Preview
1 Michael C. Osborne (Bar No. 95839)
mosborne@cokinoslaw.com
2 Elaine Kobylecki (Bar No. 299311)
ekobylecki@cokinoslaw.com
3 COKINOS | YOUNG
611 Gateway Blvd., Ste. 233
4 South San Francisco, CA 94080
Telephone: (628) 229-9180
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Attorneys for Defendant
6 THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.
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8 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
9 COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ
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11 DAPHNE BELETSIS, et al., Case No. 19CV03287
12 Plaintiff, DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY,
INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO
13 v. PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO MOTION
TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE
14 THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC., et al. CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND
SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
15 Defendant.
Date: May 6, 2022
16 Time: 8:30 AM
Dept.: 10
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18 Action Filed: October 31, 2019
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I. INTRODUCTION
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Defendant Theta Chi has moved for a severance of plaintiffs’ equitable claims of alter ego
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and successor liability. The main thrust of plaintiffs’ opposition to Theta Chi’s motion is that
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severance would cause undue delay in the proceedings, waste judicial resources and prejudice
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plaintiffs. Yet, the opposite is true and notwithstanding plaintiffs’ arguments to the contrary, Theta
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Chi has ultimately met its burden of proof as to the prejudice it would suffer should a severance be
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denied and the jury permitted to receive evidence and hear witnesses relevant only to plaintiffs’
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equitable claims. This motion is further supported by the evidence and arguments set forth in this
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DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION
TO MOTION TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
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Reply.
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II. THE COURT SHOULD EXERCISE ITS DISCRETION IN GRANTING A
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SEVERANCE OF PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE CLAIMS
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A. Even if There is Evidence to Support a Verdict against the UC Santa Cruz Chapter
5 and Theta Chi, Judicial Economy Supports Severance of the Equitable Claims
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1. There Is No Overlap of the Evidence for the Legal and Equitable Claims, and if
7 Severance is Denied, the Jury Trial Will Include Documents, Testimony, and Trial
Witnesses that Are Only Relevant to the Alter Ego Claims
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Even if, for the sake of argument, the jury could find the UC Santa Cruz Chapter and Theta
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Chi liable for the legal claims, the Court should still exercise its discretion to sever the equitable
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claims in the spirit of judicial economy until there is a finding of such liability.
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A joint trial of the claims at law and equity would unreasonably require additional time,
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expense, and judicial resources, and would confuse the jury which is receiving evidence on
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equitable issues that are not relevant to its determination of liability and compensatory damages.
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Plaintiffs’ opposition claims there is “significant overlap” in the evidence they will put forth at trial
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as to the legal and equitable claims. However, as acknowledged in their own opposition, none of
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the former members of UC Santa Cruz Chapter’s Executive Board have claimed any knowledge of
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the Chapter’s corporate structure, operations, or financial condition.
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Additionally, out of the fourteen depositions that have been completed to date, none of these
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witnesses have provided any testimony relevant or necessary to support plaintiffs’ equitable claims
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of alter ego. These witnesses consist of 7 former UC Santa Cruz Chapter members who testified
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they lacked knowledge as to the Chapter’s formation, operations and financial policies, 4 university
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officials who had no information as to Theta Chi’s history or organizational structure, plaintiffs,
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and Mr. Beletsis’ sister who had no affiliation with UC Santa Cruz, the local chapter or Theta Chi.
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A joint trial on the legal and equitable claims would necessitate additional lay witnesses,
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and hundreds of pages of documents, including accounting records and expert witness testimony
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not relevant to a jury trial limited to liability and damages. Needless to say, severance is not only
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appropriate here, but necessary to avoid prejudice to defendant and to preserve judicial resources.
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DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION
TO MOTION TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
1 B. The Trial of the Equitable Claims Will Include Evidence that is Not Admissible and
Is Prejudicial on Issues to be Decided by the Jury
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At the time of trial,Theta Chi will move this Court in limine under Civil Code Section
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3295(d) for an order bifurcating evidence of its financial condition on the issue of punitive damages.
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This statute is mandatory, and upon defendant’s making of such a motion for bifurcation, the Court
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“shall. . . preclude the admission of evidence of that defendant’s financial condition until the trier
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of fact returns a verdict for plaintiff awarding actual damages and finds that a defendant is guilty
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of malice, oppression, or fraud in accordance with Section 3294.” (Cal. Civ. Code §
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3295(d))(emphasis added.)) This evidentiary restriction requiring a bifurcation “minimizes
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potential prejudice by preventing jurors from learning of a defendant’s ‘deep pockets’ before they
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determine the threshold issues of liability, compensatory damages, and malice, oppression or fraud.
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(Torres v. Automobile Club of Southern California (1997) 16 Cal.4th 859, 862-863.)
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However, in a joint trial where the jurors hear evidence relevant to the alter ego claims, the
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safeguards imposed by the mandatory bifurcation under Section 3295(d) will be completely
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circumvented as plaintiffs will be permitted to introduce documents, testimony, and expert witness
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opinions as to defendant’s financial condition. Plaintiffs’ experts will likely offer opinions on the
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alter ego claims that are based, in substantial part, on Theta Chi’s financial documents and evidence
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that would otherwise be precluded under the mandatory bifurcation procedures of Section 3295(d).
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Accordingly, severance here of the equitable claims is appropriate to uphold the intent of
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Section 3295(d) and avoid undue prejudice to defendant.
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C. Denial of Severance Will Unreasonably Prejudice Theta Chi
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As noted in the moving papers, Theta Chi will indeed suffer irreparable and unreasonable
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prejudice if the jury deciding the issues of liability and compensatory damages is presented with
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evidence and arguments relating to plaintiffs’ alter ego claims. Plaintiffs’ First Amended
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Complaint alleges, upon only information and belief, that Theta Chi has “manufactured this sham
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organizational construct, strategic and illusory separation of assets causing undercapitalization of
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chapters in light of the risks of loss and dangerous system of implementing policies on hazing and
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risk-management related to membership rituals and Theta Chi National’s generation of revenue for
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DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION
TO MOTION TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
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it and the Fraternity, in order to evade creditors by, inter alia, artificially limiting its and its
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chapters’ potential legal liability for the injuries and deaths they individually, jointly, and otherwise
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legally cause.” (First Amended Complaint, at ¶ 113.)
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This blistering allegation – with no supporting admissible facts – follows the so-called
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plaintiffs’ Reptile Theory, allowing plaintiffs’ counsel to submit before the jury, testimonial and
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documentary evidence that defendant’s “generation of revenue” is part of a “sham organizational
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construct” to avoid liability for “injuries and deaths” involving “hazing,” none of which would be
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permitted in a trial limited solely to the issues of liability and compensatory damages.
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Moreover, one of the questions to be addressed by the Court in a bench trial on the alter ego
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claims will be whether defendant has acted improperly to defraud creditors, including plaintiffs
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who allege injuries and damages. Allowing the jury to hear this evidence – irrelevant on the issues
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of liability and compensatory damages – would severely prejudice Theta Chi and prevent it from
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receiving a fair trial.
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III. CONCLUSION
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For the foregoing reasons, defendant Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. respectfully requests that
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the Court grant its motion to sever plaintiffs’ equitable claims based on the doctrines of alter ego
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and successor liability, ordering that the jury trial of plaintiffs’ claims at law proceed first and,
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depending on the jury’s verdict and other circumstances, allowing a bench trial of plaintiffs’
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equitable claims to then follow. Alternatively, if the Court is inclined to deny this motion at this
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time, defendant asks that a ruling on this motion, as well as additional briefing if necessary, be
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deferred until the start of trial when additional evidence (including specifics of expert testimony,
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which have not yet been obtained) can be presented on these issues.
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Dated: April 28, 2022 COKINOS | YOUNG
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26 Michael C. Osborne
Elaine Kobylecki
27 Attorneys for Defendant
THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.
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DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION
TO MOTION TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
1 PROOF OF SERVICE
2 Beletsis v. Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc., et al.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court Action No. 19CV03287
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I declare that I am over the age of eighteen years and not a party to this action or
4 proceeding. My business address is 611 Gateway Blvd., Suite 233, South San Francisco, CA
94080. On the below date, I caused the following document(s) to be served:
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DEFENDANT THETA CHI FRATERNITY, INC.’S REPLY BRIEF IN RESPONSE TO
6 PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO MOTION TO SEVER PLAINTIFFS’ EQUITABLE
CLAIMS OF ALTER EGO AND SUCCESSOR LIABILITY
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by electronically serving the above reference document(s) through Email to the
8 person(s) set forth below. Executed by Amanda L. Sanchez
(asanchez@cokinoslaw.com) on April 28, 2022, at South San Francisco, California.
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by having personal delivery by Express Network of a true copy of the document(s)
10 listed above, enclosed in a sealed envelope, to the person(s) and at the address(es) set
11 forth below.
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See Attached Service List
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I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on April
14 28, 2022 at South San Francisco, California.
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Amanda L. Sanchez
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PROOF OF SERVICE
1 SERVICE LIST
2 Douglas E. Fierberg Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Jonathon N. Fazzola DAPHNE BELETSIS and YVONNE RAINEY
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The Fierberg Nation Law Group, PLLC
161 East Front Steet, Suite 200 Tel: (202) 351-0510
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Traverse City, MI 49684 Fax: (231) 252-8100
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dfierberg@tfnlgroup.com,
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jfazzola@tfnlgroup.com,
7 lcloutier@tfnlgroup.com
kfarese@tfnlgroup.com
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9 Ivo Labar Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Sawyer & Labar, LLP DAPHNE BELETSIS and YVONNE RAINEY
10 1700 Montgomery St. Suite 108
Tel: (415) 262-3820
San Francisco, CA 94111
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labar@sawyerlabar.com
12 guzman@sawyerlabar.com
13 John D. Hourihan Attorneys for Defendant
Stratman, Schwartz & Williams-Abrego QUINN MCLAUGHLIN
14 P.O. Box 258829
Tel: (510) 457-3440
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
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John.hourihan@farmersinsurance.com
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Derek Lim Attorneys for Defendants
17 Shannon Mallory BRAD VISACKI
Demler Armstrong & Rowland, LLP
18 Tel: 415.949-1900
1990 N. California Blvd., 8th Floor Cell 415.317.3693
19 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Fax: 415.354.8380
20 lim@darlaw.com
mal@darlaw.com
21 fra@darlaw.com
Mary Childs Attorneys for Defendants
22 An McNulty EMMANUEL THOMAS, BOBBY KARKI, and
Aaron Case JOHN DYLAN LEITCH
23 Yoka | Smith, LLP
445 South Figueroa Street Tel: (213) 427-2300
24 Fax: (213) 427-2330
38th Floor
25 Los Angeles, CA 90071
mchilds@yokasmith.com
amcnulty@yokasmith.com
26 acase@yokasmith.com
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Norman L. Chong Attorneys for Defendant
28 Joseph D. O’Neil NAJPREET SINGH KAHLON
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SERVICE LIST
1 Tracy Herrington
Tarkington, O’Neill, Barrack & Chong Tel: (707) 576-1380
2 100 Stony Point Road, Suite 270 Fax: (707) 544-3144
nchong@to2law.com
3 Santa Rosa, CA 95401 joneil@to2law.com
therrington@to2law.com
4 Matthew C. Jaime Attorneys for Defendant
Robert W. Sweetin CHRIS GUEVARA
5 Matheny Sears Linkert & Jaime, LLP
Tel: (916) 978-3434
6 3638 American River Drive Fax: (916) 978-3430
Sacramento, CA 95864
7 mjaime@mathenysears.com
rsweetin@mathenysears.com
8 Patrick R. Ball Attorneys for Defendant
Idin Kashefipour MOISES TENORIO GARCIA
9 Messner Reeves LLP
Tel: (949) 612-9128
10 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 420 Fax: (310) 889-0896
Newport Beach, CA 92660
11 pball@messner.com
ikashefipour@messner.com
12 Daniel R. Friedenthal Attorneys for Special Appearing Defendant
Friedenthal, Heffernan & Brown, LLP THETA IOTA CHAPTER OF THETA CHI
13 FRATERNITY
1520 W. Colorado Boulevard, Second Floor
14 Pasadena, CA 91105 Tel: (626) 628-2800
Fax: (626) 628-2828
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dfriedenthal@FHBLawyers.com
16 jbrown@fhblawyers.com
nruiz@FHBLawyers.com
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SERVICE LIST