Diamond was unable to pay the special assessment by the May 2007 due date. She then attempted to negotiate a payment plan by contacting members of the Board. According to Diamond, her communications with the Board’s president resulted in a payment plan agreement that was reached during their meeting on May 14, 2007. Diamond believed that payment plan agreement required her to execute a promissory note for $9,750 plus interest, make a downpayment of $1,000, and make monthly payments of $100 until her financial situation improved and she could make larger monthly payments.

After Diamond made the $1,000 downpayment and a couple of monthly payments, she received a June 19, 2007 prelien letter from the Association’s [1178] attorney. The letter did not refer to the payment plan that Diamond believed she had negotiated with the Board president. Instead, the letter stated in part: (1) the total outstanding charges were $10,225; (2) the Association would “record a Notice of Assessment (lien claim)” against her “condominium unit” if her account was not brought current within 30 days; (3) she was entitled to inspect the Association’s accounting books and records; (4) she could submit a written request to the Board to discuss a payment plan; (5) she had the right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution to the Association pursuant to the Association’s “`meet and confer’ program” or, alternatively, she could request alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party pursuant to section 1369.510; and (6) “IMPORTANT NOTICE: IF YOUR SEPARATE INTEREST IS PLACED IN FORECLOSURE BECAUSE YOUR ARE [sic] BEHIND IN YOUR ASSESSMENTS, IT MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT COURT ACTION.”

Diamond responded to the prelien letter by sending the Association’s attorney a letter dated July 18, 2007, in which she stated that the Board president had agreed to a payment plan due to her hardship situation, she had complied with the payment plan, and she had offered to sign a promissory note “in lieu of a lien.” She also advised that she could not pay the special assessment without the payment plan.

On July 26, 2007, the Association recorded a notice of assessment against Diamond’s townhouse property, which stated that the amount of the assessment lien was $12,010.23. The Association sent a copy of the recorded notice of assessment to Diamond 28 days later as an enclosure in the August 22, 2007 letter mailed to her by the Association’s attorney. The August 22, 2007 letter also informed Diamond that the Board had approved a 12-month payment plan that consisted of a monthly payment of $989.17 and maintenance of the assessment lien on her property until her account was paid in full.

Diamond met with the Association’s attorney on September 10, 2007, regarding her proposal for a payment plan. As indicated in the September 13, 2007 letter to Diamond, the Association’s attorney requested that Diamond supply documentation regarding her financial condition and corroboration of her claim that she had previously reached a payment plan agreement with the Board president. Thereafter, the Board offered Diamond a different payment plan, as stated in the October 18, 2007 letter from the Association’s attorney. Although the copy of the October 18, 2007 letter included in the record is incomplete, it appears that the Board accepted Diamond’s prior downpayment of $1,000, her prior monthly payments of $100 for five months in 2007, and agreed to accept monthly payments of $250 for the two months remaining in 2007. The balance of the proposed payment plan is not reflected in the record.

[1179] Now represented, Diamond sent an October 23, 2007 letter to the Association’s attorney requesting that the parties meet and confer and stating that if the matter could not be resolved, she requested alternative dispute resolution, specifically mediation, as provided in section 1367.1, subd. (c)(1)(B). The Association rejected Diamond’s request to meet and confer and also rejected her request for alternative dispute resolution, stating in its letter of November 21, 2007, that “the [Association] has already met and conferred with Dr. Diamond on September 10, 2007. Dr. Diamond is entitled to either meet and confer with the [Association] or engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution, but not both.” The November 21, 2007 letter also returned three $100 checks that Diamond had sent to the Association.

The Board met in executive session on November 7, 2007, to vote on whether to initiate foreclosure proceedings on Diamond’s property. Foreclosure proceedings were approved by a majority vote, as stated in the minutes of the executive session.

III. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. The Complaint

On November 15, 2007, the Association filed a complaint against Diamond seeking judicial foreclosure on her Casa Del Valle property and application of the sales proceeds to pay a judgment in the amount of $10,064.88 plus costs, interest, and attorney’s fees. The Association personally served the summons, complaint, and notice of Board action (decision to initiate foreclosure proceedings) on Diamond on December 9, 2007.

B. The Motion for Summary Judgment

Diamond subsequently filed a motion for summary judgment, combined with a “motion to expunge lien,” in April 2012. She generally argued that it was undisputed that the Association had failed to comply with all of the notice requirements set forth in sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 that a homeowners association must meet in order to perfect an assessment lien and foreclose on a homeowner’s property, and absent compliance with the statutory notice requirements, the Association’s foreclosure action lacked merit as a matter of law.

Specifically, Diamond asserted that the Association had (1) failed to send her a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail within 10 days of the recording (§ 1367.1, subd. (d)); (2) failed to give her a preforeclosure notice of her right to demand alternative dispute resolution (§§ 1367.1, subd. (c)(1)(B), 1367.4, subd. (c)(1)); (3) failed to record the [1180] Board’s executive session vote to initiate foreclosure proceedings on her property in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board open to all members (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(2)); and (4) failed to personally serve her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose prior to commencement of the foreclosure action (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(3)).

Since the Association had failed to comply with these statutory notice requirements, Diamond argued that the lien was “invalid to the extent it includes any sum other than the principal amount of the lien, less all sums paid to date by [Diamond]” and therefore the lien should be expunged and summary judgment granted.

C. Opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment

In opposition to the motion for summary judgment, the Association argued that the evidence showed that it had sufficiently complied with the statutory notice requirements and therefore the motion should be denied.

First, although the Association admitted that it had not sent Diamond a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail within 10 days of the recording, as required by section 1367.1, subdivision (d), the Association argued that this was a “technical violation” because Diamond had received actual notice and the Civil Code did not provide any consequences for the violation.

Second, the Association argued that it had given Diamond adequate preforeclosure notice of her right to demand alternative dispute resolution, as required by sections 1367.1, subdivision (c)(1)(B), and 1367.4, subdivision (c)(1), in its prelien letter of June 19, 2007. According to the Association, the Civil Code does not require separate notices of the right to prelien or preforeclosure alternative dispute resolution.

Third, the Association also admitted that it had failed to record the Board’s executive session vote to initiate foreclosure proceedings on Diamond’s property in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board open to all members, as required by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2). However, the Association contended that under the circumstances of this matter, including its efforts to negotiate a payment plan with Diamond, “this technical violation should be excused by the court.”

Finally, the Association disputed Diamond’s claim that it had failed to personally serve her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose prior to commencement of the foreclosure action, as required by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3). The Association explained that it had complied with this [1181] requirement by personally serving her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose along with the summons and complaint on December 9, 2007. The Association further explained that section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3) does not specify the timing for serving the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose.

D. The Trial Court’s Order

The record on appeal does not contain a signed and filed court order ruling on Diamond’s motion for summary judgment. The only record we have of the trial court’s ruling is a copy of the undated tentative ruling and the reporter’s transcript of the August 16, 2012 hearing on the motion. However, the parties have not raised any issues with respect to the omission of a signed and filed order denying the motion for summary judgment.

In its tentative ruling, the trial court denied the motion for summary judgment and the motion to expunge the lien, stating in part: “[Diamond] fails to meet her initial burden to produce evidence that [the Association’s] action is barred by the provisions of Civil Code sections 1367.1 and 1367.4. [The Association] substantially complied with the requirements of section 1367.1, subdivision (d) because [Diamond] received actual notice of the fact that a lien was recorded on her property in sufficient time to allow her to work with [the Association] to resolve this dispute before [the Association’s] lawsuit was filed. [Citations.] Prior to initiating this action, [the Association] also complied with the requirement of sections 1367.1, subdivision (c)(1)(B) and 1367.4, subdivision (c)(1) to provide notice of [Diamond’s] right to meet and confer or participate in ADR. [Citation.] Additionally, [the Association] complied fully with section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3)’s requirement that [Diamond] receive notice of the board’s decision to initiate the action. [Citation.] Finally, insofar as [the Association] failed to comply strictly with the requirements of section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2), the statutory purpose to protect [Diamond’s] right to privacy was not frustrated by the failure of the board to note its decision to foreclose in the minutes of a regular board meeting. Insofar as subdivision (c)(2) also functions to effectuate the requirements of Civil Code section 1363.05, subdivision (c), [Diamond] was not aggrieved by the board’s omission any differently than any other member of the association, and her remedy as a member of the association was to pursue a timely action under Civil Code section 1363.09.”

The trial court adopted its tentative ruling at the conclusion of the August 16, 2012 hearing on the motion for summary judgment.

IV. DISCUSSION

After the trial court denied her motion for summary judgment, Diamond filed a petition for a writ of mandate directing the trial court to vacate its [1182] order and enter a new order granting her motion for summary judgment. The Association filed preliminary opposition to the petition, to which Diamond replied. We issued an order to show cause why a peremptory writ should not issue as requested in the petition for a writ of mandate and a temporary stay of all trial court proceedings while the writ petition was pending. Having received further briefing from the parties and granted the application of the AARP for leave to file an amicus curiae brief in support of petitioner and having provided an opportunity for oral argument, we turn to the merits of the writ petition, beginning with our standard of review.

A. Propriety of Writ Relief and the Standard of Review

An order denying a motion for summary judgment may be reviewed by way of a petition for a writ of mandate. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (m)(1).) “Where the trial court’s denial of a motion for summary judgment will result in a trial on nonactionable claims, a writ of mandate will issue. [Citation.]” (Prudential Ins. Co. of America, Inc. v. Superior Court (2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 585, 594 [119 Cal.Rptr.2d 823] (Prudential).)

The standard of review for an order granting or denying a motion for summary judgment is de novo. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 860 [107 Cal.Rptr.2d 841, 24 P.3d 493] (Aguilar).) The trial court’s stated reasons for granting summary judgment are not binding on the reviewing court, “which reviews the trial court’s ruling, not its rationale. [Citation.]” (Ramalingam v. Thompson (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 491, 498 [60 Cal.Rptr.3d 11].)

In performing its independent review, the reviewing court applies the same three-step process as the trial court. “Because summary judgment is defined by the material allegations in the pleadings, we first look to the pleadings to identify the elements of the causes of action for which relief is sought.” (Baptist v. Robinson (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 151, 159 [49 Cal.Rptr.3d 153] (Baptist).)

“We then examine the moving party’s motion, including the evidence offered in support of the motion.” (Baptist, supra, 143 Cal.App.4th at p. 159.) A defendant moving for summary judgment has the initial burden of showing that a cause of action lacks merit because one or more elements of the cause of action cannot be established or there is a complete defense to that cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (o); Aguilar, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 850.)

If the defendant fails to make this initial showing, it is unnecessary to examine the plaintiff’s opposing evidence and the motion must be denied. [1183] However, if the moving papers make a prima facie showing that justifies a judgment in the defendant’s favor, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to make a prima facie showing of the existence of a triable issue of material fact. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (p)(2); Aguilar, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 849; Kahn v. East Side Union High School Dist.(2003) 31 Cal.4th 990, 1002-1003 [4 Cal.Rptr.3d 103, 75 P.3d 30].)

In determining whether the parties have met their respective burdens, “the court must `consider all of the evidence’ and `all’ of the `inferences’ reasonably drawn therefrom [citation], and must view such evidence [citations] and such inferences [citations], in the light most favorable to the opposing party.” (Aguilar, supra, 25 Cal.4th at p. 843.) “There is a triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the motion in accordance with the applicable standard of proof.” (Id. at p. 850, fn. omitted.) Thus, a party “cannot avoid summary judgment by asserting facts based on mere speculation and conjecture, but instead must produce admissible evidence raising a triable issue of fact. [Citation.]” (LaChapelle v. Toyota Motor Credit Corp.(2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 977, 981 [126 Cal.Rptr.2d 32].)

In the present case, defendant Diamond moved for summary judgment on the ground that the foreclosure action lacks merit because the Association cannot establish a valid assessment lien that is enforceable in a foreclosure action, due to its undisputed failure to comply with all of the notice requirements set forth in sections 1367.1 and 1367.4. Our independent review of the merits of the summary judgment motion therefore begins with an overview of the statutory requirements for foreclosure under the Davis-Stirling Act, including the statutory notice requirements.

B. Foreclosure Under the Davis-Stirling Act

1. The Association’s Authority to Collect an Assessment Debt

“In 1985, the Legislature enacted the [Davis-Stirling Act] as division 2, part 4, title 6 of the Civil Code, `Common Interest Developments’ ([§§] 1350-1376; Stats. 1985, ch. 874, § 14, pp. 2774-2787), which encompasses community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments and stock cooperatives ([§] 1351, subd. (c)).[[2]] `A common interest development shall be managed by an association which may be incorporated or [1184] unincorporated. The association may be referred to as a community association.’ ([§] 1363, subd. (a).)” (Lamden v. La Jolla Shores Clubdominium Homeowners Assn. (1999) 21 Cal.4th 249, 252-253, fn. 1 [87 Cal.Rptr.2d 237, 980 P.2d 940].)

(1) An association’s authority to levy assessments is set forth in section 1366, subdivision (a), which provides, with certain exceptions not relevant here, that “the association shall levy regular and special assessments sufficient to perform its obligations under the governing documents and [title 6].” “A condominium assessment becomes a debt of the owner when the assessment is levied by the condominium association. ([§] 1367.1, subd. (a).) `The debt is only a personal obligation of the owner, however, until the community association records a “notice of delinquent assessment” against the owner’s interest in the development. Recording this notice creates a lien and gives the association a security interest in the lot or unit against which the assessment was imposed.’ ([Citation]; see [§] 1367, subd. (d).)” (Diamond Heights Village Assn., Inc. v. Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corp. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 290, 300-301 [126 Cal.Rptr.3d 673] (Diamond Heights).) “It is generally understood that a lien is not a debt but acts as `security for payment of a debt or other obligation.’ ([Citation]; see [§] 2872.) … An assessment lien may be enforced `in any manner permitted by law,’ including judicial foreclosure. ([§] 1367, subd. (e).)”[3] (Diamond Heights, supra, 196 Cal.App.4th at p. 301.)

(2) Where, as here, the assessment lien was recorded after January 1, 2003, sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 expressly impose certain conditions that an association must satisfy before the assessment lien may be enforced by judicial foreclosure. (§ 1367.1, subd. (m).) These conditions include notice requirements, beginning with the prelien notice mandated by section 1367.1, subdivision (a). The association may initiate foreclosure of a lien for a delinquent assessment only where the lien “has been validly recorded.” (§1367.4, subd. (c)(2).)

2. Prelien Notice

After January 1, 2006, “the decision to record a lien for delinquent assessments shall be made only by the board of directors of the association…. The board shall approve the decision by a majority vote of the board members in an open meeting. The board shall record the vote in the minutes of that meeting.” (§ 1367.1, subd. (c)(2).)

[1185] Before recording a lien for a delinquent assessment, the association must give the homeowner an opportunity to engage in dispute resolution. Section 1367.1, subdivision (c)(1)(A) provides: “Prior to recording a lien for delinquent assessments, an association shall offer the owner and, if so requested by the owner, participate in dispute resolution pursuant to the association’s `meet and confer’ program required in Article 5 (commencing with Section 1363.810) of Chapter 4.” (§ 1367.1, subd. (c)(1)(A).)

The association must also give the homeowner a prelien notice as specified by section 1367.1. Subdivision (a) of section 1367.1 provides: “At least 30 days prior to recording a lien upon the separate interest of the owner of record to collect a debt that is past due …, the association shall notify the owner of record in writing by certified mail of the following: [¶] (1) A general description of the collection and lien enforcement procedures of the association…. [¶] (2) An itemized statement of the charges owed by the owner, including items on the statement which indicate the amount of any delinquent assessments…. [¶] (3) A statement that the owner shall not be liable to pay the charges, interest, and costs of collection, if it is determined the assessment was paid on time to the association. [¶] (4) The right to request a meeting with the board as provided by paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) [(meeting to discuss a payment plan)]. [¶] (5) The right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution to the association pursuant to the association’s `meet and confer’ program…. [¶] (6) The right to request alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party … before the association may initiate foreclosure against the owner’s separate interest, except that binding arbitration shall not be available if the association intends to initiate a judicial foreclosure.”

3. Notice After Recording the Assessment Lien

(3) The lien (for the amount of the delinquent assessment, costs of collection, late charges, and interest) is recorded when the association causes a notice of delinquent assessment to be recorded with the county recorder in the county in which the owner’s separate interest is located. (§ 1367.1, subd. (d).)

The method and timing of the transmission of the notice of delinquent assessment to the homeowner is specified in section 1367.1, subdivision (d): “A copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment shall be mailed by certified mail to every person whose name is shown as an owner of the separate interest in the association’s records, and the notice shall be mailed no later than 10 calendar days after recordation.”

[1186] 4. Preforeclosure Notices

(4) To collect a delinquent special assessment secured by a lien on the owner’s property, an association may use judicial foreclosure, subject to several conditions. (§ 1367.4, subd. (c).)

First, an association must offer dispute resolution before initiating foreclosure. “Prior to initiating a foreclosure on an owner’s separate interest, the association shall offer the owner and, if so requested by the owner, participate in dispute resolution pursuant to the association’s `meet and confer’ program… or alternative dispute resolution…. The decision to pursue dispute resolution or a particular type of alternative dispute resolution shall be the choice of the owner….” (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(1); see § 1367.1, subd. (c)(1)(B).)

Second, the board of directors of the association must vote to approve foreclosure. “The decision to initiate foreclosure of a lien for delinquent assessments that has been validly recorded shall be made only by the board of directors of the association…. The board shall approve the decision by a majority vote of the board members in an executive session. The board shall record the vote in the minutes of the next meeting of the board open to all members. The board shall maintain the confidentiality of the owner or owners of the separate interest by identifying the matter in the minutes by the parcel number of the property, rather than the name of the owner or owners….” (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(2).)

Third, the board must provide notice of the board’s decision to initiate foreclosure to the homeowner in the manner specified by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3): “The board shall provide notice by personal service in accordance with the manner of service of summons … to an owner of a separate interest who occupies the separate interest or to the owner’s legal representative, if the board votes to foreclose upon the separate interest….”

5. Remedies for Failure to Comply

Section 1367.1 provides remedies for an association’s failure to comply with the mandatory prelien and preforeclosure procedures and notice requirements set forth in sections 1367.1 and 1367.4.

Where the assessment lien has not yet been recorded: “An association that fails to comply with the procedures set forth in this section [(§ 1367.1)] shall, prior to recording a lien, recommence the required notice process.” (§ 1367.1, subd. (l)(1).)

[1187] After the assessment lien has been recorded: “If it is determined that a lien previously recorded against the separate interest was recorded in error, the party who recorded the lien shall, within 21 calendar days, record or cause to be recorded in the office of the county recorder in which the notice of delinquent assessment is recorded a lien release or notice of rescission and provide the owner of the separate interest with a declaration that the lien filing or recording was in error and a copy of the lien release or notice of rescission.” (§ 1367.1, subd. (i).)

C. The Association’s Failure to Comply with Statutory Notice Requirements

1. The Parties’ Contentions

In her writ petition, Diamond reiterates her contentions below that it is undisputed that the Association failed to comply with the Davis-Stirling Act’s statutory notice requirements by (1) failing to send her a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail within 10 days of the recording (§ 1367.1, subd. (d)); (2) failing to give her a preforeclosure notice of her right to demand alternative dispute resolution (§§ 1367.1, subd. (c)(1)(B), 1367.4, subd. (c)(1)); (3) failing to record the Board’s executive session vote to initiate foreclosure on her property in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board open to all members (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(2)); and (4) failing to personally serve her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose prior to commencement of the foreclosure action (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(3)).

Diamond further contends that the Legislature intended, in enacting sections 1367.1 and 1367.4, to protect homeowners from abuse of the foreclosure process by homeowners associations. For that reason, she argues that strict compliance with the statutory notice requirements is necessary and the trial court erred in deeming substantial compliance to be sufficient for a valid assessment lien and enforcement of the lien in a judicial foreclosure action.

The Association responds that (1) although it failed to send Diamond a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment within 10 days of the recording as required by section 1367.1, subdivision (d), it is anticipated that the evidence will show Diamond was out of the country during the 10-day period and therefore timely notice was not possible; (2) its prelien letter of June 19, 2007, advising Diamond of her right to request dispute resolution constituted preforeclosure notice of Diamond’s right to demand alternative dispute resolution as required by sections 1367.1, subdivision (c)(1)(B) and 1367.4, subdivision (c)(1); (3) its admitted failure to record the Board’s executive session foreclosure vote in the minutes of the next Board meeting [1188] open to all members, as required by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2) “is of no consequence” because Diamond was aware that if she did not accept the Association’s proposal for a payment plan, a foreclosure action would be filed; and (4) it did not violate section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3) by personally serving Diamond with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose at the same time it personally served her with the summons and complaint for the foreclosure action, since she “did not lose a single second of time in which to defend her interests.”

In light of the Association’s admission that it did not comply with all of the notice requirements of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4, the crucial issue in this case is whether, as the trial court ruled, substantial compliance is sufficient for the assessment lien on Diamond’s property to be valid and enforceable in a judicial foreclosure action. To resolve the issue, we must construe the relevant provisions of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 under the rules governing statutory interpretation.

2. Rules of Statutory Interpretation

Statutory interpretation involves purely legal questions to which we apply the independent standard of review. (Burden v. Snowden (1992) 2 Cal.4th 556, 562 [7 Cal.Rptr.2d 531, 828 P.2d 672]; accord, Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo, Inc. v. Western Farm Service, Inc. (2010) 190 Cal.App.4th 1502, 1521 [119 Cal.Rptr.3d 529].) In performing our independent review, we apply well-settled rules.

(5) “[O]ur fundamental task is to ascertain the Legislature’s intent so as to effectuate the purpose of the statute. [Citation.] We begin with the language of the statute, giving the words their usual and ordinary meaning. [Citation.] The language must be construed `in the context of the statute as a whole and the overall statutory scheme, and we give “significance to every word, phrase, sentence, and part of an act in pursuance of the legislative purpose.”‘ [Citation.] In other words, `”we do not construe statutes in isolation, but rather read every statute `with reference to the entire scheme of law of which it is part so that the whole may be harmonized and retain effectiveness.’ [Citation.]”‘ [Citation.] If the statutory terms are ambiguous, we may examine extrinsic sources, including the ostensible objects to be achieved and the legislative history. [Citation.] In such circumstances, we choose the construction that comports most closely with the Legislature’s apparent intent, endeavoring to promote rather than defeat the statute’s general purpose, and avoiding a construction that would lead to absurd consequences. [Citation.]” (Smith v. Superior Court (2006) 39 Cal.4th 77, 83 [45 Cal.Rptr.3d 394, 137 P.3d 218].)

[1189] (6) Additionally, we may “`examine the history and background of the statutory provision in order to ascertain the most reasonable interpretation of the measure.’ [Citation.]” (Doe v. City of Los Angeles (2007) 42 Cal.4th 531, 543 [67 Cal.Rptr.3d 330, 169 P.3d 559] (Doe).) Even where the plain language of the statute dictates the result, the legislative history may provide additional authority confirming the court’s interpretation of the statute. (Id. at p. 544.)

3. Analysis

Having reviewed the statutory provisions in question, for reasons that we will discuss we determine that the plain language of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 and the legislative history show that the Legislature intended the notice requirements to be strictly construed. We will address in turn each of the four notice requirements that Diamond asserts the Association did not satisfy.

Failure to Properly Transmit Notice of Recorded Assessment Lien

Section 1367.1, subdivision (d) provides in part, “A copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment shall be mailed by certified mail to every person whose name is shown as an owner of the separate interest in the association’s records, and the notice shall be mailed no later than 10 calendar days after recordation.”

It is undisputed that the notice of delinquent assessment in this case was recorded on July 26, 2007, and the Association mailed Diamond a copy of the recorded notice of assessment to Diamond 28 days later as an enclosure in the August 22, 2007 letter. The Association admits that it did not comply with section 1367.1, subdivision (d) because it did not send a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment to Diamond either by certified mail or within 10 calendar days after the recordation.

The trial court ruled that the Association had substantially complied with the requirements of section 1367.1, subdivision (d) because Diamond received actual notice of the recorded assessment lien in sufficient time to allow her to resolve the assessment dispute with the Association before the foreclosure action was filed.

(7) To determine whether substantial compliance is sufficient, we first examine the plain language of the statute. Section 1367.1, subdivision (d), states that the recorded notice of delinquent assessment “shall be mailed by certified mail,” and that the notice “shall be mailed no later than 10 calendar [1190] days after recordation.” (Italics added.) The California Supreme Court has stated the general rule regarding the interpretation of the word “shall”: “[T]he word `shall’ in a statute is ordinarily deemed mandatory, and `may’ permissive. [Citation.]” (California Correctional Peace Officers Assn. v. State Personnel Bd. (1995) 10 Cal.4th 1133, 1143 [43 Cal.Rptr.2d 693, 899 P.2d 79] (Peace Officers).) The general rule therefore requires that section 1367.1, subdivision (d), be strictly construed to mandate that the homeowner receive a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail within 10 calendar days after the recordation and that substantial compliance is insufficient.

(8) “Nonetheless, in construing the statute, the court must ascertain the legislative intent. `”In the absence of express language, the intent must be gathered from the terms of the statute construed as a whole, from the nature and character of the act to be done, and from the consequences which would follow the doing or failure to do the particular act at the required time. [Citation.] When the object is to subserve some public purpose, the provision may be held directory or mandatory as will best accomplish that purpose [citation]….” [Fn. omitted.]’ [Citation.]” (Peace Officers, supra, 10 Cal.4th at p. 1143.)

We find an expression of the Legislature’s intent regarding the public purpose of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 and the statutory notice requirements in the legislative history. Section 1367.1 was added to the Civil Code in 2002 (Stats. 2002, ch. 1111, § 8, p. 7126) and amended in 2005, when section 1367.4 was added (Stats. 2005, ch. 452, § 5, p. 3649). In 2005, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill analysis stated: “This bill protects owners’ equity in their homes when they fail to pay relatively small assessments to their common interest development associations.” (Sen. Com. on Judiciary, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 137 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) Mar. 29, 2005, p. 1.)

The Assembly Committee on Judiciary similarly stated: “This bill goes to the heart of home owner rights, touching upon the key issue of when, if ever, a homeowners’ association should have the right to force the sale of a member’s home when the home owner falls behind on paying overdue assessments or dues…. [¶] … [This bill] [s]eeks to protect a condominium owner’s property and equity when he or she misses payment on relatively small assessments imposed by their common interest development (CID) association.” (Assem. Com. on Judiciary, Analysis of Sen. Bill No. 137 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 5, 2005, pp. 1-2.)

Thus, the legislative history indicates that the public purpose of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4, including the notice requirements, was to protect the interest of a homeowner who has failed to timely pay an assessment levied by [1191] a homeowners association. The legislative history further indicates that to accomplish this purpose, the notice requirements were intended to be mandatory.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s bill analysis, prepared before section 1367.1 was enacted in 2002, states: “This bill [(Assem. Bill No. 2289)] would make numerous changes to the procedures followed by homeowners’ associations when a homeowner is delinquent on fees and assessments. These changes would include a waiting period prior to the notice of recordation of a lien, a meeting by the association’s board with the homeowner to discuss the matter upon the homeowner’s request, and additional mandatory disclosures and notices throughout the process.” (Sen. Com. on Judiciary, Analysis of Assem. Bill No. 2289 (2001-2002 Reg. Sess.) as amended June 19, 2002, p. 1, italics added.) In 2005, when section 1367.1 was amended and section 1367.4 was added, the Senate Floor Analysis stated, “This bill also requires the owner to be notified in specified ways if the board has voted to foreclose.” (Sen. Rules Com., Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 137 (2005-2006 Reg. Sess.) as amended Apr. 5, 2005, p. 2, italics added.)

Since the legislative history shows that the Legislature’s intent in enacting sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 was to protect the homeowner’s interest by, among other things, requiring that a homeowners’ association give mandatory notices to the homeowner before foreclosing on an assessment lien, it provides additional authority confirming our determination that the plain language of section 1367.1 and its notice requirements be strictly construed. (See Doe, supra, 42 Cal.4th at p. 544.) We have found no indication in the legislative history that the Legislature intended that substantial compliance with the statutory notice requirements would be sufficient to protect the homeowner’s interest.

(9) Also supporting our strict construction of section 1367.1, subdivision (d) is the inclusion in the statute of a penalty for failure to comply with the postlien notice requirements. “[T]ime limits are generally directory, but when the statute provides a consequence or penalty for failure to act within the prescribed time, they have been construed as mandatory. [Citation.]” (Peace Officers, supra, 10 Cal.4th at p. 1143.)

Here, section 1367.1, subdivision (i) provides the penalty: “If it is determined that a lien previously recorded against the separate interest was recorded in error, the party who recorded the lien shall, within 21 calendar days, record or cause to be recorded in the office of the county recorder in which the notice of delinquent assessment is recorded a lien release or notice [1192] of rescission and provide the owner of the separate interest with a declaration that the lien filing or recording was in error and a copy of the lien release or notice of rescission.”

(10) The legislative history further indicates the Legislature’s intent that a lien “recorded in error” (§ 1367.1, subd. (i)) and therefore subject to release or rescission includes a lien recorded without strict compliance with the statutory notice requirements. Prior to the enactment of section 1367.1 in 2002, the Assembly bill analysis stated: “[I]f that lien were placed [sic] and any of the notification requirements of this bill were not met the association would have to rescind the lien, re-notify and wait 30 days to replace the lien.” (Assem. Conc. Sen. Amends. to Assem. Bill No. 2289 (2001-2002 Reg. Sess.) as amended Aug. 21, 2002, pp. 3-4.) We therefore determine that unless a homeowners association strictly complies with the notice requirements of section 1367.1, the assessment lien is not valid, was recorded in error, and may not be enforced by judicial foreclosure. (§1367.4, subd. (c)(2) [foreclosure action may be initiated only where assessment lien was validly recorded].)

(11) The trial court relied on section 4 in determining that substantial compliance with the statutory notice requirements is sufficient. Section 4 provides: “The rule of the common law, that statutes in derogation thereof are to be strictly construed, has no application to this Code. The Code establishes the law of this State respecting the subjects to which it relates, and its provisions are to be liberally construed with a view to effect its objects and to promote justice.” However, the California Supreme Court has instructed that “`[e]ven as to the [Civil] code, “liberal construction” does not mean enlargement or restriction of a plain provision of a written law. If a provision of the code is plain and unambiguous, it is the duty of the court to enforce it as it is written.'” (Li v. Yellow Cab Co. (1975) 13 Cal.3d 804, 815 [119 Cal.Rptr. 858, 532 P.2d 1226].)

The trial court also relied on the decision in Kim v. JF Enterprises (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 849 [50 Cal.Rptr.2d 141] (Kim), which concerned mechanic’s liens, as support for the liberal construction of the sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 statutory notice requirements. In Kim, the issue was whether the plaintiffs’ failure to serve and file a preliminary 20-day notice, as required by former section 3097, prevented them from foreclosing on their mechanics’ liens. (Kim, supra, 42 Cal.App.4th at pp. 854-855.) The court stated that “[s]trict compliance with [former] section 3097 is required.” (Id. at p. 855.) Rejecting the plaintiffs’ contention that they were not required to give a preliminary notice under the former section 3097, subdivision (a) exception for a claimant “`under direct contract with the owner,'” the court ruled that this exception only applies where the owner has actual knowledge of the construction. (Kim, supra,at pp. 855, 859.)

[1193] Since the decision in Kim concerned the express statutory exception set forth in former section 3097, subdivision (a) to the preliminary notice requirement for a valid mechanic’s lien, and there is no analogous statutory exception to the section 1367.1 notice requirements, Kim is inapplicable here. We also observe that in the mechanic’s lien context it has been held that “where the Legislature has provided a detailed and specific mandate as to the manner or form of serving notice upon an affected party that its property interests are at stake, any deviation from the statutory mandate will be viewed with extreme disfavor.” (Harold L. James, Inc. v. Five Points Ranch, Inc. (1984) 158 Cal.App.3d 1, 6 [204 Cal.Rptr. 494]; see Casa Eva I Homeowners Assn. v. Ani Construction & Tile, Inc. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 771, 780 [36 Cal.Rptr.3d 401] [judgment lien statutes are strictly construed]; Bank of America v. Salinas Nissan, Inc. (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 260, 270 [254 Cal.Rptr. 748] [statutes governing attachment of property are strictly construed]; San Joaquin Blocklite, Inc. v. Willden (1986) 184 Cal.App.3d 361, 365-366 [228 Cal.Rptr. 842] [former § 3098’s preliminary notice requirement for recovery under a stop notice strictly construed].) These decisions are consistent with the California Supreme Court’s long-ago ruling that “`a lien which is the creature of statute can be enforced only in the manner prescribed by the statute.’ [Citation.]” (Chase v. Putnam (1897) 117 Cal. 364, 367-368 [49 P. 204].)

(12) We therefore determine that the notice requirements of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 are mandatory. Pursuant to section 1367.1, subdivision (d), the Association was required to send Diamond a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail no later than 10 calendar days after the recordation. Since the Association admittedly failed to satisfy this notice requirement, the assessment lien recorded on Diamond’s property is not valid and may not be enforced in a judicial foreclosure action. (§1367.4, subd. (c)(2).)

Failure to Give Notice of the Preforeclosure Right to Demand Alternative Dispute Resolution

Diamond contends that the Association failed to give her the preforeclosure notice of her right to demand alternative dispute resolution that is mandated by the statutory scheme for foreclosure on an assessment lien. The Association contends that its prelien letter of June 19, 2007, was sufficient to comply with the statutory requirements for notification of the right to alternative dispute resolution.

(13) Section 1367.1, subdivision (a) expressly requires an association to give the homeowner the written notice specified in the statute at least 30 days [1194] before recording an assessment lien on a homeowner’s separate interest. The dispute resolution notice requirements are set forth in subdivision (a)(5) and (6) of section 1367.1.

Subdivision (a)(5) of section 1367.1 requires the notice to notify the owner of the following: “The right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution to the association pursuant to the association’s `meet and confer’ program required in Article 5 (commencing with Section 1363.810) of Chapter 4.”

Subdivision (a)(6) of section 1367.1 requires the notice to also notify the owner of the following regarding alternative dispute resolution: “The right to request alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1369.510) of Chapter 7 before the association may initiate foreclosure against the owner’s separate interest….”

(14) The notice requirements set forth in subdivision (a)(5) and (6) of section 1367.1 are not stated in the disjunctive; the word “or” does not appear. Section 1367.1, subdivision (a) expressly requires that the homeowner be notified “of the following,” without indicating that any of the notice requirements are in the alternative or otherwise optional. Consequently, to satisfy the notice requirement of section 1367.1, subdivision (a), the prelien notice to the homeowner must include (1) notice of the right to meet and confer as provided by subdivision (a)(5) and (2) notice of the right to alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party as provided by subdivision (a)(6).

We find that the June 19, 2007 prelien letter did not comply with the section 1367.1, subdivision (a)(5) and (6) notice requirements. The June 19, 2007 letter states in pertinent part: “You have the right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution to the Homeowners’ Association pursuant to the Homeowner’s Association’s `meet and confer’ program, or as an alternative, you have the right to request alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party as set forth in the Civil Code beginning with … [s]ection 1369.510.” (Italics added.) Thus, the June 19, 2007 letter incorrectly notified Diamond that her right to dispute resolution consisted of (1) meet and confer to dispute the assessment debt pursuant to the Association’s meet and confer program or (2) alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party.

Since the June 19, 2007 letter did not satisfy the statutory prelien notice requirements of section 1367.1, subdivision (a), we determine for this additional reason that the assessment lien is not valid and may not be enforced in a judicial foreclosure action. (§1367.4, subd. (c)(2).)

[1195] Failure to Properly Record the Board’s Executive Session Vote to Initiate Foreclosure

Section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2) provides: “The decision to initiate foreclosure of a lien for delinquent assessments that has been validly recorded shall be made only by the board of directors of the association and may not be delegated to an agent of the association. The board shall approve the decision by a majority vote of the board members in an executive session. The board shall record the vote in the minutes of the next meeting of the board open to all members. The board shall maintain the confidentiality of the owner or owners of the separate interest by identifying the matter in the minutes by the parcel number of the property, rather than the name of the owner or owners. A board vote to approve foreclosure of a lien shall take place at least 30 days prior to any public sale.” (Italics added.)

The Association admits that it failed to record the Board’s executive session foreclosure vote in the minutes of the next Board meeting open to all members, as required by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2). However, the Association contends that its failure “is of no consequence” because Diamond was aware that a foreclosure action would be filed if she did not accept the Association’s proposal for a payment plan.

The Association provides no authority for the proposition that it may disregard the notice requirement of section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2) where the homeowner has actual knowledge that foreclosure is a possibility. To the contrary, as we have determined, the plain language of section 1367.4 and its legislative history shows that the statute’s notice requirements are mandatory. We reiterate that prior to the enactment of section 1367.4 in 2005, the Senate Floor Analysis stated, “This bill alsorequires the owner to be notified in specified ways if the board has voted to foreclose.” (Sen. Rules Com., Off. of Sen. Floor Analyses, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 137, supra, as amended Apr. 5, 2005, p. 2, italics added.)

Since the Association did not comply with the notice requirement of section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(2), for that additional reason the assessment lien on Diamond’s property is not valid and may not be enforced in a judicial foreclosure action.

Failure to Properly Serve Notice of the Board’s Foreclosure Vote

Diamond contends that the Association failed to personally serve her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose prior to commencement of the foreclosure action (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(3)). The Association responds that it [1196] complied by personally serving Diamond with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose at the same time it personally served her with the summons and complaint for the foreclosure action, since she “did not lose a single second of time in which to defend her interests.”

Section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3) provides in part: “An association that seeks to collect delinquent regular or special assessments … may use judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure subject to the following conditions: [¶] … [¶] … The board shall provide notice by personal service in accordance with the manner of service of summons in Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10)[[4]] of Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure to an owner of a separate interest who occupies the separate interest … if the board votes to foreclose upon the separate interest.”

According to Diamond, the notice requirement of section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4) is a condition precedent to filing a judicial foreclosure action, and since the Association personally served the notice on her after it filed the instant judicial foreclosure action, it failed to comply with section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4). Diamond relies upon the definition of “condition precedent” set forth in section 1436: “A condition precedent is one which is to be performed before some right dependent thereon accrues, or some act dependent thereon is performed.”

(15) We agree that personal service on the homeowner of the board’s vote to foreclose on the homeowner’s separate interest is a statutory condition precedent to the filing of an action for judicial foreclosure on an assessment lien. Section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(3) expressly provides that an association may use judicial foreclosure “subject to the following conditions,” which include “personal service in accordance with the manner of service of summons … to an owner of a separate interest who occupies the separate interest … if the board votes to foreclose upon the separate interest.” (16) Thus, the plain language of section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4), which we must strictly construe, requires an association to satisfy certain conditions before filing a judicial foreclosure action, including personal service of the notice of the board’s vote to foreclose. (See, e.g., Center for Self-Improvement & Community Development v. Lennar Corp. (2009) 173 Cal.App.4th 1543, 1551 [94 Cal.Rptr.3d 74] [statutory notice is a mandatory condition precedent to establishing a citizen’s right to commence a Prop. 65 enforcement action in the public interest].)

[1197] In the present case, the Association filed the instant judicial foreclosure action on November 15, 2007. It personally served notice of the Board’s November 7, 2007 vote to foreclose on the assessment lien on Diamond’s property nearly one month later, on December 9, 2007. Since it is undisputed that the Association did not personally serve the notice required by section 1367.4, subdivision (c)(4) before filing the judicial foreclosure action, the lack of compliance with this statutory condition precedent is fatal to the judicial foreclosure action. (See, e.g., In re Franklin (2008) 169 Cal.App.4th 386, 392 [86 Cal.Rptr.3d 702] [absence of the statutory condition precedent to lawful sexually violent predator civil commitment proceeding is a fatal flaw].)

4. Conclusion

In summary, we have determined that the notice requirements set forth in the Davis-Stirling Act at sections 1367.1 and 1367.4 for judicial foreclosure on an assessment lien must be strictly construed, pursuant to the plain language of the statutes and their legislative history. We have also determined on the undisputed facts that the Association failed to comply with the Davis-Stirling Act’s statutory notice requirements by (1) failing to send Diamond a copy of the recorded notice of delinquent assessment by certified mail within 10 days of the recording (§ 1367.1, subd. (d)); (2) failing to give her the required prelien notice of her right to demand alternative dispute resolution (§ 1367.1, subds. (a)(5), (a)(6)); (3) failing to record the Board’s executive session vote to initiate foreclosure on her property in the minutes of the next meeting of the Board open to all members (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(2)); and (4) failing to personally serve her with the notice of the Board’s vote to foreclose prior to commencement of the foreclosure action (§ 1367.4, subd. (c)(3)).

(17) Since the Association failed to strictly comply with all of the mandatory notice requirements, the assessment lien that the Association recorded on Diamond’s property is not valid and may not be enforced in a judicial foreclosure action. (§1367.4, subd. (c)(2).) The instant judicial foreclosure action therefore lacks merit as a matter of law and Diamond’s motion for summary judgment should be granted.

To prevent a trial on nonactionable claims, we will grant Diamond’s petition for a writ of mandate and direct the trial court to vacate its order denying Diamond’s motion for summary judgment and to enter a new order granting the motion. (See Prudential, supra, 98 Cal.App.4th at p. 594.) Our ruling is without prejudice to further proceedings in the trial court with respect to the assessment lien.

[1198] V. DISPOSITION

Let a peremptory writ of mandate issue directing respondent court to vacate the order denying petitioner Arlyne M. Diamond’s motion for summary judgment and to enter a new order granting the motion. Upon finality of this decision, the temporary stay order is vacated. Costs in this original proceeding are awarded to petitioner.

Premo, Acting P. J., and Grover, J., concurred.


 

[1] All further statutory references are to the Civil Code unless otherwise indicated.

[2] Effective January 1, 2014, the Davis-Stirling Act has been comprehensively reorganized and recodified, including the repeal of sections 1367.1 and 1367.4. (Stats. 2012, ch. 180, § 1; Legis. Counsel’s Dig., Assem. Bill No. 805 (2011-2012 Reg. Sess.).)

[3] The association may not foreclose on an assessment lien unless the amount of the delinquent assessment secured by the lien exceeds $1,800 or the assessment is more than 12 months delinquent. (§ 1367.4, subd. (b)(2).)

[4] Code of Civil Procedure section 415.10 provides: “A summons may be served by personal delivery of a copy of the summons and of the complaint to the person to be served. Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete at the time of such delivery. [¶] The date upon which personal delivery is made shall be entered on or affixed to the face of the copy of the summons at the time of its delivery. However, service of a summons without such date shall be valid and effective.”

Partial Payments

An association is required to accept a partial payment made by a delinquent owner, notwithstanding whether the payment is sufficient to cover the total amount of delinquent assessments, late fees, interest, and collection costs owed by the owner to the association at the time the payment is made. (Huntington Continental Townhouse Assn. v. Miner (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 590, 601-602.) Upon receipt of a partial payment, the association is further required to allocate the payment toward the owner’s debt in accordance with the priority set forth in Civil Code Section 5655 (i.e., first to the amount of assessments owed, then to other costs imposed on the owner in connection with the owner’s delinquency). (See “Priority of Payments.”) Notably, the Court in Huntington did not address whether such allocation is required in situations where the owner has agreed to a different allocation method pursuant to the terms of a payment plan executed between the owner and the association.

An association’s obligation to accept a partial payment exists even after the association has recorded an assessment lien against the owner’s property, or has commenced other measures to collect the owner’s assessment debt. (Huntington, at 602 (“…an owner can make a partial payment after an association has commenced measures, such as recording a lien, to collect the delinquency.”).)

Impact on Foreclosure of Assessment Lien
When an owner has made a partial payment, it may impact the association’s ability to commence foreclosure of the assessment lien due to the limitations set forth in Civil Code Section 5720 (i.e., if the partial payment reduces the amount of delinquent assessments below $1,800). (See “Limitations on Foreclosure of Assessment Lien.”)

Limitations on Foreclosure of Assessment Lien

The power an association has to foreclose on an assessment lien (whether through nonjudicial or judicial foreclosure) is subject to the limitations set forth in Civil Code Section 5720.  Section 5720 generally prohibits an association from collecting an assessment debt through foreclosure of an assessment lien unless any of the following are true:

Partial Payments
Because an association is legally required to accept partial payments from a delinquent owner, and because Civil Code Section 5655 requires partial payments to be first applied to the amount of outstanding assessments before applying them to other costs (i.e., late charges, interest, collection costs, etc.), a delinquent owner may be able to elude foreclosure of an assessment lien by submitting partial payments sufficient to keep the assessment debt below the $1,800 threshold and less than 12 months delinquent. (Huntington Continental Townhouse Assn. v. Miner (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 590, 605; See also “Partial Payments.”)

Small Claims Actions
If an association is unable to foreclose on an assessment lien due to the limitations set forth above, the association may attempt to collect the assessment debt through a civil action filed against the delinquent owner in small claims court. (Civ. Code § 5720(b)(1); See also “Small Claims Collection Actions.”)