Excerpt: ...f action following defendant's deposition testimony and expert Dunnett's medical analysis. Motions for leave to amend the pleadings are directed to the sound discretion of the judge. “The court may, in furtherance of justice, and on any terms as may be proper, allow a party to amend any pleading.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 473, subd. (a)(1).) Judicial policy favors resolution of all disputed matters between the parties in the same lawsuit. Thus, th...

Excerpt: ...ullar, owner of Varsity Liquors, moves for summary judgment, or alternatively for summary adjudication. Initially the court notes that if defendant does not show that summary judgment should be granted, the court should not grant summary adjudication of any particular cause of action or count. If summary adjudication is sought, whether separately or as an alternative to the motion for summary judgment, the specific cause of action, affirmative de...

Excerpt: ...0602.6.) Any briefing to be submitted by defendant addressing the issues herein must be filed and served no later than Wednesday, July 27, 2022. All papers in response to defendant's briefings must be filed and served no later than Friday, August 5, 2022. Alternatively, the court will take the motion off calendar if defendant pays the initial filing fee of $435 prior to Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Explanation: Plaintiff seeks reconsideration of an ...

Excerpt: ...suant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2, On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party to the agreement refuses to arbitrate that controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that: (a) The r...

Excerpt: ...ttlement also requires certification of a preliminary settlement class. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.769(d).) Certification of the Class: The court has already granted certification of the class. Fairness of the Settlement: Settlements preceding class certification are scrutinized more carefully to make sure that absent class members' rights are adequately protected. (Wershba v. Apple Computer, Inc. (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 224, 240.) The court has ...

Excerpt: ...blish a class for settlement purposes. There must be an independent assessment by a neutral court of evidence showing that a class action is proper. (Luckey v. Superior Court (2014) 228 Cal. App. 4th 81 (rev. denied); see also Newberg, Newberg on Class Actions (T.R. Westlaw, 2017) Section 7:3: “The parties' representation of an uncontested motion for class certification does not relieve the Court of the duty of determining whether certification...

Excerpt: ...vision (b), contending that the order was the result of his counsel's mistake or excusable neglect. His attorney claims that she submitted invoices to support the requested costs as soon as she learned of the mistake, and that the court granted permission to submit the invoices at the hearing. However, the court later refused to consider the invoices because counsel had not requested oral argument before the hearing. Bassi's counsel contends that...

Excerpt: ...al burden of production is met, does the burden shift to the responding party to demonstrate the existence of a triable issue of material fact. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850‐51; see also Reeves v. Safeway Stores, Inc. (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 95, 107.) A plaintiff moving for summary judgment or adjudication of a cause of action must “prove[] each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on t...

Excerpt: ...ley LLC (“Dycora”). The moving brief informs the court that plaintiffs and Dycora have resolved plaintiffs' claims made in the third cause of action, but both sides believe that a court order granting a judgment on the pleadings as to the first and second causes of action is needed to “fully resolve this matter for the Parties and the Court.” (Weintraub Decl., ¶ 10.) These causes of action do not ostensibly appear to be stated against Dy...

Excerpt: ...d. (Ibid.) Explanation: Defendants FCA and Selma Chrysler move for judgment on the pleadings as to the sixth cause of action for fraudulent concealment and the seventh cause of action for negligent failure to repair, as well as the punitive damage claim. Their primary contention is that the “economic loss rule” bars plaintiff's tort claims, and therefore plaintiff's fraud and negligence causes of action do not state valid causes of action. Al...

Excerpt: ...e first, second, third, fifth, sixth and eighth causes of action, with plaintiff Ana Lewis (“Mrs. Lewis”) granted 10 days' leave to file a First Amended Complaint. (Code Civ. Proc., § 4301.10, subd. (e).) All new allegations shall be in boldface type. The time in which the Complaint may be amended will run from service of the order by the clerk. Explanation: In this action plaintiffs sue all involved in a real estate transaction in which Mrs...

Excerpt: ...bject of the court's order dated October 28, 2021. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2031.300, subd. (c).) Monetary sanctions in the amount of $1,282.20 are ordered against defendants, jointly and severally, and payable no later than 20 court days from the date of this Order. Explanation: The Notice of Motion indicates plaintiff is making its motion pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.300, subdivision (c), which governs the failure to respond to r...

Excerpt: ...ion in which it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors or co‐obligors on a contract debt shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other claimant and one or more alleged tortfeasors or co‐obligors, upon giving notice in the manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 1005.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 877.6, subd. (a)(1), emphasis added.) “The issue of the g...

Excerpt: ...laint is filed. The requirements of the code relating to the time for service of summons are mandatory and are not subject to extension, excuse, or exception except as expressly provided by statute. (Code Civ. Proc., § 583.250, subd. (b).) If service is not made in an action within the time prescribed, the action may not be further prosecuted, no further proceedings may be held in the action, and the action must be dismissed by the court on its ...

Excerpt: ...n: “The court may, in furtherance of justice, and on such terms as may be proper, allow a party to amend any pleading ….” (Code Civ. Proc. § 473, subd. (a); see also Code Civ. Proc., § 576.) There is generally a strong policy in favor of allowing a plaintiff to amend the complaint. (Glaser v. Meyers (1982) 137 Cal.App.3d 770, 776‐777; Mabie v. Hyatt (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 581, 596.) Accordingly, the California Supreme Court has held that...

Excerpt: ...e to show that Cambridge Spa Group had the authority to act on behalf of defendant CSG Holdings CA, LLC in signing the August 17, 2021 substitution of attorney. Defendant submitted a declaration confirming that the party who signed the August 17, 2021 substitution of attorney, Ian Cahn‐Fuller on behalf of Cambridge Spa Group, had the authority to sign the form on defendant's behalf. (See Cahn‐Fuller Decl., filed May 3, 2022, ¶¶ 3‐4.) The ...

Excerpt: ...in Dept. 403 Explanation: Discovery requests are generally afforded liberal construction. (see Code of Civ. Proc., § 2017.010; Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 541 [“In the absence of contrary court order, a civil litigant's right to discovery is broad.”].) “In civil litigation, discovery may be obtained from a nonparty only through a ‘deposition subpoena.' [Citation.]” (Unzipped Apparel, LLC v. Bader (2007) 156 Cal.App...

Excerpt: ...in intervention within 10 days of the clerk's service of the minute order. To continue Titlemax of California, Inc.'s petition to compel arbitration to July 28, 2022, which will be treated as the original hearing date for purposes of filing deadlines. Explanation: Intervention Proposed intervenor Division of Labor Standards Enforcement Labor Commissioner (“DLSE”) seeks to intervene on the present petition under Code of Civil Procedure section...

Excerpt: ...er responses must to be filed “within 45 days of the service of the verified response, or any supplemental verified response, or any specific later date to which the requesting party and the responding party have agreed in writing ….” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.310, subd. (c), emphasis added.) The parties agreed to an extension of time up to January 3, 2022 for plaintiff to file her motions to compel further responses. (See Pannell Decl. ¶ ...

Excerpt: ...ation and training; signing off on SIERRA VISTA's policies and procedures and/or employee handbook; confirmation of employment dates, resumes, letters, recommendations, accommodations, or any disciplinary action; any record of discipline, retraining and/or termination related to this case and/or similar types of cases or events. PERSONNEL FILE shall NOT include employee's social security number; wage, salary, and tax information, and any other co...

Excerpt: ...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.) Furthermore, “[o]nly when the inferences are indisputable may the court decide the issues as a matter of law ... An issue of fact becomes one of law only when ‘the undisputed facts leave no room for a reasonable difference of opinion.'” (Manuel v. Pacific Gas & Electric C...

Excerpt: ...ation: The court previously sustained demurrers to the first cause of action for battery and sixth cause of action for violation of Civil Code section 1942.4. Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint, adding allegations that defendants willfully ignored plaintiffs' multiple complaints about bedbugs and willfully refused to remedy plaintiffs' complaints to management. Defendant Granville Realty, Inc. again demurs to the first and sixth causes of acti...

Excerpt: ...or a motion to strike, the parties must sufficiently comply with the meet and confer requirements pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, sections 430.41 and 435.5. Explanation: The trial court has broad discretion to vacate the judgment and/or the clerk's entry of default that preceded it. However, that discretion can be exercised only if the moving party establishes a proper ground for relief, by the proper procedure, and within the statutory time...

Excerpt: ...t]he superior court shall review and approve any settlement of any civil action filed pursuant to [PAGA]. The proposed settlement shall be submitted to the agency at the same time that it is submitted to the court.” (Lab. Code, § 2699, subd. (i)(2).) The statute does not explain what exactly the trial court should consider when reviewing a proposed PAGA settlement. However, recently the Court of Appeal in Moniz v. Adecco USA, Inc. (2021) 72 Ca...

Excerpt: ...ourt review and approval, ensuring that any negotiated resolution is fair to those affected.” (Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 549, citing Labor Code section 2699(l)(2) [“The superior court shall review and approve any settlement of any civil action filed pursuant to this part. The proposed settlement shall be submitted to the agency at the same time that it is submitted to the court.”].) The trial court is to “evaluate a...