Excerpt: ...tions to compel answers to special interrogatories ("Sl") against Defendant under Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 2030.300, and to compel compliance with Plaintiff's request for production of documents ("RPOD") under CCP S 2031.310. The motions are GRANTED. Governing Law A. Special interrogatories A party may propound up to 35 special interrogatories to another party. (CCP S 2030.030(a).) If the party propounds more than 35, it must attach to e...

Excerpt: ...earing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions; it may order all the actions consolidated and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to awid unnecessary costs or delay." (CCP S 1048(a).) "The court, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may order a separate trial of any cause of action, including a cause of action ass...

Excerpt: ...his matter is on calendar for Defendant's motion to strike pun-tive damages. The motion to strike is DENIED. Governing Law A. Motion to Strike Punitive Damages A motion to strike lies where a pleading contains "irrelevant, false, or improper matter[s]" or is "not drawn or filed in conformity with the laws of this state, a court rule, or an order of the court." CCP S 435(b). However, "falsity," must be demonstrated by reference to the pleading its...

Excerpt: ...: Standards on Demurrer A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of achon. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read asa whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, stevens v. superior court (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the suffciency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly pleaded, but not...

Excerpt: ...pports recovery for a stale mechanics lien claim under a nuisance cause of action. The demurrer based upon standing and the economic loss rule is OVERRULED. The demurrer to the second cause of action for nuisance is SUSTAINED. On September 18, 2023, Plaintiff filed his complaint against Defendants alleging that they failed to use a professional level of skill when they performed certain land surveying services. Plaintiff alleges that in depositio...

Excerpt: ... costs be stricken. The motion is GRANTED as to expert fees and attorney fees. The motion is otherwise DENIED. 1. Lee is a prevailing party pursuant to CCP section 1032 A "Prevailing party" includes the party with a net monetary recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtains any relief, and a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that def...

Excerpt: ... issuing water well permits for groundwater extraction; and adopt and implement policies and procedures to ensure consideration of the impacts of water well permits on public trust resources and uses and also to prevent harm from the impacts of such permits. Petitoners set forth two identified causes of action, both seeking a writ of mandate: 1) Violation of CECA, and 2) Failure to Comply With Mandatory Duties Under the Public Trust Doctrine. In ...

Excerpt: ....050, Defendant requests monetary sanctions in the amount of $2,700 and the amount of attorney fees and costs incurred to bring this motion. As Plaintiff has now provided a signed authorization to release the footage, the discovery issue is MOOT. Sanctions are granted in the amount of $1,435 for Cloverdale having to bring this motion. Plaintiff's complaint alleges that she was injured due to a dangerous condition of public property located near M...

Excerpt: ...rder on this motion. Defendants' counsel shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling. Due to the lack of opposition, compliance with Rule 3.1312 is excused. Analysis: Requests for Production of Documents A party to whom a document demand is directed must respond to each item in the demand with an agreement to comply, a representation of inability to comply, or an objection. (CCP S 2031.210(a).) If only part of an item or ca...

Excerpt: ...Dave Leuschner and James Leuschner. As for the subpoena served on the LLP, this court directs the LLP to submit responsive documents to Department 16's chambers within 15 days of this order for in camera review. On November 15, 2023, Defendants issued deposition subpoenas for business records to Dave Leuschner; James Leuschner; and Plaintiffs' attorneys, the law firm Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller, & Moskowitz, LLP. (O'Rourke decl., 94, Exhibit...

Excerpt: ...y premiums, but Defendant failed to pay premiums owed. It seeks to collect the unpaid premiums. Plaintiff filed this action on June 26, 2023. It later filed a proof of service for the summons and complaint on September 6, 2023, purporting to show service on Defendant personally on August 2, 2023, at 3:39 p.m.at 689 Benicia Drive, santa Rosa, CA 95409. Defendant failed to appear, so Plaintiff obtained Defendant's default on September 26, 2023. Pla...

Excerpt: ...ez, "Defendants"), and Does 1-100. The Complaint alleges a variety of causes of action derived from work contracted to be performed by Defendants. Grape Land has filed a cross- complaint alleging further contract actions ("Cross-complaint"). This matter is on calendar for Plaintiffs' motion to strike particular claims from the Cross-complaint, or in the alternative, to require a bill of particulars under Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP"), S 454. Pl...

Excerpt: ...ar for the moton by Corporate Defendant seeking to compel further responses to requests for production of documents set one ("RPODs"), Nos. 4, 24, 27, 36, 48, and 58, and request for sanctions in the amount of $5,510.00, from Plaintiff under Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 2031.310. Governing Law Regarding the RPODs, a demand for production may request access to "documents, tangible things, land or other property, and electronically stored info...

Excerpt: ...or Code violations, and civil penalties thereon(the "Complaint"). This matter is on calendar for the petition (styled as a "motion") by the Defendant to compel arbitration pursuant to Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA"), 9 USC SS 1-15. Defendant's petition to compel arbitration and stay proceedings is DENIED. Facts and Procedure This matter arises out of an employment relationship between the parties. Defendant avers that Plaintiff, as part of his on...

Excerpt: ...etaluma ("the Property"). Prior to the parties taking title to the Property, it had been held in the Peter Dana Smith Revocable Living Trust. Peter D. Smith passed away on or about March 17, 2020. On April 11, 2023, this Court issued an Interlocutory Judgment for Partition of Real Property and Appointment of Referee. The order appointed Ethan A. Glaubiger as the partition referee with the discretion to hire real estate agent Kristi Taylor to sell...

Excerpt: ...cial policy favors resolution of all disputed matters between the parties in the same lawsuit, and courts are bound to apply a policy of great liberality in permitting amendments to the complaint "at any stage of the proceedings, up to and including trial," absent prejudice to the adverse party. (Atkinson v. Elk Corp. (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 739, 761.) "Generally, leave to amend must be liberally granted (Nestle v. City of Santa Monica (1972) 6 Ca...

Excerpt: ...ay do so on its own moton and enter a different order." Plaintiff argues that Defendant's moton to compel arbitration was granted based upon the ruling in Felisilda v. FCA US LLC (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 486 compelling arbitration based upon principles of equitable estoppel. Plaintiff argues that the Third District Court of Appeal has recently determined that Felisilda does not apply to the issue of whether a manufacturer can compel arbitration via ...

Excerpt: ... is addressed below. Defendants' counsel shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Request for Judicial Notice: Defendants' request for judicial notice of Exhibit A and Exhibit 8 is GRANTED. As for the remainder of the request, the Court will take judicial notice of each version of Plaintiffs' complaint and the date on which it was filed. However, the Court will not judicially notice th...

Excerpt: ...ng attempting to sell a portion of his general partner interest (the "GP Interest") to Kelly. As a result of developments during this litigation, including Defendat' efforts to sell an important Partnership asset, real property comprising the Summerfield Shopping Center (the "Property"), he ultimately filed a second amended complaint ("SAC") which includes, amongst others, claims for wrongdoing based on Defendants' efforts to sell the Property. M...

Excerpt: ...cuments ("RPODs"), Set One, Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 32, 34, 36, and 39, against Defendant under Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 2031.310. The motion is GRANTED. Governing Law Regarding the RPODs, a demand for production may request access to "documents, tangible things, land or other property, and electronically stored information in the possession, custody, or control" of another party. A party to whom a document demand is...

Excerpt: ...tions in the amount of $1,000. Plaintiff's counsel shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Analysis: "California law prov-des parties with expansive discovery rights." (Lopez v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of N.Y., Inc. (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 566, 590-591.) Specifically, the Code of Civil Procedure provides that "any party may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged...

Excerpt: ...daughter Vanessa French ("Decedent"), negligently caused Decedent's death. They allege that Decedent sought medical care from Defendants for a combination of physical and emotional complaints which included skin conditions, back pack, severe depression, and suicidal ideations, but that Defendants negligently failed to provide proper treatment, resulting in Decedent handing herself. Plaintiff Wendy French ("Wendy" or "Mother Plaintiff"), individua...

Excerpt: ...mplaint, Plaintiff alleges that 275 and Walden are the lessors of the Property. 275 and Plaintiff entered into a lease agreement on February 8, 2020. Plaintiff filed the Complaint based on Defendants' alleged violations of the lease agreement, particularly as it pertained to issues of the parking lot and other common areas on the Property. Plaintiff thereafter moved the Court for a preliminary injunction, which was heard on July 26, 2023. The Cou...

Excerpt: ...t has filed the instant motion for issuance of an order to show cause ("OSC") re: contempt against the receiver, Mark Adams ("Receiver"). The motion is DENIED. Judicial Notice As a preliminary matter, the Court takes permissive judicial notice of the docket within this case, including the orders therein, and the filings of the Receiver in this case. Judicial notice of official acts and court records is statutorily appropriate. See Cal. Evid. Code...

Excerpt: ...efendants have trespassed on Plaintiff's Property. Plaintiff subsequently obtained a temporary restraining order ("TRO") and then a preliminary injunction (the "Injunction") against Defendant Mona Verducci ("Mona") in February 2023. The Injunction orders Mona and her agents or others not to enter upon Plaintiff's Property as defined by the survey (the "Survey") attached as Exhibit A to the Injunction. Plaintiff then brought an application for ord...