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: ... 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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ..., 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: ...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: ...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: ...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...

Excerpt: ... Center (“Villagio”) and Manco Abbott, Inc., collectively “Settling Defendants,” have agreed to settle with plaintiffs for a total of $5,000,000.00, with offsets taken for settlements reached with defendants Cirks Construction, Inc. in the amount of $125,000 and Miller Clark Landscape and Nursery in the amount of $130,000. The final amount of the settlement is $4,745,000 with Lazy Dog contributing $949,000.00, Villagio contributing $2,37...

Excerpt: ...Civil Procedure section 425.16, "[a] cause of action against a person arising from any act of that person in furtherance of the person 's rightof petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court determines that the plaintiff has established that there is a probability that the plaintiff will prevail on the ...

Excerpt: ...defendants Sergio Franco and Vantage Point Finance, LLC in its entirety. If oral argument is timely requested, such argument will be entertained at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024, in Department 502. Explanation: Several parties move for summary judgment of the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) by plaintiff Cameron Arballo (“Plaintiff”). The SAC states eight causes of action: (1) breach of contract/specific performance; (2) quiet...

Excerpt: ...to file such pleading will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To deny plaintiff's motion to strike. If oral argument is timely requested, such argument will be entertained at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, 2024, in Department 502. Explanation: Demurrer Code of Civil Procedure section 430.40 provides that a person may demur to an answer within 10 days after service of the...

Excerpt: ... any action or proceeding." (Code Civ. Proc., 1032, (subd. (b).) "Prevailing party' includes the party with a net monetary recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtans any relief, and a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that defendant." (Code Civ. Proc., S 1032, subd. (a)(4).) Here, defendant Saint Agnes Medical Center was clearly th...

Excerpt: ...eek relief under Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.040, 2023.030, 2023.030, and 2023.050 on the basis that defendant's “responses are evasive and incomplete and the objections are without merit or too general.” (Notice of Motions, at p. 2:1 -2 .) Plaintiff's separate statements, however, shows that defendant responded to most of the subject interrogatories and requests for admissions with straight forward denials and factual replies. In p...

Excerpt: ...3:30 p.m. in Department 502. To impose a monetary sanction against defendants Lithia NC, Inc. and American Credit Acceptance, LLC in the amount of $5,560, payable no later than thirty (30) days from the date of service of this order. Explanation: Code of Civ il Procedure section 1281.98 provides, in pertinent part: In an employment or consumer arbitration that requires, either expressly or through application of state or federal law or the rules ...

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

Excerpt: ...oot. Explanation: SUMMARY JUDGMENT Evidentiary Objections The court finds plaintiff's objection to Pappas Declaration paragraph 3, and Exhibit A attached thereto, moot in light of plaintiff's submission of the same evidence in her opposition. The court overrules plaintiff's remaining objections to the Pappas Declaration. Merits A trial court shall grant summary judgment where there are no triable issues of material fact and the moving party is e...

Excerpt: ...awal is not yet e
¯ective, as counsel have not Þled proof of service of the Order Granting Attorney's Motion to be Relieved as Counsel. According to the order at paragraph 5, the “[attorney] is relieved as counsel of record for client e
¯ective upon the Þling of the proof of service of this signed order upon the client.” No such proof of service has been Þled. Plainti
¯ Þled this is action to recover on a $500,000 Loan Agreement and Pr...

Excerpt: ...demurrer is to test the su
¯iciency of a plainti
¯'s pleading by raising questions of law. (Plumlee v. Poag (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 541, 545.) The test is whether plainti
¯ has succeeded in stating a cause of action; the court does not concern itself with the issue of plainti
¯'s possible di
¯iculty or inability in proving the allegations of the complaint. (Highlanders, Inc. v. Olsan (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 690, 697.) In assessing the su
¯icienc...

Excerpt: ... Sixth, and Seventh Causes of Action Tentative Ruling: To sustain the demurrers to the entire Third Amended Complaint, with leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (f).) To take judicial notice of each document included in defendants' requests for judicial notice. (Evid. Code, § 452, subds. (c), (d).) Explanation: Defendant Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center dba Community Regional Medical Center (“CRMC”) generally and sp...

Excerpt: ...ourt may make any order that justice requires to protect any party or other person from unwarranted annoyance, embarrassment, oppression, or undue burden and expense. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.060, subd. (b).) This motion is brought pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.060. Accordingly, the Superior Court of Fresno County, Local Rules, rule 2.1.17 applies. The relevant provision of Local Rule 2.1.17 provides as follows “…no motion...

Excerpt: ...l dollar amounts Þlled in (actual costs awarded as well as enhancement payments), within 5 days of the clerk's service of this order. To set a hearing on December 4, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. in Department 502 as a hearing date for an Amended Judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 384. A veriÞed report of payouts of settlement funds and a proposed amended judgment shall be submitted no later than November 18, 2024. Explanation: “Before ...

Excerpt: ...nitive damages, and the allegations at Item 14a “(2) punitive damages,” and “(2) in the amount of: $3,000,000.00.” (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 425.13, 425.10.) The striking of the punitive damages allegations is without prejudice to plainti
¯s Þling a motion under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.13, subdivision (a). Explanation: Plainti
¯s' Second, Third, and Fourth Amended Complaints Code of Civil Procedure section 472, subdivision (a)...

Excerpt: ...l Arbitration Act, and request to dismiss, or alternatively, stay the action pending arbitration. Pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), A written provision in … a contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce to settle by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract or transaction, or the refusal to perform the whole or any part thereof, … shall be valid, irrevocable, and enforceable, save upon such ...

Excerpt: ...cument included in plainti
¯s' request for judicial notice. (Evid. Code, § 452, subd. (d).) To grant plainti
¯s' motion for summary judgment against Agricultural Contracting Services Association. Inc., dba American Labor Alliance Workers' Compensation Fund & Trust, dba CompOne USA (“ALA”), and to deny the motion against Omega Community Labor Union, dba Compass Pilot Trust (“Omega”). (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subds. (c) and (p)(1).) Pl...

Excerpt: ...resolved in their favor. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (p)(1); see also Aguilar v. Atlantic RichÞeld Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850 [“First, and generally, from commencement to conclusion, the party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”].) Accordingly, a plainti
¯ moving for summary adjudication on an a
¯irmative...

Excerpt: ...air Employment and Housing Act provisions relied upon by plainti
¯. To sustain defendant's objections as to the declaration of Shaun Austin. To sustain defendant's objections, except objection #2, to the declaration of Morgan Ruiz. Explanation: This case arises out of an alleged wrongful termination of plainti
¯ after he su
¯ered a brain aneurism requiring emergency surgery and extensive post-surgical rehabilitation. When plainti
¯ contacted ...

Excerpt: ...vere water damage which decedent's house sustained after an integrated water supply part located within an upstairs bathroom faucet failed and caused the home to flood. Unfortunately, decedent had suffered a stroke and was not living in her home at the time in question. Decedent stated that she learned of the claim when the water utility contacted her to advise that her water had been shut off following an unusually large spike in water usage. De...

Excerpt: ...r Family Trust of 2004, ("Plaintiff") seeks an award of attorney fees pursuant to Civil Code section 1717 following judgment after trial, which 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. Plaintiff now seeks a fee award of $407,553.60. Statutory Grounds unde...

Excerpt: ...vil Procedure section 430.41and 435.5; specifically, to meet and confer with plaintiff regarding the issues raised by the demurrer and motion to strike. If the parties cannot agree on the purported deficiencies in the first amended complaint, defendant may calendar another hearing date for the demurrer and must comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41 and 435.5 in doing so. If the parties need more time to meet and confer, they may subm...

Excerpt: ...ibed." (Kacha v. Allstate Ins. Co. (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 1023, 1031.) It is not the court's role to review the merits of the controversy or to determine whether the evidence is sufficient to support the appraisal award. (Ibid.) The petition identifies the California Arbitration Act, (Code Civ. Proc. S 1280, et seq.) as providing authority for the court to compel California FAIR Plan Association to participate in the Insurance Code 52071 appraisa...

Excerpt: ...civil achon brought under the Fair Employment and Housing Act, Government Code section 12900 et seq., may be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs in the court's discretion. (Govt. Code 512965, subd. (c)(6).) The parties reached a settlement upon plaintiff's acceptance of defendants' Code of Civil Procedure section 998 Offer to Compromise, the terms of which included reasonable attorney's fees and costs awarded by the court. In her motion ...

Excerpt: ...of Documents, Set One Tentative Ruling: To grant the motions to compel verified discovery responses, and for deemed admissions. (Code Civ. Proc., S 2030.290, 2031.300, 2033.280.) Within 10 days, plaintiff Jose Madrigal shall serve objections-free, verified responses Form Interrogatories, Set One, Special Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set One. The truth of all matters specified in the Request for Admissions, Se...

Excerpt: ...t dismissing the action as to the City of Fresno. Explanation: A motion for judgment on the pleadings can be made at any time before or during trial. The motion performs the same function as a general demurrer, and thus attacks defects disclosed on the face of the pleadings or by matters that can be judicially noticed. (Martinez v. San Diego County Credit Union (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 1048, 1058.) The plaintiff, Kimberly Ramirez (Plaintiff), has ha...

Excerpt: ...inute order, a proposed judgment dismissing this action. To grant monetary sanctons against plaintiff and plaintiff's counsel in the amount of $1,359.95. Monetary sanctions are ordered to be paid within 30 calendar days from the date of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: Terminating Sanctions: Once a motion to compel discovery is granted, continued failure to comply may support a request for more severe sanctions. Code of Civi...

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: ...ubd. To grant plaintiff's request for monetary sanctions in the amount of $1,860 against defendant Brooklyn Moving Inc. payable to plaintiffs counsel within thirty (30) days from the date of this 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 prov-de discovery." (Code Civ. Proc...

Excerpt: ...xcusable neglect under Code of Civil Procedure, section 473, subdivision (b). Actual Notce "When service of a summons has not resulted in actual notice to a party in time to defend the action and a default or default judgment has been entered against him or her in the action, he or she may serve and file a notice of motion to set aside the default or default judgment and for leave to defend the action." (Code Civ. Proc., S 473.5, subd. (a).) The ...

Excerpt: ...sehold agreement with the defendants whereby they agreed to lease a single family residence located without Fresno County from defendants. The lease agreement was executed November 17, 2020. The lease included a move-in inspection sheet, notice of repair, and indemnity provisions. Plaintiff alleges that, on February 22, 2021, while residing upon the premises, she tripped and fell in a "defective portion" of the hal way, which caused serious injur...

Excerpt: ...demurrers to plaintiff's first (breach of fiduciary duty), third (elder abuse), fifth (breach of implied covenant) and sixth (unfair business practice) causes of acton. To grant defendants' request for judicial notce. The court will take notice of its own records in the instant case for the fact of the filing of plaintiff's first amended complaint but not for the truth of the matters stated therein. Explanation: The express basis for the defendan...

Excerpt: ... are adequately protected, although there is less scrutiny of manageability issues. (Wershba v. Apple Computer, Inc. (2001) 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 whether to approve a settlement of a class action. (Luckeyv. Superior Court (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 81, 95.) A precertif...