Pacific Caisson & Shoring v. Bernards Bros. CA2/3

INTRODUCTION

The Contractors’ State License Board (the Board) suspended the license of Pacific Caisson & Shoring, Inc. (Pacific), as the sanction for the failure to notify the Board that a judgment had been entered against Pacific. (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 7071.17.) Thereafter, the trial court found that Pacific did not substantially comply with the requirement that the contractor be licensed while performing work. (§ 7031, subd. (e).) Pacific appeals contending that the judgment was not “substantially related” to its “construction activities” within the meaning of section 7071.17, and so Pacific’s license should not have been suspended. We hold that the judgment falls within the ambit of section 7071.17, and affirm the judgment against Pacific.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

1. The previous trial involving these parties

Much of the factual predicate is set forth in our earlier published opinion, Pacific Caisson & Shoring, Inc. v. Bernards Bros. Inc. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 681 [ 130 Cal.Rptr.3d 430 ] (Pacific Caisson). Pacific entered into a subcontract (the subcontract) with Bernards Bros. Inc. (Bernards) to provide temporary excavation and support work on a project…