Excerpt: ... deny in par t. (Code Civ. Proc., § 436.) The request to strike the allegations pertaining to defendant Samuel Lofty Confectioner's acts done in the course and scope of his employment with defendant Fresno Unified School District (“FUSD”) is granted. The request to st rike the allegations pertaining to FUSD's duty to investigate is granted. The request to strike the prayer for attorney's fees pursuant to Civil Code 52 and 52.4 is granted. T...

Excerpt: ...gh evidence regarding the hours spent on the case and the tasks performed to find that the requested fees are reasonable and should be approved. She has also not provided enough evidence to support the request to approve her law clerk's rate of $225 per hour . In Serrano v. Priest (1977) 20 Cal.3d 25, the California Supreme Court stated: “ ‘The starting point of every fee award, once it is recognized that the court's role in equity is to...

Excerpt: ...laintiff Zahi Saleh shall serve and file an amended complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Demurrer Defendant General Motors, LLC ("Defendant") demurs to the fifth cause of action, for fraudulent concealment of the First Amended Complaint ("FAC") by plaintiff Zahi Saleh ("Plaintiff"). On a demurrer a court's function is limited to testing the legal sufficiency of the c...

Excerpt: ...Emeline Pano will be dismissed as a defendant in plaintiff's Complaint. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd. (d)(3).) Explanation: Plaintiff has a history of failing to comply with discovery obligations in this action, and appears to have abandoned this action. On August 10, 2023, and October 10, 2023, defendant Emeline Pano served plaintiff with deposition notices. Plaintiff never objected, but failed to appear on both occasions. On August 30, 2...

Excerpt: ...tiff Kimberly White are ordered to appear at the hearing on this motion. Explanation: Healthcare providers must possess and exercise “that reasonable degree of skill, knowledge, and care ordinarily possessed and exercised by members of the medical profession under si milar 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 ...

Excerpt: ...e order. Explanation: A general demurrer is sustained where the pleading is insufficient to state a cause of action or is incomplete. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e); Estate of Moss (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 521, 535.) A special demurrer, though disfavored, is nevertheless sustained where a pleading is so uncertain that the defendant cannot reasonably respond to the subject pleading. (Khoury v. Maly's of Calif., Inc. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 612...

Excerpt: ...aint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To overrule the special demurrer for uncertainty. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (f).) Explanation: A party may file a general demurrer on claims that “[t]he pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e); Estate of Moss (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 521, 535...

Excerpt: ...planation: Corporations may not represent themselves before the court in propria persona, nor can corporations represent themselves through their officers, directors, or any other employee who is not an attorney. (CLD Construction, Inc. v. City of San Ramon (2 004) 120 Cal.App.4th 1141, 1145.) Corporations must be represented by an appropriately licensed attorney in court proceedings. (CLD Construction, Inc. v. City of San Ramon, supra, 120 Cal.A...

Excerpt: ...984) 158 Cal.Ap p.3d 524, 526), the expiration of the time period is considered “‘jurisdictional' in the sense that it renders the court without authority to rule on motions to compel other than to deny them.” (Sexton v. Superior Court (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 1403, 1410 (S exton) [referring to the 45- day statutory time limit]; see also Vidal Sassoon Inc. v. Superior Court (1983) 147 Cal.App.3d 681, 684 (Sassoon); Standon Co. v. Superior Cour...

Excerpt: ...ice, Lazy Dog Restaurants, LLC's motion to bifurcate the contractual interpretation causes of action within the cross -complaints filed by Element Security Solutions, Inc. and Manco Abbott, Inc. from the issues of liability and damages. Explanation: Under Code of Civ il Procedure section 598, court is given great discretion in regard to the order of issues at trial: The court may, when the convenience of witnesses, the ends of justice, or the ec...

Excerpt: ...tion: Fee A ward Plaintiff Ricardo Regalado Ceja (“Plaintiff”) seeks an award of attorney fees. Under what statutory authority Plaintiff seeks an award of fees is unclear. The moving papers appear to suggest that the parties stipulated to seek an award of fees and cos ts under a settlement agreement not in evidence on the present motion. Instead, counsel for Plaintiff submits into evidence 15 irrelevant orders from other cases in other jurisd...

Excerpt: ...-24; page 1 9, lines 6-11; and page 19, line 27, with leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc., § 436; Civ. Code, § 3294.) Plaintiff is granted 20 days' leave to file the third amended complaint. The time to file the third amended complaint will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. All new allegations in the third amended complaint are to be set in boldface type. Explanation: Demurrer Retaliation/Discrimination Defendants, India Oven, I...

Excerpt: ... FAC alleges two ca uses of action, for premises liability, and general negligence, based on Plaintiff's use of a recreational area on October 30, 2018, in the prison, wherein Plaintiff alleges having stepped into a gopher hole causing injury. A trial court shall grant summary judgment where there are no triable issues of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc. §437c(c); Schacter v. Citigro...

Excerpt: ...sire to a mend, the First 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 file an amended pleading within that time period, demurring defendants shall file responsive pleadings within twenty (20) days from the date of this order. Explanation: In deciding a demurrer, the court is guided by well -established principles that the test is whe...

Excerpt: ...425.10, subd. (b).) But the defendant may, at any time, serve a request on plaintiff for a Statement of Damages (mandatory Jud. Counc. Form CIV -050) setting forth the nature and amount of damages being sought. (Code Civ. Proc., § 425.11, subd. (b).) Once such a d emand is served, plaintiff has 15 days to serve the responsive statement. If that response is not served, defendant may file a noticed motion and petition the court to order plaintiff...

Excerpt: ...e Civ. Proc., § 583.310.) “An action shall be dismissed by the court on its own motion or on motion of the defendant, after notice to the parties, if the action is not brought to trial within the time prescribed in this article.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 583.360, sub d. (a).) “The requirements of this article are mandatory and are not subject to extension, excuse, or exception except as expressly provided by statute.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 58...

Excerpt: ...anati on: 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., § 2023.010, su bds. (d) & (g).) Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.030 states, in relevant part: To the extent authorized by the chapter governing any particular discovery method or any o...

Excerpt: ...0 et seq. , may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs in the court's discretion. (Govt. Code §12965, subd. (c)(6).) Plaintiff prevailed at trial and moves for an award of attorney's fees and costs. In her motion for attorney's fees, plaintiff requests an award of fees in the amount of $130,672.50, reflecting a 1.5 multiplier applied to the lodestar of $87,115.00, and litigation costs in the amount of $2,723.61. Defendant does not oppo...

Excerpt: ...of the proposed settlement. An agreement of the parties is not sufficient to establish 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, 93- 95.) “Class certification requires proof (1) of a sufficiently numerous, ascertainable class, (2) of a well - defined community of interest, and (3) that certi...

Excerpt: ... a right of first refusal to buy the remaining properties owned by the Virginia Shubin Barnett Living Trust for $12,500. (Exhibit D to Mireles decl., p. 2, ¶¶ 5.1, 6.) Plaintiff was to pay off the delinquent taxes on the properties, including $97,842.04 payable to Fresno County, $28,078.00 to the federal government, and $4,057.00 to the state. (Ibid.) Plaintiff was to pay the remaining balance of $120,022.96 to the Trust over five years. (Ibi...

Excerpt: ...e Thir d Amended Complaint. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e).) To deny the motion to strike as moot. To set a hearing for Thursday, May 16, 2024, 3:30 p.m. in Department 502 to determine why a final leave to amend should not be granted. A supplemental opposi tion and reply may be filed in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1005. Explanation: On November 2, 2023, plaintiff California Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hea...

Excerpt: ...ch was entered in favor of Plaintiff against defendants Larry Oakander and Patricia Oakander (collectively “Defendants”). The First Amended Complaint stated one remaining cause of action against Defendants, for breach of installment note. On September 15, 202 3, Plaintiff timely lodged a Memorandum of Costs. On October 2, 2023, Defendants timely filed the instant motion to tax costs. Defendants object to each entry, in part, due to a lack of...

Excerpt: ...laration is ruled upon as follows: Objection No. 4 is sustained for improper legal conclusion. Objection Nos. 5 and 8 are sustained for irrelevance and lack of foundation. Objection Nos. 9, 14 -16 are sustained for improper legal conclusion. Objection Nos. 10 -12 are su stained for lack of personal knowledge. Objection No. 17 is sustained for lack of foundation. Objection No. 18- 20 are sustained for lack of personal knowledge. Objection No. 21 i...

Excerpt: ..., with leave to amend. Plaintiff shall serve and file his first amended complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Demurrer First, to the extent that plaintiff seeks to state a clai m against defendant William Smittcamp, he has not alleged any facts showing that he was employed by Mr. Smittcamp, had a contractual or other relationship with him, or that Mr. Smittcamp did ...

Excerpt: ...t 17, 2023, the court sustains the objections to Exhibit A and the reference to the same in paragraph 6. The court overrules the objection to paragraph 5. Regarding the Declaration of Martin Martin filed February 7, 2024, the court overrules the objections to p aragraphs 3 and 7, but sustains the objections to paragraphs 4 -6 and Exhibit A. Arbitration Agreement Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), A written provision in … a contract...

Excerpt: ...e “tantamoun t to no responses at all[]” (Appleton v. Superior Court (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 632, 636), plaintiff's oppositions to the subject discovery motions notes that the verifications were served with the attendant oppositions – a representation not challenged in t he replies. Monetary sanctions are typically awardable under such circumstances. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1348(a); Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting, Inc. v. Pacific He...

Excerpt: ...Custom Chopping, LLC for an Order Deeming Admissions by Plaintiff Telmo Coelho to Request for Admissions, Set One, and Request for Sanctions (3) By Defendant Kyle Brock for an Order Compelling Initial Responses from Plaintiff Telmo Coelho to Form Interrogatories – General, Set One, Form Interrogatories – Employment, Set One, Special Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set One, and Request for Sanctions (4) By De...

Excerpt: ...nty Superior Co urt. Horizon Nut, LLC, Horizon Growers Cooperative, Inc., and Joel Perkins filed a demurrer challenging the first cause of action for equitable indemnity on the grounds that it seeks equitable indemnity for an alleged third- party breach of contract and violates public policy. The court agrees with the latter ground and intends to sustain the demurrer. In the first cause of action for equitable indemnity, Nutrien alleges that H...

Excerpt: ...aid on thei r behalf, DHCS may assert a lien on a personal injury settlement. However, where the Medi -Cal beneficiary's injury case settles for less than the full amount of damages, any Medi -Cal lien must be reduced based on a reasonable apportionment of the amount o f Medi-Cal benefits provided in comparison to the full amount of the beneficiary's damages. DHCS may only recover “that portion of a settlement that represents payments for me...

Excerpt: ...aid progra m, administered by the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS or Department). (42 U.S.C., § 1396a.) When a Medi -Cal beneficiary is injured and medical expenses are paid on their behalf, DHCS may assert a lien on a personal injury settlement. However, w here the Medi -Cal beneficiary's injury case settles for less than the full amount of damages, any Medi -Cal lien must be reduced based on a reasonable apportionment of the amount ...

Excerpt: ...n an action under the Song–Beverly Act “shall be allowed by the court to recover as part of the judgment a sum equal to the aggregate amount of costs and expenses, including attorney's fees based on actual time expended, determined by the court to have been reas onably incurred by the buyer in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.” (Civ. Code, § 1794, subd. (d).) The statute “requires the trial court to mak...

Excerpt: ...ff in this case, Jose Rios Garcia, alleges a single cause of action against the County of Fresno (the "County") for premises liability arising from an accident that occurred when he bumped into a glass window and cut his eye after previously undergoing eye s urgery. Grounds for Demurrer The County demurs generally on the ground that the plaintiff fails to state a cause of action because: (1) under Government Code section 945.6, he failed ...

Excerpt: ...er second amended complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: “ ‘Code of Civil Procedure section 473, which gives the courts power to permit amendments in furtherance of justice, has r eceived a very liberal interpretation by the courts of this state.... In spite of this policy of liberality, a court may deny a good amendment in proper form where there is unwarranted de...

Excerpt: ...f the second amended complaint with leave to amend. The plaintiff is granted leave of 10 days to file his first amended complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: The plaintiff, Joshua Spengeman, filed his complaint in this action on September 6, 2022, to recover for harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and assault he experienced on his job as an employee...

Excerpt: ...oes not dispute that there exists an agreement to arbitrate, and that its cross- claims fall within the scope of the agreement. (Clark Decl., Exh. 1, ¶ 23.) In fact, the cross- claims were previously asserted by Joesclub in arbitration before LMI filed the C omplaint in this unlimited civil action. The arbitration proceeding was closed for lack of payment of on the retainer fee by Joesclub. (Clark Decl., Exh. 4.) Accordingly, the basic criteria...

Excerpt: ...ause of action. To grant leave to amend as to the ninth and seventeenth causes of action, and to deny leave to amend as to the sixteenth cause of action. To deny defendants' motion to strike portions of the complaint, in its entirety. Pla intiffs shall serve and file their first amended complaint within 10 days of the date of service of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: Demurrer to Sixth Cause of Action: With re...

Excerpt: ... defendant is likely to suffer if the preliminary injunction were issued.” (IT Corp. v. County of Imperial (1983) 35 Cal.3d 63, 69 -70; see also Code Civ. Proc., § 526, subd. (d)(2) [Injunctive relief appropriate “[w]hen it appears by the complaint or aff idavits 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.”].) The Code of Civil Procedure...

Excerpt: ...il Procedure section 1281.2 states that, “[o]n petition of a party to an arbitration agreement 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 arbitra...

Excerpt: ... cause of action with leave to amend; and to deny the defendant's motion to strike. The plaintiff is granted leave of 10 days to file her fourth amended complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Eleven plaintiffs, not including plaintiff Gina Beckman, filed the original complaint in this action on September 7, 2022, against a single named defendant, Saint Agnes...

Excerpt: ...nder 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 cou rt.” (Lab. Code, § 2699, subd. (i)(2).) ‘“‘A representative action under PAGA is not a class action'”', and is instead a ‘type of qui tam action', a standard requiring the trial court to det...

Excerpt: ...ntinue the hearing on the motion to Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. in Department 502, to afford plaintiff one final opportunity to comply with the court's order dated 11/7/2023. Defendant shall file with this court an update on the status of the discov ery nine court days before the continued hearing. Explanation: On 5/5/23 defendant propounded on plaintiff Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories and Request for Production of Docume...

Excerpt: ... to this court, within seven days of the date of service by the clerk of this order, a proposed judgment dismissing this action as to defendant. The court denies defendant's additional request for monetary sanctions. 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 section 2023.010, subdivision (g), makes “[d]isobeying a court order to...

Excerpt: ...ion: “The ethical obligation to warn opposing counsel of an intent to take a default is now reinforced by a statutory policy that all parties ‘cooperate in bringing the action to trial or other disposition.' Quiet speed and unreasonable deadlines do no t qualify as ‘cooperation' and cannot be accepted by the courts.” (Lasalle v. Vogel (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 127, 137, emphasis added, citations omitted.) In addition, “[t]he law favors judg...

Excerpt: ...nation: The purpose of consolidation is to enhance trial court efficiency by avoiding unnecessary duplication of evidence and procedures, and to avoid the substantial danger of inconsistent adjudications. (Todd -Stenberg v. Dalkon Shield Claimants Trust (1996) 48 Cal.App.4th 976, 978.) And where the issue is consolidating an unlawful detainer action with a civil action making a claim of ownership of the subject property, the additional issue is o...

Excerpt: ...r by the clerk, defendants shall submit a proposed Judgment dismissing the action. If oral argument is timely requested, such argument will be entertained in Department 403 at 3:30 p.m. on March 7, 2024. Explanation: In the FAC filed on 8/15/23, plaintiff Stacy Hu ber alleges she was falsely accused of misconduct at a termination meeting, terminated, and not given any reason for the termination. Based on these bare allegations, plaintiff alleges...

Excerpt: ..., to allow time for: (1) ESIS, Inc. to serve all appearing parties to the action with the moving papers and to file a corrected proof of service; and (2) the proposed successor in interest to substitute as a party to this action for the deceased plaint iff. The proposed successor in interest may file an ex parte application and reserve an ex parte hearing date for the substitution. The proposed successor in interest may re -file her opposition...

Excerpt: ...ovisi on is deemed severed from the Retail Installment Sale Contract. To stay this action and the remaining claims against defendant PRCO, Inc. and American Contractors Indemnity Company pending the completion of arbitration. Explanation: Plaintiff contracte d to purchase a vehicle from Car Palace, Inc., doing business as Auto Depot, on credit. (Shahnematollah Decl., ¶ 9, Exh. A; Second Amended Complaint, ¶¶ 2, 5.) The dealership then assigned...

Excerpt: ...submitted on reply in the Reply Declaration of Gary Revis. All supplemental briefing will be per Code of Civil Procedure section 1005, subdivision (b), treating March 26, 2024 as the original hearing date. Explanation: Defendant Future Clovis, Inc. d ba Future Ford of Clovis (“Defendant”) moves for an order compelling Plaintiffs SS Pro Flooring & Construction, Inc. and Saul Sanchez Medina (collectively “Plaintiffs”) to arbitration. A tri...

Excerpt: ...30.10, subd. (e), (f).) To overrule the demurrers to the first and second causes of action. The time in which the complaint may be amended will run from service of the order by the clerk. All new allegations shall be in boldface type. Explanation: This is an elder abuse action brought on behalf of Dorothy Magee (“Decedent”), through her successor -in -interest Lydell Magee. Decedent's children, Lydell Magee and Marcel Smith, also assert a wr...

Excerpt: ...dure section 473.5 in their arguments. Cross- Complainant JD Properties, Inc. addressed both grounds. Accordingly, the court proceeds on both grounds. Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) provides, in pertinent part: The court may, upon any te rms as may be just, relieve a party or his or her legal representative from a judgment, dismissal, order, or other proceeding taken against him or her through his or her mistake, inadvertenc...