Excerpt: ...s, Angel Gomez and Tomas Gomez who owned the property as joint tenants, and accomplished the transfer through a Grant Deed from Angel Gomez to himself and a Grant Deed from defendant Tomas to plaintiff executed by attorney Thornton Davidson as Attorney-in-Fact for defendant. (Complaint, '14.) Plaintiff has not submitted evidence to support these asserted facts to establish his right to legal title to the property. The evidence plaintiff has submi...

Excerpt: ...ions as set forth below. To grant the motion to compel further verified response to Demand for Production, Set One. Within 20 days of service of the order by the clerk, plaintiff shall provide a second amended response to each document demand and produce all responsive documents, if they have not pr(Nluced already. To impose $3,120 in monetary sanctions against plaintiff Megan Zupancic and in favor of Platinum Coast Inc., to be paid to Platinum C...

Excerpt: ..., "The court may, in furtherance of justice, and on any terms as may be proper, allow a party to amend any pleading or proceeding by adding or striking out the name of any party, or by correcting a mistake in the name of a party, ora mistake in any other respect; and may, upon like terms, enlarge the time for answer or demurrer. The court may likewise, in its discretion, after notice to the adverse party, allow, upon any terms as may be just, an ...

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

Excerpt: ...dard for Awarding Attorney's Fees Probate Code section 4545 provides that when a challenge is made to a power of attorney by someone other than the attorney in fact, "the court may in its discretion award reasonable attorney's fees" to the attorney in fact, if the court determines that the proceeding was commenced without any reasonable cause." The Probate Code does not define reasonable cause" as it is used in section 4545. However, California c...

Excerpt: ... justifying the exercise of jurisdiction." (Vons Companies, Inc. v. Seabest Foods, Inc. (1996) 14 Cal.4th 434, 449.) Once the plaintiff meets their burden of establishing minimum contacts, the burden shifts to the defendant to demonstrate that exercising jurisdiction would be unfair or unreasonable. (Secrest Machine Corp. v. Superior Court (1983) 33 Cal.3d 572.) Personal jurisdiction is either general, where the nonresident's contacts with the fo...

Excerpt: ...ney, jointly and severally, payable no later than 30 days from the date of this order, with the time to run from the service of this minute order by the clerk. Civ. Proc. SS 2030.31W, subd. (d), 2023.010, subd. (h).) Explanation: A motion to compel further responses lies where the responses to the interrogatories are deemed improper by the propounding party, i.e., meritless or overly general objections, evasive or incomplete answers. (Code Civ. P...

Excerpt: ... claims from arbitration. To dismiss the plaintiff's class claims. To stay the litigation of the PAGA claim until the arbitration has been resolved. Explanation: Pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure secton 1281.2, "On 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 ...

Excerpt: ...ent with the court's summary judgment order. Explanation: As the moving party, defendant bears the initial burden of proof to show that plaintiffs cannot establish one or more elements of their cause of action or to show that there is a complete defense. Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. 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...

Excerpt: ...d Avenue, Fresno, California 93726 (the "Property"). Plaintiff alleged having exclusive, complete, open, continuous and notorious possession of the property for more than five years. Plaintiff now seeks summary judgment. A party may move for summary judgment in an action if is contended that there is no defense to the action. (Code Civ. Proc. S 437c, subd. (a)(l).) Notice of the motion and supporting papers shall be served on all other parties to...

Excerpt: ....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. (Luckey v. Superior Court (2014) 228 Cal.App.4th 81, 95.) A precertification settlement may stipulate that a defined class be conditionally certified for settlement purposes. The court may make an o...

Excerpt: ...lass Certification The court has already granted the motion for preliminary approval and certification of the class and found that the class is sufficiently numerous and ascertainable to warrant certification for the purpose of approving the settlement. There is no reason for the court to reconsider its decision granting certification of the class. Therefore, the court certifies the class for the purpose of final approval of the settlement. 2. Se...

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

Excerpt: ...ries (Set One), Special Interrogatories (Set One), and Request for Prtxluction of Documents (Set One). Plaintiff Dwayne Williams is ordered to serve verified responses, without objections, to defendant within 30 days of service of the minute order by the clerk. To grant defendant Jaene Ojeda Mendoza's requestto deem Requests for Admissions admitted. The truth of the matters specified in the Requests for Admissions, Set One, are to be deemed admit...

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

Excerpt: ...equests for Production, Set One. (Code Civ. Proc. S 2031.320, subd. (a).) The documents shall be served no later than 30 days from the date of this order, with time to run from the service of this minute order by the clerk. To deny the request for sanctions pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.310, subdivision (h). Explanation: The motion at bench was calendared as a motion to compel initial responses to discovery. However, the moving...

Excerpt: ...names of the arbitrators; and (c) set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the written opinion of the arbitrators, if any. Misaghi has complied with these requirements. Thus, unless pro#rly moves to vacate, correct or dismiss the petition, the court must confirm the arbitration award and enter judgment thereon. (Code Civ. Proc., SS 1286; 1287.4; Eternity Investments, Inc. v. Brown (2W7) 151 Cal.App.4th 739, 744-45.) Deli Delicious agree...

Excerpt: ...11-16.) The court disagrees. The court granted plaintiff an order shortening tme at the ex parte hearing, with the added proviso that "[nlew filings will flow from the new hearing date." However, this did not require plaintiff to refile his motion. Rather, the court's order effectively advanced plaintiff's hearing date from January 18, 2024, to October 17, 2023 (which was then continued again to October 19, 2023). The court's direction regarding ...

Excerpt: ...injured on the job while working for an electrical subcontractor on September 25, 2019 at a constructon site at 570 N Magnolia Ave., Clovis, California 93611. Defendants Perch Construction, Inc. and Frontline Plastering were the general contractor and subcontractor, respectively. Perch's cross-complaint against Frontline seeks to enforce the defense and indemnity provisions of their subcontract pursuant to which Frontline agreed to provide plaste...

Excerpt: ...nia Attorneys, Administrative Law Judges and Hearing Offcers in State Employment ("Plaintiff") brings one cause of action for declaratory relief against defendants California Department of Human Resources and Eraina Ortega as Director for the California Department of Human Resources (collectively "Defendants"). Plaintiff seeks a judicial declaration of its rights as affected by Defendants' interpretation of certain state law. This court previousl...

Excerpt: ...Explanation: Under Government Code section 911.2, subdivision (a), a plaintiff alleging a claim against a government entity must present their claim within six months of the accrual of the cause of action. "A cause of action for childhood sex molestation generally accrues at the time of the alleged molestation." (Rubenstein v. Doe No. 1 (2017) 3 Cal.5th 903, 910.) In Shirk v. Vista Unified School District (2007) 42 Cal.4th 201, the California Sup...

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

Excerpt: ...: Demurrer — General Principles 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., S 430.10, subd. (e); Estate of Moss (2012) 204 Cal.App.4th 521, 535 [ "'A demurrer can be utilized where the complaint itself is incomplete . [Citations.]" l.) In essence, "to withstand a demurrer, a complaint must allege ultimate facts, not evidentiary facts or co...

Excerpt: ...s. (Code Civ. Proc., S 2025.450, subd. (c)(l).) In the event that plaintiff refuses to agree upon a date then the date shall be unilaterally set by defendants' counsel. To deny the request to impose $713M in monetary sanctions (as a cost reimbursement) because due process requires that the request appear on the caption page of the notce of moton. Explanation: The motion is brought pursuant to Code Civ. Proc., S 2025.450. Subdivision (a) thereof p...

Excerpt: ...efendant's failure to obey the court's order entered on March 29, 2023, which issued from plaintiff's unopposed motion to compel initial responses to discovery. The order required defendant Hollly-Ray to serve initial responses to Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, and Request for Production of Documents (all set one), and required defendant and her attorney, Brian Folland, to pay (jointly and severally) monetary sanctions in the amou...

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

Excerpt: ...furcated as follows: should a jury find liability on the cause of action for defamation and liability for punitive damages, the parties will then present evidence on punitive damages. (Civ. Code S 3295, subd. (d).) To deny defendant's motion for to require plaintiff to post security for costs. (Code Civ. Proc. S 1030.) Explanation: Motion to Bifurcate Punitve Damages Civil Code section 3295, subdivision (d) provides in relevant part: "The court s...

Excerpt: ...ruling. Explanation: A plaintiff is entitled to summary judgment if they have met their burden that '"each element of' the 'cause of action' in question has been 'proved,' and hence that 'there is no defense' thereto." (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2CM) 25 Cal.4th 826, 8%'.) "A plaintiff has met his or her burden if that party has proved each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on the cause of action. Once the pla...

Excerpt: ...ounsel will breach the fiduciary obligations they owe to the absent class members. As a result, such agreements must withstand an even higher level of scrutiny for evidence of collusion or other conflicts of interest than is ordinarily required under Rule 23(e) before securing the court's approval as fair." (Koby v. ARS National Services, nc. (9th Cir. 2017) 846 F. 3d 1071, 1079.) "[lln the final analysis it is the Court that bears the responsibi...

Excerpt: ...]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 court." (Lab. Code, S 2699, subd. (i)(2).) 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 determine inde#ndently whether a PAGA settlement is fair and ...

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

Excerpt: ...t be set in boldface type. Explanation: The function of a demurrer is to test the sufficiency of a plaintiff's pleading by raising questions of law. (Plumlee v. Poag (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 541, 545.) The test is whether plaintiff has succeeded in stating a cause of action; the court does not concern itself with the issue of plaintiff's possible difficulty or inability in proving the allegations of his complaint. (Highlanders, Inc. v. Olsan (1978) ...

Excerpt: ...fendant's Person Most Knowledgeable ("PMK") and for production of documents. Plaintiff's counsel asserts that defendant was served with a deposition notice on January 6, 2023. However, the notice attached to counsel's declaration is signed November 14, 2022 for a deposition scheduled for February 23, 2023. (Kreymer Decl., 2 and Exh. 1.) Notably, no proof of service accompanies this notice. Defense counsel asserts that November 14, 2023 plaintiff ...

Excerpt: ...on: Defendant Stella Villagomez moves for summary judgment, or adjudication of the first amended complaint against her. Although moving defendant denies having taken, secreted, appropriated, obtained or retained any property from the plaintiff or the assistance of another of the same, plaintiff has demonstrated there is a dispute of these material facts. As a result, the motion is denied. Statute of Limitations and Plaintiff's Status as an "Elder...

Excerpt: ... causes of action. To deny the moton to strike portions of the complaint, in its entirety. To deny the motion to deem the matters in the requests for admission, sets one and two, to be admitted, as plaintiff has now served code-compliant responses. To grant sanctions against plaintiff's former counsel, Brian Folland, in the amount of $800. Mr. Folland shall pay sanctions to defendants within 30 days of the date of service of this order. If oral a...

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

Excerpt: ...he motion to strike without leave to amend. If oral argument is timely requested, it will go forward Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., in Dept. 403. Explanation: Self-represented plaintiff Victor M. Alvaro Garcia filed a three-page Judicial Council form complaint against defendant Carmen Elizabeth Tharp. The defendant demurs to the complaint on the ground that it lacks the necessary allegations to state a cause of action against her. Mee...

Excerpt: ...ons of the First Amended Complaint ("FAC") pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 418.10, subdivision (a)(l). In the alternative, Defendant seeks to set aside the entry of default against her.l Code of Civil Procedure section 418.10, subdivision (a)(l) provides that a defendant, on or before the last day of his or her time to plead or within any further time that the court may for cause allow, may serve and file a notice of motion to quash s...

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

Excerpt: ...ivative claims on behalf of Williams & Doris Land & Energy and Oil City LLC (referred to collectively as the "WLDE Defendants"). WLDE Defendants move to require plaintiff to post a $50,000 bond pursuant to Corporations Code section 17709.02, subdivision (b). Within 30 days after service of summons on a limited liability company, the company may move the court for an order requiring the plaintiff to furnish security. (Corp. Code, S 17709.02, subd....

Excerpt: ... further responses to her requests for production of documents, set one, special interrogatories, set one, and form interrogatories — employment, set one. To deny plaintiff's request for monetary sanctions against defendant and its counsel. To grant monetary sanctions against plaintiff and her counsel, in the amount of $1,350. Plaintiff shall pay sanctions to defendant within 30 days of the date of service of this order. Explanation: Under Code...

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

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

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

Excerpt: ... To sustain defendant Graney's special demurrers to causes of action Sustain special demurrers to causes of action 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 11-14, with plaintiff granted 10 days' leave to file a second amended complaint. (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. To sustain Graney's general demurrers to causes of action 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 14, with leave to amend as to all but 6 and 12. To overrule general demurrers to causes of action 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11 and 13....

Excerpt: ...f the minute order. Explanation: The function of a demurrer is to test the suffciency of a plaintiff's pleading by raising questions of law. (Plumlee v. Poag (1984) 150 Cal.App.3d 541, 545.) The test is whether plaintiff has succeeded in stating a cause of action; the court does not concern itself with the issue of plaintiff's possible difficulty or inability in proving the allegations of his complaint. (Highlanders, Inc. v. Olsan (1978) 77 Cal.A...

Excerpt: ...two on the back, but here counsel has not signed any of the lines. The form is mandatory and must accompany every default judgment application. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1800(a).) Therefore, since the request for default judgment is incomplete, the court cannot grant the application. Also, while plaintiff's CEO, Richard Torosian, has provided a declaration summarizing the amount of damages, which are based on the unpaid shipping invoices, Mr. ...

Excerpt: ...ic situaton. In March 2020 the decedent, Anthony Choza, Jr., was a pedestrian on Hughes near Brown Avenue in Fresno when he was struck by a vehicle driven by defendant David Zarucchi. The plaintiffs allege the lack of lighting at the location created a dangerous condition to public property and was a substantial factor causing the decedent's death. The plaintiffs are the decedent's wife, individually and on behalf of the decedent's estate, and hi...

Excerpt: ...Wershba v. Apple computer, Inc. (2001) 91 cal.App.4th 224, 240; see Dunk v. Ford Motor co. (1995) 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 apprcwe 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 conditionally certified for...

Excerpt: ...l interrogatories, as a result of plaintiff's counsel's failure to appear at the scheduled Pretrial Discovery Conference. Plaintiff's counsel filed opposition to defendant's request for a Pretrial Discovery Conference, and was aware of the date the court had initially set for said conference, and was also aware of the contnuance granted, which set the conference for August 4, 2023. Counsel states he failed to appear because even though his office...

Excerpt: ...r v. Atlantic Richfield co. (2001) 25 cal.4th 826, 859, fn. 29; Ten Eyck v. Industrial Forklifts co. (1989) 216 Cal.App.3d 540, 545.) Once judgment is entered, it "may correct judicial error only through certain limited procedures such as motions for new trial and motions to vacate the judgment." (APRI Ins. Co. v. Superior Court, supra, 76 Cal.App.4th at p. 181.) Mandatory Relief Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) Th...

Excerpt: ...trate." (Garlach v. Sports Club Co. (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 1497, 1505) "Thus, in ruling on a motion to compel arbitration, the court must first determine whether the parties actually agreed to arbitrate the dispute." (Mendez v. Mid- Wilshire Health Care Center (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 534, 541.) Defendant American Honda Motor Co., Inc. ("Honda") moves to compel arbitration of plaintiffs' action pursuant to an arbitration clause in the retail instal...

Excerpt: ...uent bad faith denial (in part) of his insurance policy claim. The complaint includes the following causes of acton: breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Plaintiff seeks the following: general, special, economic, and consequential damages (according to proof), puritive damages, attorney's fees, costs, and pre-judgment interest. Defendant filed its motion to strike with regard to Paragraph 34 (Page ...

Excerpt: ... which contained an arbitration clause. Problems with the vehicle ensued, and this "lemon law" action was filed on November 8, 2022, against Kia, but not the seller. The Complaint alleges the following causes of action: (1) Violation of the Song-Beverly Act— Breach of Express Warranty; (2) Violation of the Song-Beverly Act— Breach of Implied Warranty; and (3) Violation of the Song-Beverly Act section 1793.2. Kia now moves to compel arbitratio...

Excerpt: ...n ten (10) days from the date of this order. Explanation: Plaintiff's allegations of medical negligence typically require competing expert opinion to defeat a motion for summary judgment. (See Nieto v. Blue Shield of California Life & Health Ins. Co. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 60, 75; Flowers v. Torrance Memorial Hospital Medical Center (1994) 8 Cal.4th 992, 1001.) In other words, defendant is entitled to summary judgment and the motion must be grant...

Excerpt: ... Procedure section 439 and 435.5; specifically, to meet and confer with plaintiff regarding the issues raised by the motion for judgment on the pleadings and motion to strike. If the parties cannot agree on the purported deficiencies in the complaint, defendant may calendar another hearing date for the motions and must comply with Code of Civil Procedure secton 439 and 435.5 in doing so. If the parties need more time to meet and confer, they may ...

Excerpt: ...ll dollar amounts filled in, within 5 days of the clerk's service of this order. To set a hearing at October 1, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503 as a hearing date for an Amended Judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure secton 384. A verified report of payouts of settlement funds and a proposed amended judgment shall be submitted no later than September 11, 2024. Explanation: "Before final approval, the court must conduct an inquiry into t...

Excerpt: ...emurrers to the seventh, eighth, and ninth causes of action as to all defendants, with leave to amend only as to Beau and Sunshine Pennington. To sustain the demurrers to the fifth and eleventh causes of action, without leave to amend. Plaintiff is granted 10 days' leave to file the Third Amended Complaint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To overrule the motion t...

Excerpt: ...fornia, Inc. and Javier Rene Gonzalez-Martinez are directed to file an answer within ten days of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: Plaintiff Emma Kormas ("Plaintiff") filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC") for eight causes of action: 1. Intentional Misrepresentation; 2. Negligent Misrepresentation; 3. Breach of Fiduciary Duty; 4. Financial Elder Abuse; 5. Negligence; 6. Negligent Supervision and Training; 7. Concealment; and...

Excerpt: ...e clerk. Explanation: Initially the court notes that in previously granting leave to amend, plaintiff was directed to place all new allegations in boldface type. Plaintiff did not follow this direction. In the future please place new allegations in boldface type when requested, to facilitate the evaluation of such a long amended pleading. Also, plaintiff's opposition brief does not have page numbering, as required by Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.1...

Excerpt: ... evidence in the light most fawrable to plaintiffs'" and "'liberally construe plaintiffs' evidentiary submissions and strictly scrutinize defendant['s] own evidence, in order to resolve any evidentiary doubts or ambiguities in plaintiffs' favor.'" (McDonald v. Antelope Valley Community College Dist. (2008) 45 Cal.4th 88, 96-97, citations omitted.) The court does not weigh evidence or inferences (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th...

Excerpt: .... To impose monetary sanctions in the amount of $6,825 against defendant South Bay Safety Inc. (not its attorney). Defendant South Bay Safety Inc. (not its attorney) shall pay the monetary sanctions to plaintiff's counsel within thirty (30) days from the date of this order. If a timely request for oral argument is made, such argument will be entertained on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Explanation: Code of Civil Procedure secton 2023.010...

Excerpt: ...o compel further responses to her requests for production of documents, set one, special interrogatories, set one, and form interrogatories — employment, set one. To deny plaintiff's request for monetary sanctions against defendant and its counsel. To grant monetary sanctions against plaintiff and her counsel, in the amount of $1,755. Plaintiff shall pay sanctions to defendant within 30 days of the date of service of this order. Explanation: Un...

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

Excerpt: ...ffs") filed the instant action for seven causes of action: (1) battery; (2) negligence; (3) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (4) fraudulent concealment; (5) private nuisance; (6) public nuisance; and (7) breach of contract. The Complaint is brought against defendants Dogwood East Village, K&K Property Management, Vacasa LLC, Paul Casares and the Williams Family Trust. Plaintiffs alleged that between February 6, 2020 and February 10, ...

Excerpt: ...grant the motion to strike with ten (10) days leave to amend which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. To find that defendants adequately attempted to meet and confer with plaintiffs' counsel, who effectively refused to do so. Explanation: The express basis for the defendants' demurrer is that the complaint and each of its causes of action fail to state sufficient facts to...

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

Excerpt: ... allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Demurrer Generally 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 co...

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

Excerpt: ...ll new allegations shall be placed in boldface type. Explanation: Housing Authority's Demurrer The Housing Authority of the City of Fresno demurs on the ground that plaintiff fails to plead compliance with the claim presentation requirements. The Complaint alleges that Fresno Housing Authority is a public entity. (See Complaint, 5(a).) Compliance with the claim filing requirements (i.e., Gov. Code, SS 910, 912.4, 912.8 and 945.4) is an essential ...

Excerpt: ...s or implied contract; (2) the claim is for a fixed or readily ascertainable amount of $500.00 or more, measurable by reference to the contract itself and based upon a computation that is reasonable and certain; and (3) not secured by an interest in real property. (Code Civ. Proc., S 483.010(a).) (CIT Group Equipment Financing, Inc. v. Super DVDI (2004) 115 Cal.App.4th 537, 541.) The plaintiff must at least establish a prima facie case. If the de...

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

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

Excerpt: ...o, City of Fresno Code Enforcement Division and John Giannetta's demurrer to the Second Amended Complaint, with leave to amend. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subd. Plaintiffs Bryce D. Hovannisian and Lindsay E. Hovannisian shall serve and file an amended complaint within ten (10) days of the date of service of this order by the clerk. All new allegations shall in boldface. Explanation: Defendants Fresno County Tax Collector Oscar Garcia ("Garcia"), ...

Excerpt: ...y 19, 2023 Tentative Ruling: To grant in part plaintiff's May 3, 2023 motons to compel further responses from Kevin Schwin and SchwinLaw, PC to form interrogatories and requests for production. Defendant Kevin Schwin shall provide further verified responses to Form Interrogatory Nos. 2.5, 16.1, 16.2, and 50.1-6. Defendant SchwinLaw, PC shall provide further verified responses to Form Interrogatory Nos. 16.1, 16.2, and 50.1-6. Defendants Kevin Sch...

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

Excerpt: ...shall be submitted to the agency at the same time that it is submitted to the court." (Lab. Code, S 2699, subd. (i)(2).) The statute does not explain what exactly the trial court should consider when reviewing a proposed PAGA settlement. However, recently the Court of Appeal in Moniz v. Adecco USA, Inc. (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 56 did provide some guidance. The court explained that "many federal district courts have applied the 'fair, reasonable, an...

Excerpt: ...It argues that its attorney, Sumair Sandhu, had intended to file a demurrer and/or a motion for change of venue, but another attorney at the defense firm instead mistakenly filed the answer and crosscomplaint. Declarations from both defense attorneys are presented in support of the motion. While the court does not doubt counsels' contention that an excusable mistake was made, and it also agrees with the reply argument that there has been no unrea...

Excerpt: ...serve and file supplemental opposition by the close of business on December 7, 2023. Defendant shall serve and file fts supplemental reply by the close of business on December 15, 2023. The trial date of October 30, 2023 is off calendar. Explanation: Defendant General Motors has moved for summary judgment, or in the alternative summary adjudication of the plaintiffs claims for breach of express and implied warranties under the Song-Beverly Consum...

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

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

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

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

Excerpt: ...ance Corporation are directed to file an answer within ten days of service of the minute order by the clerk. Explanation: The court initially notes defendants Sordi Properties and The La Hacienda Condominiums Maintenance Corporation, erroneously sued as La Hacienda Condominiums Maintenance Group, (collectively "Defendants") failure to demonstrate compliance with Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41, subdivision (a), which requires parties to me...

Excerpt: ...within 5 days of the clerk's service of this order. To set a hearing at September 18, 2024, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 503 as a hearing date for an Amended Judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 384. A verified report of payouts of settlement funds and a proposed amended judgment shall be submitted no later than September 4, 2024. Explanation: "Before final approva , the court must conduct an inquiry into the fairness of the propose...

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

Excerpt: ... as to injunctive relief, with leave to amend. Plaintiffs are 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. Explanation: 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...

Excerpt: ...rocedure. Once a motion to compel answers is granted, continued failure to respond or inadequate answers may result in more severe sanctions, including evidence, issue or terminating sanctions, or further monetary sanctions. (Code Civ. Proc. SS 2030.290, subd. (c), 2031.300, subd. Sanctions for failure to comply with a court order are allowed only where the failure was willful. (R.S. Creative, Inc. v. Creative Cotton, Ltd. (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 4...

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

Excerpt: ...d conditionally under seal (and served as set forth in the Rules). Other particulars required on a motion to seal are set forth in the Rules. The court will not address the merits until the moton is correctly filed and the Rules of Court are properly followed. (See Cal. Rules of Court, Rules 2.550-2.551.) Furthermore, it should be noted that the proposed sealing must be narrowly tailored, since sealing court records conflicts with the First Amend...

Excerpt: ...v. Proc„ SS 436, subd. (a); 431.10, subd. (c)), and, as recogn-zed in plaintiff's opposition, it is "[t]he policy of the law [l to construe the pleadings "liberally 'with a view to substantial justice.' (Citation.)" (Opp. at p. 2:27- 28.) It is also well settled that "[o]nce the employer admittedly becomes vicariously liable for the negligent acts of the employee, there is no remaining basis at a future trial to attempt to prove the negligence ...

Excerpt: ...timony by defendant Susan Patten ("Defendant") in an underlying probate proceeding. The Complaint states five causes of action: (1) abuse of process; (2) breach of contract; (3) constructive trust; (4) fraudulent inducement; and (5) intentional infliction of emotional distress. Defendant brings the present special motion to strike ("anti SLAPP") against the entirety of the Complaint pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16. A SLAPP suit...

Excerpt: ...ive damages allegations, once plaintiff has obtained discovery of further facts warranting punitive damages. Defendants shall file their answer(s) to the FAC within 10 days of service of the order by the clerk. Explanation: "The court may, upon a motion made pursuant to Section 435, or at any time in its discretion, and upon terms it deems proper: (a) Strike out any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading, (b) Strike out al...

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpt: ...e secton 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 tme to meet and confer, they may submit a stipulati...

Excerpt: ...hat it has no duty to "police" or supervise the accounts of its customers to ensure that they are not the victims of fraud or financial elder abuse and thus it cannot be liable for negligently allowing plaintiff's granddaughter to steal cwer $90,000 from plaintiff's accounts, Wells Fargo has not established that it owes plaintiff no duty as a matter of law. The cases cited by Wells Fargo only stand for the proposition that a bank has no duty to m...