Excerpt: ... Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 853. If a defendant makes this showing, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to demonstrate that one or more material facts exist as to the cause of action or as to a defense to a cause of action. (CCP § 437(c), subdivision(p)(2).) In a summary judgment motion, the pleadings determine the scope of relevant issues. (Nieto v. Blue Shield of Calif. Life & Health Ins. Co. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 60, 74.) A defendant need onl...

Excerpt: ...leadings. Second, we determine whether the moving party has met its statutory burden of proof. Once the defendant has made such a showing, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to produce evidence that a triable issue of fact exists as to an essential element of the cause of action. The third and final step is to determine whether the opposing party has demonstrated that a triable issue of fact exists as to the cause of action. In determining whethe...

Excerpt: ...ers, mental health rehab specialist, PSCs, caseworkers, personal service coordinators, education and mental health specialists, direct service aids, mental health professionals – unlicensed (same as mental health therapist – licensed), and who were provided with cell‐phones or radio communication devices or cell phone stipends by Turning Point. To also grant certification to a subclass of all such persons who separated from employment at an...

Excerpt: ...Plaintiff shall have ten (10) court days from the clerk's service of this order in which to file a second amended complaint. All new or amended allegations are to be set forth in boldface typeset. Explanation: Demurrer A general demurrer admits the truth of all material allegations and a court will “give the complaint a reasonable interpretation by reading it as a whole and all its parts in their context.” (People ex re. Lungren v. Superior C...

Excerpt: ...from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations in the Second Amended Complaint are to be set in boldface type. Explanation: Where the complaint fails to plead ultimate facts, the complaint is subject to demurrer. (Code of Civil Procedure § 430.10(e); Berger v. California Ins. Guar. Ass'n (2005) 128 Cal.App.4th 989, 1006.) Essentially, “[a] complaint must allege the ultimate facts necessary to the statement of an actionable clai...

Excerpt: ...ories, Request for Production of Documents, and Requests for Admissions, and for Monetary Sanctions Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff's motions to compel defendants Auto USA and Tidalwave Finance Corporation to serve verified responses without objections to plaintiff's form and special interrogatories and request for production of documents. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.290; 2031.300.) Defendants shall serve verified responses without objections...

Excerpt: ...ction 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 motion for class certification does not relieve the Court of the duty of determining whether certification is appropriate.” The case so requiring is Amchem Prods., Inc. v. Windsor (1997) 521 U.S. 591, 620 (“Amchem”): “Confronted wi...

Excerpt: ...s 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 “requires the trial court to make an initial determination of the actual time expended; and then to ascertain whether under all the circumstances of the case the amount of actual time expended and the monetary charge being made f...

Excerpt: ...mplaint (FAC) alleged against Defendants Laton Unified School District, Laton High School, and Jason Krikava for failing to file the claims within the applicable statute of limitations. Plaintiff shall have ten (10) court days in which to file the Second Amended Complaint (SAC). Any new or altered allegations shall be set forth in boldface typeset. Explanation: A general demurrer admits the truth of all material allegations and a Court will “gi...

Excerpt: ...submitted within 5 days of notice of the ruling. Explanation: Standard of Care The appropriate standard of care required of a medical professional is not a matter of common lay knowledge. Therefore, except in cases of “egregious” medical negligence, expert medical testimony is required in medical malpractice actions to establish the standard of care required of a physician (or other health care provider) under the circumstances. See Flowers v...

Excerpt: ... some issue therein, be referred for decision to a third party (referee). Such reference may be made pursuant to the parties' agreement or, in certain cases, without the parties' consent. Under Code of Civil Procedure § 638, the court may order a reference either: • “(U)pon the agreement of the parties filed with the clerk, or judge, or entered in the minutes ... ”; or • “(U)pon the motion of a party to a written contract or le...

Excerpt: ...ral, set one, directed to Defendant Duchscherer; and request for production of documents, set one, directed to Defendant Duchscherer. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.290(b), 2031.300(b).) Defendants Tobias and Duchscherer are ordered to serve complete verified responses to the discovery set forth above, without objection, within 15 days of the clerk's service of the minute order. To impose monetary sanctions in favor of Plaintiff, against Defendants T...

Excerpt: ...erty released from levy. (Code Civ. Proc., § 485.240, subd. (a).) On a showing of “clear and convincing” reasons, courts have inherent power to vacate ex parte attachments without any notice (i.e., on defendant's application). (Western Steel & Ship Repair, Inc. v. RMI, Inc. (1986) 176 Cal.App.3d 1108, 1116‐1117.) At the hearing, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the attachment was proper. (Loeb & Loeb v. Beverly Glen Music...

Excerpt: ... petitions, without prejudice. However, the court does intend to set a status conference on March 28, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. in Department 502 and require petitioners' counsel to update the court on the status of the administrative records in each case, as well as whether the cases have been set for hearings on the merits. If petitioners fail to lodge an administrative record in each case and set the cases for hearings on the merits within a reasonabl...

Excerpt: ...cal Rules, rule 2.1.17.) Explanation: Motion to Set Aside Default The court may relieve a party from a judgment, order or other proceeding taken against him or her as a result of mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect, where the application for relief is made within six months of entry of the judgment, etc. (Code Civ. Proc. §473(b).) Application for relief may be based on either (1) an attorney affidavit of fault, in which event re...

Excerpt: ...roposed judgment consistent with this order. To take the motion to consolidate off calendar in light of the dismissal of the Morones action. Explanation: Defendants Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A., Inc. and Del Monte Fresh Porduce (West Coast), INc. (collectively, “Del Monte”) move to dismiss Morones v. Del Monte Fresno Produce N.A., Inc. et al., Case No. 14CECG02849. The action was filed on January 31, 2014. "An action shall be brought to t...

Excerpt: ...deny all motions. Explanation: The motions before the court seek leave to file cross‐complaints and to amend defendants' answers. All of the proposed new and amended pleadings are premised on factual allegations postulating alleged concealment and misrepresentations by plaintiff before the moving defendants became members as to whether plaintiff was running a deficit, was mismanaged, etc. Insofar as the proposed amendments seek to assert a cros...

Excerpt: ...der a party, the party's attorney, or both, to pay the reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees, incurred by another party as a result of actions or tactics, made in bad faith, that are frivolous or solely intended to cause unnecessary delay.” (Code Civ. Proc. §128.5(a); see Levy v. Blum (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 625, 635 [§128.5 which “permits the award of attorney fees, not simply as appropriate compensation to the prevailing pa...

Excerpt: ...n for class certification and preliminary approval of settlement is proof that the matter truly is litigated as a class action, more such complex motions requiring substantial time to resolve are expected. The matter is therefore deemed complex pursuant to Rule 3.400(b)(1); the complex fees must be paid on or before February 22, 2019. 2. Class Certification a. Standards An agreement of the parties is not sufficient to establish a class for settle...

Excerpt: ...that controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that: (a) The right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner; or (b) Grounds exist for rescission of the agreement.” (Code Civ. Proc. §1281.2(a), (b); see Espejo v. Southern California Permanente Medical Group (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 104...

Excerpt: ... October 1, 2018, the parties filed a stipulation deeming the prematurely filed Memorandum of Costs timely filed. See ¶ 6 of the Stipulation. On November 13, 2018, notice of entry of judgment was filed. On November 26, 2018, Defendant filed a motion seeking to tax costs; specifically, the amount of $29,446.44 listed at line 13 as “interest pursuant to CC § 33289.” No opposition was filed. Merits In the case at bench, an appeal has been file...

Excerpt: ...defendant breached the duty, and that the breach was a proximate or legal cause of injuries suffered by the plaintiff.” (United States Liab. Ins. Co. v. Haidinger–Hayes, Inc. (1970) 1 Cal.3d 586, 594.) Likewise, in order to establish premises liability on a negligence theory, a plaintiff must prove duty, breach, causation and damages. (Ortega v. Kmart Corp. (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1200, 1205. Defendants' motion is based solely on the theory that pr...

Excerpt: ...nsufficient to show a good faith attempt to confer with defendant regarding the motion. (Code Civ. Proc. § 439, subd. (a).) Plaintiff's counsel shall file a supplemental declaration regarding her meet and confer efforts by March 15, 2019. Explanation: “Before filing a motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to this chapter, the moving party shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subj...

Excerpt: ...t v. County of Los Angeles (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 125, 145.)  To sustain defendant's demurrers based upon: (1) Gurpreet's lack of capacity; (2) Jasbir's claims of negligent infliction of emotional distress which are based upon: 31‐315.2; 31‐320.5; 31‐335.1 and 31‐405 (for both mandatory duty and vicarious liability); (3) social worker liability; (4) negligent hiring; (5) acts of independent contractors; and (6) plaintiffs' allegation of...

Excerpt: ...erned by CCP §§872.010 through 874.240. CCP § 872.210 states: (a) A partition action may be commenced and maintained by any of the following persons: (1) A coowner of personal property. (2) An owner of an estate of inheritance, an estate for life, or an estate for years in real property where such property or estate therein is owned by several persons concurrently or in successive estates. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), an action between...

Excerpt: ...om the affidavits submitted in opposition to a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, or both, that facts essential to justify opposition may exist but cannot, for reasons stated, be presented, the court shall deny the motion, order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had, or make any other order as may be just. (Civ. Proc. Code §437c, subd. (h).) A continuance (normally a matter within the court...

Excerpt: ...ipt of the hearing), as defense counsel states they did. Further, the trial minute order from September 10, 2018, indicates it was “not reported,” so it does not appear it could have been put “on the record.” Thus, the court can only consider the terms of the written settlement agreement to determine if it is enforceable pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6 (“section 664.6”). The written agreement was signed only by Mrs. ...

Excerpt: ...ego will unduly prejudice defendants; and (4) bifurcation will result in jury confusion. Plaintiffs oppose, arguing judicial economy will not be promoted because there is significant overlap between the evidence related to alter ego liability and the evidence that will be relevant to the balance of the issues. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1048(b) the court “in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials wi...

Excerpt: ...g parties shall submit proposed judgments consistent with the court's order within 10 days of the date of this order. Explanation: California State University's Motion: Plaintiff has alleged only one cause of action against CSU based on CSU's allegedly negligent hiring training, supervision, retention, and investigation of defendant Andres Perez‐Esteban. However, defendant has presented evidence that it never hired Esteban, and that Esteban was...

Excerpt: ...42,500, with the balance going to the nonappearing defendants. Any supplemental papers must be received by the Court no later than Friday, February 22, 2019. Explanation: The legislature requires the Court to approve any settlement of a complaint seeking civil penalties under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”). (See Labor Code §§2699, subd.(l); 2689, et seq.) However, neither the Legislature nor the California Lab...

Excerpt: ...ommencing with Section 701.510) of Chapter 3 of Division 2 of Title 9. The sale is not final until confirmed by the court.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 568.5.) The proposed sale of the property will be conducted according to law. California Rule of Court 3.1180 provides: A receiver must not employ an attorney without the approval of the court. The application for approval to employ an attorney must be in writing and must state: (1) The necessity for t...

Excerpt: ... proofs of service for the opposition indicate that it was served, by regular mail, on January 11, 2019 as required. Motion to Vacate. When an application for enforcement of a sister‐state judgment is filed, a judgment debtor has thirty days from service in which to challenge the sister‐state judgment. (Code Civ.Proc. § 1710.40 subd.(b).) Challenges to the judgment on the grounds that there was no subject matter or personal jurisdiction in t...

Excerpt: ...in the name of a party, or a 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 amendment to any pleading or proceeding in other particulars...” (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (a).) “ ‘Code of Civil Procedure section 473, which gives the courts power to permit amendments in fur...

Excerpt: ...aint, which will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. New allegations/language must be set in boldface type. Explanation: Second Cause of Action: Failure to Engage in Good Faith Interactive Process It is a jurisdictional prerequisite to state a claim under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) that the plaintiff exhausted his administrative remedies before commencing a lawsuit. (Gov. Code, §§ 12960, 12901, 12925, subd. (b); O...

Excerpt: ...errule Defendants' demurrer to the remaining causes of action. To grant Defendants' motion to strike Plaintiff's claims for punitive, special, and exemplary damages, with leave to amend. Plaintiff is granted 20 days, commencing from service of the minute order by the clerk, to file and serve a first amended complaint. All new allegations in the amended complaint are to be set in boldface type. Explanation: Demurrer In testing a pleading against a...

Excerpt: ...on settlement, plaintiff also seeks class certification for the purposes of approving the settlement. Therefore, the court must first determine whether the class should be certified before deciding whether the settlement should be preliminarily approved. “Code of Civil Procedure section 382 authorizes class actions ‘when the question is one of a common or general interest, of many persons, or when the parties are numerous, and it is impractic...

Excerpt: ...ake a prima facie showing that there are no triable issues of material fact. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850.) A defendant meets that burden by showing that one or more elements of the cause(s) of action cannot be established, or that there is a complete defense thereto. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c, subds. (p)(2), (o)(2).) Once the moving party has met its initial burden, the burden shifts to the opposing party to produ...

Excerpt: ...on for sanctions without prejudice. Plaintiff has not successfully made a motion. Explanation: The evidence presented is insufficient to support the motion. All that need be shown in the moving papers is that the discovery was properly served on the opposing party, that the time to respond has expired, and that no response of any kind has been served. (See Leach v. Sup.Ct. (1980) 111 CA3d 902, 905–906.) Plaintiff has failed to provide evidence ...

Excerpt: ...ia Rule of Court 3.500(e). Moving party is also ordered to “take all appropriate action necessary to assure that the transfer takes place and that proceedings are initiated in” San Joaquin County Superior Court “to complete consolidation” with the case pending in that court, pursuant to California Rule of Court 3.500(f). The trial date of February 25, 2019, mandatory settlement conference date of January 30, 2019, and trial readiness hear...

Excerpt: ...esolution. To this end, ‘arbitration agreements should be liberally construed', with ‘doubts concerning the scope of arbitrable issues [being] resolved in favor of arbitration [citations].'” (Market Ins. Corp. v. Integrity Ins. Co. (1987) 188 Cal. App. 3d 1095, 1098, internal citations omitted.) “[W]hen a petition to compel arbitration is filed and accompanied by prima facie evidence of a written agreement to arbitrate the controversy, th...

Excerpt: ...been issued, this is unnecessary. Jack filed this motion twice, once on June 14, 2018, in an attempt to have it heard ex parte, which the court ordered off calendar, and a second time on July 2, 2018, after the court instructed defendant that he must file a noticed motion.2 Since the supporting declarations filed with each motion are slightly different as to some crucial details, they are both considered in analyzing defendant's request to set as...

Excerpt: ...within 10 days of service of the minute order plus 5 days for service via mail. (CCP § 1013) Explanation: Background On February 10, 2017, Plaintiff filed a judicial form Complaint alleging a cause of action for motor vehicle negligence and a cause of action for general negligence arising from a multi‐vehicle collision that took place on April 2, 2016 on Interstate 70 near Spiceland, Indiana. Plaintiff alleges that its truck was “rear‐ end...

Excerpt: ...r the Federal Employers Liability Act. He claims that on March 15, 2015, he suffered neck and lower back injuries when he was struck on the right side of the head by an object that entered through an open window while he was operating a locomotive owned by the Defendant Union Pacific. He alleges that the air conditioner was broken and the windows were open for cooling purposes. At the time, he was working as a locomotive engineer on UP644 at Defe...

Excerpt: ... a writ of possession concerning personal property identified as a “Vatech PAX‐I 3D Green 15X15, Mfg. #30P15X15, Master Serial Number 055‐0991” which is valued at $32,100. Plaintiff contends that the equipment was delivered to 5151 N. Palm Ave. Suite 320, in Fresno, CA, pursuant to an Equipment Finance Agreement and that the Defendants are in default of the Agreement by failing to make monthly payments. Whether a writ of possession is to ...

Excerpt: ...ant to show, by a preponderance of the evidence, that it is more likely than not that there is no triable issue of material fact. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850.) In determining whether any triable issues of material fact exist, the court must strictly construe the moving papers and liberally construe the declarations of the party opposing summary judgment. Any doubts as to whether a triable issue of material fact exist...

Excerpt: ...ree speech rights and/or right to petition. (Peregrine Funding, Inc. v. Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP (2005) 133 Cal.App.4th 658.) The defendant must establish that the “core injury‐producing conduct upon which the plaintiff's claim is premised” is protected speech. (Hylton v. Frank E. Rogozienski, Inc. (2009) 177 Cal.App.4th 2364, 1272.) The meaning of “arising from” in Code of Civil Procedure, section 425.16, subdivision (b)(1...

Excerpt: ...ring the 45‐ day leave to amend period. The time in which the answer can be amended will run from service by the clerk of the minute order. Explanation: Defendant Golden, a corporation, filed its Answer to the Complaint in pro per. The answer was signed by Golden's CFO. A corporation cannot represent itself in court either pro per or through an officer or agent who is not an attorney. (Caressa Camille, Inc. v. Alcohol Beverage Control Appeals B...

Excerpt: ...t One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set One, without objection, and shall produce all documents responsive to the requests for production. All objections are waived. To impose monetary sanctions in favor of plaintiffs in the amount of $767.00 against Voua Yang and Cindy Mai Xiong (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2023.010(d), 2023.030(a)), to be paid within 30 days of service of the order by the clerk. To order plaintiffs to pay filing fees of $1...

Excerpt: ... order. Explanation: A prevailing buyer in an action under the Song–Beverly Consumer Warranty 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, ...

Excerpt: ...irst amended complaint, without leave to amend, for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10, subd. (e).) To grant defendant First American's motion to strike the references to malice, fraud, and oppression, and the requests for punitive damages and attorney's fees against it in the first amended complaint, as improper and unsupported. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 435, 436.) To deny leave to amend. To...