Filed 2/27/23 Zhang v. Yu CA1/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115. IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION TWO LIAN ZHANG, Plaintiff and Appellant, A163811 v. (Alameda County TAO YU, Super. Ct. No. RG20082952) Defendant and Respondent. Plaintiff and appellant Lian Zhang (Lian)1 appeals following the trial court’s order granting defendant and respondent Tao Yu’s motion to quash service for lack of personal jurisdiction. The trial court held that Lian failed to meet her burden of establishing that Yu, a nonresident, was subject to either general or specific jurisdiction in California. We agree and affirm. BACKGROUND I. Allegations in Complaint The subject dispute involves a condominium unit located in Beijing, China (“Property”). Prior to 1989, Lian’s mother, Nai Sun, resided at but did not own the Property. In 1989, Sun immigrated to the United States and Since this opinion discusses Lian’s sister, Lesheng Zhang, we refer to 1 the sisters by their first names to avoid confusion and mean no disrespect by it. 1 moved to Berkeley, California, where Lian worked. The complaint alleged that in 1993, Lian purchased the Property, with Sun agreeing to hold title to it in trust for Lian.2 Following the purchase and with Lian’s consent, Sun rented out the Property and used the proceeds towards her living expenses. In early 2007, Lian’s sister, Leshang Zhang (Lesheng) immigrated from Beijing to the United States and also settled in Berkeley. Lesheng offered to manage the Property since Sun was getting old and Lesheng already owned and managed other units in Beijing. Lian and Sun agreed to this. In October 2007, Lesheng and Sun traveled back to China to visit family. The complaint alleged that while in China, Lesheng called Lian and informed her of a new rule in Beijing that prohibited non-resident owners from renting out their property. Lesheng’s daughter, Yu, was also on this call. Lesheng told Lian that if Sun wished to continue receiving rental income, she would have to transfer the Property’s title to Yu since Yu was a resident of Beijing. Lesheng assured Lian she had nothing to worry about and that Yu would hold title to the Property for Lian and would return the Property whenever Lian wanted it back. Yu allegedly confirmed Lesheng’s statements during this call, including that she would hold the Property in trust for Lian so that Sun could continue receiving rental income. Lian agreed and title to the Property was transferred from Sun to Yu. In 2015, Yu moved to North Carolina. 2 Lian later explained in a declaration that in 1993, Sun became eligible to purchase the Property as a private citizen following a property ownership reform in China. Sun gave Lian …
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