Excerpt: ... for Declaratory Relief 2 asserted in their Fourth Amended Complaint (“4AC”) filed on November 2, 2022, “interpreting paragraph 3 of the parties' 2005 water sharing agreement to mean that plaintiffs' right to take water from defendants' property pursuant to said agreement did not terminate upon plaintiffs' reconstruction of the house and renovation of the barn on their property.” (Notice at 2.) “The motion is made on the grounds that th...

Excerpt: ...pect to the attorney's fees. A. PROCEDURAL MATTERS Defendants Kathryn Luebcke (“Luebcke”) and David Danza (“Danza”) move, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 435 and 436 for an order to strike the following portions of the amended complaint filed by Plaintiff Lan T T Nguyen (“Plaintiff”) on December 27, 2022: (1) the claims for punitive damages on page 44, line 18 to page 45, line 10 and as requested in the Prayer for Relief,...

Excerpt: ...ainst Defendant on each of Plaintiff's causes of action, on the grounds that Plaintiff has established each element of each said cause of action and there is no triable issue of fact as to any such cause of action or any defense thereto. Wells Fargo's request for judicial notice is GRANTED. The Court takes judicial notice of the Complaint filed in this action, but not for the truth of any matters alleged therein. A. LEGAL AUTHORITY The party movi...

Excerpt: ...able attorneys' fees in the amount of $43,550.70. Plaintiffs failed to include in the notice of this motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9. Plaintiffs attempted to cure this failure by providing the notice on February 22, 2023. However, this does not comply with the timing requirements under Local Rule 2.9. Therefore, Plaintiffs are directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, t...

Excerpt: ...”) First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) and Prayer for Relief on the grounds that the First and Second Causes of Action are not drawn in conformity with the Order of the Court and Plaintiff's request for punitive damages is barred by Code of Civil Procedure section 425.14. A. The Motion Regarding Punitive Damages is Granted “No claim for punitive or exemplary damages against a religious corporation or religious corporation sole shall be includ...

Excerpt: ...A to permit the moving party to provide adequate notice of the hearing and file proper proof of service of such notice and the moving papers. Defendant Plough Construction, Inc. (Plough) moves for an order: 1) “determining that the settlement they have entered into was made in good faith pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 877 and 877.6”; and 2) “dismissing and/or barring all pending or future complaints or cross-complaints against...

Excerpt: ...to rule on the matter. “The court lacks jurisdiction to rule on a motion that has not been properly noticed for hearing on the date in question.” (Diaz v. Prof. Community Management, Inc. (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 1190, 1204-05.) “Unless otherwise ordered or specifically provided by law, all moving and supporting papers shall be served and filed at least 16 court days before the hearing.” (Code Civ. Proc. §1005, subd. (b).) Where service by ...

Excerpt: ...ord Hanna v. Little League Baseball, Inc. (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 871.) On September 13, 2021, Plaintiff filed a motion pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 391.1 in the related case number 19CV000046. Plaintiff presents no authority suggesting that the pendency of the motion in that case stays the proceedings in this case. Neither authority cited supports the proposition. On November 24, 2020, Defendants applied ex parte for an o...

Excerpt: ...bit 1 to the Memorandum be deemed filed. The moving party failed to include in the notice of this motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9. The moving party is therefore directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, the missing notice to opposing party/ies forthwith. The requirements for requesting oral argument under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may grant bel...

Excerpt: ...Sixth Cause of Action for Wrongful Death is OVERRULED. Defendant California Department of State Hospitals (“CDSH”) moves for an order sustaining its demurrer to two of the causes of action alleged in the Complaint filed on November 15, 2022 by Plaintiff Rosela Lee (“Plaintiff”), an individual and as Successor-in- Interest to Victoria Jarvis, an individual, deceased (“Decedent”). CDSH demurs to the Fifth Cause of Action for Intentional...

Excerpt: ...unless otherwise noted. 2 Section 631, subdivision (b) provides that “[a]t least one party demanding a jury on each side of a civil case shall pay a nonrefundable fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), unless the fee has been paid by another party on the same side of the case.” “A party waives trial by jury...[b]y failing to timely pay the fee described in subdivision (b)....” (Id. at subd. (f).) With exceptions not relevant here, “[t...

Excerpt: ...andum filed February 6, 2023. Defendants are also granted leave to file additional declarations in support of their opposition. However, the Declaration of Adam K. Tanouye filed 5 February 6, 2023, will remain before the Court and the matters declared therein need not be reasserted. If Defendants file an amended opposition memorandum, then Plaintiffs may serve and file, no later than March 3, 2023, an amended reply memorandum of points and author...

Excerpt: ...iffs are ordered to pay to Defendants, care of their attorney of record, within 10 calendar days of notice of entry of this order, sanctions in the amount of $430. Defendants Suresh C. Malhotra and Lamya Malhotra (collectively, “Defendants”) move, pursuant to “the Civil Discovery Act,” for an order to compel Plaintiffs Raghu Sawkar and Sudha Sawkar (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) to (1) deem admitted the truth of facts to Defendants' Req...

Excerpt: ...”), and Calistoga Ranch Club (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) move for judgment on the pleadings with respect to Defendants and Cross-Complainants AIG Specialty Insurance Company (“AIG”), Arch Specialty Insurance Company (“Arch”), Landmark American Insurance Company (“Landmark”), Homeland Insurance Company of New York (“Homeland”), and Interstate Fire & Casualty Company's (“Interstate”) (collectively, “Insurers”) two cau...

Excerpt: ...Minute Order.) On February 6, 2023, at 1:08 p.m., Defendants filed a declaration stating that the Court set an abbreviated briefing schedule for the motion on January 27, 2023, that Defendant had not received Plaintiff's moving papers which were due by February 2, 2023, and, therefore, the motion should be denied. On February 6, 2023, at 4:47 p.m., Plaintiff filed additional briefing. The Court notes that the grounds for Plaintiff's motion, and e...

Excerpt: ...IONS TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is GRANTED IN PART. Defendant and attorney Kurt Harris are ordered to jointly pay additional monetary sanctions in the amount of $3,410, to Plaintiff, no later than 10 calendar days after notice of entry of the present order. As noted in the Court's January 4, 2022 Order Granting, in Part, Plaintiff's Motion to Compel Further Responses to Special Interrogatories and to Compel Answers to Deposition Questions and f...

Excerpt: ...low further briefing as discussed herein. Plaintiffs Auberge Resorts LLC (“Auberge”), Calistoga Ranch Owner LLC, Calistoga Ranch Investors LLC, and Calistoga Ranch Club (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) move, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.310, for an order compelling further responses to Plaintiffs' Requests for Production of Documents and Tangible Things, Set One, to Defendants AIG Specialty Insurance Company (“AIG”), A...

Excerpt: ...s RLM Construction Services, Inc. (“RLM”) and Michael Reyes (“Reyes”) (collectively, “Defendants”). Third Street's Request for Judicial Notice of the court records (Exhibits 1-7) is GRANTED. Defendants' Request for Judicial Notice of corporate documents (Exhibits A-F) is DENIED on the grounds that none of the subject documents are relevant to the Court's resolution of the issues raised by the present motion. B. Parties' Contentions Th...

Excerpt: ... Local Rule 2.9. The moving party is therefore directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, the missing notice to opposing party/ies forthwith. The requirements for requesting oral argument under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may grant belated requests for oral argument or continuance of hearing, made by any party who represents it did not timely receive the required notice, regardless of whether or not movi...

Excerpt: ...oves for an order requiring Plaintiff the People of the State of California (the People) to produce the person most qualified for deposition pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, section 2025.010, and 2025.230.1 EVIG also requests that the Court impose monetary sanctions on Plaintiff for their refusal to produce such person. Plaintiff first argues that the motion is time barred pursuant to section 2025.480, and the line of caselaw interpreting tha...

Excerpt: ...rder and Defendants thereafter deny or delay coverage. A. Procedural Matters Defendants Hallmark Specialty Insurance Company (“Hallmark”), Western World Insurance Company (“Western World”), and AXIS Surplus Insurance Company (“AXIS”) (collectively, “Moving Defendants”) demur, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (e), to the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) filed by Plaintiff Spring Mountain Vineyards...

Excerpt: ...t to constitute a defense as required by [Code of Civil Procedure section] 430, subdivision (a), misstates facts or asserts an inapplicable defense.” (Notice at 1‐2.) As an initial matter, the Court notes that Code of Civil Procedure section 430 was repealed in 1972. That said, Plaintiff provides the applicable statutory grounds for her demurrer in her support memorandum. (See Support Memo at 1:19‐21, citing Code Civ. Proc., § 430.20.) The...

Excerpt: ...ex parte application seeking an order to, among other relief, continue the deadline by which Plaintiffs were required to file the FAC. The matter came on ex parte on August 23, 2022, with Micheal A. Thompson appearing on behalf of Plaintiffs and Nathaniel Bigger appearing on behalf of Defendants. (See August 23, 2022 Minute Order (8/23 M.O.). The 8/23 M.O. states, “Counsel advised the Court that they had entered into a Stipulation as follows:.....

Excerpt: ...2033.290, for an order compelling Cross‐Defendant Albert Czap to serve further verified responses, without objections, to Form Interrogatory Nos. 2.11, 12.4, 13.1, and 17.1 and Request for Admissions Nos. 1‐3, 9‐10, 13‐16, and 21‐26 on the grounds that Czap “has failed, without justification, to serve proper responses to these Discovery Requests.”1 (Notice of Motion at 2:4‐8, 11‐13.) Wang also moves, pursuant to sections 2023.01...

Excerpt: ...lfth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth Causes of Action in the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) filed by Plaintiff Genevieve Walsh (“Plaintiff”). The moving party failed to include in the notice of this motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9. Moving party is directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, the missing notice to opposing party/ies forthwith. The requirem...

Excerpt: ...cient to state any of those causes of action; and 2) “the claim sued upon was previously settled and released through a written Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release that was attached to the SAC and incorporated therein by reference.” (See Demurrer at pp. 1‐2.) This demurrer comes on after respective Orders sustaining Defendant's previous demurrers to the original Complaint and First Amended Complaint (FAC), each with leave to amend. A co...

Excerpt: ...nd Andrew Renda (“Mr. Renda”) (collectively, “Defendants”) are liable for Plaintiff's damages on all six causes of action for (1) Breach of Written Contract, 4 (2) Breach of Oral Contract, (3) Breach of Contract Implied in Fact, (4) Unjust Enrichment, (5) Enforce Producer's Lien and (6) Common Counts (Goods Sold and Delivered at Agreed Price). The matter originally came on for hearing on November 22, 2022, Trevor White appearing for Plain...

Excerpt: ...�Defendants”). The moving party failed to include in the notice of this motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9. Moving party is directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, the missing notice to opposing party/ies forthwith. The requirements for requesting oral argument under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may grant belated requests for oral argument or con...

Excerpt: ... Moving party, Defendant California Department of State Hospitals (Defendant or DSH), failed to include in the notice of motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9. DSH is therefore directed to immediately provide, by telephone call AND email, the missing notice to opposing party/ies forthwith. The requirements for requesting oral argument under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may...

Excerpt: ...k of New York Mellon FKA the Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders of the CWMBS Inc., CHL Mortgage Pass‐Through Trust 2005‐9, Mortgage Pass Through Certificate series 2005‐9 (“BNY Mellon”) (collectively, “Movants”) demur, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (e), to the two causes of action asserted in Plaintiff Christopher Bearman's (“Plaintiff”) Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) ...

Excerpt: ...duce, no later than January 31, 2023, for further deposition witnesses Elizabeth Cummings, Daryl Farnsworth, Robert Skinner, and Branson Gubler to answer those questions that are either (a) the subject of the present motion, or (b) follow up questions pertaining thereto and/or to the answers provided by the witnesses thereto. Defendant is ordered to pay monetary sanctions in the amount of $7,200, of which attorney Kurt Harris is ordered jointly�...

Excerpt: ...her provides that a “new trial shall not be granted upon the ground of insufficiency of the evidence to justify the verdict or other decision, nor upon the ground of excessive or inadequate damages, unless after weighing the evidence the court is convinced from the entire record, including reasonable inferences therefrom, that the court or jury clearly should have reached a different verdict or decision.” Plaintiff Lewis contends the jury's $...

Excerpt: ...uments Nos. 6 and 7, and Request for Admission Nos. 6‐19. Defendant shall serve code‐compliant supplemental responses, without objection, within 10 calendar days of notice of entry of the present order. Plaintiff's request for monetary sanctions is GRANTED IN PART. Defendant We Care Pest Solutions, Inc. and its counsel of record are ordered to pay, within 10 calendar days of notice of entry of the present order, monetary sanctions in the amou...

Excerpt: ... granting them reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of $6,481.50 in connection with the order granting their motion to expunge. II. LEGAL STANDARD “The court shall direct that the party prevailing on any motion [to expunge] be awarded the reasonable attorney's fees and costs of making or opposing the motion unless the court finds that the other party acted with substantial justification or that other circumstances make the imposition of attorne...

Excerpt: ...AGA Claims from her “representative” PAGA claims and dismissing the latter is DENIED. Plaintiff is ordered to arbitrate her PAGA claims. Finally, the Court concludes that whether or not Plaintiff waived her right to bring class‐action claims is an issue properly left for the arbitrator to decide. Defendant Ole Health moves, pursuant to the Federal and California Arbitration Acts for an order compelling Plaintiff Angelica Infante to submit h...

Excerpt: ...ction (Oct. 11 Minute Order). “When an application for an order has been made to a judge, or to a court, and refused in whole or in part...any party affected by the order may, within 10 days after service upon the party of written notice of entry of the order and based upon new or different facts, circumstances, or law, make application to the same judge or court that made the order, to reconsider the matter and modify, amend, or revoke the pri...

Excerpt: ...judgment/adjudication deadline. The Club moves on the grounds that Mr. Voronin has repeatedly impeded the Club's ability to take his deposition without substantial justification, has not provided any available dates for deposition, and has otherwise kept the Club in the dark about when dates will be forthcoming. “If, after service of a deposition notice, a party to the action . . . without having served a valid objection under Section 2025.410,...

Excerpt: ...dure section 1005 or Rules of Court, rule 3.1300, subd. (a). “[A]ll moving and supporting papers shall be served and filed at least 16 court days before the hearing” with additional time depending on the method of service. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1005, subd. (b).) • There is no proof of service of the instant motion on the opposing parties in the court file, in violation of Rules of Court, rule 3.1300, subdivision (c). “Proof of service of t...

Excerpt: ...y shall request oral argument pursuant to Local Rule 2.9 and provide an explanation. I. PROCEDURAL MATTERS Defendants Hoopes Family Winery Partners, LP, Hoopes Vineyard LLC, and Lindsay Blair Hoopes (“Hoopes” or “Defendants”) move, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 435 and 436, to strike certain portions of the Complaint filed by Plaintiffs Napa County and the 32 People of the State of California ex rel. Thomas Zeleny, as Inter...

Excerpt: ...arty/ies forthwith. The requirements for requesting oral argument under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may grant belated requests for oral argument or continuance of hearing, made by any party who represents it did not timely receive the required notice, regardless of whether or not moving party is present at the hearing. Defendant M&B Bruno Family, L.P. (Bruno) moves for an order “(i) setting aside the Judgment mistakenly ...

Excerpt: ...nda (“Defendants”) are liable for Plaintiff's damages on all six causes of action for (1) Breach of Written Contract, (2) Breach of Oral Contract, (3) Breach of Contract Implied in Fact, (4) Unjust Enrichment, (5) Enforce Producer's Lien and (6) Common Counts (Goods Sold and Delivered at Agreed Price). Plaintiff's unopposed Request for Judicial Notice of the court records at Exhibits 1‐3 is GRANTED. The party moving for summary judgment and...

Excerpt: ...liability and thereafter, if either motion is granted, hear and rule on damages so that full and proper judgment may be entered.” (Notice at 2.) Plaintiffs argue that they intend to file a motion for summary judgment on the issue of liability on Plaintiffs' nuisance and negligence claims relating to a landslide. Plaintiffs argue that damages cannot be determined on the motion “because it is not known if a repair can be accomplished and, if it...

Excerpt: ..., LLC, and Lindsay Blair Hoopes (collectively, “Defendants”) from engaging in commercial uses of the property located at 6204 Washington Street (“Property”) beyond winemaking and selling the resulting wine, and (2) an order for Defendants to show cause why they should not be preliminarily enjoined from that conduct. On November 3, 2022, the Court heard the matter, granted a continuance upon Defendants' counsel's request, and allowed furth...

Excerpt: ... heard and granted on October 4, 2022. Defendant Pear Tree Homeowners Association (“Defendant”) moves, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1024, for an order directing Plaintiff Stacee Cootes (“Plaintiff”) to reimburse Defendant for lodging expenses incurred in the amount of $4,535.33. The moving party failed to include in the notice of this motion proper notice of the Court's tentative ruling system as required by Local Rule 2.9....

Excerpt: ...he Court may grant belated requests for oral argument or continuance of hearing, made by any party who represents it did not timely receive the required notice, regardless of whether or not moving party is present at the hearing. Defendant Walmart, Inc. (Walmart) moves for an order compelling non‐party witness Pacific Rehabilitation & Sports Radiology Department (Pacific Rehabilitation) “to produce documents listed in the subpoena which is in...

Excerpt: ...e‐trial statutory deadlines shall flow from the continued TMC date. The Mandatory Settlement Conference shall remain on calendar for March 2, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. MSC. If any of the parties are unavailable on the trial date set above, the parties shall meet and confer on an alternative date consistent with this tentative ruling, and either submit a stipulation to inform the Court of the agreed‐upon trial date or put the matter on for a ...

Excerpt: ...or an order cleaving Plaintiff's “individual” PAGA Claims from her “representative” PAGA claims and dismissing the latter; and order Plaintiff to arbitrate her PAGA claims. However, the hearing is CONTINUED to December 15, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. in Dept. A to permit the parties to brief issues relating to Defendant's request to dismiss Plaintiff's class claims, as discussed below. Defendant Ole Health moves, pursuant to the Federal and Califo...

Excerpt: ...2018, she was a partner at Coombs & Dunlap, LLP. She worked in a different area of law than Mr. Malcolm Mackenzie and has no firsthand knowledge of the subject matter set forth in his declaration. She can be fair and impartial in this matter. TENTATIVE RULING: The motions are DENIED. I. PROCEDURAL MATTERS Respondent Frank J. Ballentine (“Frank”), individually, as successor trustee and beneficiary under The William V. Ballentine and Betty P. B...

Excerpt: ...ient to state a claim against these moving defendants under Labor Code section 1102.5 (Section 1102.5). A motion for judgment on the pleadings may be made on the ground that the complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a legally cognizable claim. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c)(1)(B)(ii); Sofias v. Bank of America (1985) 172 Cal. App. 3d 583, 586.) Individual Defendants argue that Section 1102.5 does not provide for liability o...

Excerpt: ...under Local Rule 2.9 remain in effect. However, the Court may grant belated requests for oral argument or continuance of hearing, made by any party who represents it did not timely receive the required notice, regardless of whether or not moving party is present at the hearing. Plaintiff Capital One Bank (USA), N.A. (Capital One) moves, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) (Section 473(b)), to set aside the default jud...