If you have been sued prior to 10/19/2007 or any Summons with a date Prior to 10/19/2007 you have been swindled.
Under California Business Code 17456:
"17456. (a) A foreign limited liability company transacting intrastate business in this state shall not maintain any action, suit, or proceeding in any court of this state until it has registered in this state.
(b) Any foreign limited liability company that transacts
intrastate business in this state without registration is subject to a penalty of twenty dollars ($20) for each day that unauthorized intrastate business is transacted, up to a maximum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000). An action to recover this penalty may be brought, and any recovery shall be paid, as provided in Section 2258."