Excerpt: ..., rule 3.1113(d). Rule 3.1113(e) requires a party to obtain permission to file a brief exceeding 15 pages. Here, plaintiffs' counsel did not obtain leave of court to file a monumentally oversized brief. "A memorandum that exceeds the page limits of these rules must be filed and considered in the same manner as a late-filed paper." (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113(g).) Thus, the court has discretion to disregard excessively long briefs filed with...

Excerpt: ...h Cause of Acton: Plaintiff has agreed to dismiss the fraud claim from the First Amended Complaint. Therefore, the court intends to sustain the demurrer to the sixth cause of action for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, without leave to amend. Demurrer to Eighth Cause of Action: Defendant contends that plaintiff's cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress fails to allege sufficient facts to ...

Excerpt: ...008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1174, 1182, internal citations omitted); see also Fiege v. Cooke (2004) 125 Cal.App.4th 1350, 1353-1355 [assent can be established where the parties were present but did not object to settlement terms].) Furthermore, "[w]hen parties intend that an agreement be binding, the fact that a more formal agreement must be prepared and executed does not alter the validity of the [oral] agreement." (Blix Street Records, Inc. v. Cassidy...

Excerpt: ...guez's moton to compel defendant Estate of Mine, LLC's responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One, Special Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set One, unless evidence is submitted of Defendant's responses having been on served December 6 and 8, 2023. To grant plaintiff's motion to deem requests for admissions admitted, unless evidence is submitted of Defendant's responses to the requests for admission having been s...

Excerpt: ...tricken. Plaintiff may file the requests to enter defendants' defaults on the required Judicial Council forms. Explanation: Once a motion to compel discovery is granted, continued failure to comply may support a request for more severe sanctions. Code of Civil Procedure secton 2023.010, subdivision (g), makes "[dlisobeying a court order to provide discovery" a "misuse of the discovery process," but sanctons are only authorized to the extent permi...

Excerpt: ...of the minute order. New Allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Cross-defendant Najeeb K. Ansari, M.D. demurs to each cause of action in crosscomplainant Clinica Sierra Vista's Cross- Complaint on the basis that each fails to state facts sufficient to state a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. 5430.10, subd. The first and second causes of action are for equitable indemnity and comparative equitable indemnity, respectively,...

Excerpt: ...it or that there is no defense to the achon or proceeding." (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (a).) The court must determine from the evidence presented that "there is no triable issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law ..." (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (c).) "The workers' compensation exclusivity rule is the rule, embodied in [Labor Code sections et seq.l, that with certain exceptions, a...

Excerpt: ...fendant's second summary judgment motion after the court denied its first motion. In both motions, defendant inexplicably contends plaintiffs "do not allege that Lifeway improperly invoked its early termination rights underthe lease. I' (Def.'s mem., at 1:21; see also mem. filed 2/7/23 at 1:21-22.) Yet, plaintiffs allege exactly that "Defendant (Lifeway) attempted to avoid its obligation to make lease payments ... by improperly, and in bad faith,...

Excerpt: ... unopposed and granted) motion to set aside a default was epically unprofessional and abhorrent. (See Rules Prof. Conduct, rules 3.1(a)(1), 3.2 and 8.4(a).) That truism aside, the court must now decide whether sanctions and attorneys' fees should be awarded against plaintiff and its counsel. Actons or tactics undertaken in bad faith which are frivolous and intended solely to cause unnecessary delay constitutes sanctionable conduct. (Code Civ. Pro...

Excerpt: ...nting Final Approval of Class Settlement which was filed late on November 28, 2023. To set a status conference for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, 3:30 p.m. in Department 501. Explanation: 1. Class Certification On February 15, 2021, the class was certified. 2. Settlement a. Legal Standards "[lln the final analysis it is the Court that bears the responsibility to ensure that the reccwery represents a reasonable compromise, given the magnitude and appare...

Excerpt: ...intiff to name said defendant by a fictitious name and later amend the complaint to substitute the true name of the defendant. (Code Civ. Proc., S 474.) When plaintiffs filed their Complaint on January 7, 2021, they were purportedly unaware of several defendants' names. Six months later, on July 16, 2021, they filed three amendments to the Complaint naming Justin Bell, Martin Padilla and Nicholas Palomino. On July 18, 2023, two and a half years a...

Excerpt: ... file an Answer within ten days of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: On June 30, 2022, plaintiff filed suit against defendants California Department of State Hospitals ("CDSH"), Robert Withrow, and Brandon Price. On September 13, 2023, following the sustaining of a demurrer and granting of a motion to strike, plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") containing four causes of action: (1) violation of whistleblower pr...

Excerpt: ...n Settlements preceding class certification are scrutinized more carefully to make sure that absent class members' rights are adequately protected, although there is less scrutiny of manageability issues. (Wershba v. Apple computer, Inc. (2W1) 91 cal.App.4th 224, 240; see Dunk v. Ford Motor co. (1996) 48 cal.App.4th 1794, 1803, fn. 9.) The trial court has a "fiduciary responsibility" as the guardian of the absentee class members' rights to decide...

Excerpt: ...f electronically filed his Complaint and Certificates of Merit by counsel and by a mental health practitioner in compliance with Code of Civil Proc:edure section 340.1. The filing was accepted by the court. On March 20, 2023, the court filed and served a Notce of Striking/voiding of Filed causing the Certificates of Merit filed on November 22, 2022, to be wided. The notice did not provide an explanaton for why the documents were voided, only that...

Excerpt: ...iled the action in the wrong county, as defendants reside in Sacramento and the contract was entered into and was to be performed in Sacramento. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 395, subdivision (a), "[elxcept as otherwise provided by aw and subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceedings as provided in this title, the superior court in the county where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the act...

Excerpt: ... days leave to amend which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must set in boldface type. To grant defendant's request for judicial notice. The court will take notice of its own records in the instant and related probate cases (defendant's Exhibits A through F) for the fact of the filing of each but not for the truth of the matters stated therein. If oral argument is timely requested, such argument wil...

Excerpt: ...est in the insurance policy limit available to settle claim against her. (Code Civ. Proc., S 389, subd. (a)(2).) under Code of Civil Procedure section 389, subdivision (a), A person who is subject to service of process and whose joinder will not deprive the court of jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action shall be joined as a party in the action if (1) in his absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties or (2)...

Excerpt: ...aint (SAC), without leave to amend. To deny plaintiff Matthew Hiatt's moton to compel Child Protectve Services to comply with the deposition subpoena for business records, without prejudice. Explanation: Defendant School District's 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 sta...

Excerpt: ...ging 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 determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that: (a) The right to compel arbitration has been wa-ved by the petitioner; or (b) Grounds exist for the of the agreement. (c) A party to the...

Excerpt: ...der precluding him from being deposed for any reason under any circumstances. In support, Plaintiff submits the declarations of Susan M. Fosnot, Ph.D, a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, and Dana Chidekel, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist certified in pediatric neuropsychology. The declarations generally conclude that Plaintiff: has an unreliable memory; has limitations that preclude him from reliably differentiating the truth from...

Excerpt: ... the courts, i.e., that proceeding as a class is superior to other methods. In turn, the community of interest requirement embodies three factors: (1) predominant common questions of law or fact; (2) class representatives with claims or defenses typical of the class; and (3) class representatives who can adequately represent the class." (In re Tobacco II Cases (2009) 46 Cal. 4th 298, 313.) California case law requires that substantial evidence un...

Excerpt: .... Explanation: 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.) ...

Excerpt: ...oldface. Explanation: Defendant State of California ("the State") argues that plaintiff County of Fresno ("the County") has sued the wrong partyl because it was the federal government and not the State that mandated the name change from "Sq Valley" 2 to "Yokuts Valley", the County has adequately alleged that the State passed AB 2022, which prohibited the use of the word "sq_" for geographic names and place names, and to change the names of places...

Excerpt: ...quest for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1048, subdivision (a), "[w]hen actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions; it may order all the actions consolidated and it may make such orders concerning procee...

Excerpt: ...laint Tentative Ruling: To continue the hearing on the motion for a protective order to November 9, 2023. Plaintiff Daniel Real is authorized to file, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023, the declarations of Susan M. Fosnot, Ph.D and Dana Chidekel, Ph.D that were served on the parties. No other documents are authorized to be filed. To deny each of the motions to quash third-party subpoenas as moot. To grant the motion for leave to...

Excerpt: ...y be amended within 10 days of service of the order by the clerk. All new allegations shall be in boldface type. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: The motion provided for in this section may only be made on one of the following grounds: (A) If the moving party is a plaintiff, that the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause or c...

Excerpt: ...letion of arbitration. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will entertained on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Plaintiff Kelly Roberts ("plaintiff") brings a single cause of action under PAGA on behalf of herself and all aggrieved employees under Labor Code section 2698 et seq. Defendants Sally Beauty Holdings, lnc„ and Beauty Systems Groups LLC (together "defendants") now seek an order com#lling p...

Excerpt: ...d no later than November 28, 2023. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Plaintiffs move the court for leave to file a second amended complaint following the death of plaintiff Parmjit Sekhon after the filing of this action. The motion is brought pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473 and seeks to add Jasbir Sekhon (originally decedent's g...

Excerpt: ...e clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To find plaintiffs' moton for leave to amend moot. Explanation: JUDGEMENT ON THE PLEADINGS A motion for judgment on the pleadings has the same function as a demurrer, but is made after the time for demurrer has passed. Civ. Proc., S 438; Prickett v. Bonnier Corporation (2020) 55 Cal.App.5th 891, 896.) The grounds for the motion must appear on the face of the chall...

Excerpt: ...h 995, 999; see also Templo v. State of Calif. (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 730, 735 ["'motion for judgment on the pleadings is equivalent to a demurrerml.) The purpose of the Government Claims Act ("Claims Act") is "to give the public entity the opportunity to investigate and settle the claim without the cost of litigation[l" (Le Mere v. Los Angeles Unified School DIst. (2019) 35 Cal.App.5th 237, 247), and accordingly courts typically view the "present...

Excerpt: ...'s fees and court costs as may be Þxed by the court.” (Health & Saf. Code, § 17980.7, subd. (c)(11).) Also, “[i]f the court Þnds that a building is in a condi
Ÿon which substan
Ÿally endangers the health and safety of residents pursuant to Sec
Ÿon 17980.6, upon the entry of any order or judgment, the court shall do all of the following: … Order the owner to pay all reasonable and actual costs of the enforcement agency including, but n...

Excerpt: ... Explanation: Plaintiff Jeff Reich individually and doing business as The Reich Law Firm (together "Reich"), filed suit on July 19, 2021, to collect fees due for litigation services provided to Lucille Srabian and Morris Srabian in a prior lawsuit. Lucille Srabian ("Srabian") filed a Crosscomplaint against Reich. Srabian filed no opposition to the demurrer. Grounds for Demurrer to Cross-complaint Srabian's Cross-complaint has three causes of acti...

Excerpt: ...dant Clinica Sierra Vista. Within thirty (30) days of service of the order by the clerk, plaintiff Najeeb K. Ansari, M.D. shall pay the sanctions to defendant Clinica Sierra Vista's counsel. In the event of a timely request for oral argument, such argument will be entertained on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 501. Explanation: On January 19, 2023, the discovery at issue was served on plaintiff Najeeb K. Ansari, M.D. ("Plai...

Excerpt: ...n: Under Government Code section 911.2, subdivision (a), a plaintiff alleging a claim against a government entity must present their claim within six months of the accrual of the cause of action. "A cause of action for childhood sex molestation generally accrues at the time of the alleged molestation." (Rubenstein v. Doe No. 1 (2017) 3 Cal.5th 903, 910.) In Shirk v. Vista Unified School District (2W7) 42 Cal.4th 201, the California Supreme Court ...

Excerpt: ...tiff cannot prevail on her first cause of action for harassment based on her disability because she was not subjected to any severe or pervasive conduct that would qualify as harassment during her employment with Saint Agnes. "In construing California's FEHA, this court has held that the hostile work environment form of sexual harassment is actionable only when the harassing behavior is pervasive or severe. This limitation mirrors the federal cou...

Excerpt: ...counsel shall call the court to take the demurrer as to defendant Person off calendar. If it does not resolve the issues, counsel for defendant Person shall file a declaration on or before November 1, 2023, stating, in detail, the efforts made. Defendant Fresno Unified School District's demurrer is continued in order to have the motions heard the same date. Explanation: Ctxle of Civil Procedure section 430.41, subdivision (a), makes it clear that...

Excerpt: ... matters specified in the Requests for Admission, Set Two, are to be deemed admitted unless each defendant serves, before the hearing, a proposed response to the Requests for Admission that is in substantial compliance with Code of Civil Procedure section 2033.220. (Code Civ. Prcyc., S 2033.280, subd. To grant monetary sanctions against defendants Harpreet Singh and Nijjar Cargo Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $940.00 as to each defendant. Mone...

Excerpt: ...efendant California Department of Transportation ("Defendant") seeks to stay the present matter in favor of allow-ng a parallel proceeding between it and plaintiff Maisa Kurdi ("Plaintiff") to proceed. An application for a stay is addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. (Thomson v. Continental Ins. Co. (1967) 66 Cal.2d 738, 746.) In exercising its discretion, the court should consider the importance of, among other things, avoiding ...

Excerpt: ...If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Meet and Confer Plaintiffs assert that defendants failed to comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 435.5. Specifically, plaintiffs argue that defendants failed to meet and confer with plaintiffs regarding the issues raised by the motion to strike, though defendants still had ample time to meet and confer ...

Excerpt: ...f the minute order. Explanation: The function of a demurrer is to test the suffciency 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.A...

Excerpt: ... (See Code Civ. Proc., SS 377.31 et seq.) If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Explanation: On February, 28, 2023, defendant took plaintiff's deposition. During the depositon, an issue arose regarding production of documents. As follow up to the deposition, defendant has requested plaintiff produce certain of plaintiff's social media messages, emails, and text...

Excerpt: ...tion of Los Angeles Superior Court Case Number 20STCV33816. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Explanation: A defendant may make a plea in abatement pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (c). This section provides for a demurrer based on "another action pending between the same parties on the same cause of action." (Code Civ. Proc.,...

Excerpt: ...rrer that "[tlhe complaint is just stating allegations without one proof, no evidence was given that supports those allegations whatsoever." (See Demurrer at p. 2:4.) However, in deciding a demurrer, "the facts alleged in the pleading are deemed to be true, however improbable they may be." (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) In other words, the court does not concern itself with the issue of plaintiff's...

Excerpt: ...dards Enforcement (DLSE), which seek certain documents and the names of witnesses against it in the administrative proceeding the DLSE has brought against it for failure to list Covid-19 supplemental leave on its employees' wage statements. Petitioner contends that it needs this information in order to prepare its defense and to avoid unfair surprise at the informal administrative hearing on fts appeal of the citations. Petitioner cites to arovel...

Excerpt: ... to amend. Explanation: Demurrer: "The purpose of the [Elder Abuse Act was) essentially to protect a particularly vulnerable portion of the population from gross mistreatment in the form of abuse and custodial neglect." (Delaney v. Baker (1999) 20 Cal.4th 23, 33; see also Covenant Care, Inc. v. Superior Court (2CN) 32 Cal.4th 771, 787.) "In order to obtain the remedies available in section 15657, a plaintiff must demonstrate by clear and convinci...

Excerpt: ...service of the order by the clerk. Explanation: Second Cause of Action A class-of-one plaintiff, such as is the case here, must allege "that (1) the plaintiff was treated differently from other similarly situated persons, (2) the difference in treatment was intentional, and (3) there was no rational basis for the difference in treatment." (Las Lomas Land Co., LLC v. City of Los Angeles (20439) 177 Cal.App.4th 837, 858.) The City of Fresno ("City"...

Excerpt: ...counsel failed to file the motion for class certification by the court-ordered deadline. Defendant also claims that plaintiff has refused to comply with discovery requests, which has forced defendant to file requests for pretrial discovery conferences and motions to compel. Defendant claims to have been prejudiced by plaintiffs' obstruction of discovery and failure to bring a moton to certify the class in a timely manner. In addition, defendant c...

Excerpt: ...iff's request for sanctions. Explanation: This is an action arising out of the alleged sexual abuse of a student, J.L„ by a teacher, David Blancas, at Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School ("MonsonSultana"). Plaintiff alleges that he suffered sexual abuse between the ages of 10 and 13, from 6th to 8th grade. In February 2015 Monson-Sultana filed a motion for summary judgment on the ground that this action is time barred. In response, on ...

Excerpt: ... ascertainable class, (2) of a well-defined community of interest, and (3) that certification will provide substantial benefits to litigants and the courts, i.e., that proceeding as a class is superior to other methods. In turn, the community of interest requirement embodies three factors: (1) predominant common questions of law or fact; (2) class representatives with claims or defenses typical of the class; and (3) class representatives who can ...

Excerpt: ...type. Explanation: Late Filed Reply Defendant filed its reply pa#rs on September 19, 2023, two days before the hearing on these motions. Reply papers must be filed at least five court days before the hearing. Civ. Proc., S The court has discretion to refuse to consider such late filed papers in ruling on the motion. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.13W(d).) The court will not consider the late filed reply. Demurrer The function of a demurrer is to te...

Excerpt: ... Once a motion to compel discovery is granted, continued failure to comply may support a request for more severe sanctions. Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.010, subdivision (g), makes "[dlisobeying a court order to provide discovery" a "misuse of the discovery process," but sanctions are only authorized to the extent permitted by each discovery procedure. For failure to obey the court's discovery orders or to appear at a noticed deposition, ...

Excerpt: ...boldface. Explanation: Defendant County of Fresno ("defendant") demurs to the First Amended Complaint ("FAC") on the grounds that the second and third causes of action of the FAC, for breach arising from special relationships and for breach of mandatory duties, fall to state sufficient facts to state a cause of achon against defendant. Defendant further demurs to the second and third causes of action for uncertainty. On a demurrer a court's funct...

Excerpt: ...he Notice of Motion to Consolidate in case numbers 21CECG03062 and 22CECG00231 within 10 days of the clerk's service of the minute order. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on September 20, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: California Rules of Court, rule 3.350(a)(1)(C), requires the moving party to file the Notice of Motion to Consolidate in both cases proposed to be consolidated. The supporting memora...

Excerpt: ...sponses to Form Interrogatory Numbers 2.5, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 8.2, 8.4, 9.1, 9.2, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 15.1, 17.1 (with the exception of any responses addressing Request for Admission Numbers 9, 12, 14-15, 24-34), 50.1, 50.2, 50.3, 50.4, 50.5, 50.6; special Interrogatory Numbers 3-8, 9-13, 15-16, 18-22; Request for Admissions Numbers 2- 8, 10-11, 13, 16-23, 35; and Request for Production Numbers 1-16. To deny defendant Premier Valley Bank's motion to...

Excerpt: ...h defendants. To stay the pending civil action, including the claims of John Broaddus, until the resolution of the arbitration. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on September 20, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 1281.2, "[o]n petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy an...

Excerpt: ... minute order, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. (Code Civ. Proc„ S 437c, subd. To deny Fresno Community Hospital & Medical Center dba Community Regional Medical Center's ("CRMC") motion for summary judgment. (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (c).) If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on September 20, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: Plaintiff alleges that defendants...

Excerpt: ...amirez (together "Plaintiffs") seek an order of preliminary injunction prohibiting defendants Gill Growers, Inc., Vindeep Gill, Lakhbir Gill, and Manjit K. Gill (collectively "Defendants") from: (1) Continuing to fail to maintain the sewer system at 11126 S. Orange Avenue, Fresno, California 93725 (the "Property"), consistent with Civil Ctxle section 1941.1 and Health and Safety Code sections 17920.3, subdivision (a)(14)-(15) and (c); (2) Continu...

Excerpt: ...old print. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on September 20, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. Explanation: A party may file a general demurrer on claims that "[tlhe pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action." (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e); Estate of Moss (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 521, 535 demurrer can be utilized where the complaint itself is incomplete ....' [Citations.]" l.) ...

Excerpt: ...s of 10 and 13 years, from 6th to 8th grade. Monson-Sultana now moves for summary judgment or, alternatively, summary adjudication. Summary Adjudication Monson-Sultana does not move for summary adjudicaton of any particular causes of action, but that "No Administrative or Supervisory Employee of Monson- Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District Had Prior Knowledge, Nor Any Reason to Know, That David Blancas Had A Dangerous Propensity to Abus...

Excerpt: ...wners who assigned to plaintiff their claims arising from the alleged impro#r foreclosure of their homes. Wells Fargo has demurred to the First Amended Complaint ("FAC") and all causes of action. Plaintiff's Suspended Corporate Status Wells Fargo first contends that because plaintiff had been suspended, it lacks capacity to sue. However, with the Request for Judicial Notice, plaintiff submits evidence that its status has been reinstated. As of Ma...

Excerpt: ...ted to submit to this court, within 7 days of service of the minute order, a Proposed Judgment dismissing the action. Explanation: In 2021, Astroturf was awarded contracts for the addition of turf to McLane High School and Sunnyside High School in Fresno Unified School District. Plaintiff Dominick aerarducci, a manager for Astroturf, alleges defamatory statements were published by defendant Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) within a September...

Excerpt: ...t she saw smoke coming from what appeared to be the mobile home of defendant Laura Christine Gribben (Gribben). When she went to inform Gribben, she observed Gribben's son, defendant Joshua Dale Cross (Cross), burning items outside Gribben's home and moving the items around with a garden hoe. As plaintiff tried to leave, Cross hit her in the head with the hoe, causing severe injuries. Gribben demurred to the fourth, fifth and sixth causes against...

Excerpt: ...rp.; and Planet 13 Holdings, Inc., to the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth causes of action of the First Amended Complaint, without leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subd. (e).) To sustain the demurrer of defendant Jennings to the entire First Amended Complaint, without leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action...

Excerpt: ... for Production, Set Two Tentative Ruling: To grant defendant General Motors, LLC's motion for relief from waiver of objections asserted in its response to Request for Production of Documents, Set Two. To deny plaintiff Brooks' motion to compel further responses to requests for production, set one. To take off calendar plaintiff Brooks' motion to compel the deposition of defendant's person most knowledgeable for failure to file moving papers. To ...

Excerpt: ...his error on plaintiff's part. Healthcare providers must possess and exerc:ise "that reasonable degree of skill, knowledge, and care ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of 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 h...

Excerpt: ...his error on plaintiff's part. Healthcare providers must possess and exerc:ise "that reasonable degree of skill, knowledge, and care ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of 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 h...

Excerpt: ... for Production, Set Two Tentative Ruling: To grant defendant General Motors, LLC's motion for relief from waiver of objections asserted in its response to Request for Production of Documents, Set Two. To deny plaintiff Brooks' motion to compel further responses to requests for production, set one. To take off calendar plaintiff Brooks' motion to compel the deposition of defendant's person most knowledgeable for failure to file moving papers. To ...

Excerpt: ...rp.; and Planet 13 Holdings, Inc., to the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth causes of action of the First Amended Complaint, without leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subd. (e).) To sustain the demurrer of defendant Jennings to the entire First Amended Complaint, without leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action...

Excerpt: ...ubmitted on reply by the Supplemental Declaration of Donna Barrett. Plaintiff shall file and serve the supplemental briefing by 5:00 p.m. on October 27, 2023. Defendant shall serve and file its response to the supplemental briefing by 5:00 p.m. on November 2, 2023. Explanation: Defendant The General Council of the Assemblies of God ("Defendant") seeks summary judgment or, in the alternative, summary adjudication of the three causes of action of t...

Excerpt: ...olve the issues, defense counsel shall file a declaration, no later than September 22, 2023, stating the efforts made. If no declaration is filed, the hearing will be taken off calendar. Explanation: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41, "[b]efore filing a demurrer pursuant to this chapter, the demurring party shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose ...

Excerpt: ...rance Company's demurrer to the fifth cause of action. Plaintiff is granted 10 days' leave to file and serve a Fourth Amended Complaint. The time to file such pleading will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. All new allegations in the pleading are to be set in boldface type, failure to do so (again) will result in the pleading being stricken. Explanation: On November 3, 2021, plaintiff filed suit against defendants Samuel Alexande...

Excerpt: ... that transaction, plaintiff signed a Retail Installment Sales Contract ("RISC") which contained an arbitration clause. Problems with the vehicle ensued, and this "lemon law" action was filed on March 25, 2022, against Nissan and Naftoon, lnc„ a repair facility (but not the seller). The Complaint alleges the following causes of action: (1) Violation of the Song-Beverly Act — Breach of Express Warranty; (2) Fraudulent Inducement — Intentiona...

Excerpt: ...the issues, but merely discovers, through the medium of affdavits or declarations, whether there are issues to be tried and whether the parties possess evidence that demands the analysis of a trial. (Melamed v City of Long Beach (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 70, 76; Molko v Holy Spirit Ass'n (1988) 46 Cal.3d 1092, 1107; Schwoerer v Union Oil Co. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 103, 110.) In short, the motion is not a substitute for a bench trial. Summary adjudicat...

Excerpt: ...an be amended and the distribution of any cy pres funds can be ordered. as to the amount paid to class members must be filed on or before August 1, 2024. 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. In addition, there does n...

Excerpt: ...ary judgment, except it acts on specific causes of action, rather than on the entire complaint. (Oroville Hospital v. Superior Court (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 382, 398.) A plaintiff moving for summary judgment or adjudication of a cause of action must "prove[l each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on that cause of action." (Paramount Petroleum Corp. v. Superior Court (2014) 227 Cal.App.4th 226, 241; Code Civ. Proc„ S 4...

Excerpt: ...f the instrument shall be attached. (2) A showing that the property is wrongfully detained by the defendant, of the manner in which the defendant came into possession of the property, and, according to the best knowledge, information, and belief of the plaintiff, of the reason for the detention. (3) A particular description of the property and a statement of its value. (4) A statement, according to the best knowledge, information, and belief of t...

Excerpt: ...f's motion to set the trial date against the estate of Robert Bray by September 7, 2023. To deny the alternative moton to extend the five-year statute for bringing the case to trial. Explanation: Summary Judgment Motion To the extent plaintiff seeks summary judgment against defendant Adi McKissen, the court has already granted McKissen's motion for judgment on the pleadings as to all claims alleged against her without leave to amend. Therefore, p...

Excerpt: ... to address defects in pleadings otherwise not challengeable by a demurrer. (See Code Civ. Proc., S 435.) A motion to strike can be used to attack either a portion or the entirety of a pleading. (Ibid.) Waiver Cross-complainants rely on California Rules of Court, rule 8.54(c), for the position that cross-defendant's arguments are waived because he did not assert them in an opposition to the motion for leave to file a cross-complaint. The rule sta...

Excerpt: ...ivision (a), "[t]he 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...

Excerpt: ... Plaintiff may file and serve a Second Amended Complaint within ten (10) days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. To grant the moton to strike portions of the First Amended Complaint only as to the prayer for punt-ive damages, without leave to amend. To deny the motion to strike portions of the First Amended Complaint on all other grounds. Explanation: On June 30, 2022, plaintiff filed suit against defe...

Excerpt: ...ice by the clerk of the minute order. All new allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To deny the motion to strike. Explanation: The express basis for the demurrer is that the Second Amended Cross-complaint fails to state facts constituting a cause of action, based upon Code of Civil Procedure section 431.10, subdivision (e). Plaintiffs also demurred for uncertainty to the second and third causes of action. The request for judicial not...

Excerpt: ...ments are alleged to be confidential business records that contain proprietary information on defendant's operations. Defendant additionally notes that a prior court order for protection authorizes the filing of confidential information under seal. However, "[a] record must not be filed under seal without a court order. The court must not permit a record to be filed under seal based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties." (Cal. Ru...

Excerpt: ...ease agreement, or an assignee of the lease agreement. Thus, U.S. Bank National Association was not the real party in interest who had the right to sue on this claim. (Code Civ. Proc., S 367; Jasmine Networks, Inc. v. Superior Court (2009) 180 Cal.App.4th 980, 991 [noting that while the standing statute/requirement is "superficially concerned with procedural rules," application of the statute "really calls for a consideration of rights and obliga...

Excerpt: ...efendants bear the burden of proving that there is a complete defense to each challenged cause of action or that plaintiff cannot establish one or more elements of each of its challenged causes of action. (Barber v. Marina Sailing, Inc. (1995) 35 Cal.App.4th 558, 562.) If that burden is met, plaintiff can defeat the motion by demonstrating a triable issue of material fact. (Martinez v. Enterprise Rent-Acar Co. (2004) 119 Cal.App.4th 46, 52-53.) I...

Excerpt: ...action for fraud, the fifth cause of action for conspiracy, the sixth cause of achon for declaratory relief, and the seventh cause of action for unjust enrichment. She argues that plaintiff has not stated any valid claims against her because plaintiff admits in his Third Amended Complaint that the contract that he executed with the Brays to purchase the subject property was invalid because the Brays did not have the authority to sell the property...

Excerpt: ...ate facts sufficient to constitute a cause of acton. To sustain defendant Saint Agnes Medical Center's demurrer, with leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of acton. To sustain defendant Sierra Pacific Orthopedics' demurrer, with leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Plaintiff is granted 10 days' leave to file a Second Amended Complaint. The time to file such p...

Excerpt: ...y demur to the entirety of the Complaint of plaintiffs Julie Osborn and Carolyn Michelle Barnes, an individual and as trustee to the Homer R. Osborn Living Trust, UTD December 4, (together "plaintiffs"). Defendants further generally demur to the entirety of the Complaint for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The Complaint states twelve causes of action: (1) financial elder abuse; (2) physical and emotional elder a...

Excerpt: ... within an action or one or more issues of duty, if the party contends that there is no affrmative defense to the cause of action, „ or that one or more defendants either owed a duty to the plaintiff (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (f)(l).) Plaintiff Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center, d/b/a Community Health System ("CMC") moves for summary adjudication of the first cause of action for breach of contract against Community Regional Med...

Excerpt: ...ponses and for sanctons as to special interrogatories nos. 7, 9, 10, 16, 24, 27, 81, 88, 101, 102, 105, 107, 111, 112, 113, 135 and 188, form interrogatory 8.7, and request for production no. 8. After plaintiff CMC served supplemental responses on 11/14/22, the court continued the hearing and ordered the parties to meet and confer to resolve and narrow any remaining issues: "After an exchange of letters setting forth the parties' positions (with ...

Excerpt: ...ept as otherwise provided by law and subject to the power of the court to transfer actions or proceed-ngs as provided in this title, the superior court in the county where the defendants or some of them reside at the commencement of the action is the proper court for the trial of the action." (Code Civ. Proc., S 395, subd. (a).) Also, "if a defendant has contracted to perform an obligation in a particular county, the superior court in the county ...

Excerpt: ... view to substantial justice between the parties. (Code Civ. Proc. S 452.) The allegations in the complaint are considered in context and presumed to be true. (Clauson v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1253, 1255.) Mere legal conclusions of oppression, fraud or malice are insufficient to support punitive damages allegations and therefore may be stricken. (Perkins v. Superior Court (1981) 117 Cal.App.3d 1, 6.) However, if looking to the comp...

Excerpt: ...tal filing shall be made no later than p.m. on October 24, 2023. Explanation: Plaintiff Kelly Roberts ("plaintiff") brings a single cause of action under PAGA on behalf of herself and all aggrieved employees under Labor Code secton 2698 et seq. Defendants Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc. and Beauty Systems Groups LLC (together "defendants") now seek an order compelling plaintiff to arbitrate her PAGA claim as an individual, and to dismiss the represen...

Excerpt: ...rrer to the fourth cause of action. To grant the motion to strike. To grant leave to amend. Should plaintiff desire to amend, the Second Amended Complaint shall be filed within ten (10) days from the date of this order. The new amendments shall be in bold print. Should plaintiff elect not to amend, demurring defendants shall file responsive pleadings within twenty (20) days from the date of this order. Explanation: The demurring defendants challe...

Excerpt: ...rm Interrogatories (Set One); and 5) Imposing Monetary Sanctions Jointly Against All Defendants Tentatve Ruling: To grant plaintiff Huey Hodges, Jr.'s motion to strike Defendant Disaster Relief International, Inc.-DRI, Inc. ("DRI") from the Answer filed October 14, 2022. To find the motion to compel defendant DRI's responses to form interrogatories moot in light of striking defendant DRI from the Answer. To grant plaintiff's motons to compel resp...

Excerpt: ...impose monetary sanctions in the sum of $3,210, to be paid by GM to plaintiffs' counsel within 20 days of service of the order by the clerk. Explanation: Plaintiffs move to compel further responses to production demand nos. 16-31, 33, 37-41 and 45-46. In response to these demands, GM served objections and stated that no documents would be produced. After the parties entered into a protective order, GM proceeded to produce a number of documents, b...

Excerpt: ...tly and severally, in the amount of $660, payable to the Law Office of Amy R. Lovegren-Tipton, APLC within 30 days of the clerk's service of the minute order. Explanation: Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.010 defines "misuses of the discovery process" as including, "failing to respond or submit to an authorized method of discovery" and "disobeying a court order to provide discovery." (Code Civ. Proc. S 2030.010, subds. (d) & (g).) Secton 2023...

Excerpt: ...rticipation) motion is entitled to attorney fees. (Code Civ. Proc., S 425.16, subd. (c)(l).) Even where the plaintiff dismisses the action or part of the action prior to the hearing, courts have uniformly held that the trial court retains jurisdiction to award attorney fees against the plaintiff. (Coltrain v. Shewalter (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 94, 107.) A number of courts have held that the determinative question as to whether fees should be awarded...

Excerpt: ...ithin 20 days of the clerk's service of this order. New or different allegations in a Third Amended Complaint are to be set in boldface type. To strike and overrule the demurrer by HSBC Bank, LISA and Mortgage Electronic Registration System. Explanation: Demurrer by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. ("Wells Fargo") "To withstand a demurrer, a complaint must allege ultimate facts, not evidentiary facts or conclusions of law." (Logan v. Southern Cal. Rapid Tr...

Excerpt: ...g the following factors (evaluated as of the time of the settlement): 1) a rough approximation of plaintiffs' total recovery and the settlor's proportionate liability; 2) the amount paid in settlement; 3) a recognition that a settlor should pay less in settlement than if found liable after a trial; 4) the allocation of the settlement proceeds among plaintiffs; 5) the settlor's financial condition and insurance policy limits, if any; and 6) eviden...

Excerpt: ...laremont Capital Partners, LLC dba Ocean Grown Extracts dba Evidence ("Claremont LLC"), and four new causes of action relating to these parties' interference with the business and contractual relations between plaintiff and defendant Latchkey Pioneers, LLC ("Pioneers"). Plaintiff has met the formalities required of a motion to amend the Complaint, and has given due notice to all appearing defendants. Motions for leave to amend pleadings are direc...