People v. Am. Sur. Co.
People v. Am. Sur. Co.
Opinion of the Court
McKINSTER J.
*679*384In an earlier appeal, Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (Lumbermens) challenged an order denying its motion to vacate summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture and to exonerate the bail bond. The day after Lumbermens filed its notice of appeal, American Surety Company (American), the appellant in this appeal, filed an undertaking to stay enforcement of the summary judgment during the first appeal. In an unpublished opinion, this court affirmed the order denying Lumbermens' motion to vacate *385the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond. (See People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. (June 30, 2016, E062800)
Six days before this court issued the remittitur in the first appeal, American filed a motion in the trial court to exonerate the undertaking and to be released from liability on the undertaking. The undertaking was filed pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1 (unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Code Civ. Proc.), which provides, inter alia, for undertakings to stay enforcement of money judgments. Because Lumbermens' appeal was from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate the summary judgment, which is not a money judgment or an order directing the payment of money, American argued section 917.1 did not apply, and the undertaking was ineffective at all times. The trial court denied the motion, concluding American forfeited its challenge to the validity of the undertaking by waiting to file its motion until 57 days after this court issued its opinion in the first appeal and a mere six days before the issuance of the remittitur.
In this appeal, American again argues the undertaking it filed on behalf of Lumbermens was ineffective because Lumbermens appealed from a postjudgment order, and not from the summary judgment itself and, therefore, the stay provided for in section 917.1 was never triggered. In addition, American argues the undertaking never became effective because the trial court did not approve it as required by statute.
American is correct that the undertaking it filed in the first appeal was never effective. An appeal from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate summary judgment and to exonerate a bail bond is not an appeal from a money judgment and, therefore, section 917.1 does not provide for a stay of the underlying summary judgment during such an appeal. Because Lumbermens' appeal did not automatically stay enforcement of the underlying summary judgment, and a statutory undertaking was ineffective, the means to stay enforcement of the summary judgment was to petition this court for a writ of supersedeas. Likewise, American is correct that, even if section 917.1 applied to Lumbermens' appeal, the undertaking was not effective because the trial court did not approve of it pursuant to section 995.840, subdivision (a).
*680Nonetheless, we agree with respondent, the People, that American forfeited its challenge to the validity of the undertaking by waiting until six days before the issuance of the remittitur to file its motion to vacate the *386undertaking. And, even if we were to conclude that American did not forfeit its challenges to the undertaking, we agree with the People that American is estopped from challenging the undertaking on appeal. American, Lumbermens, and the People all acted on the assumption that enforcement of the summary judgment was stayed while Lumbermens pursued its appeal. And, the People did not dispute the effectiveness of the undertaking or seek to execute on the judgment while the appeal was pending. American and Lumbermens reaped the benefit of the undertaking, and American cannot be heard at this stage to complain that the undertaking was not, in fact, effective. Therefore, we affirm the order denying American's motion to exonerate the undertaking.
I.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On March 28, 2013, Lumbermens executed a bail bond in the amount of $100,000, which was posted for the release of Tiffany Washington in San Bernardino County Superior Court case No. FSB1300167. On June 6, 2013, Washington failed to appear for her preliminary hearing, as ordered by the court on June 4, 2013. The trial court ordered the bail bond forfeited, and a notice of forfeiture was mailed on June 7, 2013. (See People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. , supra , E062800.)
On December 9, 2013, Lumbermens filed a motion for an extension of time to produce Washington. The court extended the forfeiture period for 180 days, through June 9, 2014. On May 23, 2014, Lumbermens filed a motion for an additional time extension, which was granted for an additional 180 days. Respondent, the People, as represented by the San Bernardino County Counsel, did not receive notice of the motion until after it was granted. On July 16, 2014, the People filed a motion to set aside the second extension, arguing that it was contrary to law, in that Penal Code section 1305.4 only provides for a single extension of up to 180 days from the date of the forfeiture or the date of mailing the notice of forfeiture. The People argued that the extension was void as of June 10, 2014. (See People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. , supra , E062800.)
On September 11, 2014, the trial court granted the People's motion to set aside the extension order and entered summary judgment on the bail bond forfeiture. (See People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. , supra , E062800.) Lumbermens did not appeal from the summary judgment.
*387On October 10, 2014, Lumbermens filed a motion to vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond. The trial court denied the motion on January 7, 2015. (See People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. , supra , E062800.)
On January 28, 2015, Lumbermens timely filed a notice of appeal from "the Order Denying the Motion to Vacate Summary Judgment entered on January 07, 2015."
The following day, American filed a $150,000 undertaking pursuant to section 917.1, to stay enforcement of the summary judgment pending Lumbermens' appeal.
A person or corporation is automatically disqualified from acting as a surety in any superior court if summary judgment against the surety remains unsatisfied for more than 30 days after service of the notice of entry of judgment, unless the *681surety challenges the forfeiture or summary judgment and, if the challenge is by appeal, an undertaking that complies with the enforcement requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1 is filed with the court. ( Pen. Code, § 1308, subd. (a).) On March 16, 2015, Lumbermens and the People filed a stipulation seeking an order vacating Lumbermens' disqualification.
This court issued its tentative decision in the first appeal on April 22, 2016. After hearing oral argument on June 27, 2016, we issued our unpublished opinion on June 30, 2016. Lumbermens had argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to enter summary judgment on the bail bond forfeiture because more than 90 days had elapsed since the expiration of the forfeiture period. But, more than 90 days had elapsed because the trial court incorrectly granted Lumbermens' request to extend the exoneration period for more than 185 days. Relying on People v. Bankers Ins. Co. (2010)
*388On August 26, 2016-six days before this court issued its remittitur-American filed its motion to exonerate the undertaking as invalid. In opposition, the People argued the undertaking was valid because Penal Code section 1306, subdivision (e), expressly provides that a summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture shall not be enforced if the judgment is appealed and an undertaking is filed that complies with Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1. In addition, the People argued American waived its challenge to the undertaking by waiting so long to file its motion, and/or that American was estopped from challenging the undertaking because it knowingly acquiesced in the benefit conferred upon Lumbermens by the undertaking. In reply, American argued the trial court lacked fundamental jurisdiction to enter the undertaking and, therefore, the waiver, forfeiture, and estoppel doctrines did not preclude American's challenge to the undertaking.
After hearing argument from the parties, the trial court denied American's motion. The court did not dispute the soundness of American's argument that the undertaking was ineffective because section 917.1 does not apply to postjudgment appeals from an order denying a motion to vacate summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture. Nonetheless, in its written order, the court noted American "first raised the purported invalidity of the undertaking it issued approximately [57] days after the opinion of the Court of Appeal showed it would have to pay on the undertaking, and a mere [six] days before the remittitur started the 30-day countdown to paying on the undertaking if Lumbermens did not satisfy the judgment."
The trial court also rejected American's argument that the waiver or forfeiture doctrines did not apply to its challenge because the undertaking was void for lack of jurisdiction. The trial court concluded it had fundamental jurisdiction over the parties and the dispute and, at most, entry of the undertaking was an act in excess of its jurisdiction. Because American "ha[d] not shown any justification for not raising the issue sooner, let alone unusual circumstances preventing an earlier challenge," the trial court concluded American forfeited its challenge. Finally, because neither party submitted evidence of what representations had been made regarding the undertaking, the court rejected the People's estoppel argument.
American timely appealed.
*389II.
DISCUSSION
There are two general issues in this appeal: (1) Was the undertaking filed in the first appeal invalid; and (2) may American challenge the validity of the undertaking. Although we conclude the answer to the first question is "yes," we answer the second question "no."
A. Appealability and Standard of Review.
Citing Merritt v. J.A. Stafford Co. (1968)
"By signing an undertaking upon appeal, a surety consents that judgment may be entered against him on motion for the amount of the judgment as affirmed [citation], and he becomes a party to the action for the limited purpose of giving the court jurisdiction to render and enforce a judgment against him [citation]. In effect, the bond[
"[A] judgment on an appeal bond may not be appealed by the surety. [Citation.] This is not because the matter does not relate to the enforcement of a judgment, but ... because the judgment against the surety is a consent judgment." ( Merritt , supra , 68 Cal.2d at p. 623,
As far as we can tell from the record, the trial court in this case has not yet entered judgment on the undertaking or entered an order denying a motion to vacate forfeiture of the undertaking. However, an appeal may also be taken from "[a]n order denying a motion for judgment on an appeal bond ... because it 'relates directly to the enforcement of a judgment.' " ( Lakin v. Watkins Associated Industries (1993)
American did not expressly move for entry of judgment on the undertaking, and this appeal was taken from an order denying American's motion to exonerate the undertaking and to release American from liability on the undertaking. Nonetheless, " '[t]he substance and effect of the order, not its label or form, determines whether it is appealable. ...' [Citation.]" ( Hall v. Superior Court (2016)
Where, as here, the pertinent facts are not in dispute and the issues are purely legal, we independently review the trial court's order. ( People v. Financial Casualty & Surety , Inc. (2017)
*684*391B. The Undertaking Filed in Lumbermens' Appeal Was Invalid.
American argues the undertaking it filed in Lumbermens' appeal was ineffective to stay enforcement of the judgment because the first appeal was not from a money judgment and because the trial court did not approve of the undertaking. Both contentions are well taken.
1. The undertaking filed in the first appeal was invalid under section 917.1 because the appeal was not from a money judgment or an order directing Lumbermens to pay money .
An appeal from a summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture does not automatically stay enforcement of the judgment. ( County of Orange v. Classified Ins. Corp. (1990)
Nor does an appeal from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate summary judgment and to exonerate a bail bond automatically stay enforcement of the underlying judgment. ( People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. (2006)
Unlike an appeal from the summary judgment itself, however, a surety who appeals only from a postjudgment order denying its motion to *392vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond may not obtain a stay of enforcement of the underlying summary judgment by filing an undertaking pursuant to section 917.1. In relevant part, section 917.1 provides: "Unless an undertaking is given, the perfecting of an appeal shall not stay enforcement of the judgment or order in the trial court if the judgment or order is for any of the following: [¶] (1) Money or the payment of money , whether consisting of a special fund or not, and whether payable by the appellant or another party to the action." ( § 917.1, subd. (a)(1), italics added.) An order denying a motion to vacate a money judgment is a "negative order[ ] denying relief to defendant," and not an order directing the "defendant pay *685money to plaintiff." ( Miller v. Gross , supra , 48 Cal.App.3d at p. 613,
In County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co ., supra ,
Because an appeal from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate a summary judgment and to exonerate a bail bond does not automatically stay enforcement of the judgment, and an undertaking filed in such an appeal pursuant to section 917.1 is ineffective to stay enforcement of the judgment, the available remedy to the surety to prevent execution on the *393judgment
Lumbermens appealed solely from the order denying its motion to vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond, and not from the summary judgment itself. Because that postjudgment order was not a money judgment or an order directing Lumbermens to pay money, it was not a judgment or order contemplated by section 917.1, subdivision (a)(1), and the undertaking filed pursuant to that section was ineffective and did not stay *394enforcement of the underlying judgment. ( County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co ., supra , 207 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1131-1132,
To avoid that conclusion, the People argue an undertaking under Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1 was expressly made applicable to Lumbermens' appeal through Penal Code sections 1306 and 1308. We are not persuaded. The district attorney or county counsel must demand payment of the judgment of forfeiture on a bail bond within 30 days after entry of summary judgment and shall seek to execute on the judgment as provided by law if it remains unpaid 20 days after the demand is made, unless "the judgment is appealed by the surety" and an undertaking is filed that complies with the enforcement requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1. ( Pen. Code, § 1306, subd. (e)(1)-(2), italics added.) On its face, Penal Code section 1306 provides for a stay of enforcement of the judgment upon the filing of an undertaking only if an appeal is taken from the judgment itself. Lumbermens did not appeal from the summary judgment.
Nor does Penal Code section 1308 support the People's argument. As already stated, that section addresses the limited topic of the disqualification of a surety against whom a summary judgment of bail forfeiture has been entered. If within 30 days of service of the entry of summary judgment the surety brings "an action or proceeding available at law ... to determine *687the validity of the order of forfeiture or summary judgment rendered on it," the surety is not disqualified "until that action or proceeding has finally been determined, provided that, if an appeal is taken, an appeal bond is posted in compliance with Section 917.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure." ( Pen. Code, § 1308, subd. (a).)
There is no question that the order denying Lumbermens' motion to vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond was an appealable order, and that Lumbermens' appeal was "a proper vehicle for considering a jurisdictional attack on the summary judgment." ( People v. International Fidelity Ins. Co. , supra , 204 Cal.App.4th at p. 592,
Penal Code section 1308 does not govern when summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture is stayed on appeal- Penal Code section 1306 does.
*395And, as stated ante , on its face, Penal Code section 1306 limits stays to appeals from the judgment itself. Moreover, Penal Code section 1308 simply does not address the conditions under which an undertaking is effective for purposes of Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1. Penal Code section 1308"benefits the county, in that it encourages prompt action by the surety" to timely initiate a proceeding to challenge the summary judgment and avoid the sanction of disqualification. ( County of Orange v. Classified Ins. Corp ., supra , 218 Cal.App.3d at p. 558,
2. The undertaking was also invalid because the trial court did not approve it.
American is also correct that, even if the undertaking was proper and valid under section 917.1, it was not effective because the trial court did not approve it as required by the bond and undertaking law. (§ 995.010 et seq.) Unless a statute provides that an undertaking must be approved, it is effective immediately upon being filed with the court. (§§ 995.410, subd. (a), 995.420, subd. (a).) If a statute requires approval of an undertaking, the court may approve or disapprove of the undertaking "on the basis of the affidavit or certificate of the sureties or may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence and may examine the sureties under oath touching their qualifications." (§ 995.410, subd. (b).)
In an appeal involving private parties, an undertaking is effective upon being filed. "Since section 917.1, the specific statute *688providing for an appeal bond, is silent as to the effective date and does not require an appeal bond to be approved, it follows that an appeal bond becomes effective 'at the time it is given ....' (§§ 995.410, subd. (a), 995.420, subd. (a).)" ( Lewin v. Anselmo , supra , 56 Cal.App.4th at pp. 699-700,
In its brief, the People argue the trial court did in fact approve of the undertaking, twice-when it was filed and when the court approved the stipulation and lifted the disqualification on Lumbermens acting as a surety. Not so. The clerk of the superior court, in its purely ministerial capacity (see People v. Financial Casualty & Surety , Inc ., supra , 14 Cal.App.5th at p. 315,
C. Forfeiture and Estoppel Principles Bar American's Challenge to the Undertaking .
The People argue that, even if the undertaking was invalid, American forfeited its right to challenge the validity to the undertaking by waiting until six days before the issuance of the remittitur to file its motion. We agree. In addition, the People argue American is estopped from challenging the undertaking because it accepted the benefit of the undertaking. Again, we agree with the People.
As stated ante , the Court of Appeal in County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co . agreed with SIC that an undertaking filed in an appeal from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture was ineffective to stay enforcement of the judgment because the appeal was not taken from a money judgment or an order directing payment of money as contemplated by section 917.1. ( County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co. , supra , 207 Cal.App.3d at pp. 1131-1132,
Unlike the sureties in County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co ., American moved to be released from liability on the undertaking just before the issuance of the remittitur. But, the record shows American did not act diligently. From the outset, Lumbermens' notice of appeal clearly indicated the first appeal was from the postjudgment order denying its motion to vacate the summary judgment and not from the summary judgment itself. With reasonable diligence and inquiry, American could have discovered the defect in the undertaking and brought the defect to the trial court's attention. And, from the day this court issued its decision in the first appeal, American knew it would be obligated under the terms of the undertaking if Lumbermens did not pay the judgment within 30 days of the remittitur issuing. Yet, American waited 57 days after this court issued its decision in the first appeal to file its motion-a mere six days before we issued the remittitur. On these facts, we find American forfeited its challenge to the undertaking.
American is also estopped from challenging the validity of the undertaking. "It has been held that undertakings may be enforced although not in exact conformity with the statute, that the defect may be waived, that the obligor is in no position to complain that his obligation is less onerous than that provided for by statute, and that, where the appellant has the benefit of the bond, the obligor may not rely upon the fact that the respondent could but did not object to the sufficiency of the bond. [Citations.] [¶] 'The sureties generally are held liable on a supersedeas or appeal bond, although it was *398legally insufficient to effect a stay of proceedings, where as a matter of fact there was in effect a stay, no execution being issued, nor any attempt made to collect an execution if issued, or to enforce the judgment.' [Citation.]"
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has cited Merritt as an example of the "so-called 'common law bond doctrine' ...." ( Burgoyne v. Frank B. Hall & Co . of Hawaii , Inc . (9th Cir. 1986)
There is no question that all parties involved-the People, Lumbermens, and American-acted under the assumption that the undertaking filed in the first appeal properly stayed enforcement of the summary judgment. American and Lumbermens received the benefit of the undertaking because the People appear to have taken no steps whatsoever to execute the judgment while Lumbermens pursued its appeal. Nor did the People challenge the sufficiency of the undertaking or otherwise argue it was ineffective to stay enforcement *399of the judgment. (See § 995.910 et seq. [governing "objections to a bond given in an action or proceeding"].) Quite to the contrary, in the stipulation to lift the disqualification of Lumbermens, the People asserted the undertaking was "in effect" while Lumbermens pursued its appeal.
The People's conduct in this case is to be contrasted with the plaintiff in Miller v. Gross , who did not rely on the undertaking and who actively sought to execute on the judgment while the appeal was proceeding. ( Miller v. Gross , supra , 48 Cal.App.3d at p. 614,
American argues the forfeiture analysis of County of Los Angeles v. Surety Ins. Co . and, by implication, the estoppel analysis in Merritt , have been superceded by more recent decisions that hold the forfeiture, waiver, and estoppel doctrines do not apply to judicial acts that are void for lack of fundamental jurisdiction. (See, e.g., Kabran v. Sharp Memorial Hospital (2017)
"The term 'jurisdiction,' 'used continuously in a variety of situations, has so many different meanings that no single statement can be entirely satisfactory as a definition.' [Citation.] Essentially, jurisdictional errors are of two types. 'Lack of jurisdiction in its most fundamental or strict sense means an entire absence of power to hear or determine the case, an absence of authority over the subject matter or the parties.' [Citation.] When a court lacks jurisdiction in a fundamental sense, an ensuing judgment is void, and 'thus vulnerable to direct or collateral attack at any time.' [Citation.]" ( People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. (2004)
*400"However, 'in its ordinary usage the phrase "lack of jurisdiction" is not limited to these fundamental situations.' [Citation.] It may also 'be applied to a case where, though the court has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties in the fundamental sense, it has no "jurisdiction" (or power) to act except in a particular manner, or to give certain kinds of relief, or to act without the occurrence of certain procedural prerequisites.' [Citation.] ' "[W]hen a statute authorizes [a] prescribed procedure, and the court acts contrary to the authority thus conferred, it has exceeded its jurisdiction." ' [Citation.] When a court has fundamental jurisdiction, but acts in excess of its jurisdiction, its act or judgment is merely voidable. [Citations.]" ( People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. , supra , 33 Cal.4th at p. 661,
There are two problems with American's contention that we should not apply waiver or estoppel because the trial court lacked fundamental jurisdiction. First, American can point to no judicial act related to the filing of the undertaking. As explained ante , we agree with American that the trial court never approved the undertaking.
Last, there is no genuine dispute that the trial court had fundamental jurisdiction over the parties and over the underlying dispute regarding the bail bond. For example, there is no question that the bail bond was viable when the trial court entered summary judgment. (See People v. International Fidelity Ins. Co. , supra , 204 Cal.App.4th at p. 595,
DISPOSITION
The postjudgment order denying American's motion to exonerate the undertaking is affirmed. The People shall recover their costs on appeal.
We concur:
RAMIREZ P. J.
SLOUGH J.
On September 21, 2018, on our own motion, this court took judicial notice of its record in People v. Indiana Lumbermens Mutual Ins. Co. , supra , E062800. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subd. (d), 459, subd. (a).)
Apparently, the trial court had entered an order on March 11, 2015, disqualifying Lumbermens pursuant to Penal Code section 1308, subdivision (a). The order itself is not included in the record on appeal, and the register of actions makes no mention of it.
The trial court incorrectly calculated the lapse of time between the filing of our prior opinion (Jun. 30, 2016) and the filing of American's motion (Aug. 26, 2016) at 85 days, and the period between the filing of the motion and the filing of the remittitur (Sept. 1, 2016) at five days.
"A bond is interchangeable with an undertaking. (§ 995.210, subd. (a).)" (California Commerce Bank v. Superior Court (1992)
In its brief, the People address the abuse of discretion standard applicable to an order denying a motion to vacate bail forfeiture and to exonerate a bail bond. This is not an appeal from such an order. However, the People concede that resolution of purely legal issues based on undisputed facts is subject to independent review.
At oral argument, the People argued the question of whether American forfeited its challenge to the undertaking or is estopped from challenging the undertaking is an equitable issue, not a legal one, so we should apply the abuse of discretion standard. We disagree. Whether a forfeiture or estoppel has occurred is often a question of fact that is reviewed on appeal for substantial evidence. (Lynch v. California Coastal Com . (2017)
Because summary judgment on a bail bond forfeiture may only be stayed on appeal by filing an undertaking, the trial court lacks jurisdiction to enter a stay of enforcement of the judgment for more than 10 days after the last day to file a notice of appeal unless the adverse party consents to a longer stay. (§ 918, subd. (b); see Sharifpour v. Le (2014)
During oral argument before this court, the People argued the court in People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. , supra ,
However, the court did note, in passing, "No bond [i.e., undertaking] was posted during the period in which the first appeal was pending, so enforcement of the judgment was not stayed and the two-year limitation period expired ." (People v. American Contractors Indemnity Co. , supra , 136 Cal.App.4th at p. 248,
We recognize that, in a case such as this, where the surety fails to timely appeal from the summary judgment and appeals solely from the postjudgment order denying its motion to vacate the summary judgment and to exonerate the bail bond, the surety will be in the unenviable position of having to request a writ of supersedeas to stay enforcement of the summary judgment during the appeal and file an undertaking to avoid disqualification under Penal Code section 1308. Rather than creatively interpret Code of Civil Procedure section 917.1 to provide for a stay of enforcement of the judgment during an appeal from a postjudgment order denying a motion to vacate a money judgment, as the People seem to suggest we should, we leave it to the Legislature to provide a fix to this "problem."
During oral argument, the People argued the trial court implicitly approved of the sufficiency of the undertaking because it was attached as an exhibit to the order lifting Lumbermens' disqualification. As stated in the text, the stipulation merely requested that the trial court lift the disqualification. We decline to assume the trial court, on its own motion, conducted a review of the sufficiency of the undertaking.
The Supreme Court recognized exceptions to the estoppel doctrine in "cases involv[ing] judgments which were stayed by operation of law without necessity of a bond, orders which were not subject to execution or other immediate enforcement against the appellant, or a judgment for a sale of perishables as to which it would be against public policy to permit a stay pending appeal." (Merritt , supra , 68 Cal.2d at p. 624,
The Restatement of Security (1941), section 188, at page 522, also recognizes application of the estoppel theory to bonds: "Where a surety executes a judicial bond which is defective as not complying with statutory requirements or court rules, or where although the bond itself is in proper form, the principal has not followed the proper procedure in connection with the furnishing of the bond, the surety is nevertheless liable on the bond if the party on whose behalf the bond is delivered has obtained in whole or in part the benefit sought by the delivery of the bond." (See Richard L. Bowen & Assoc. , Inc. v. 1200 West Ninth Street Ltd. Partnership (Ohio.Ct.App. 1995)
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