Excerpt: ... Lab GmbH v. Superior Court (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 1222, 1229.) Therefore, the statutory ground of this motion is that the court lacks jurisdiction over defendant. (Code Civ. Proc., § 418.10, subd. (a)(1).) Until proper service is made on a defendant, he is under no duty to respond in any way to a defectively served summons. This is so even if he has actual knowledge of the action. That knowledge does not dispense with statutory requirements for ...

Excerpt: ...n the FAC for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. HMA argues that plaintiff has not adequately alleged facts showing that plaintiff's failed transmission was a part that should have been covered under the Extended Emissions System Warranty mandated by California law, which requires parts for emissions systems in Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV's) to be warranted for 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes f...

Excerpt: ...17.1 as to RFA nos. 10 and 12‐15, and Request for Production of Document nos. 36‐39, produce all responsive documents, and supplement the privilege log. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.300(c); 2031.310(c); Code Civ. Proc. § 2033.290(c).) Explanation: Initially, the court notes that all requests for judicial notice are granted, with the exception of Infinity's Exhibit 1 (insurance policy), due to lack of authentication. Requests for Admission Infi...

Excerpt: ...orders the Clerk to strike the defaults entered against the Defendants on the grounds that the various discrepancies in the proofs of service render them defective. Each proof of service indicates that Defendants were served at a business located at 1236 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno CA 93711. However, the declarations of diligence (which is on a document entitled “Non Service Report”) for each defendant describes this as a residential address. Furthe...

Excerpt: ...e summons, the government would have a valid defense, preventing that interested party from further challenging the government's proposed action.” San Diego v. San Diegans for Open Government (2016) 3 Cal. App. 5th 568, 579. “The validating statutes should be construed so as to uphold their purpose, i.e., ‘the acting agency's need to settle promptly all questions about the validity of its action.” McLeod v. Vista USD (2008) 158 Cal. App. ...

Excerpt: ... (e).) To deny the motion to strike. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 435, 436.) To grant leave to amend as to the portions of the cross‐ complaint to which the demurrer has been sustained. Defendants/crosscomplainants shall serve and file their second amended cross‐complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Demurrer ‐ Second Cause of Action: “This covenant [of good faith and...

Excerpt: ...e of April 20, 2020, is vacated, and the parties shall appear at a Case Management Conference on June 16, 2020, at 3:30 p.m., in Department 403 to determine trial readiness. Explanation: This motion largely rests on the court's prior order deeming certain Requests for Admissions (RFAs) as being admitted. Any matter admitted in response to an RFA is “conclusively established” against the party making the admission unless the court has permitte...

Excerpt: ...l run from service of the order by the clerk. To grant the motion to strike the prayer for punitive damages. (Code Civ. Proc. § 435, 431.10(b).) To deny the motion to strike the attachments to the Complaint. Explanation: On July 22, 2019 plaintiff filed his Complaint against defendant John Emerzian. The Judicial Council form complaint indicates that the action is for medical malpractice and defamation. There are no cause of action attachments. I...

Excerpt: ...for lack of evidence showing how the requested damages and interest were calculated. The matter was continued to allow plaintiff to submit additional evidence. Plaintiff has now submitted a supplemental declaration from its First Vice President, Paul Thaxter, regarding computation of the damages and interest. The declaration includes an attachment which shows the principal amounts, payments made, and interest on the debt. However, the attachment ...

Excerpt: ... vacate the award if the court determines any of the following: (1) The award was procured by corruption, fraud or other undue means. (2) There was corruption in any of the arbitrators. (3) The rights of the party were substantially prejudiced by misconduct of a neutral arbitrator. (4) The arbitrators exceeded their powers and the award cannot be corrected without affecting the merits of the decision upon the controversy submitted. (5) The rights...

Excerpt: ...ation: I. Motion to Confirm Any party to an arbitration in which an award has been made may petition the court to confirm the award. The petition shall name as respondents all parties to the arbitration and may name as respondents any other person bound by the arbitration award. (Code Civ. Proc., §1285.) A petition shall: (a) set forth the substance or have attached a copy of the agreement to arbitrate unless the petitioner denies the existence ...

Excerpt: ...nded Complaint to correct the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for the automobile that is subject to the claims under the Song‐Beverly Act. Defendant filed a late opposition, noting in the supporting declaration that it did not receive the moving papers. The Court would be inclined to continue the hearing to allow Plaintiff to file a reply brief should Plaintiff request oral argument and seek such a continuance at the hearing. The court's di...

Excerpt: ... administrator must be submitted with the proposed notice. Plaintiff is to pay for the notice, subject to recovery of the sums paid as costs. Explanation: 1. Records Lodged Under Seal The Court has not been presented with any order or agreement for sealing of materials in this case. No motion has been filed. The Court's review of the materials shows no basis for sealing the motion or points and authorities, and those shall be placed in the public...

Excerpt: ... Wachovia Mortg. Corp. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 737, 746.) Albeit, the running of the statute must appear “clearly and affirmatively” from the face of the complaint. It is not enough that the complaint might be time‐barred. (Committee for Green Foothills v. Santa Clara County Bd. of Supervisors (2010) 48 Cal.4th 32, 42; Roman v. County of Los Angeles (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 316, 324‐325; Stueve Bros. Farms, LLC v. Berger Kahn (2013) 222 Cal.A...

Excerpt: ...the general demurrers with leave to amend. To grant the motion to strike. Plaintiffs shall file and serve a Third Amended Complaint in conformity herewith within 10 days of the clerk's mailing of this minute order. New allegations shall be in boldface type font. Explanation: Demurrer: “ ‘We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also co...

Excerpt: ...eave to amend. Plaintiffs will have ten (10) court days from the date of service of this order to file a Second Amended Complaint setting forth a more thorough factual basis for the punitive damages, if they can. If Plaintiffs do not file a Second Amended Complaint, then Defendant will have twenty (20) court days from the service of this order to file a response to the First Amended Complaint. Any new or amended allegations are to be set forth in...

Excerpt: ...f law. (Code Civ. Proc. §437c(c); Schacter v. Citigroup (2009) 47 Cal.4th 610, 618.) “The [summary judgment] procedure is drastic and should be used with caution in order that it may not become a substitute for existing methods of determination of issues of fact. Affidavits of the moving party must be strictly construed and those of [the] opponent liberally construed. The opposing affidavit must be accepted as true, and need not be composed wh...

Excerpt: ...to the first through fourth causes of action only. A First Amended Complaint consistent with this ruling shall be filed and served within 10 days from the clerk's service of this minute order. New allegations shall be in boldface type font. The trial date, mandatory settlement conference, and trial readiness conferences are vacated. A status conference is set for March 26, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503. Explanation: Initial Procedural Matt...

Excerpt: ...otion for Leave to File Cross‐Complaint A defendant may cross‐complain against a third person not yet a party to the action where the cause of action asserted “(1) arises out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as the cause brought against [it] or (2) asserts a claim, right, or interest in the property or controversy which is the subject of the cause brought against [it].” (Code Civ. Proc. §428.1...

Excerpt: ...ute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Fourth Cause of Action: Unjust Enrichment “The elements of an unjust enrichment claim are the “receipt of a benefit and [the] unjust retention of the benefit at the expense of another.” (Peterson v. Cellco Partnership (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 1583, 1593.) “However, the mere fact that a person benefits another is not of itself sufficient to require the other to ma...

Excerpt: ...or the equitable estoppel claim as set forth below, if she can. Plaintiff shall have ten (10) court days from the date of notice of this order in which to file a Third Amended Complaint. Any new or additional allegations are to be set forth in boldface typeset. Explanation: Defendants demur to the complaint, as well as to the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Causes of Action. In ruling on the demurrer to the First Amended Complain...

Excerpt: ... Cal.App.4th 1042, 1049.) However, “[u]nsigned invoices . . . cannot on their own create a contract or add terms to a contract.” (C9 Ventures v. SVC‐West, L.P. (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1483, 1501, see also India Paint & Lacquer Co. v. United Steel Products Corp. (1954) 123 Cal.App.2d 597, 607‐608 [““[t]he prevailing rule is that an invoice, standing alone, is not a contract . . . and a buyer is ordinarily not bound by statements thereon...

Excerpt: ...lish at least one element of the cause of action.” Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 853. If a defendant makes this showing, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to demonstrate that one or more material facts exist as to the cause of action or as to a defense to a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c, subd. (p)(2).) In a summary judgment motion, the pleadings determine the scope of relevant issues. (Nieto v. Blue Shiel...

Excerpt: ...vil Procedure section 387, subdivision (d)(1), which states, (d)(1) The court shall, upon timely application, permit a nonparty to intervene in the action or proceeding if either of the following conditions is satisfied: … (B) The person seeking intervention claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action and that person is so situated that the disposition of the action may impair or impede that pers...

Excerpt: ...ing summary judgment in favor of defendants Abolnik, Galamgam, and Nwaka and denying plaintiff's cross‐motion for summary judgment. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1008.) Explanation: “[A]fter entry of judgment, a trial court has no further power to rule on a motion for reconsideration. ‘A court may reconsider its order granting or denying a motion and may even reconsider or alter its judgment so long as judgment has not yet been entered. Once judgment...

Excerpt: ...iff shall file and serve a new amended complaint, to be titled “Fifth Amended Complaint” within 20 days of the clerk's service of this order. Explanation: Strike Fourth Amended Complaint Code of Civil Procedure section 436 provides, in relevant part, that “[u]pon motion, or at any time in its own discretion, a court may grant a motion to strike . . . all or any part of any pleading not drawn in conformity with the laws of this state, a cour...

Excerpt: ... Kaur has filed this motion to set aside the default entered by this Court. The Court's files show that a proof of service was filed with the Court on July 17, 2019 indicating that Defendant Kaur was served by substitute service on June 7, 2019, with the papers mailed to Defendant on June 10, 2019. Default was entered on July 23, 2019. Defendant filed her papers in support of the motion to set aside the default on November 12, 2019. It appears fr...

Excerpt: ... manager for the Fresno Police Department (FPD) – is relevant to establishing his qualification to give evidence. Objection 2 was Lt. Rowe's statement attesting that FPD provided training to its officers on its pursuit policy on at least an annual basis. The objection was essentially to the sufficiency of this evidence to prove the required fact, and not to the statement's admissibility. Objection 3 is to Lt. Rowe's statement on information and...

Excerpt: ...tration of issues pertinent to the resolution of a claim under PAGA, Labor Code section 2699 et seq., the contract violates the public policy of the State of California. (ZB, N.A. v. Superior Court (2019) 8 Cal.5th 175; Iskanian v. CLS Trans. Los Angeles, LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348.) Defendants recognize this legal principle in seeking arbitration of causes of action other than those brought as a PAGA claim. A stay of PAGA claims until an arbitrat...

Excerpt: ...stodial officer personnel records and records maintained by any state or local agency pursuant to section 832.5, or any information obtained from these records, are confidential and shall not be disclosed in any criminal or civil proceeding except by discovery pursuant to Sections 1043 and 1046 of the Evidence Code.” Evidence Code section 1043 requires a noticed motion which identifies the records sought, and “affidavits showing good cause fo...

Excerpt: ...a party has appeared through an attorney, service of papers must be made on the attorney rather than the party. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1015.) Moving papers can be served by personal delivery, mail, express mail, “or another method of delivery providing for overnight delivery.” (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1013, 1013a.) Proof of service is made by a declaration stating, among other requirements, the method of service used, the person(s) served and the...

Excerpt: ...rder, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: “[S]ummary judgment law … may be reduced to, and justified by, a single proposition: If a party moving for summary judgment in any action … would prevail at trial without submission of any issue of material fact to a trier of fact for determination, then [it] should prevail on summary judgment.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 8...

Excerpt: .... To grant fees in the amount of $37,500.00 (25% of the fund), costs in the amount of $18,861.12, an incentive award to the named plaintiff in the amount of $5,000.00, and costs to the administrator in the amount of $12,000.00. To approve the amount of the PAGA payment. The amount to be paid to class members is therefore $73,638.88. To set October 20, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. in this department as the date and time for the parties to return to report on...

Excerpt: ...the minute order, a proposed judgment dismissing the action as to the demurring defendants. Explanation: Except as otherwise provided by statute, “every action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest . . . .” (Code Civ. Proc. § 367.) If “any person other than a real party in interest brings an action, it is subject to general demurrer. [Citations.]” (Saks v. Damon Raike & Co. (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 419, 427.) “In gen...

Excerpt: ...to comply with Code of Civil Procedure §431.30, subdivision (g). In all other respects, the demurrer is overruled. Defendant shall have ten (10) court days from the date of this order to file an amended answer. Explanation: A general demurrer admits the truth of all material allegations and a Court will “give the complaint a reasonable interpretation by reading it as a whole and all its parts in their context.” (People ex re. Lungren v. Supe...

Excerpt: ...miss the complaint under Code of Civil Procedure section 581, subdivision (f)(2), which states, “The court may dismiss the complaint as to that defendant when: ... after a demurrer to the complaint is sustained with leave to amend, the plaintiff fails to amend it within the time allowed by the court and either party moves for dismissal.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 581, subd. (f)(2).) “The decision to dismiss an action under section 581, subdivisi...

Excerpt: ... subd. (f) [uncertainty] and (g) [uncertain contract claim]. To sustain the demurrer to the second cause of action, without leave to amend. To grant the motion to amend in part, and deny in part: plaintiffs' request to reinstate their three causes of action based on violations of the California Labor Code is denied; plaintiffs' request to add allegations regarding the 2001 Employee handbook in order to support their breach of contract claim is gr...

Excerpt: ...ered to prepare a judgment within ten (10) court days of this order. Note‐ in the event that oral argument is requested, it will be heard at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2020 in Department 502. Explanation: Petitioner filed his petition on June 2, 2014. Petitioner filed an amended Petition on April 26, 2019. The Amended Petition describes itself as an “Amended Petition for a Writ of Mandate to Discharge Civil Commitment Based on Lack of J...

Excerpt: ...es, with leave to amend. Explanation: Demurrer “ ‘We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also consider matters which may be judicially noticed.' [Citation.] Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpretation, reading it as a whole and its parts in their context. [Citation.]” (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) Here...

Excerpt: ...eny all three motions for summary judgment. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c.) Explanation: Bowman's Motion: Defendant Ashley Bowman moves for summary judgment of the entire complaint, contending that there is no evidence that she breached the standard of care or caused plaintiff's injuries, and that even if there were such evidence, she is statutorily immune from liability in the absence of evidence of gross negligence or bad faith. Under Health and Saf...

Excerpt: ... the request for costs, defendant is clearly entitled to an award of its costs as the prevailing party in the action. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1032, subd. (b) [“Except as otherwise expressly provided by statute, a prevailing party is entitled as a matter of right to recover costs in any action or proceeding.”].) Here, defendant has filed its memorandum of costs in the amount of $4,300.69, and plaintiff has not objected to the memorandum or moved t...

Excerpt: ... the existence of an arbitrable controversy, rather than mere conclusions, and must allege not only the existence of the arbitration agreement but “also that the opposing party refuses to arbitrate the controversy.” (Strauch v. Eyring (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 181, 186; see also Spear v. California State Auto Assn. (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1035, 1041].) Whether an Agreement Exists The party seeking to compel arbitration bears the burden of proving the ex...

Excerpt: ...nd file a supporting memorandum. The court may construe the absence of a memorandum as an admission that the motion or special demurrer is not meritorious and cause for its denial and, in the case of a demurrer, as a waiver of all grounds not supported.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113, subd. (a).) “The memorandum must contain a statement of facts, a concise statement of the law, evidence and arguments relied on, and a discussion of the sta...

Excerpt: ...failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action as to the individual plaintiffs. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e).) To sustain the demurrer to both the successor claim as well as the individual plaintiffs to the seventh cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e).) To grant leave to amend. To deny the motion to strike and grant in part, as discussed below. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 435, 436.) To grant leave to amen...

Excerpt: ...court, within five days of service of the minute order, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: The operative pleading, the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) alleges five causes of action arising out of the foreclosure of a four‐unit residential property owned by plaintiff: 1. Violation of Homeowners Bill of Rights; 2. Breach of Contract; 3. Breach of covenant of good faith and fair dealing; 4. Ne...

Excerpt: ...d serve its answer to the Second Amended Complaint within 10 days of the clerk's mailing of this minute order. Explanation: Demurrer: “ ‘We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also consider matters which may be judicially noticed.' [Citation.] Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpretation, reading it as a whole and its p...

Excerpt: ...ible. (Shaw v. Regents of Univ. of California (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 44, 52.) However, interpretation of a written document is a question of law for the trial court to determine, only where extrinsic evidence is unnecessary. (Temple v. Velcro USA, Inc. (1983) 148 Cal.App.3d 1090, 1095.) In other words, interpretation is appropriate where the language is clear, understandable and completely unambiguous. (Ibid.) “When the meaning of contractual la...

Excerpt: ...tiff shows (1) the basis of his claim and that the plaintiff is entitled to possession of the property claimed; (2) that the property is wrongfully detained by the defendant, the manner in which the defendant came into possession of the property, and (on information and belief) the reason for detention; (3) a particular description of the property and a statement of its value; and (4) the location of the property. (Code Civ. Proc., § 512.010.) 1...

Excerpt: ...nt of the entire complaint on the ground that there is no evidence that they acted in a grossly negligent manner or in bad faith. They point out that, under Health and Safety Code section 1799.106, “[A] firefighter, police officer or other law enforcement officer, EMT‐I, EMT‐II, EMT‐P, or registered nurse who renders emergency medical services at the scene of an emergency or during an emergency air or ground ambulance transport shall only...

Excerpt: ...gainst defendant Union Pacific Railroad Company. The claim is brought pursuant to the Federal Employers Liability Act (“FELA”) 45 U.S.C. §51, et seq. Plaintiff is the widow of John R. Jane (“Decedent”) who was an employee of defendant from 1968 to 2010. Plaintiff alleges that Decedent was exposed to various toxic substances and carcinogens and that these exposures gave decedent various forms of cancer. In a single cause of action for neg...

Excerpt: ...ns are overruled. Explanation: Plaintiff's Evidentiary Objections The job description is not irrelevant, and Jessica Sims' personal knowledge sufficient to authenticate this document can be readily inferred from the fact that she serves as Supervisor of the “Manager, Cash Applications” position. As for the remaining objections, defendant has offered the objected‐to statements as to what other employees said about plaintiff for the nonhearsa...

Excerpt: ...party from a judgment, order, or other proceeding taken against him or her as a result of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, where the application for relief is made within six months of entry of the judgment, order, or other proceeding. (Code Civ. Proc. §473(b).) Application for relief may be based on either (1) an attorney affidavit of fault, in which event relief is mandatory; or (2) declarations or other evidence showing ...

Excerpt: ...ears an overall burden of persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact and that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850; Woodridge Escondido Property Owners Ass'n. v. Nielsen (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 559, 578.) A plaintiff moving for summary judgment has met its burden of showing that there is no defense to a cause of action if it has proved each element of the cause...

Excerpt: ...SongBeverly – breach of express warranty; (2) violation of Song‐Beverly – breach of implied warranty; and (3) violation of Song‐ Beverly Section 1793.2. In response thereto, defendant General Motors LLC (hereafter “GM”) moves for summary judgement or adjudication. GM makes the same argument with regard to the complaint as a whole, as well as to each cause of action individually. GM argues that prior to litigation, it made a statutoril...

Excerpt: ... Private Attorney General Act (“PAGA”), pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 438(b)(2) and (b)(3)(B)(ii). A case management conference will occur at the same time. Explanation: 1. PAGA CLAIM AND SERVICE ISSUE “An employee plaintiff suing, as here, under [PAGA], does so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies.” Raines v. Coastal Pacific Food Distributors, Inc. (2018) 23 Cal. App. 5th 667, 674. For that re...

Excerpt: ...is minute order. Explanation: Demurrer “ ‘We treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law. [Citation.] We also consider matters which may be judicially noticed.' [Citation.] Further, we give the complaint a reasonable interpretation, reading it as a whole and its parts in their context. [Citation.]” (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) Second Cause...

Excerpt: ...ng the present action, the court intends to abate it until the appeal in the first action has been finally resolved. (Karp v. Dunn (1964) 229 Cal.App.2d 192, 195.) Explanation: Respondents have demurred to the entire petition on the ground of failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, contending that the present action is barred under the doctrine of res judicata, as well as being barred by statutory immunity for mental in...

Excerpt: ...Tentative Ruling: To overrule the demurrer to the Second and Fourth Causes of Action. To sustain the demurrer to the Third Cause of Action without leave to amend. Unless Plaintiffs ask for oral argument and offer a specific factual basis for their inability to specify who spoke the allegedly fraudulent statement, to sustain the demurrer to the Fifth Cause of Action without leave to amend. Defendants shall have ten (10) court days in which to file...

Excerpt: ...ive damages, plaintiffs can then discover their financial information. To that end, since trial is set for a date in the very near future, defendants are ordered to have this information efficiently organized and ready to produce at trial if necessary, so as to minimize any delay in the conduct of the trial. Explanation: Civil Code section 3295, subdivision (c) permits pretrial discovery of a defendants' financial information for purposes of obta...

Excerpt: ...de Civ. Proc. § 437c(f)(1).) To deny Mazda Motor Corporation' (“MC”) motion for summary adjudication of plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(f)(1).) Explanation: In light of plaintiffs' statement of non‐opposition to MNAO's motion for summary adjudication, the motion will be granted for the reasons stated in the moving papers. MC moves for summary adjudication of plaintiffs' claim for punitive damages on two gro...

Excerpt: ...e; and Kaiser Permanente Hospital Fresno – films. To deny plaintiffs' motion to quash the subpoena directed at American Ambulance. To deny plaintiffs' request for a “first look.” To impose sanctions against defendants, in the amount of: $430. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2023.010, subds. (a) & (h), 2023.030, subd. (a).) Sanctions must be paid by defendants to the Law Office of Frank M. Nunes within 30 days after service of this order. Explanation...

Excerpt: ...extent the request is directed at the existence of the documents and not the truth of the factual findings contained therein. (Evid. Code § 452(d); Steed v. Department of Consumer Affairs (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 112, 120 [“Judicial notice is properly taken of the existence of a factual finding in another proceeding, but not of the truth of that finding.”].) Special Motion to Strike The Anti‐SLAPP Statute. “A SLAPP suit—a strategic lawsu...

Excerpt: ... cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. §437c(c).) To grant Defendant/Cross‐Complainant JMA's motion for summary adjudication as follows: Cross‐Defendant Alamillo Rebar, Inc., has an immediate duty to defend JMA in the instant matter; Alamillo's duty to defend arose on the date of tender; and JMA is entitled to reimbursement of costs and fees paid from the date of tender to present; and to deny as to Alamillo's duty to indemnify JMA. (Code Civ. P...

Excerpt: ...ration of issues pertinent to the resolution of a claim under PAGA, Labor Code section 2699 et seq., the contract violates the public policy of the State of California. (ZB, N.A. v. Superior Court (2019) 8 Cal.5th 175; Iskanian v. CLS Trans. Los Angeles, LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348.) Defendants recognize this legal principle in seeking arbitration of causes of action other than those brought as a PAGA claim. A stay of PAGA claims until an arbitrati...

Excerpt: ...ruary 20, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. in Department 501. On or before this date, plaintiff FRI must file a Substitution of Attorney evidencing that it has hired counsel, and said attorney must also appear on its behalf at the status hearing. If there is no substitution of attorney or appearance at the hearing, the court will dismiss FRI's four causes of action raised in the FAC. Explanation: Motion for Reconsideration The motion for reconsideration must b...

Excerpt: ...23.010.) Explanation: Because plaintiff identified in her interrogatory response Barbara J. Morlan, M.D., as a health care physician who performed a consultation or examination of plaintiff related to “symptoms of sleeplessness,” SCCCD subpoenaed all of plaintiff's medical records from Dry Creek Medical Group, the practice group identified with the address provided for Dr. Morlan. Plaintiff moves to quash the subpoena. Prior to filing this mo...

Excerpt: ...dants' facility used an electronic call button in their rooms or apartments, and how long it took for defendants' staff to respond to such calls, for the period from January 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017. To deny defendants' motion for a protective order barring disclosure of the requested information outside the scope of the litigation. Explanation: Defendants move to quash the subpoena under Code of Civil Procedure section 1987.1, which states, I...

Excerpt: ...lodge a proposed judgment by January 28, 2020. Explanation: Defendant moves to dismiss the action on the ground that plaintiffs failed to bring the matter to trial within five years of the date their complaint was filed and therefore dismissal is mandatory pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 583.310 and 583.360. Code of Civil Procedure section 583.310 states, “An action shall be brought to trial within five years after the action is co...

Excerpt: ...ing the court to “issue a TRO…and set the matter for hearing on Motion for Preliminary Injunction.” These are at odds with each other, and both are wrong, process‐wise. As for the Notice of Motion, a TRO and the preliminary injunction are never issued simultaneously; a TRO is simply the injunction issued prior to a hearing on an Order to Show Cause (OSC) re preliminary injunction. As for the Memorandum, it separates issuance of the TRO an...

Excerpt: ...dment to any pleading[.]” (Code Civ. Proc. §473(a)(1).) “[I]t is a rare case in which a court will be justified in refusing a party leave to amend [its] pleadings so that he may properly present [its] case.” (Morgan v. Superior Court of Cal. In and For Los AngelesCounty (1959) 172 Cal.App.2d 527, 530, citation and quotation marks omitted.) Accordingly, leave to amend should be “liberally granted as long as there is no timeliness problem ...

Excerpt: ...ice of this minute order. Explanation: In ruling on a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, the court must “consider all of the evidence' and all of the 'inferences' reasonably drawn there from and must view such evidence and such inferences 'in the light most favorable to the opposing party.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843.) In making this determination, courts usually follow a three‐prong anal...

Excerpt: ... is granted 10 days' leave to file its First Amended Answer, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order; new allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To overrule all other special and general demurrers. To deny the motion to strike in its entirety. Explanation: Demurrer General Demurrers Plaintiff raises general demurrers to 44 of the affirmative defenses based on Code of Civil Procedure section 430.20, subdivision (a)...

Excerpt: ... Civil Procedure § 437c(c).) If the defendant carries this initial burden of production, the burden of production shifts to plaintiff to show that a triable issue of material fact exists. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 852.) “‘Summary judgment is granted when there is no triable issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.'” (Lopez v. Superior Court (1996) 45 Cal.App....

Excerpt: ...ses are to be given under oath, without objections and without the limit to “information presently available to and specifically known to this responding party.” The responses are to include all information sought for persons who are not current employees, omitting only address and telephone information for those who are current employees. Interrogatories Nos. 118 and 119: to overrule the burdensome and relevancy objections, but to sustain th...

Excerpt: ...cted Plaintiff's initial proof of service on Defendant on July 16, 2018. A second proof of service was filed on October 5, 2018, after entry of the default on September 27, 2018. Defaults are disfavored, and any doubts existing as to setting aside a default should be resolved in favor of a hearing on the merits. (Berman v. Klassman (1971) 17 Cal.App.3d 900, 910.) Reversal is particularly appropriate where relieving the default will not seriously ...

Excerpt: ...on motion of a party, after notice and hearing, make an order…that the trial of any issue or any part thereof shall precede the trial of any other issue or any part thereof in the case…. Similarly, Code Civ. Proc. § 1048(b) specifies the court's discretion in regard to bifurcating issues for separate trial: The court, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may...

Excerpt: ...r of 2012 that she asked Michael Automotive Center to replace the vehicle. The evidence does not support this fact. The support cited is Exhibit 7 to Ms. Bocchini's deposition, which is not authenticated. Ms. Bocchini admitted that she did call, but also testified that she did not seek such from Michael Automotive Center, and she testified affirmatively that she did not request replacement/repurchase from Volkswagen until 2017. (See Defendants' A...

Excerpt: ...ause of action. To deny the motion to strike allegations concerning punitive damages. To grant the motion to strike the prayer for attorney's fees. Explanation: Demurrer: First Cause of Action – Quiet Title A cause of action for quiet title must be verified and include the following: 1) a description of the real property that is the subject of the action, including both the legal description and street address; 2) the title or interest of the p...

Excerpt: ... damages and non‐economic, emotional distress damages, with leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 435, 436.) Plaintiff shall serve and file his first amended complaint within twenty days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Demurrer: First, the entire complaint is uncertain in that plaintiff has not alleged clearly which defendants committed which wrongful acts against him, or how their ac...

Excerpt: ...the court shall grant the motion only if it completely disposes of the defense. The plaintiff bears the initial burden to show there is no triable issue of material fact as to the defense and that he or she is entitled to judgment on the defense as a matter of law. In so doing, the plaintiff must negate an essential element of the defense, or establish the defendant does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain evidence needed to support the defe...

Excerpt: ...e evidence' and all of the 'inferences' reasonably drawn there from and must view such evidence and such inferences 'in the light most favorable to the opposing party.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843.) In making this determination, courts usually follow a three‐prong analysis: identifying the issues as framed by the pleadings; determining whether the moving party has established facts negating th...

Excerpt: ...an be used to: “(a) Strike out any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading”; or “(b) Strike out all or any part of any pleading not drawn or filed in conformity with the laws of this state, a court rule, or an order of the court.”(Code Civ.Proc. §§ 431.10, subd.(b); 436, subd.(a).) A court will “read allegations of a pleading subject to a motion to strike as a whole, all parts in their context, and assume their ...

Excerpt: ...t of $950.00 are ordered against plaintiff's counsel Edward Kerley, and his law firm, Kerley Schaffer LLP, and shall be paid to the court no later than Wednesday, October 16, 2019. Explanation: Sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure section 128.5 Sanctions under this statute must be denied, since subdivision (i) of Code of Civil Procedure Section 128.5 expressly states that this sanctions statute “applies to actions or tactics that were part o...

Excerpt: ... action settlement, it must grant preliminary certification of the proposed class. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.769(d).) Before a court may approve the settlement, the settlement class must satisfy the normal prerequisites for a class action. (Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor (1997) 521 US 591, 625‐27.) However, because a trial court is considering certification in a settlement context, the court's review of certification is lessened, particularl...

Excerpt: ...to consider late‐filed papers so long as the responding party has been given adequate notice and an opportunity to respond. (See Michael H. v. Gerald D. (1987) 191 Cal.App.3d 995, 1004.) Defendants provided a timely, complete reply to Plaintiff's opposition. Plaintiff's late papers will be considered. Burden on Summary Judgment In ruling on a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, the court must “consider all of the evidence'...

Excerpt: ...sted in the deposition notice shall be provided no later than 30 days from the date of this order. To deny the moving party's request for monetary sanctions. To grant the motion for leave to file a First Amended Complaint. The plaintiff is granted 10 days leave to file the proposed First Amended Complaint. The time in which the complaint can be amended will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. Explanation: Motion to Compel An order ...

Excerpt: .... To impose monetary sanctions against defendant General Motors LLC, in the amount of $810. Payment shall be made to the Knight Law Group within 30 days of the clerk's service of this minute order. Explanation: Disobeying a court order to provide discovery is a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (g).) Courts may impose a monetary sanctions for misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd....

Excerpt: ... at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503, as the return time for a report on distribution and possible amendment of the judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 384(b). Declarations need be filed by April 17, 2010. To grant attorney's fees in the amount of $250,000, to be distributed 75 percent to the Boucher firm, 17.5 percent to the Selik firm, and 7.5 percent to the Majarian firm. To grant costs in the amount of $8,000 and an incentive awar...

Excerpt: ...te of service of this order. Explanation: Plaintiff has proved up the basic elements of his breach of contract claim, including the existence of a contract between the parties, his performance under the agreement, defendant's breach, and resulting damages. (Coles v. Glaser (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 384, 391.) Plaintiff's evidence shows that he entered into a written contract with defendant in which plaintiff was to provide assistance in obtaining unpa...

Excerpt: ... to defendant if leave is granted on the eve of trial. “ ‘Code of Civil Procedure section 473, which gives the courts power to permit amendments in furtherance of justice, has received a very liberal interpretation by the courts of this state.... In spite of this policy of liberality, a court may deny a good amendment in proper form where there is unwarranted delay in presenting it.... On the other hand, where there is no prejudice to the adv...

Excerpt: ...§ 1987.1; 2020.220.) Patient A shall appear for his deposition within 15 days of the date of service of this order. To deny defendants' request for an evidence sanction barring the use of Patient A's testimony if he fails to appear for his deposition, as there is no statutory authority for such sanctions as to a non‐ party witness. However, Patient A may be subject to other sanctions, including contempt of court, if he fails to appear for his ...

Excerpt: ...plaintiff to answer defense counsel's question regarding the documents she consulted before her deposition. To deny the motion to the extent that defendant seeks to compel plaintiff to provide further responses regarding the redacted responses to requests for production of documents. To grant defendant's request for sanctions against plaintiff, in the amount of $1,950. Plaintiff shall pay sanctions within 30 days. Explanation: First, plaintiff im...

Excerpt: ...and may name as respondents any other person bound by the arbitration award. (Code Civ. Proc., §1285.) A petition shall: (a) set forth the substance or have attached a copy of the agreement to arbitrate unless the petitioner denies the existence of such an agreement; (b) set forth the names of the arbitrators; and (c) set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the written opinion of the arbitrators, if any. (Code Civ. Proc., §1285.4.) I...

Excerpt: ...including both its legal description and its street address; 2) all interests the plaintiff has or claims in the property; 3) all interests of record or actually known to the plaintiff, and all persons plaintiff “reasonably believes will be materially affected by the action, whether the names of such persons are known or unknown to the plaintiff” (i.e., this includes “persons unknown to be served by publication); 4) the estate as to which p...

Excerpt: ...les of Court, Rule 3.1350(b).) This action was filed by plaintiff Cold Springs against Wells Fargo only, contending that plaintiff is the only entity with right to the funds on deposit with Wells Fargo in accounts XXXX‐1634, XXXX‐5109, XXXX‐8420, and XXXX‐8655. Wells Fargo filed a Cross‐Complaint in Interpleader on July 30, 2018, naming Cold Springs and Santa Rosa (the only other tribe claiming an interest in the accounts) as cross‐de...

Excerpt: ...sion (f)(2). Explanation: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 437c, subdivision (f)(2), “[a] party shall not move for summary judgment based on issues asserted in a prior motion for summary adjudication and denied by the court unless that party establishes, to the satisfaction of the court, newly discovered facts or circumstances or a change of law supporting the issues reasserted in the summary judgment motion.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, ...

Excerpt: ...court within 5 days of the clerk's service of this minute order. Explanation: In ruling on a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, the court must “consider all of the evidence' and all of the 'inferences' reasonably drawn there from and must view such evidence and such inferences 'in the light most favorable to the opposing party.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843.) In making this de...

Excerpt: ...n.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 1033.5, subd. (c)(4).) All allowable costs must be reasonably necessary to the conduct of the litigation rather than merely convenient or beneficial to its preparation, and they must be reasonable in amount and actually incurred. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1033.5, subd. (c)(1), (2) and (3).) On motion to tax costs, the initial burden depends on the nature of the costs that are being challenged. [T]he mere filing of a motion to ...

Excerpt: ...right to file this case – as a result of defendant's refusal to pay mediation costs, pursuant to Roldan v. Callahan & Blaine (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 87 and Tillman v. Rheingold, Valet, Rheingold, Shkolnik & McCartney (9th Cir. 2016) 825 F.3d 1069. On a procedural note, defendant argues that this court should not consider plaintiff's opposition because the arbitration agreement is governed by the CAA, which requires plaintiff to respond within 10...

Excerpt: ... agreement of the parties provides for fee shifting. [Citation.] Labor Code section 218.5 requires the awarding of attorney's fees to the prevailing party ‘[i]n any action brought for the nonpayment of wages, fringe benefits, or health and welfare or pension fund contributions.' This provision awards fees to the prevailing party whether it is the employee or the employer; it is a two‐way fee‐shifting provision. However, Labor Code secti...