Knox v. Associated Investments CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Angel Kostov and Moore, a real estate broker, formed a business partnership known as Associated Investments. In 1980, Associated Investments took title to a single-family residence located at 1111 Via Chaparral, Santa Barbara, California (Property). Kostov later withdrew from Associated Investments and Moore's wife assumed Kostov's partnership interest. After his wife's death in 2006, Moore continued doing business as Associated Investments. Under circumstances that are far from clear, Knox and his family moved into the Property in 2002, purportedly for "a short time, probably less than 60 days." Knox did not sign a lease or pay any rent. Moore claims he occasionally asked Knox to pay rent or move out, but Knox rebuffed these requests, saying he would "work it off" through home improvements. Moore, who is 85, suffers from memory loss and dementia. In 2011, Moore's daughter, Heidi Knightstep, moved in with her father and started assisting him with his properties and financial affairs. Moore told her that "the person that had moved [into the Property] a while back still hasn't left and has not paid any rent, and [I]…