Palma vs. South Orange County Community College District

“If items on their face appear to be proper charges, the verified memorandum of costs is prima facie evidence of their propriety, and the burden is on the party seeking to tax costs to show they were not reasonable or necessary.” (Jones v. Dumrichob (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1266.) Once the opposing party makes such a showing, in support of a motion to tax costs, the challenged items are put in issue and the burden shifts back to the party claiming them as costs. (Ibid.) But conclusory assertions alone are not enough to cause this shift to happen. “[I]t is not enough for the losing party to attack submitted costs by arguing that he thinks the costs were not necessary or reasonable. Rather, the losing party has the burden to present evidence and prove that the claimed costs are not recoverable.” (Seever v. Copley Press, Inc. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1557.)

However, “[w]here costs are not expressly allowed by the statute, the burden is on the party claiming the costs to show that the charges were reasonable and necessary.” (Foothill-De Anza Community College Dist. v. Emerich (2007) 158 Cal.App.4th 11, 29.) “Whether a cost item was reasonably necessary to the litigation presents a question of fact for the trial court and its decision is reviewed for abuse of discretion.” (Ladas v. California State Auto. Assn. (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 761, 774.) Page 22 of 27

Here, it is undisputed that Defendant was prevailing party in this action. Plaintiff moves to strike all costs or, alternatively, reduce the amount of claimed costs to zero on the following grounds:

(a) The litigation was unnecessarily prolonged by Defendants’ seven-month absence and delayed filing of a summary judgment motion that contained no new facts. (b) No discovery was conducted, and the same arguments supporting summary judgment existed in the first year of the case, making all litigation after ROA 77 unnecessary. (c) Multiple court and clerk errors, including the prejudicial rejection of Plaintiff’s filings for minor errors while accepting Defendants’ error-filled filings, burdened litigation and created avoidable legal work. (d) Plaintiff’s requests for ADA accommodations were ignored; and (e) Taxing costs against a civil rights litigant under these circumstances would chill constitutional claims and is unjust under Code of Civil Procedure §§ 1032, 1033.5 and case law. (f) The action is a matter of public interest affecting over 50,000 students and the public, and taxing costs under these circumstances would chill the vindication of constitutional rights.

The litigation was unnecessarily prolonged by Defendants’ seven-month absence and delayed filing of a summary judgment motion that contained no new facts

First, Plaintiff contends that Defendant’s motion for summary judgment could have been filed immediately, trial did not need to be continued, no discovery was exchanged and the litigation produced no new facts after 9/30/22. Thus, everything after 11/4/22 was avoidable and was not reasonably necessary.

It is undisputed that Defendant was prevailing party and therefore entitled to seek costs. This means that the prevailing party is entitled to all of its costs unless another statute provides otherwise. (See Crib Retaining Walls, Inc. v. NBS/Lowry, Inc. (1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 886, 890.) Absent such statutory authority, the court has no discretion to deny costs to the prevailing party. (Ibid.)

Code of Civ. Proc. 1033 enumerates allowable costs and costs which are not allowable, and restricts allowable costs to those reasonably necessary to the conduct of the litigation. Plaintiff fails to present any statutory authority for reducing allowable costs for any of the reasons advanced by Plaintiff. “A court should be cautious in engrafting exceptions onto the clear language of Code of Civil Procedure section 1032.” (Great Western Bank v. Converse Consultants, Inc. (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 609, 614.) Nor should it “ 'read into the statute allowing costs a restriction which has not been placed there....' ” [Citation.] (Crib Retaining Walls, Inc. v. NBS/Lowry, Inc. supra, 47 Cal.App.4th at p. 890.)

Plaintiff also fails to show how the length of this case increased the cost of litigation, especially where Plaintiff contends there was at least one long stretch where Defendant “disappeared” and therefore nothing was happening. Moreover, Plaintiff fails to show how the length of this case equates to Defendant not being entitled to any costs, as asserted by Plaintiff. Defendant Page 23 of 27

was entitled to litigate the case as counsel saw fit. The motion for summary judgment was timely filed.

Plaintiff cites Chavez v. City of Los Angeles (2010) 47 Cal.4th 970, 987: Court may deny costs where litigation was unnecessary or unjust. Nelson v. Anderson (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 111: Costs may be denied if the prevailing party unreasonably prolonged litigation.

Chavez v. City of Los Angeles (2010) 47 Cal.4th 970, 987 is distinguishable from the instant matter. In Chavez, the Court considered whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying a plaintiff’s costs in an FEHA action where the matter should have been brought as a limited civil case and whether there was an irreconcilable conflict between section 1033(a) and the FEHA’s attorney fee provision. This matter does not involve FEHA claims nor an analysis of whether Plaintiff should have brought his claims in limited jurisdiction Moreover, as opposed to the Chavez matter, Plaintiff did not prevail in this matter.

Nelson v. Anderson (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 111 does not state that costs may be denied if the prevailing party unreasonably prolonged litigation. In Nelson, the Court of Appeal reviewed whether the trial court abused its discretion when it gave an across-the-board reduction of costs based upon the number of plaintiffs, without regard for the reason the costs were incurred and whether they were necessary or reasonable. The appellate court also found the trial court abused its discretion in denying particular fees.

“If items on their face appear to be proper charges, the verified memorandum of costs is prima facie evidence of their propriety, and the burden is on the party seeking to tax costs to show they were not reasonable or necessary.” (Jones v. Dumrichob (1998) 63 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1266.) However, conclusory assertions alone are not enough to cause this shift to happen. “[I]t is not enough for the losing party to attack submitted costs by arguing that he thinks the costs were not necessary or reasonable. Rather, the losing party has the burden to present evidence and prove that the claimed costs are not recoverable.” (Seever v. Copley Press, Inc. (2006) 141 Cal.App.4th 1550, 1557.) Because Plaintiff failed to meet this burden as he fails to present any evidence, the motion is DENIED on this ground.

Notwithstanding the above, review of the claimed costs demonstrate that some fees are not recoverable. Pursuant to the opposition, the “other” fee of $22.50 was incurred for document retrieval from the OCSC’s website. “Where costs are not expressly allowed by the statute, the burden is on the party claiming the costs to show that the charges were reasonable and necessary.” (Foothill-De Anza Community College Dist. v. Emerich, supra, 158 Cal.App.4th at p. 29.) Here, Defendant fails to show how this cost was reasonably necessary to the conduct of litigation and not just convenient or beneficial to its preparation. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1033.5, subd. (c)(2)-(3); see Bender v. County of Los Angeles (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 968, 989-990.) Accordingly, the Court strikes these “other” costs in the amount of $22.50.

Court-Issued Continuances and Oppositions’ Delays Created Avoidable Costs

Plaintiff next argued that the Court’s continuances and delayed ruling on motions to amend prolonged the case. Defendant’s request for a trial continuance (based on allegations of threats, which had already been resolved Page 24 of 27

in criminal court) also prolonged the case. Thus, Plaintiff contends he should not be responsible for avoidable costs. But again, pursuant to the authority provided and discussed above, Plaintiff fails to meet his burden.

Nevertheless, the Court exercises its discretion and strikes the “other” costs of $22.50, as indicated above.

Judicial Errors, Threats, and Clerk Mistakes Created Unnecessary Work; Plaintiff’s Request for ADA Accommodations Were Ignored or Denied; Costs Should Be Denied to Avoid Chilling Constitutional Rights

None of these grounds are grounds upon which a Court can exercise its discretion to deny costs to Defendant SOCCCD. The prevailing party is entitled to all of its costs unless another statute provides otherwise. (See Crib Retaining Walls, Inc. v. NBS/Lowry, Inc., supra, 47 Cal.App.4th at p. 890.) Absent such statutory authority, the court has no discretion to deny costs to the prevailing party. (Ibid.)

Accordingly, the request to strike all costs on this ground is DENIED. But again, the Court strikes the “other” costs of $22.50.

Total costs allowed: $1,552.52 ($1,575.02 – $22.50)