LAKEPORT— Plaintiffs Robert and Jan Sanders were recently present at the Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport with their attorney David Kelvin for a ruling regarding an ongoing, long-cause court trial involving District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown and his company. The judge ruled Brown acted in self defense during the incident which dates back to 2012.
The Court’s ruling was very short. Judge Stephen Hedstrom ruled, “So in conclusion, Robert Brown, in the Court’s view, is not responsible for Robert Sanders’s harm because Robert Brown was acting in self-defense. Therefore, complainant shall recover nothing from defendants.”
The Court announced this to be a tentative decision that the plaintiffs are to receive nothing from the defendants and the defendants are to receive nothing from the plaintiffs. The parties stipulate that a statement of decision is the court’s oral announcement of this tentative decision.
In the event that there is a difference between the two parties, Court Exhibit III (Script for the Tentative Decision) has been marked for identification with an oral pronouncement to help control that possibility.
A Script for the Tentative Decision is simply the tentative decision in writing.
The Court has prepared a judgment, which will make Judge Hedstrom’s ruling binding, and the parties will bear their own costs and attorney fees. The judgment was approved by both sides.
The dispute between the Sanders and Brown, his company, Lake County Bail Bonds and his former wife, Kimberly Brown has continued for the past several years.
Defendant Brown, who is also a cross complainant, was represented by his son, Attorney R. Steven Brown, while his former wife, Kimberly Brown, also a cross complainant, was represented by Attorney Scott Gaustad. Kimberly Brown was not present at the ruling as her attorney appeared on her behalf.
Background
The case stems from an altercation that allegedly occurred between Brown and plaintiffs Robert and Jan Sanders in 2012, when Brown attempted to serve civil paperwork at a house located on Buckeye Street in Clearlake. On Aug. 21, of that year Clearlake Police responded to a reported assault around 9 p.m. that reportedly involved Brown, 52, and Sanders, of Clearlake.
According to court documents, the Sanders and Betty Welch, Jan Sander’s mother who was also listed as a plaintiff during a previous hearing, entered an agreement to buy the house in 1997 for the amount of $40,000. The final payment was made in May of 2007. Almost two years later, Welch entered into an agreement for $10,000 with Brown and Lake County Bail Bonds regarding a separate legal matter.
Eventually, after none of the plaintiffs were able to pay additional premiums, the deed of trust was foreclosed upon and an unlawful detainer was filed by Brown.
However, the Sanders and Welch appealed and an eviction was curbed under the condition that the Sanders pay rent to Brown.
It was during the serving of that paperwork regarding ownership and rent and a notice of inspection that the alleged incident occurred.
After telling Sanders that he now owned their house and that they would be paying him rent, Sanders attempted to escort Brown off the property, according to court documents. At that time Brown allegedly punched him in the ribs and face.
Court documents revealed, the Sanders say Brown was acting in a “hostile and aggressive manner.”
Brown claimed he acted in self-defense and that he tried to work things out with the Sanders.
