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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...construe the failure to file a memorandum as an admission that the motion is not meritorious and there is cause for its denial. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.113, subd. (a).) Nonetheless, it is assumed that Petitioner is seeking relief from dismissal under Code of Civil Procedure section 473, and the motion has been analyzed based on that assumption. The reason Petitioner gives to justify relief from dismissal is that he did not know about the Ord...

Excerpt: ...Rules of Court, rule 3.350(b).) A copy of this order shall be filed in each case, and all subsequent documents shall be filed only in the lead case. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.350(c).) Explanation: “A consolidation of actions does not affect the rights of the parties. The purpose of consolidation is merely to promote trial convenience and economy by avoiding duplication of procedure, particularly in the proof of issues common to both actions....

Excerpt: ...nated from their employment with defendant Kings View Corporation because of their age. In additional to discrimination and wrongful discharge causes of action, plaintiffs allege causes of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress and harassment. Defendant Leon Hoover, Kings View Corporation's CEO, demurs to the intentional infliction of emotional distress and harassment causes of action. Both causes of action are premised on the al...

Excerpt: ...th through eleventh causes of action. To sustain the demurrer as to the twelfth cause of action, for failure to allege whether the contract is written, oral, or implied by conduct. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (g).) To grant leave to amend as to the twelfth cause of action. Plaintiffs shall serve and file their second amended complaint within ten (10) days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explan...

Excerpt: ... are imposed against plaintiff and her attorney, Rodney C. Haron. Sanctions must be paid to the Law Offices of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith within 30 days after service of this order. Explanation: “Any party may obtain discovery . . . by taking in California the oral deposition of any person, including any party to the action. . . .” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.010.) Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.450, subdivision (a) provides for a mo...

Excerpt: ...ed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: As the moving parties, defendants bear the initial burden of proof to show that plaintiffs cannot establish one or more elements of their causes of action or to show that there is a complete defense. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(p)(2).) Only after the moving party has carried this burden of proof does the burden of proof shift to the other party to show that a triable issue ...

Excerpt: ...the medical profession under similar circumstances.” (Mann v. Cracchiolo (1985) 38 Cal.3d 18, 36.) Thus, in “‘any medical malpractice action, the plaintiff must establish: “(1) the duty of the professional to use such skill, prudence, and diligence as other members of his profession commonly possess and exercise; (2) a breach of that duty; (3) a proximate causal connection between the negligent conduct and the resulting injury; and (4) ac...

Excerpt: ...sis for his 42 U.S.C. section 1983 claim, as well as other claims. Plaintiff shall have ten (10) court days in which to file and serve a first amended complaint. Any new or changed allegations must be set forth in boldface typeset. To deny the motion to compel without prejudice. Explanation: Demurrer Plaintiff's complaint is over 100 pages in length and recounts his disagreement with a course of treatment implemented by defendants from 2005 to 20...

Excerpt: ...v. Eden Township Hospital Dist. (1992) 4 Cal.App.4th 1488, 1497.) Explanation: No suit for money or damages may be maintained against a governmental entity unless a formal claim has first been presented to that entity, and has been rejected, or is deemed rejected by the passage of time. (Gov. Code, §§ 945.4, 912.4; see Munoz v. State of Calif. (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1767, 1776.) The pre‐lawsuit claim must be presented to the governmental entit...

Excerpt: ...nna Owens in Bernard v. Ashria Holdings, LLC, Case No. 17CECG04106. To deny the motion with respect to the representation of co‐defendants Mao Vang and Jose Yepez. Explanation: Defendant Ariyanna Owens (“Owens”) moves to disqualify William Braun (“Braun”) from further representation of Ashria Holdings, LLC (“Ashria”), Mao Vang, Jose Yepez and Owens. A trial court's authority to disqualify an attorney derives from the court's inheren...

Excerpt: ...d Fred Avalli. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c.) Explanation: With regard to the first cause of action for breach of contract, plaintiff has met its burden of producing evidence showing that defendants breached their agreement with plaintiff, and that plaintiff was damaged as a result. The elements of a breach of contract claim are (1) the existence of a contract between the parties, (2) plaintiff's performance or excuse for nonperformance, (3) defendan...

Excerpt: ...efault judgment form in conjunction with its application. In addition, plaintiff has not submitted a proposed default judgment for the court's signature. Furthermore, plaintiff has not dismissed the Doe defendants against whom it is not seeking a default judgment. There is also some ambiguity about the requested default judgment. Plaintiff seeks a declaration that its first deed of trust has priority over other claims against the property, based ...

Excerpt: ...There are two categories of evidence plaintiff Jane Doe (“plaintiff”) claims she cannot obtain while the criminal case of defendant Francisco Peña (“Peña”) is pending: (1) answers to deposition questions to which Peña asserted his Fifth Amendment privilege during his November 2018 deposition, and (2) the contents of plaintiff's cell phone which has been in the custody of the Fresno County District Attorney since shortly after Peña was...

Excerpt: ...can attached to Debbie Raven's declaration, except that the submissions need also provide values for each item listed. If such evidence shows any party to this case taking a loss on their one‐third share of the assets, or obtaining a higher percentage than one‐third, briefs explaining why such loss or gain is justified need also be filed. Any such briefing shall be filed by October 10, 2019, and a further hearing will be held on October 24, 2...

Excerpt: ...ducement), and fourth (intentional infliction of emotional distress) causes of action, and without leave to amend as to fifth (slander of title) and sixth (declaratory relief) causes of action. Plaintiffs are granted 30 days' leave to file the Fourth Amended Complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. Explanation:  First Cause of Action: Standing In ruling on a demurrer, the trial court is obligated to look past th...

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: ...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: ... 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...