E & E Mortgage Bankers Corp. v. Topuzoglu CA2/4

BACKGROUND

The record in this case consists solely of a six-page summary docket report from the trial court. Our understanding and discussion of the proceedings below are limited accordingly. Plaintiff and respondent E & E Mortgage Bankers Corp. (E & E) filed a breach of contract complaint against Topuzoglu and three other non-appealing defendants on February 18, 2010. Topuzoglu appeared in pro. per. and timely filed a demurrer. After her demurrer was overruled on June 9, 2010, Topuzoglu answered the complaint on June 21, 2010. The case went to mediation in November 2010, and proceeded to a mandatory settlement conference in February 2011. Its progress stalled in March 2011 when Topuzoglu filed for bankruptcy; the automatic stay (11 U.S.C. § 362) remained in place until September 2011, when the bankruptcy proceeding was dismissed. The superior court held a status conference “RE: Proof of Dismissal of[]Bankruptcy” at “08:32 a.m.” on October 19, 2011. The parties made a second unsuccessful attempt at mediation in February 2012, and the court held a final status conference on August 10, 2012. The proceedings were stayed again around that same time due to another defendant‟s…