Excerpt: ...leged former landlords, defendants Deanna Graves (individually and as trustee of her family trust) and her daughter Rashida Graves. The Graveses filed a cross-complaint against Ellis only. The cross-complaint asserts two causes of action — the first for breach of contract (non-payment SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 08/17/2023 2 of rent), and a cause of...

Excerpt: ...ff alleges claims arising out of a real property loan by Bank of America secured by a mortgage on Plaintiffs real property, with a loan number ending 9666 ("Loan 9666"). His FAC, which is 74 pages long, exclusive of the 35 exhibits attached, alleges six causes of acton against the bank: breach of contract, violation of Civil Code secton 1785.25 pertaining to a creditor making reports to a credit reporting agency; breach of the implied covenant of...

Excerpt: ...RA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/17/2023 (3) Reasonable value of services. cross-Defendant demurrers to the first cause of action on the basis that it fails to state facts sufficient to state a cause of action (CCP 5430.10(e)), and that Cross-complainant does not have the legal capacity to sue (CCP 431.10(b).) She also demurs to the second and third causes of action on the basis that those ...

Excerpt: ...ranty of habitability; (3) breach of contract; (4) breach of quiet enjoyment; (5) private nuisance; (6) premises liability; (7) negligence; (8) violation of California's Just Cause Statute; (9) violation of California's Rent Control Statute; (10) unfair business practices (violation of California Business and Professions Code S 17200 et seq.); (11) retaliation; and a claim for exemplary damages. Defendant demurs to all Plaintiffs' causes of actio...

Excerpt: .... Plaintiff alleges that there were conflicts of interest between Plaintiff and Beverly and that Defendant continued to represent both of them. Defendant brings this motion to strike the requests for emotional distress and punitive damages that are sought in connection with the breach of fiduciary cause of action. (Comp. "19, 20.) The acts alleged to constitute a breach of fiduciary duty are (1) defendant prepared a document to amend an irrevocab...

Excerpt: ...en ("the Milways") for declaratory relief (causes of achon one, two and three) and nuisance (causes of action four and five). The three declaratory relief claims seek declarations regarding different property disputes: (1) the boundary line between 1000 Homestead and 20 Alwin Road properties, (2) ownership of the 28Ft wide strip that consttutes Alwin Road and (3) whether the Milways can quiet title on the 11 ft easement located on 1000 Homestead....

Excerpt: ...vek Bansal MD, Inc. from approximately SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 08/16/2023 2016 through 2018. (Amended Separate Statement of Material Fact in Support of Plaintiff's Motion, hereinafter "Plaintiff's SSUMF," Fact No. 1, and defendants' response.) Defendant Vivek Bansal is the sole owner and CEO of defendant Vivek Bansal M.D., Inc. (Plain...

Excerpt: ... the petition to invalidate Veglnvest's third party claim is denied, and judgment is granted for Veglnvest on the validity of its third party claim that it holds a superior interest in the Attached Funds, as set forth below. Defendant as the prevailing party shall file a proposed order/judgment consistent with this ruling in accordance with the Local Rules of this Court. Background Plaintiff sought and obtained an ex parte order for a right to at...

Excerpt: ..."Kulwant"), Dhanwant Singh Malhi's ("Dhanwant") (collectively "Defendants") Special Motion to Strike Pursuant to C.C.P. S 425.15. Allegations of Complaint Plaintiff is a member of the Sikh faith and attends the Sikh Temple — El Sobrante (the "Temple"). He is involved in the Temple's administrative activites and teaches Gatka (Sikh Martial Arts) at the Temple. He has been attending and teaching at the Temple since 2009. The Complaint sets forth ...

Excerpt: ...aint was filed with Trey Briggs as the plaintiff. 80th complaints allege that Trey broke his arm at a school event in 2018, but Trey continued to experience problems and required surgery in 2022 and 2023. 80th the complaint and first amended complaint stated that the plaintiff had complied with the applicable claims statute. The District brings this moton for sanctions against Plaintiff's attorney based on the failure to submit a government claim...

Excerpt: ... the Court's decision was its conclusion that the ruling in Felisilda v. FCA US LLC (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 486 applied to this case. Plaintiff does not address the status of arbitration in brief. Defendant states in their memorandum that "the Parties are already actively engaged and near the conclusion of arbitration with Judicate West." (Opposition p.2.) The Court previously continued this matter so that the parties could included declarations on...

Excerpt: ...es and costs upon the initation of the action." Plaintiff's form complaint asserted one cause of action for breach of contract. (Pl. Compl.) As part of that single cause of action, plaintiff averred: "...Defendant materially breached its obligation under the terms of the contract between the parties which it drafted, Defendant's obligation to pay all wages when due." (Pl. Compl. p. 7, Attachment BC-2.) "In accordance with this rule of statutory c...

Excerpt: ...CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 08/14/2023 Procedural Background Defendant originally filed her Motion on April 11, 2023. The Court issued a tentative ruling on August 13. The tentative ruling noted there were "several procedural problems as well as substantive issues with both Parties' positions." This includes a number of owners of property adjacent to Defendant's Property which ...

Excerpt: ... Pursuant to Code of Civ-l Procedure 5654.6 ("Motion"). For the following reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion is granted. Procedural Background This matter relates to a construction defect action involving the owners of eight homes in Pittsburg, California. Plaintiffs sued the builders and general contractor of their homes consisting of several entities, including Seecon Built Homes, Inc., Albert D. Seeno Constructon Co., Inc., Cyrus Land Investments, LL...

Excerpt: ...21 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 08/09/2023 breach of governing documents; (2) breach of fiduciary duties; and (3) declaratory relief. For the following reasons, the MSJ is granted. Legal Standard Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") SS 437c(o)(1) and 437c(p)(2) provide the relevant legal standard for deciding the MS]. Section 437c(o)(1) provides, in relevant part: A cause of action has no merit if one or more of the elements of the ca...

Excerpt: ...gust 18, 2023. Factual and Procedural Background This matter pertains to a meeting (the "Midnight Meeting") that occurred in the wee hours of August 3, 2018 when Defendant David Marcotte called a family meeting to execute a series of documents pertaining to the family business ("RJMLLC"), which was formed by the Parties' father Rene J. Marcotte ("Decedent"). The alleged purpose of the meeting related to a tax saving strategy that was designed to ...

Excerpt: ...ntiff. There are a number of pleadings filed in this case, including another complaint which was consolidated with this action, as well as a number of cross-complaints. Only the pleadings relevant to the current Mohon will be discussed. Plaintiff filed her initial Complaint on December 9, 2021, naming Defendants Decker Bullock Dreyfus, Inc. (dba Golden Gate Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.) and William Leone ("Defendants"). The Defendants wer...

Excerpt: ...ing Agreement Dated as of April 1, 2002, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Capital I Inc. Trust 2002-NC2 ("Cross-Defendant" or "US Bank as Trustee")'s motion for summary judgment. For the following reasons, Cross-Defendant's Motion is granted. Brief Factual and Procedural Background This case concerns the real property located at 27 Sunset Drive, Kensington, CA 94707 (Complaint at '1 4) and a related prior lawsuit entitled John Elkins v. Provident, U.S....

Excerpt: ...ners insurance carrier defendant USAA General Indemnity Company ("USAA") and defendant Masters Distribution, Inc. dba Masters Wholesale ("MDI") for failure to properly install replacement hardwood flooring based on a claim under their homeowners' policy. (2AC "1 3, 7, 11.) Plaintiffs allege USAA has denied coverage for the defects in the replacement flooring under a policy exclusion. (2AC '1 24.) Plaintiffs sued USAA and MDI on multiple theories....

Excerpt: ...s an employment discrimination case. Plaintiff Richard Van Koll, age 65, alleges he is employed by Defendant Contra Costa County as a Non-aenefitted Senior Inspector assigned to the Real Estate Fraud unit of the District Attorney's Office. Defendant alleges he was denied various promotions from 2016 to 2021 due to his age and in retaliation for taking medical leave and complaining of age discrimination. The FAC filed on January 25, 2023 asserts t...

Excerpt: ...ry McCord for breach of contract and breach of guaranty. Schafer filed a cross-complaint against both RAP and McCord for (1) breach of contract, (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, (3) fraud and deceit and (4) negligent misrepresentation. RAP demurrers to each claim in the cross-complaint based on the failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action and as to the first and second causes of action ba...

Excerpt: ... action is stayed pending the completion of arbitration proceedngs. (CCP S 1281.4.) (2) A post-arbitration status conference is scheduled for February 5, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. The parties are required to file a status report or reports at least 10 calendar days before the conference. Background Plaintiffs Lindsay Jo Schutte Crittendon and Zachariah Bonsignore Crittendon filed this action for breach of a residential construction contract on April 3, 2...

Excerpt: ...notification of LWDA of the settlement. A. Background and Settlement Terms Defendant operates two car washes located in Concord and Fremont. Plaintiff has been employed there as a car washer since the mid-2000s. The original complaint was filed on March 23, 2022. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $437,800. The class representative payment to the plaintiffs would be $10,000. Attorney's fees would be $145,933 (one-third of the ...

Excerpt: ...e 3, 2022, and amended shortly thereafter to add PAGA claims. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $250,000. The class representative payment to the plaintiffs would be $10,000. Attorney's fees would be $83,325 (one-third of the settlement). Litigation costs would not exceed $10,000. The settlement administrator's costs are estimated at $5,350. PAGA penalties would be $7,500, resulting in a payment of $5,625 to the LWDA. The net...

Excerpt: ...mployed from April 2019 to January 2022 as a field service technician. The original complaint was filed on February 28, 2022. It is a class-action and PAGA case. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 08/03/2023 2 The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $725,000. The class representative payment to the plaintiffs would be $10,000. Attorney's fees ...

Excerpt: ...scussion Legal Standard "The function of a demurrer is to test the suffciency of the complaint as a matter of law." (Holiday Matinee, Inc. v. Rambus, Inc. (2004) 118 Cal.App.4th 1413, 1420.) A complaint "is sufficient if it alleges ultimate rather than evidentiary facts" (Doe v. City of Los Angeles (2007) 42 Cal.4th 531, 550), but the plaintiff must set forth the essential facts of his or her case "with reasonable precision and with particularity...

Excerpt: ...ure to provide accurate itemized wage statements; (4) failure to produce employee file; (5) disability/perceived disability discrimination; (6) age discrimination; (7) work environment harassment; (8) retaliation; (9) failure to prevent harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; (10) retaliation; (11) failure to prov-de reasonable accommodation; (12) failure to engage in good faith interactive process; (13) unfair and unlawful business practice...

Excerpt: ...ection 430.10(e), the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Plaintiff alleges that he is a dependent adult and went to John Muir for severe back pain on October 12 at 9:49 a.m. (Comp. On October 14 at 12:45 p.m., Plaintiff had an MRI and saw a neurosurgeon who confirmed a large disc herniation at Ll-2 on the MRI. The neurosurgeon immediately recognized the need for back surgery to decompress Plaintiff's cauda ...

Excerpt: ...ction is protected by the anti-SLAPP statute, as discussed below. Background Plaintiffs Deepak Joshi and Diana Martinez filed their initial Complaint on December 30, 2022, alleging causes of action for (1) Defamation, (2) Malicious Prosecution, (3) Abuse of Pruess, (4) Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, and (5) Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress. On February 25, 2023, they personally served the initial complaint on defendant. O...

Excerpt: ... against defendant Sukhdeep Kaur on September 17, 2019. With leave of Court, after engaging new counsel, Plaintiffs filed an amended verified complaint on March 3, 2023. Sukhdeep is the special administration of the estate of her deceased husband, Gurpinder Singh, who Plaintiffs allege was a member of their family who lived with them when he was 20 years old and who they treated like a son. (Am. Compl. 5, 12, 18, 20, 23.) (Because of the similari...

Excerpt: ...nostic testing to determine the cause of her headache. (Compl. 18, 19.) On May 2, 2011, plaintiff Mrs. Lewis was seen by a triage nurse and examined by a physician. (Plaintiff's Trial Brief at 4.) On May 3, 2011, plaintiff Mrs. Lewis was seen by a triage nurse and a physician assistant. (ld.) Plaintiff further alleges that on May 6, 2011, she returned to SOMC with extreme headache pain and she was denied adequate medical treatment in that the sta...

Excerpt: ...tion for judgment on the pleadings, defendants contend plaintiff exceeded the scope of that leave and accordingly, they also move to strike the added causes of action and punitive damages. 80th motions are granted. No further amendment will be permitted unless plaintiff comes to the hearing prepared to articulate facts that would justify amendment. Background The Court's previous order granting Defendants' moton for judgment on the pleadings reci...

Excerpt: ...t office, but that member was located by skip tracing. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motion is granted. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 07/27/2023 9 Background and Settlement Terms Defendant is a public-school district. Plaintiff has worked for defendant as a school bus driver since 2013. The original complaint was filed on ...

Excerpt: ... 65 packets were returned by the post office. Follow up resulted in 51 new addresses, leaving only 4 nondeliverable. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motion is granted. Background and Settlement Terms The two plaintiffs in this case initially filed separate actions in different counties. Kalaveras filed a class action in this County, and amended the complaint to add a PAGA claim. NCR removed the case to federal court b...

Excerpt: ...property (Gov. Code S 835); (3) negligent hiring, supervision, and retention, and (4) survival action. Defendant demurs to Plaintiff's causes of action for (1) negligence, (3) negligent hiring, and (4) survival action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 430.10(e) on several grounds. For the following reasons, the Demurrer is sustained, with leave to amend. Request for Judicial Notice In opposition, Plaintiff requests judicial notice of ...

Excerpt: ...se this is plaintiffs first pleading, she may file and serve an amended complaint by August 7, 2023. 1. Background According to the complaint, plaintiff was foreclosed upon by her lenders, Gregory Funcrng LLC and Gregory Funding Inc., and the property sold to defendant. Defendant then proceeded to evict her. She previously filed suit against the lender(s), and they are not parties here. Plaintiff claims, in essence, that the defendant was neglige...

Excerpt: ...specially to Plaintiffs' cause of action for unlawful detainer pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 430.10 on the grounds that Plaintiffs have not adequately alleged a landlord-tenant relationship. For the following reasons, the Demurrer is sustained, without leave to amend. Request for Judicial Notice There are several contentious requests for judicial notice. First, Defendant requests judicial notce of the declaration of Albert D. Seen...

Excerpt: ... GM when he purchased the vehicle. (Second Amended Complaint ("SAC"), 5-8.) Plaintiff alleges the Vehicle has a "Transmission Defect" more fully described in the SAC that manifested during the warranty period. (FAC, 10-18.) Plaintiff alleges GM knew about the Transmission Defect since 2014 and that the Vehicle had the Transmission Defect when he purchased it, but GM concealed and failed to disclose the Transmission Defect. (SAC, 28-44.) Plaintiff...

Excerpt: ...r being sought (Code Civ. Proc., S 1010; Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1110(a)), and courts generally may consider only the grounds stated in the notice of motion [Citation.]" (Kinda v. Carpenter (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 1268, 1277.) In addition, when bringing for summary adjudication "the specific cause of action, aft-mat-ive defense, claims for damages, or issues of duty must be stated specifically in the notice of motion and be repeated, verbatim,...

Excerpt: ... failed to allege sufficient facts to support a punt-ive damages award and that if Plaintiff's underlying fraud claim fails, then so does Plaintiff's claim for punitive damages. For the reasons set forth, the motion to strike is granted, with leave to amend. Background The background of this case is addressed in the Court's tentative ruling on the related demurrer to the fraudulent concealment cause of achon by General Motors, LLC. Legal Standard...

Excerpt: ...Relevant Procedural History Plaintiffs Salvacion Gulingan and Virgilio Gulingan own and reside at property located at 180 Riverside Drive in Bay Point. Defendants Ying Zhong Su and Zi Wen Yao are the trustees of the revocable trust that owns the adjacent property at 176 Riverside Drive in Bay Point. (Defs.' Separate Statement of undisputed Material Facts ("UMF") No. 1.1; Plfs.' Separate Statement of Additional Material Facts ("AMF") Nos. 1, 2.) B...

Excerpt: ...urphy was added the personal representative of Kerry Murphy's estate. Thus, Margaret Murphy is the sole defendant in this case, but is being sued individually, as trustee of the Murphy Family Trust and as personal representative of Kerry Murphy's estate. In the discussion that follows "the Murphys" includes both Kerry and Margaret Murphy, Kerry's estate and the family trust unless otherwise noted. This case involves a commission allegedly owed to...

Excerpt: ... prevent prejudicing his or her interest in the litigation. (CCP S 35(a).) "The clear intent of the Legislature is to safeguard litigants who qualify under subdivision (a) against the acknowledged risk that death or incapacity might deprive them of the opportunity to have their case SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 07/24/2023 effectively tried and to ob...

Excerpt: ...xpress contractual warranty with GM on January 24, 2019, presumably when she entered into the lease. (First Amended Complaint ("FAC") 6-8.) She alleges the Vehicle has a "Battery Defect" more fully described in the FAC that manifested during the warranty period. (FAC 9, 23-26.) She alleges GM knew about the Battery Defect since 2016 and that her Vehicle had a defective battery when she leased it, but GM concealed and failed to disclose the Batter...

Excerpt: ...hly repetitive Demurrers to the Complaint of Plaintiffs Michael Graziadei II, et al., along with Motions to Strike. This prolixity is particularly unwarranted given that the parties are jointly represented and make many identical or highly similar arguments. Given the overlap of the motions, the Court will address Defendants' arguments in a single ruling, proceeding in the manner presented in the briefs. The Demurrers to Complaint are sustained i...

Excerpt: ...driven by an employee of defendant SGWS. He filed this action on November 4, 2021 against SGWS and other defendants. SGWS answered on February 17, 2022. The answer include some affirmative defenses, but none based on availability workers' compensation as a remedy. SGWS now moves to amend its answer to include such a defense. SGWS has presented a proposed copy of the First Amended Answer. (See Declaration of Michael A. McLain, Ex. A.) SGWS argues ...

Excerpt: ...d, by a of the evidence, that the plaintiff and moving parties agreed to arbitration, the motion is denied. 1. Background Plaintiff sought to complete a remodeling project in Antioch. On October 28, 2021 plaintiff received a proposal by defendant Chung Ly on behalf of SN Building Design Group. That proposal became the basis for a contract between plaintiff and SN Building Design Group, attached as part of SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COST...

Excerpt: ... as required by the Code. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 07/19/2023 Page 9 of 30 Analysis At the outset, the Court expresses its concern regarding the actions, or more pro#rly inactions, of both counsel which led to the filing of this motion and the need for the Court to expend resources to address an issue that the Parties could have, and should have, res...

Excerpt: ... fact and many of the same witnesses will testify in both actions. For the reasons set forth below, the motion to consolidate is granted. The cases shall be consolidated for all purposes with the instant case, MSC23-ffE94, deemed the lead case. Analysis Code of Civil Procedure S 1048 provides, "When actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all of the matters i...

Excerpt: ...0 a.m. on August 23 to allow Plaintiff time to file a substantive opposition to the Motion. Plaintiffs' Request for Judicial Notice is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452 (d), (h)). General Background In September 21%4, Plaintiffs refinanced real property located at 1952 15th Street in San Pablo, California (the "Property") via a loan in the amount of which was secured by a Deed of Trust. The Deed of Trust was assigned a number of times, ultimately b...