Sorensen v. Tran CA4/1
Dung T. Thu Tran (Tran) and her sister, Ann F. Sorensen, disputed ownership of a home purchased by their parents in 1976. Attempting to resolve the dispute, Sorensen filed an action for quiet title, among other claims, against Tran and Tran's two children, Mae Anna Workman (Mae) and Paul Ross Workman (Paul). In response, Tran filed a cross-complaint alleging Sorensen committed fraud by fabricating and concealing various deed transfers, and asserting additional claims. The trial court bifurcated the complaint and conducted a bench trial on the cause of action for quiet title, during which the court made findings regarding the authenticity of the contested deed transfers. The court then concluded those findings would have a collateral estoppel effect on Tran's fraud claim and, thus, dismissed Tran's fraud cause of action.
On appeal, Tran asserts she was entitled to a jury trial on Sorensen's quiet title action and her own cross-claim for fraud.
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