Excerpt: ...0 , subd. (e).) The time in which the complaint may be amended will run from service of the order by the clerk. All new allegations are to be placed in boldface type. To deny the motion to strike punitive damages allegations. (Code Civ. Proc., § 436.) Ex planation: Defendants demur to the third through ninth causes of action, and move to strike the punitive damages allegations from the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”). Demurrer Claims Against...

Excerpt: ...ternative request to consolidate the actions, as a complete consolidation for all purposes, including trial and discovery. The lead case will be number 22CECG01601. Defendant is ordered to file and serve a notice of entry of this ord er in all actions, properly captioned with all case names and numbers. Other than this, all further documents filed in the case shall be filed only in the lead case, and shall include the caption and case number o...

Excerpt: ....00. To appoint CPT Group, Inc. as settlement administrator and approve costs to administer in the amount of $8,000.00. Plaintiffs are directed to submit a new proposed order. Explanation: 1. Introduction Under Labor Code section 2699, “[t]he supe rior 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 ...

Excerpt: ...on Under Labor Code section 2699, “[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...

Excerpt: ...ve costs to administer in the amount of $3,250.00. Plaintiff is directed to submit a new proposed order. Explanation: 1. Introduction Under Labor Code section 2699, “[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).) ‘“‘A representative ...

Excerpt: ...s from the date of service of the order by the clerk, to counsel for defendants Hope Benites Serna and Fernando Serna. Explanation: On September 6, 2023, defendants Hope Benites Serna and Fernando Serna (collectively “Defendants”) filed a Request for Pr etrial Discovery Conference, consistent with Fresno Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 2.1.17 regarding disputes between the parties on discovery. On September 25, 2023, noting that plaintiff A...

Excerpt: ... v. Woodward -Clyde & Assocs. (1985) 38 Cal.3d 488, 499 (Tech -BIlt)) include “a rough approximation of plaintiffs' total recovery and the settlor's proportionate liability, the amount paid in settlement, the allocation of settlement proceeds among plaintiffs, a nd a recognition that a settlor should pay less in settlement than he would if he were found liable after a trial. Other relevant considerations include the financial condition...

Excerpt: ... for relief.” However, this misstates the holding of Gribin Von Dyl & Associates, Inc. v. Kovalsky (1986) 185 Cal.App.3d 653. There, the court said a party seeking relief “under a court's equity power must make a stronger showing than is necessary to obtain relief under section 473.” (Id. at p. 660, emphasis added.) It did not find that the showing for a request for relief based on “mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect” unde...

Excerpt: ...beer bottles on plaintiff's property. Second, on June 4, 2023, the entrance gate was left open. Third, on January 22, 2024, the entrance gate was closed, but not securely latched. Fourth, and primarily, defendants are driving on the dirt road, and the Behrens improved the roadway by paving and grading (though plaintiff only seeks to have defendants stick to the easement boundaries). An injunction may be granted “[w]hen it appears by the complai...

Excerpt: ...ocedur e 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 w here there is unwarranted delay in presenting it.... On the other hand, where there is no prejudice to the adverse party, it may be an abuse of discretion to deny leave to amend.' [Citat...

Excerpt: ...f ser vice of the minute order, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: Admiral moves for summary judgment or in the alternative, for summary adjudication as to the first and second causes of action in the Fourth A mended Complaint for breach of contract and breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Evidentiary Objections and Requests for Judicial Notice Admiral's evidentiary objectio...

Excerpt: ... the special interrogatories. However, the court will grant sanctions against HTV for its unjustified failure to serve timely responses to the discovery, in the amount of $585. HTV shall pay sanctions to Varo within 30 days of the date of ser vice of this order. HTV's request for sanctions against Varo is denied. Explanation: The court intends to deny Varo's motion to compel initial responses to special interrogatories, as HTV has now served ver...

Excerpt: ...on: Plaintiffs in this action allege various causes of action, including wage and hour violations, stemming from the defendants' alleged misclassification of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists as 1099 independent contractors. On 12/16/2022, defendant CRAMG filed a Voluntary Petition for Non -Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy under Chapter 7 (“Bankruptcy Petition”). (UMF 3.) On 1/12/2023, defendants filed a Notice of Bankrupt...

Excerpt: ...amended complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this minute order by the clerk. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Plaintiff PM Transport, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed a Complaint regarding the lease of two trailers. The C omplaint states six causes of action: (1) breach of contract; (2) breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) negligence; (4) unjust enrichment; (5) conversion; (6) violation o...

Excerpt: ...ement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party thereto refuses to arbitrate such 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 right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner; or (b) Grounds exist for the revocation of the agree...

Excerpt: ...cument included in defendant's request for judicial notice. (Evid. Code, § 452, subd. (d).) Explanation: Defendant moves to set aside his default on the ground of inadvertence, surprise, mistake, and excusable neglect under Code of Civil Procedure, section 473, subdivision (b). 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 mo...

Excerpt: ...ted 30 days' leave to Þle the Þrst amended complaint. The time in which the complaint can be amended will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language in the Þrst amended complaint are to be set in boldface type. To Þnd moot defendant's motion to strike the prayer for punitive damages in light of the ruling sustaining the demurrer to all causes of action. Explanation: In California, a complaint shall contain a s...

Excerpt: ...hich the complaint may be amended will run from service of the order by the clerk. All new allegations shall be in boldface type. Oral argument shall be heard on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503. Explanation: A party may Þle a general demurrer on claims that “[t]he pleading does not state facts su
¯icient to constitute a cause of action.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e); Estate of Moss (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 5...

Excerpt: ... s er v i c e o f th i s o rd e r. A ll n ew all egati o n s s h a ll b e i n b o l d face. E x p l an ati o n : C ross - defendant Mutari demurs to the Þrst cross-claim for breach of contract on the ground that it fails to state a cause of action against it, as Mutari was not a party to the purchase agreement that forms the basis for the cause of action. Mutari points out that the cross-complaint only alleges a purchase agreement to buy the sub...

Excerpt: ...e court does not concern itself with the issue of plainti
¯'s p o s s i b l e d i
¯iculty or inability in proving the allegations of their complaint. (Gruenberg v. Aetna Ins. Co. (1973) 9 Cal.3d 566, 572; Highlanders, Inc. v. Olsan (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 690, 697.) The complaint is liberally construed (Rodas v. Spiegel (2001) 87 Cal.App.4th 513, 517; Code Civ. Proc., § 452), which “means that the reviewing court draws inferences favorable to t...

Excerpt: ...t in the total amount o $1,875. Monetary sanctions are ordered to be paid within 30 calendar days rom the date o service o the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: On January 3, 2024, this motion was continued when the parties Þled a joint statement indicating that the they had agreed to schedule the deposition or on or beore January 31, 2024. The court has not received an update rom the parties and the matter was not taken o
¯ calend...

Excerpt: ...Sanctions: First, plainti
¯'s motion is defective, since plainti
¯ never Þled or served a notice of motion as required by California Rules of Court, rules 3.1110 and 3.1112. “A notice of motion must state in the opening paragraph the nature of the order being sought and the grounds for issuance of the order.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1110(a). The motion must also identify the party or parties bringing the motion; name the parties to wh...

Excerpt: ...this motion within 10 days of the clerk's service of the minute order. Explanation: The policy favoring amendment is so strong that denial of leave to amend can rarely be justiÞed: “If the motion to amend is timely made and the granting of the motion will not prejudice the opposing party, it is error to refuse permission to amend and where the refusal also results in a party being deprived of the right to assert a meritorious cause of action o...

Excerpt: ...subd. (e).) Moving parties shall submit to this court, within seven days of service of the minute order, a proposed judgment dismissing the action as to them. Explanation: Plaintiff alleges that she was discriminated against based on her race in her employment with Omni Family Health Organization. She sues Omni and three Omni employees (Joseph Hayes, Aurora Cooper and Gloria Pacleb) for (1) hostile work environment racial harassment; failure to p...

Excerpt: ...ction brought by the government. The act authorizes a representative action only for the purpose of seeking statutory penalties for Labor Code violations (Lab.Code, section 2699, subds. (a), (g)), and an action to recover civil penalties 'is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. Oskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348, 381.) A PAGA representative act...

Excerpt: ... 3 Cal. 5th 531, 549, citing Labor Code section 2599(1)(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 PAGA settlement to determine whether it is fair, reasonable, and adequate in view of PAGA's purposes to remediate present labor law vio...

Excerpt: ...cted to submit a proposed judgment. Explanation: Tax Costs On August 29, 2023, judgment was entered in the consolidated matter in favor of defendant Haight Brown & Bonesteel, LLP ("Defendant") and against plaintiff Hallmark Specialty Insurance Company ("Hallmark") following the granting of a motion for nonsuit. Defendant filed a memorandum of costs for $122,662.55. Hallmark seeks to tax those costs. Specifically, Hallmark objects to certain entri...

Excerpt: ...ayra Corina Gonzalez is directed to submit a new proposed order. To set a status conference for Thursday, July 16, 2024, 3:30 p.m. in Department 503. Explanation: 1. Class Certification The court has already granted the motion for preliminary approval and certification of the class and found that the class is sufficiently numerous and ascertainable to warrant certification for the purpose of approving the settlement. There is no reason for the co...

Excerpt: ... injunction. The matter is not being heard on an ex parte basis. A preliminary injunction may be granted any time before judgment upon affidavits that show sufficient grounds, and notice to the opposing parties. (Code Civ. Proc. S 527, subd. (a).) Generally, the complaint must set forth a cause of action for injunctive relief to support the issuance of a preliminary injunction. (See Code Civ. Proc. S 526, subd. (a)(1)-(2).) However, a preliminary...

Excerpt: ...ustin Harris only, including the language "and/or Defendant Harris" contained in paragraph 74. Explanation: Objection The court sustains the hearsay objection to paragraph 10 of the Aretakis Declaration. Ant-SLAPP A SLAPP suit (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) is a suit brought "primarily to chill the valid exercise of constitutional rights of freedom of speech and petition for redress of grievances." (Code Civ. Proc., S 425.16,...

Excerpt: ...or about November 5, 2020, Plaintiff, a minor, was a guest at the home of defendants Jason Mengior Pritchard Sr., Jason M Pritchard II, David Garrett and Desiree Garrett. Defendants allegedly gave alcoholic beverages to plaintiff and provided more alcohol after plaintiff was obviously intoxicated. Plaintiff left the location, apparently on foot, and was struck by a car. The parties are all in agreement that plaintiff's negligence claim relies on ...

Excerpt: ...tate facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, with leave to amend. Plaintiffs shall serve and file their third amended complaint within ten days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: CSU and the Association's Demurrer to Third Cause of Acton: Defendants demur to the third cause of action for intentional interference with contractual relationship on the ground that they are not "stran...

Excerpt: ...ayra Corina Gonzalez is directed to submit a new proposed order. To set a status conference for Thursday, July 11, 2024, 3:30 p.m. in Department 503. Explanation: 1. Class Certification The court has already granted the motion for preliminary approval and certification of the class and found that the class is sufficiently numerous and ascertainable to warrant certification for the purpose of approving the settlement. There is no reason for the co...

Excerpt: ...in the total amount of $1,875. Monetary sanctions are ordered to be paid within 30 calendar days from the date of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: Objections The court overrules plaintiff's objections to paragraphs 5 and 8-12 of the Brar Declaration. Motion to Compel Attendance On April 25, 2023, plaintiff served a Notice of Deposition for General Motors' ("GM") Person Most Qualified ("PMQ") for May 23, 2023. (Sanjur-Van Bra...

Excerpt: ...(a).) Explanation: Defendant Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin's (hereinafter "Defendant) motions cannot be granted, because its service of the subject discovery: form interrogatories, special interrogatories and document requests and these motion papers is defective. Defendant indicates that it, through its former counsel Rayma Church of Church Law Group, Inc., served the subject discovery requests directly on plaintiff M.S. on September 1, 2022, ...

Excerpt: ...sion (a), "The court may, in furtherance of justice, and on any terms as may be proper, allow a party to amend any pleading or proceeding by adding or striking out the name of any party, or by correcting a mistake in the name of a party, ora mistake in any other respect; and may, upon like terms, enlarge the time for answer or demurrer. The court may likewise, in its discretion, after notice to the adverse party, allow, upon any terms as may be j...

Excerpt: ...to this department, with all dollar amounts filled in, within 5 days of the clerk's service of this order. To set a hearing at December 4, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503 as a hearing date for an Amended Judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 384. A verified report of payouts of settlement funds and a proposed amended judgment shall be submitted no later than November 18, 2024. Explanation: "Before final approval, the court mus...

Excerpt: ...he demurrer to the complaint and first amended complaint are rendered moot by plaintiff's filing of the second amended complaint. The court intends to sign the proposed order lodged on July 20, 2023. Explanation: Defendant Farmers Insurance demurs to the sole cause of action stemming from a motor vehicle acc:ident, contending that the complaint, first amended complaint, and second amended complaint fail to state cause of action, there is a nonjoi...

Excerpt: ...ative Ruling: To deny defendant Admiral Insurance Company's ("Admiral") motions for an order deeming requests to admit truth of facts against plaintiff Shaw Creek Homeowners Association admitted, and to compel plaintiff's responses to Form Interrogatories, Set Two, Special Interrogatories, Set Two, and Request for Production of Documents, Set Two, since plaintiff responded to the discovery requests on August 18, 2023. To award monetary sanctions ...

Excerpt: ...the First Amended Complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. Explanation: Defendant SMART Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union No. 104 moved for summary judgment of plaintiff Earl Riley's complaint on the basis that there is no triable issue of material fact and defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. The operative complaint was filed on March 16, 2022. Defendant filed its answer generally denying the alleg...

Excerpt: ...portation Authority's Request for Judicial Notice Tentative Ruling: To grant respective requests for judicial notice. To grant motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff is directed to submit to this court, within 5 days of service of the minute order, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: Each request for judicial notice was unopposed. The matters of which judicial notce was requested to be taken consis...

Excerpt: ...well as attorneys' fees under the franchise agreements. On 2/11/21 the court granted DDR's ex parte application for temporary restraining order and OSC re preliminary injunction. On 3/30/31 the court granted a preliminary injunction prohibitng plaintiff from displaying certain signage in his Deli Delicious restaurants, purchasing or serving bread from unapproved vendors, serving food in unapproved packaging, and required defendant to display requ...

Excerpt: ...iate Athletic Ass'n (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1, 26.) To grant the motion to compel further responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One, as to Request Nos. 1.1, 3.3, 3.6, 4.1, 4.2, and 15.1, and to deny as to Request Nos. 50.1-50.5. (Code Civ. Proc., S 2031.310, 2030.300.) Defendant shall serve verified supplemental responses without objections as specified above within 30 days of the date of service of this order. Explanation: Plaintiff moves to compel de...

Excerpt: ...: Demurrer The function of a demurrer is to test the sufficiency of a plaintiff's pleading by raising questions of law. (Plumlee v. Poag (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 541, 545.) The test is whether plaintiff has succeeded in stating a cause of action; the court does not concern itself with the issue of plaintiff's possible difficulty or inability in proving the allegations of his complaint. (Highlanders, Inc. v. Olsan (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 690, 597.) In a...

Excerpt: ...elease in a related matter to the present action. Plaintiffs seek this relief pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 187, which grants a trial court the inherent authority to control litigation procedure. In seeking to invoke the trial court's inherent authority, Plaintiffs submit that a waiver provision in a related matter may be applicable to the present matter. The waiver provision purports to be a settlement agreement between Plaintiffs ...

Excerpt: ...liction of emotional distress, among others, all of which took place at the residence and with knowledge of the other defendants. Defendants Ravinder, Harbans and Parmjit Taggar ("Parents"), and Sahara SRL, Inc. ("Sahara SRL") now move for summary judgment, or in the alternative for summary adjudication. The Complaint asserts the following causes of action: 1. Sexual Battery (Civ. Code, S 1708.5) against Ravinder; 2. Domestic Violence (Civ. Code,...

Excerpt: ...brought by the government. The act authorizes a representative action only for the purpose of seeking statutory penalties for Labor Code violations (Lab.Code, section 2699, subds. (a), (g)), and an action to recover civil penalties 'is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. (Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348, 381.) A PAGA representative action i...

Excerpt: ..., consists in restraining the commission or continuance of the act complained of, either for a limited period or perpetually. (2) When it appears by the complaint or affidavits that the commission or continuance of some act during the litigation would produce waste, or great or irreparable injury, to a party to the action. (3) When it appears, during the litigation, that a party to the action is doing, or threatens, or is about to do, or is procu...

Excerpt: ...se the curb on which she tripped was not a dangerous condition, or even if it was, it was an open and obvious condition and thus defendant had no duty to warn plaintiff of it or remedy the condition. However, the question of whether a condition is dangerous, and whether it is open and obvious, is generally an issue of fact for the jury to decide. "Civil Code secton 1714, subdivision (a), provides in relevant part: 'Every one is responsible, not o...

Excerpt: ... defendant SWH Mimi's Café', LLC to respond to the second set of form interrogatories, without objections. Defendant shall serve verified responses without objections within 10 days of the date of service of this order. To grant the motion to deem SWH Mimi's Café, LLC to have admitted the truth of the matters and the genuineness of all documents in the requests for admissions. Defendants are deemed to have waived all objections to the requests ...