Sibayan

FOR PUBLICATION UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

3 In re: JUNDER JOE BASBAS DE ) GUZMAN and SONIA CAMACHO DE ) GUZMAN ) Case No. 23-24575-C-7 ) Debtors. ) ) ELMAR SIBAYAN, ) Adv. Pro. 2024-02029 Plaintiff, ) v. ) ) JUNDER JOE BASBAS DE GUZMAN and ) SONIA CAMACHO DE GUZMAN, ) ) ___________________D_e_f_e_n_d_a_n_t_s_.__) 11 OPINION ON FEES UNDER CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE § 1717 CHRISTOPHER KLEIN, Bankruptcy Judge: Artful pleading in order not to state a contract cause of action in a bankruptcy dischargeability case does not necessarily insulate against exposure to prevailing party attorney’s fees for actions “on a contract” under California Civil Code § 1717. The victorious defendant in a nondischargeability action seeks attorney’s fees based on the reciprocal prevailing party fee provisions of California Civil Code § 1717. …