Excerpt: ...laintiff has the initial burden of showing the essential facts of jurisdiction, that is the facts requisite to an effective service. (Coulston v. Cooper (1966) 245 Cal.App.2d 866, 868; Dill v. Berquist Const. (1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1439‐ 40.) This may be done through presentation of declarations, with opposing declarations received in response. (Aquila, Inc. v. Superior Court (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 556, 568.) Furthermore, filing a proof of...

Excerpt: ...grant p laintiff's alternative motion to tax costs in the amount of $19,450. (Ladas v. Calif. State Auto. Assn. (1993) 19 Cal.App.4th 761, 774.) Explanation: Untimely Filing “A prevailing party who claims costs must serve and file a memorandum of costs within 15 d ays after the date of service of the notice of entry of judgment or dismissal by the clerk under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.5 or the date of service of written notice of ent...

Excerpt: ...ricken. Plaintiffs are granted 20 days' leave to file the first amended complaint. The time in which the complaint can be amended 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. Explanation: A motion to strike can be used to cut out any irrelevant, false or improper matters or a demand for judgment requesting relief not supported by the allegations of th...

Excerpt: ...de of Civ . Proc., § 2017.010; Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 541), and “[a]ny party may obtain discovery … by taking in California the oral deposition of any person, including any party to the action.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.010.) Proper servi ce of a notice of deposition compels any deponent to attend, to testify, and to produce documents if requested. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.280, subd. (a).) Where a party deponent...

Excerpt: ...prove by a preponderance of evidence that a ground for denial of the motion exists (e.g., fraud, unconscionability, etc.) (Rosenthal v. Great Western Fin'l Securities Corp. (1996) 14 Cal.4th 394, 413 -414; Hotels Nevada v. L.A. Pacific Ctr., Inc. (2006) 144 Cal .App.4th 754, 758; Villacreses v. Molinari (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 1223, 1230.) There is a strong policy in favor of arbitration. (AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion (2011) 563 U.S. 333, ...

Excerpt: ...owing that “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., § 36, subd. (a)(2).) According to plaintiffs' attorney, Mr. Cleveland “suffers from age -related decline in health, suffers from increasing deterioration of his spinal column having had microdisectomy with a fusion surgery scheduled sometime in the summer 2024 and is in the final stag...

Excerpt: ...ent 403. Explanation: A plaintiff may request a continuance by filing a declaration explaining why further discovery is essential to opposing the motion for summary judgment and why additional time is needed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (h); Combs v. Skyriver Communications, Inc. (2008) 159 Cal.App.4th 1242, 1270.) The declaration must show facts that establish a likelihood that evidence may exist which would create a triable issue of fact,...

Excerpt: ...tain discov ery within the scope delimited by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 2017.010), and subject to the restrictions set forth in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 2019.010), for the purpose of perpetuating that person's own testimony or that of another natura l person or organization, or of preserving evidence for use in the event an action is subsequently filed.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2035.010, subd. (a).) “The methods available...

Excerpt: ... Cal.App .4th 995, 999.) As in demurrers, grounds for the motion must appear on the face of the challenged pleading or on facts which the court may judicially notice. (Saltarelli & Steponovich v. Douglas (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1, 5.)1 When reviewing a pleading, a demurrer or motion for judgment on the pleadings admits the truth of all material allegations and a court will “give the complaint a reasonable interpretation by reading it as a whole a...

Excerpt: ... powe r of attorney may bring an action on behalf of his principal only as guardian ad litem. (In re Marriage of Caballero (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 1139, 1152.) Here, it is apparent that the real party in interest is Carolina Cruz and that Antonio Cruz would be a n appropriate guardian ad litem for Carolina Cruz. The court grants leave to amend the complaint to name the real party in interest as the plaintiff and to address the issue of a guardian a...

Excerpt: ...on (d). Plainti ff submits a partially executed settlement agreement declaring Plaintiff as the prevailing party, entitling her to seek fees and costs. The settlement agreement is not subscribed by defendant Mercedes -Benz, USA, LLC (“Defendant”), against whom Plaintiff se eks to enforce this provision. In opposition, Defendant does not appear to contest the execution of the settlement agreement. The court finds that Plaintiff sufficiently s...

Excerpt: ...s Associat ion (“POA”), (collectively “Defendants”) move for summary judgment of plaintiff's complaint on the basis that the undisputed material facts demonstrate defendants have a complete affirmative defense to the action, that the plaintiffs have failed to proffer evidence to support their claims, and that there is no merit to their causes of action. Defendants move in the alternative for summary adjudication of each cause of action wi...

Excerpt: ...es for a n order directing the sheriff to seize 31 items of property (mostly shipping containers and helicopter manufacturing equipment) from Hiller at 925 M Street in Firebaugh, California. This noticed motion was followed the denial of plaintiff's ex parte applic ation for the same relief. The motion is brought pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 699.030, which provides, The judgment creditor may apply to the court ex parte, or on notic...

Excerpt: ...es she su ffered “severe and permanent injury to the body and nervous system” … (Complaint ¶ 20.) In her discovery responses, plaintiff states that she suffered a tear in her right knee's lateral meniscus, as well as injuries to her back, left arm, bilateral shoulde rs, neck, hip, head, and upper back. (Response to Defendant Form Interrogatories, Set One (“Form Rog”), No. 6.2.) Plaintiff also states that she continues to suffer con...

Excerpt: ...d. (b).) Legacy's default may not be taken during the 30 -day leave to amend period. The time in which the answer may be amended will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. Explanation: The court previously continued plaintiff's motion to strike to allow time fo r the parties to meet and confer on the issue. Plaintiff's counsel, Stephanie J. Schiern, has filed a declaration indicating that the parties have properly met and conferred....

Excerpt: ...otion t o compel responses from defendant Abigail Abel. To deny the motion to compel responses from defendant Rich Villapando as moot. To impose monetary sanctions in the amount of $44.50, in favor of plaintiff Jackie York and against defendant Rich Villapando. Within thirty (30) days of service of the order by the clerk, defendant Rich Villapando shall pay sanctions to plaintiff Jackie York. Explanation: Motion to Compel Responses – Abigail Ab...

Excerpt: ...ction within 30 days after service of notice of the transfer order. The demurrers and motion to strike are taken off calendar, but are subject to be recalendared in the proper court upon the transfer of the action. Explanation: County of Tulare moves to change t he venue of this action on the ground that County of Fresno is an improper venue and County of Tulare is the only proper venue. “It is a long established rule that a motion for change o...

Excerpt: ...urrer 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 co ncern 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, 697.) In asses...

Excerpt: ...e to amend, defendant's general demurrer to the First Amended Complaint's fifth cause of action for “Fraudulent Inducement -Concealment” on the basis that plaintiff had insufficiently pled a relationship with defendant General Motors, LLC to give rise to a duty to dis close the alleged concealed material facts regarding plaintiff's vehicle. On December 14, 2023 plaintiff filed the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) which is now the subjec...

Excerpt: ...nt the motion to strike. (Code Civ. Proc., § 436.) To deny plaintiff's motion to quash. To deny imposition of sanctions. Explanation: Demurrer and Motion to Strike “Ordinarily, negligence may be pleaded in general terms and the plaintiff need not specify the precise act or omission alleged to constitute the breach of duty.” (Lopez v. Southern Cal. Rapid Transit Dist. (1985) 40 Cal.3d 780, 795.) Nevertheless, claims falling under the Tort Cla...

Excerpt: ... not specifically denying the motion without prejudice. The ruling is hereby amended to reflect that plaintiff's first Motion for Order Permitting Pretrial Discovery Regarding Defendant Richard Pike's Profits and Financial Condition is denied without prejudice. P laintiff's second motion is now continued to Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 501. In ruling on the motion, the court will consider all evidence presented by plain...

Excerpt: ...orney's Fe es: 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 connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.” (Civ. Code, § 1794, subd. (d).) The statute...

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: ... adm itted that plaintiff's injuries were caused entirely by defendant's and its employee Daniel Willard's negligence, that plaintiff did not contribute to the accident through her own negligence, and that no third party contributed to the accident. As plainti ff points out, the court previously granted an order deeming STA to have admitted the truth of the matters in the requests for admission after defendant failed to verify its responses. (See...

Excerpt: ...ulting in injurie s (the "Incident"). The court denies defendant China Peak's motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication for the reasons stated below. Law Governing Summary Judgment A trial court shall grant summary judgment if there are no triable issues of mate rial fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc., §437c, subd. (c).) In determining a motion for summary judgment, the co...

Excerpt: ...vice of the minute order, a proposed judgment consistent with the court's summary judgment order. The motion to modif y a protective order is off calendar, as no papers have been filed. Explanation: Summary judgment is properly granted when no triable issue exists as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (c).) In moving for summary judgment, a “defendant … has m...

Excerpt: ...that a ground for denial of the motion exists (e.g., fraud, unconscionability, etc.) (Hotels Nevada v. L.A. Pacific Center, Inc. (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 754, 758.) Unless there is a dispute over authenticity, the mere recitation of the terms is sufficient for a party to move to compel arbitration. (Sprunk v. Prisma LLC (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th 785, 793.) The moving party has the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement. (Pinn...

Excerpt: ...ted to sub mit a proposed judgment consistent with this order, within five days of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: Fresno Unified School District (“FUSD”) moves for summary judgment or, in the alternative, for summary adjudication as to the thi rd, fourth and fifth causes of action for negligent hiring, supervision or retention of an unfit employee, failure to report suspected child abuse, and negligent supervision ...

Excerpt: ...2024. Any oppos ition and reply due dates shall run from the new hearing date. Explanation: Plaintiffs Wesley Wilson (Wilson) and Press Box, Inc. (Press Box), have dismissed most of the causes of action in their Complaint against defendant Martin McCubbin (McCubbin). One cause of action arising out of a bar fight caused by McCubbin in October 2022 remains for each plaintiff. For plaintiff Wilson, only the third cause of action for assault and ba...

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: ...fliction of emotional distress and medical negligence, with leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e).) To overrule the general demurrer as to the causes of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress and medical negligence. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e).) To grant the motion to strike portions of the Third Amended Complaint in part, and strike: the attachment of a phone log; the attachment of a letter dated Sept...

Excerpt: ...the allegations of the first amended complaint show that she has an absolute defense to the claim because she has been in adverse possession of the subject property for over five years before the complaint was filed and thus plaintiff has no right to partition the property. Adverse possession may be the basis for either a cause of action or an affirmative defense. (Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara v. Ames (1958) 166 Cal.App.2d 344, 348.)...

Excerpt: ... to def ective moving papers. Explanation: This motion arises out of a Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”) filed February 14, 2024 alleging 1) premises liability against defendant Noble Federal Credit Union and 2) dangerous condition of public property against defenda nt City of Fresno. It does not appear that defendant Noble Federal Credit Union has been served with a Summons or the Third Amended Complaint yet. Defendant City brings this demurr...

Excerpt: ...n ey's fees from the Complaint. To grant leave to amend the Complaint to state claims by the Trust, provided it retains a licensed California attorney to represent it. To grant leave to amend the Complaint as to Mr. Peterson, provided that he either repres ents himself or has a licensed attorney represent him. To deny leave to amend to request attorney's fees. To overrule the demurrer to the first cause of action. To sustain the demurrer to the ...

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: ...Proc. § 430. 20, subd. (a) and (b).) To overrule the general and special demurrer for uncertainty to the Amended Cross -Complaint. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430,10, subd. (e) and (f).) To sustain the general and special demurrers to the first, third, fourth, and fifth cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e) and (f).) To overrule the general and special demurrers to the second cause of action. (Code Civ Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e) and ...

Excerpt: ...li minary settlement class. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.769, subd. (d).) “If the court grants preliminary approval, its order must include the time, date, and place of the final approval hearing; the notice to be given to the class; and any other matters de emed necessary for the proper conduct of a settlement hearing. (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.769, subd. (e).) “If the court has certified the action as a class action, notice of the fin...

Excerpt: ...s brought under Code of Civil Procedure section 418.10, which provides that the last day to file the notice of motion for a defendant who has not yet appeared in the action is when the responsive pleading to the complaint is due. However, “[t]he provisions of Sec tion 418.10 do not apply to a motion to stay or dismiss the action by a defendant who has made a general appearance.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 410.30, subd. (b).) Here, plaintiffs' comp...

Excerpt: ...planation: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6, “If parties to pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by the parties outside the presence of the court or orally before the court, for settlement of the case, or part thereof, the court, up on motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performa...

Excerpt: ...ions to quash. To grant the motion to compel arbitration and order plaintiffs to arbitrate their claims against defendants. The action is stayed pending completion of arbitration. Explanation: Motion(s) to Quash Moving defendants deem themselves passive “Single Purpose Entities,” with insufficient contacts with California to confer jurisdiction. However, the motions all admit that the respective defendants are some degree of partner to the in...

Excerpt: ... reque sting party may move for an order that the genuineness of any documents and the truth of any matters specified in the requests be deemed admitted... The court shall make this order, unless it finds that the party to whom the requests for admission have bee n directed has served, before the hearing on the motion, a proposed response to the requests for admission that is in substantial compliance with Section 2033.220.” (Code Civ. Proc.,...

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: ...er a settl ement is within the “good faith ballpark” by considering 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 se...

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: ...tentative ruling, a proposed judgment. Explanation: Plaintiffs Jay Hylton and Krystal Hylton (together “Plaintiffs”) seek to enforce a settlement agreement by and between them and defendant FCA US LLC (“Defendant”) under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6 provides as follows: “If parties to pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by the parties outside of the presence of the court . . ...

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: ... the mo tions compelling Prestige Urgent Care's compliance with subpoena, without prejudice. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2020.220, subds. (b) -(c); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1346.) To deny the motions for defendant Homegoods, Inc.'s responses to Requests for Production of Documents, Sets One and Two, since Homegoods, Inc. served its verified responses on April 9, 2024. To award monetary sanctions in the total amount of $1,320 against Homegoods, Inc.'...