Excerpt: ... which provides, in pertinent part that fees may be awarded to a successful party against one or more opposing parties in any action which has resulted in the enforcement of an important right affecting the public interest if : (a) a significant benefit, whether pecuniary or nonpecuniary, has been conferred on the general public or a large class of persons, (b) the necessity and financial burden of private enforcement… are such as to make th...

Excerpt: ...no's demurrer to the second, third, fifth, and sixth causes of action in the First Amended Complaint, with leave to amend. To overrule defendant City of Fresno's demurrer as to the first and fourth causes of action in the First Amended Complaint. Plaintiff is granted 10 days' leave to file the Second Amended Complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanati...

Excerpt: ...di scretion to stay a civil proceeding where there is a related criminal proceeding pending. The decision whether to stay civil proceedings in the face of a parallel criminal proceeding should be made 'in light of the particular circumstances and competing interests involved in the case.' [Citation.] This means the decisionmaker should consider 'the extent to which the defendant's fifth amendment rights are implicated.' [Cita...

Excerpt: ...s shall pay monetary sanctions within 20 days of the date of service of this order. However, the court intends to deny the request to enter an immediate default judgment against defendants, as plaintiff still needs to submit a default jud gment application with evidence to prove up its damages. Explanation: Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.010(g) makes “[d]isobeying a court order to provide discovery” a “misuse of the discovery process,...

Excerpt: ...ministrator actually charged for its services. Explanation: 1. Class Certification The court has already determined that the proposed class meets the requirements for certification when it granted preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. There have been no objections to the court's decision, and nothing has happened since the preliminary approval order that would cause the court to reconsider its determination. Therefore, the court inte...

Excerpt: ...e of this order. All new allegations shall be in boldface. Explanation: First Cause of Action: “Establishing that claim [for breach of contract] requires a showing of ‘(1) the existence of the contract, (2) plaintiff's performance or excuse for nonperformance, (3) defendant's breach, and (4) the resulting damages to the plaintiff.'” (D'Arrigo Bros. of California v. United Farmworkers of America (2014) 224 Cal.App.4th 790, 800, c...

Excerpt: ...nc. and Modivcare Solutions, LLC (collectively, the “Modivcare Defendants”) demur to the entirety of the complaint on the ground that the complaint fails to state a cause of action, and each cause of action is uncertain and time -barred by the applic able statute of limitations. While plaintiff may and does utilize the Judicial Council form complaint, the usage of the form does not change the statutory requirement that the complaint contain �...

Excerpt: ...tion: Defendants timely filed their Memorandum of Costs, and plaintiff timely filed his motion to tax those costs. Defendants are entitled to claim costs as prevailing parties, since a dismissed defendant is deemed the prevailing party. (Code Civ. P roc., § 1032, subd. (a)(4); City of Long Beach v. Stevedoring Services of America (2007) 157 Cal.App.4th 672, 678.) This is so whether the dismissal was voluntary or (as here) involuntary. (Crib Re...

Excerpt: ...a public entity defendant. Specifically, the allegations on paragraph 93, pages 16:23 – 17:5, paragraph 102, pages 17:24 - 18:5, paragraph 111, pages 18:24 – 19:6, paragraph 120, pages 19:23 – 20:5, paragraph 129, pages 20:23 – 21:4, and Prayer for Relief, paragraphs 3, page 32:10 -11 and 12, page 33:23 are stricken from the First Amended Complaint. The court also intends to deny leave to amend. If oral argument is timely requested, such...

Excerpt: ... a First Amended Complaint. The time in which such pleading may be filed will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. All new allegations in the First Amended Complaint are to be set in boldface type. If oral argument is timely requested, su ch argument will be entertained at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024, in Department 501. Explanation: A motion to strike can be used to cut out any “irrelevant, false or improper” matters...

Excerpt: .... Class Certification a. Standards First, the court must determine whether the proposed class meets the requirements for certification before it can grant preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. An agreement of the parties is not sufficient t o 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....

Excerpt: ...rules all of plainti
¯'s objections to the Hamilton Declaration, all of plainti
¯'s objections to the Wijnen Declaration, plainti
¯'s one objection to the Le
¯al Declaration, and the objection to paragraph 3 of the Bryan Declaration. The court sustains plainti
¯'s hearsay objection to paragraph 4 of the Bryan Declaration. The court overrules defendant's objections numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. The court sustains defendant's objections numbers 2...

Excerpt: ... will be entertained on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 403. Tentative Ruling: To grant plainti
¯'s motion to compel testimony from person most knowledgeable for defendant Fresno Surgery Center. To grant plainti
¯'s motion to compel further responses to request for production of documents served with deposition notices. Defendant shall make its persons most knowledgeable available for the next noticed deposition dates, an...

Excerpt: ...surprise, mistake or excusable neglect under Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b).3 Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) provides, in pertinent part: The court may, upon any terms 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, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. Application for t...

Excerpt: ...posed judgment consistent with this ruling. To direct defendant Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. to remit $500 in Þling fees for the consideration of the summary judgment motion. Explanation: Defendants Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (“Volkswagen”) and Michael Cadillac, Inc. (“Michael Cadillac”) move for summary judgment of the Complaint Þled by plainti
¯ Hubert Williams (“Plainti
¯”). The Complaint states 5 causes of action: ...

Excerpt: ...y name; when the defendant's true name is discovered, plainti
¯ must amend their pleading accordingly. (Code Civ. Proc. §474.) The court may strike out any irrelevant, false or improper matter inserted in any pleading; or strike out all or any part of any pleading not drawn or Þled in conformity with the laws of this state, a court rule or an order of the court. (Code Civ. Proc. §436(a) and (b).) In the case at bench, Defendants move to strik...

Excerpt: ...nal request and response, the request as amended following meet and confer, and any amended response, in addition to the moving party's statement of the factual and legal reasons for compelling a further response and an opposing response thereto. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1345, subd. (c).) The Joint Separate Statement shall be Þled at least ten court days before the continued hearing. Explanation: A motion to compel a further response to dema...

Excerpt: ...7) 66 Cal.2d 738, 746.) An order staying an action until determination of criminal charges allows plainti
¯ to prepare his or her action “while alleviating [defendant's] di
¯icult choice between defending either the civil or criminal case.” (See Pacers, Inc. v. Superior Court (1984) 162 Cal.App.3d 686, 690.) The requesting party is generally entitled to a stay in the civil action until disposition of the criminal matter. (See id.) Here, def...

Excerpt: ...in his Þrst amended complaint (the "FAC") that he purchased a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado (the "Vehicle") in November 2021. The plainti
¯ alleges the defendant, General Motors LLC, ("GM") had exclusive knowledge that the Vehicle had a "Transmission Defect," based on multiple sources of information, including internal reports, customer complaints made directly to GM, and technical service bulletins. This information was not available to the public,...

Excerpt: ...to the present. To deny plainti
¯'s r e q u e s t f o r m o n e t a r y sanctions against defendants. Explanation: Defendants move to quash plainti
¯'s business records subpoena under Code of Civil Procedure sections 1985.3 and 1987.1, contending that the subpoena is overbroad, burdensome, harassing, seeks conÞdential and private information, and seeks information that is not relevant or likely to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. ...

Excerpt: ... action has no merit if the party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action … cannot be established, or that there is a complete defense to the cause of action.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c, subd. (p)(2).) If the defendant does not meet that burden, the motion must be denied, even if the plainti
¯ has not opposed it adequately or at all. (Villa v. McFerren (1995) 35 Cal.App.4th 733, 742743.) Once the moving defendant has met it...

Excerpt: ...eave to Þle the Fourth Amended Cross-Complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Cross- Defendant SpotOn Transact, LLC (“SpotOn”) demurs to the third and fourth causes of action in cross complainants' third amended cross-complaint (TACC) on the basis that each fails to state facts su
¯icient to state a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. §430.10,...

Excerpt: .... Proc., S 436, subd. (b); Code Civ. Proc., S 1021.) Explanation: Untimely Amendment Plaintiff and Cross-Defendant Guardian Angel's Adult Day Health Care, LLC ("Guardian Angel") moves to strike the entirety of Defendant and Cross-complainant's Second Amended Complaint, filed on June 21, 2023, on the ground of untimeliness, or in the alternative, to strike the request for attorneys' fees. When the court sustains a demurrer with leave to amend, ord...

Excerpt: ...juries suffered when plaintiff Roland Diaz was attacked in his office at Fresno City Hall Annex by Joseph Roy. Plaintiffs contend that locks and doors within the building did not operate as expected, due to the negligence of defendants, such that Mr. Roy was able to enter plaintiff's office and injure Mr. Diaz. However, the evidence shows that Sierra Lock did not install, service and/or repair any lock involved in the subject incident. (UMF 1-7.)...

Excerpt: ...hired the plaintiff, Mr. Lopez, an experienced licensed roofing contractor, to work on their roof. (Fact Nos. 2, 6; Plaintiffs Fact ["P-Fact"l Nos. 1, 2.) Mr. Lopez brought his own ladder and tools to the premises to perform work on the roof. (Fact No. 7.) Mr. Lopez's typical practice is to place his ladder and test it to make sure it is steady and secure before using it to avoid falls. (Fact No. 8.) Mr. Lopez placed his ladder at the back of the...

Excerpt: ... to as the American rule, which provides that each party to a lawsuit must ordinarily pay his own attorney fees. (Trope v. Katz (1995) 11 Cal.4th 274, 278.) Code of Civil Procedure section 1021 provides: "Except as attorney's fees are specifically provided for by statute, the measure and mode of compensation of attorneys and counselors at law is left to the agreement, express or implied, of the parties; but parties to actions or proceedings are e...

Excerpt: ...) Explanation: "California law like federal law, favors enforcement of valid arbitration agreements." (Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83, 97.) "When presented with a petition to compel arbitration, the initial issue before the court is whether an agreement has been formed." (Diaz v. Sohnen Enterprises (2019) 34 Cal.App.5th 126, 129.) In addition, arbitration is a " 'matter of consent, not coercion,'" an...

Excerpt: ... order. Explanation: As the moving party, defendant bears the initial burden of proof to show that plaintiffs cannot establish one or more elements of the at-issue cause of action or to show that there is a complete defense. (Code Civ. Proc. CCP S 437c, subd. (p)(2).) Only after the moving party has carried this burden of proof does the burden of proof shift to the other party to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists — ...

Excerpt: ...ng findings: (1) The party has a substantial interest in the action as a whole. (2) The health of the party is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing the party s interest in the litigation. (Code Civ. Proc., S 36, subd. "upon the granting of such a motion for preference, the court shall set the matter for trial not more than 120 days from that date and there shall be no contnuance beyond 120 days from the granting of the motio...

Excerpt: ...gant. To order plaintiff to obtain permission from the presiding judge of the court before filing any new actons in pro per. Explanation: Demurrer: Defendant demurs to the entire complaint on the grounds that of "failure to include any causes of action" and "unintelligibility." However, "failure to include any causes of action" and "unintelligibility" are not statutory grounds for a demurrer. It appears that defendant is arguing that the complain...

Excerpt: ...ility 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, 19.a) 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. (Luckey v. Superior Court (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 81, 95.) A precertification settlement may stipulate that a defined class be conditi...

Excerpt: ...ettlement. Explanation: A prevailing buyer in 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 reasonably incurred by the buyer in connecton with the commencement and prosecution of such action." (Civ. Code, S 1794, subd. (d).) The statute "...

Excerpt: ... to Enforce Settlement Agreement "Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6 provides a summary procedure to enforce a settlement agreement by entering judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement.„." (Hines v. Lukes (2008) 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 termsl.) Furth...

Excerpt: ...lacks jurisdiction, the claims are barred by the doctrine of res judicata, and defendant's promise was an unenforceable gift. Cause of Action Improperly Labelled To survive a demurrer, the complaint need only allege facts sufficient to state a cause of action or that "he is entitled to some relief." (Amid v. Hawthorne Community Medical Group, Inc. (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 1383, 1386-1387.) Additionally, the court "treat[sl the demurrer as admitting ...

Excerpt: ...by their first names, not out of disrespect, but for ease of reference.) Robert Kloppenburg (the decedent) passed away in November 2022. Brent is the trustee of his fathers (the decedent's) trust and Paz is the decedent's widow. Brent has known Paz for over 30 years. The plaintiff owns a home (the residence) in Fresno. Upon the decedent's death, the terms of the trust grant Paz the right to occupy the residence, provided she keeps the residence i...

Excerpt: ...ory Miyake, DMD ("Defendant") seeks an award of attorney fees pursuant to Civil Code section 1717 following the dismissal of the Complaint by plaintiff Mehdi Jafarinejad, DMD ("Plaintiff"). The Complaint stated five causes of action: (1) breach of written contract; (2) breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) interference with prospective economic advantage; (4) fraud; and (5) injunction. Trial was set for this matter for Ju...

Excerpt: ...esno Code Enforcement Division and John Giannetta's demurrer to the Third Amended Complaint, without leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subd. (e).) Defendants Fresno County Tax Collector Oscar Garcia, City of Fresno, City of Fresno Code Enforcement Division, and John Giannetta are directed to submit a proposed judgment. Explanation: Defendants Fresno County Tax Collector Oscar Garcia ("Garcia"), and City of Fresno, City of Fresno Code Enf...

Excerpt: ...d all aggrieved employees under Labor Code section 2698 et seq. Defendant now seeks an order compelling plaintiff to private arbitration of his individual claims, and dismissal of the class claims. A trial court is required to grant a motion to compel arbitration "if determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists." (Code Civ. Proc., S 1281.2.) However, there is "no public policy in favor of forcing arbitration of issues the part...

Excerpt: ...t preliminary approval 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 (rev. denied); see also Newberg, Newberg on Class Actions (T.R. Westlaw, 2017) Section 7:3: "The parties' representation of an uncontested moti...

Excerpt: ... pay monetary sanctions to defendant within 30 days of the date of service of this order. Explanation: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.450, "If, after service of a deposition notice, a party to the action without having served a valid objection under Section 2025.410, fails to appear for examination, or to proceed with it, or to produce for inspection any document, electronically stored information, or tangible thing described in the d...

Excerpt: ...On October 31, 2022, plaintiff John Doe, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Sara Parker, filed suit against defendants Fresno Unified School District and William Duprey regarding claims of sexual abuse, and negligent hiring and supervision in or around September 2019.1 On May 18, 2023, plaintiff A.J., a minor by and through his guardian ad litem Jose Miguel Juarez, filed suit against defendants Fresno Unified School District and Willia...

Excerpt: ...ke plaintiff's objections in the responses, as plaintiff waived the right to object when he failed to serve timely responses and thus the objections are improper. Explanation: under Code of Civil Procedure section 2033.280, If a party to whom requests for admission are directed fails to serve a timely response, the following rules apply: (a) The party to whom the requests for admission are directed waives any objection to the requests, including ...

Excerpt: ...gainst plaintiff in the amount of $1800, payable within 10 days of the date of this order, with the time to run from service of this minute order by the clerk. Explanation: Discovery Motions Generally As a preliminary matter, motions to compel compliance with separate discovery requests ordinarily should be filed separately. Despite the fact that plaintiff has only set one motion on the court's calendar, the court will rule on the motion, which i...

Excerpt: ...ntiff"). The Complaint stated five causes of action: (1) breach of written contract; (2) breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) interference with prospective economic advantage; (4) fraud; and (5) injunction. Trial was set for this matter for July 28, 2023. On July 27, 2023, Plaintiff filed a request for dismissal of the Complaint without prejudice; the dismissal was entered the same day. Defendant asserts that he is the p...

Excerpt: ...t first asking for leave of court to amend. (Code Civ. Proc., S 436; Hedwall v. PCMV, LLC (2018) 22 Cal.App.5th 564, 578.) To sustain the demurrer to the first, second and third causes of action as to defendants Mitch Herr, Vilay Lee, Cher Yang, and the Hmong Cultural New Year Celebration, Inc., to the entire operative complaint, without leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e).) To sustain the demurrer to the first cause of achon as...

Excerpt: ...set in boldface type. Explanation: The Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA") exempts religious associations or corporations which are not orgarized for private profit. (Gov. Code, S 12926, subd. (d).) Plaintiff argues that religious organizations are subject to FEHA, and that if they are not, then the doctrines of waiver and estoppel act to make defendant subject to FEHA as if the exemption did not apply. Essentially, plaintiff argues that def...

Excerpt: ...ve and file supplemental opposition by the close of business on February 15, 2024. Defendant shall serve and file its supplemental reply by the close of business on February 22, 2024. Explanation: Defendant General Motors has moved for summary judgment, or in the alternative summary adjudication of the plaintiff's claims for breach of express and implied warranties under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. (Civil Code, S 1790, et seq.) Defend...

Excerpt: ... aside or judgment is entered (i.e„ giving the defendant the right to appeal). (Devlin v. Kearny Mesa AMC/Jeep/Renault, Inc. (1984) 155 Cal.App.3d 381, 385.) Due process would not be served by allowing plaintiffs to give the defendant notice of a motion when defendant's right to defend herself regarding that motion had already been cut off. Further, Plaintiffs have already been told, via the court's Order Denying Application for Default Judgmen...

Excerpt: ...intervene where the nonparty "claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action and that person is so situated that the disposition of the action may impair or impede that person's ability to protect that interest, unless that person's interest is adequately represented by one or more of the existing parties." (Code Civ. Proc., S 387, subd. (d)(1)(B).) Where the court finds the nonparty's interests are a...

Excerpt: ...tories, Set One and Request for Production of Documents, Set One, and to Establish Admissions Propounded on Defendant Samat Sok Kim and Request for Monetary Sanctions Tentative Ruling: To grant all motions. (Code Civ. Proc., SS 2030.290, 2031.300, 2033.280.) Within 20 days of service of the order by the clerk, defendants Jung Jay H. Kim and Samat Sok Kim shall serve objection-free responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Produc...