Excerpt: ...Civil Procedure section 377.32, by October 19, 2023. Background Plaintiff Jnbud Dawod Hadu ("Hadu' or "Plaintiff') alleges she is the sister and sole sibling ofSabiha Campbell ("Campbell" or "Decedent") who died on July 27, 2022. (Second Amended Complaint ("2AC") 3.) Plaintiff alleges she is "an intestate heir [of Decedent] whose interest is affected" by the action, "but for" the defendants' allegedly unlawful conduct. (2AC '1 3.) Campbell moved ...

Excerpt: ... from his job at Mechanics Bank for sexually harassing Pacheco and others. Pena filed this acton against Mejia on February 1, 2021. Pena alleges that Mejia has subjected Pena and his family members to harassment, including threats of violence. Pena alleged the following causes of action in his complaint: (1) libel; (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (3) violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act; and (4) false impersonation in viol...

Excerpt: ...he proof of service for the summons and complaint. She avers that she was not home on Monday, November 6, 2017, at 1:55 p.m„ but instead ata work training. Additionally, she notes that the physical description of the person served is not a description of defendant herself. According to defendant, she weighed more at the time of service than the we-ght of the individual indicated by defendant. When a motion is made on grounds that the default ju...

Excerpt: ... may be judicially noticed, it appears that a party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc. S 438 (d); Saltarelli & Steponovich v. Douglas (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1, 5; Weil & Brown, Civ. Pro. Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2010) p. 7:292.) As such, a moton for judgment on the pleadings inwlves the same type of procedures that apply to a general demurrer. (Richardson-Tunnell v. School Ins. Program for Employees (2007) 157 Cal.A...

Excerpt: ...P S 1281.4 in light of the Court's order on May 1, 2023 6 granting Plaintiff's moton to compel insurance appraisal pursuant to Insurance Code S 2071. The insurance appraisal process under Insurance Code S 2071 is a form of arbitration and subject to the rules governing arbitration. (Louise Gardens of Encino Homeowners' Assn., Inc. v. Truck Ins. Exchange, Inc. (2WO) 82 Cal.App.4th 548, 658; Lambert v. Carneghi (2008) 158 Cal.App .4th 1120, 1131.) ...

Excerpt: ...oval was granted, the administrator has mailed notices to 816 class members. 50 packets were returned by the post office. Follow up resulted in 35 new addresses, leaving 15 nondeliverable. 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: 09/21/2023 2 A. Background and settlement Terms The sett...

Excerpt: ...irfield Belmont. Defendant is given 30 days in which to answer. Demurrer Standards A demurrer for sufficiency tests whether the complaint states a cause of action. (Hahn v. Mirda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) In a demurrer proceeding, the defects must be apparent on the face of the pleading or via proper judicial notice. (lonabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co. (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 968, 994.) "A demurrer tests the pleading alone, and not on the evid...

Excerpt: ... also moves for approval of plaintiff's attorney's fees, litigation costs, administration costs, and representative payment. Since preliminary approval was granted, the administrator has mailed notices to 317 class members. 6 packets were returned by the post office. Follow up resulted in 3 new addresses, leaving 3 nondeliverable. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motions are granted. E. Background and Settlement Terms ...

Excerpt: ... resulted in 23 new addresses, leaving 30 nondeliverable. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motion is granted. A. Background and Settlement Terms Defendant Rubicon is in the business of manufacturing and wholesaling baked goods. Plaintiff Lucas was previously employed at Rubicon as a maintenance worker. Plaintiff Miles was formerly employed at Rubicon as a sanitation worker. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA CO...

Excerpt: ...cted with Synctruck to provide delivery services in California and Utah. The Plaintiffs are drivers employed by Synctruck, and allegedly by Amazon as a joint employer. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 09/21/2023 23 Plaintiffs also move separately for approval of their attorney's fees, litigation costs, administration costs, and representative payments. The...

Excerpt: ...l complaint was filed on March 19, 2021. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $950,000. The class representative payment SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 09/21/2023 38 to the plaintiff would be $10,000. Attorney's fees would be $316,667 (one-third of the settlement). Litigation costs would not exceed $20,000. The settlement administrator'...

Excerpt: ...eir first amended complaint against defendant Evangelista. Background and Summary of the Case Defendant Evangelista operates a dentistry business. Plaintiffs Rozenberg and Puen formerly worked as dentists in one of defendant's offices. In the first cause of action in the FAC they contend that they were employees, not independent contractors, and Evangelista failed to reimburse them for certain employment-related expenses. Their second cause of ac...

Excerpt: ...a PAGA claim, but it appears that the complaint may be amended to add a PAGA claim in the future. (Comp. "34-36.) Whether the arbitration agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. S 1, et seq. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 09/21/2023 12 (FAA) or by the California Arbitration Act, Code of Civil Procedure S 1280 et seq. (CAA), the thr...

Excerpt: ...case.) The motion is granted. This arbitration motion is unprecedented, in this Court's experience, in one respect: Not only is there an arbitration already in existence and going forward, covering the same set of claims— but indeed, that arbitration proceeding was initiated by plaintiff himself. The Court confesses itself mystified as to why plaintiff, having filed and prosecuted that arbitration, then filed this lawsuit— and even more mysti...

Excerpt: ...graph 71 that states "then attempt to blame Cross-complainants for their decision to live in filth" are stricken; the motion is otherwise denied. Background This dispute arises out of a lease of a residential property in Pittsburg to Plaintiffs and CrossDefendants (the "Tenants" for convenience). (X-Compl. 8 (p. 2, II. 13-15), 1, 2.) On April 24, 2023, the Tenants filed a complaint alleging, among other claims, tortious breach and contractual bre...

Excerpt: ... had failed to prov-de plaintiff with notice of the hearing date. Now that the defendant has properly alerted plaintiff to the hearing date, defendant cannot complain about plaintiff opposing the moton. The court will consider plaintiff's properly filed opposition. The court also continued the motion so that defense counsel could attempt to properly comply with CRC 2.550. For example, the Court asked defense counsel to provide a declaration which...

Excerpt: ...which arises out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as the cause of action which the plaintiff alleges in his complaint." (Code Civil Procedure S 426.10 (c).) "A moton to file a cross-complaint at any time during the course of the action must be granted unless bad faith of the moving party is demonstrated where forfeiture would otherwise result. Factors such as oversight, inadvertence, neglect, mistake o...

Excerpt: ...r the following reasons, the is sustained, with leave to amend. Legal Standard "The function of a demurrer is to test the sufficiency 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 alleges ultimate rather than evidentiary facts" (Doe v. City of Los Angeles (2(m) 42 Cal.4th 531, 550 ("Doe")), but the plaintiff must set forth the essential facts of his o...

Excerpt: ...declaration documenting efforts to meet and confer is insufficient in that it indicates the "means by which" counsel met and conferred with the plaintiff was email. Such efforts must be "in person or by telephone." (Code Civ. Proc„ S 430.41 (a) and see also S 435.5 [re moton to strikel.) Plaintiff's opposition points this out. (Opposition, 4:6-7.) However, plaintiff does not indicate how the failure affected the merits of the motions. Failure t...

Excerpt: ...that they are both duplicative of the first cause of action. Plaintiffs Request for Judicial Notice, relating to documents filed in Contra Costa Superior Court Case No. P20-01100 is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452(d).) Summary of Allegations This matter pertains to alleged mistakes made by Defendant Brian Dennis Young relating to work performed by him for Plaintiff. Such work was performed in his professional capacity as an attorney and concerned...

Excerpt: ...f entry of order to answer the FAC. Background Plaintiffs Adele Connor and Mirabel Connor filed suit against Defendants Ki Young Chung and Sarah Chung, alleging that Plaintiffs are tenants of 3580 Boyer Cir., Lafayette, California 945499 (the "Property"). The Property is alleged to be owned and controlled by Defendants. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants had notice of, and failed to remedy, substantial habitability issues, and retaliated against P...

Excerpt: ...ed Services, Inc. ("Premier"), and ADA Services Corporation, formerly known as H&R Block Mortgage Corporation ("ADA"). The motion is not opposed by Plaintiff. The Court rules as follows: (1) the motion to strike from the Prayer for Relief for the third cause of action paragraph 13, p. 38, line 23 ("For exemplary damages as may be shown at trial") as to defendants Premier, and ADA only is granted, and as to defendant Sand Canyon, the motion is den...

Excerpt: ... issued an order to show cause ("OSC"). The OSC hearing was held on January 18, 2023. Plaintiff's counsel failed to appear again. As a result, the Court dismissed the matter with prejudice. Standard Defendant moves to set aside the default judgment pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") SS473(b). Code of Civ-l Procedure 473(b) provides, in relevant part: The court may, upon any terms as may be just, relieve a party or his or her l...

Excerpt: ...ating trial on Plaintiffs claims for alter ego and successor liability (causes of action seven and eight of the Third Amended Complaint) from their remaining claims, with the alter ego claims to be heard first and the remaining claims and cross claims to be heard 90 days later. For the reasons set forth below, the moton is denied. Brief Factual and Procedural Background This case arises from Plaintiffs' purchase of a refurbished home that turned ...

Excerpt: ...ecific dollar amounts (Prayer A). Punitive Damages In order to obtain punitive damages, the facts alleged must show fraud, oppression or malice. (Civil Code section 3294.) Subdivision (c) of the statute contains the following definitions: "(1) 'Malice' means conduct which is intended by the defendant to cause injury to the plaintiff or despicable conduct which is carried on by the defendant with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or ...

Excerpt: ...ts were returned by the post offce. Follow up resulted in 27 new addresses, leaving 7 nondeliverable. No objections have been received; there have been 4 valid opt-out requests. The motion is granted. A. Background and Settlement Terms Defendant is in the business of developing and selling life science research and clinical diagnostic products. Plaintiff worked in its manufacturing operations. The original complaint was filed on January 27, 2021 ...

Excerpt: ...und of the Case and Terms of Settlement This a PAGA case (not a class action), alleging a variety of violations of the Labor Code concerning failure to provide rest and meal breaks, failure to pay minimum wages and overtime, and cascading derivative violations. In particular, plaintiff asserts alleged violations for unpaid off-the-clock time and untaken or shortened rest and meal breaks. This case was first filed by Iraheta on April 19, 2021 as a...

Excerpt: ...violations during the period of the initial COVID emergency'. After a demurrer was sustained to part of plaintiff's claim, her first amended complaint focused specifically on allegations that defendant unlawfully required employees to exhaust personal leave time before taking COVID-related sick time as authorized by emergency' statutory provisions. The total settlement payment is Out of this is to come attorney's fees of $41,667 (onethird of the ...

Excerpt: ...eliverable. No objections out have been received, and only one class member has opted out. The motion is granted. B. Background and Settlement Terms The original complaint was filed on October 5, 2021. A PAGA claim was added by later amendment. The settlement will create a gross settlement fund of The class representative payment to the plaintiff will be $7,5W. Attorney's fees will be $130,WO (one-third of the settlement). Litigation SUPERIOR COU...

Excerpt: ...Jr. Defendants were served with a three-day notice to vacate the property on April 27, 2022. The Defendants have failed to vacate and unlawful detainer proceedings were filed on May 12, 2022. PL has brought a motion for summary judgment based on the pleadings, asserting that PL is entitled to summary judgment because there is no issue of triable fact regarding the unlawful detainer. Defendants object, asserting that they are tenants of the proper...

Excerpt: ...aratory and Injunctive Relief and for Attorneys Fees. PG&E moves pursuant to Code of Civil Proc:edure S 437c on the grounds that the Second Amended Pettion challenging the Letter Agreement for Tree Removal is moot given the United States Bankruptcy Court's order rescinding and voiding the challenged Tree Removal Agreement. For the following reasons, the Motion is granted. Request for Judicial Notce PG&E requests judicial notice of several State a...

Excerpt: ...tradeline on his credit report in September 2020, Plaintiff Terrence Brewer filed his original complaint on April 30, 2021. That complaint contained six causes of action brought under the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (Civ. Code S 1786 et seq.) ("ICRAA") and the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act (ld., S 1785.1 et seq.) ("CCRAA"). On August 18, 2022, Experian filed a Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings as to all six causes of...

Excerpt: ...nt contends that the SAC fails to allege facts sufficient to support each case of action (CCP S 430.10(e)) and, as a whole, is uncertain, ambiguous, and unintelligible (CCP S 431.10(f).) Defendant's Request for Judicial Notce is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452 Plaintiff filed an "Opposition to Defendant's Reply to Opposition to Demurrer to SAC" on September 5, 2023. No 'sur-reply' was authorized by the Court. Further, Plaintiff cites no authority...

Excerpt: ... reasonable and necessary. As outlined the Court will reduce the fees by $28mo, awarding National fees in the amount of $123,621.50. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 09/13/2023 The Court finds that National's time entries reflect duplicative and/or excessive billing with respect to the preparation of the demurrers and reviewing the complaints....

Excerpt: ...all serve and file notice of entry of order. Plaintiffs have 30 days from written notce of entry in which to amend. Defendants have 30 days from service of an amended complaint in which to respond. Background and Allegations Plaintiffs Kenneth Angley and Shirley Angley filed this medical malpractice action on January 26, 2023. Plaintiff Kenneth Angley suffered a stroke on April 26, 2022 after which he presented to John Muir Medical Center for tre...

Excerpt: ... Ramon was destroyed by a fire in December 2020. Safeco Insurance Company of America ("Safeco") is Plaintiffs' insurer under a policy that insured the residence for loss caused by fire. Plaintiffs mcwe for an order compelling Safeco to participate in an SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 09/13/2023 insurance appraisal to establish the value of t...

Excerpt: ...ing of any such 'sur-reply'. As such, the Court will not consider Plaintiff's SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608 1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 09/13/2023 additional, unauthorized filing. Defendant's Motion to Strike is granted. Factual Allegations See discussion line 2. Standard Any party, within the time allowed to respond to a pleading, may serve and file a notice of moton...

Excerpt: ...4 to 2023. Plaintiffs have sued Defendants for (1) negligence, (2) wrongful eviction, (3) premises liability, (4) breach of the implied covenant of quiet use and enjoyment, (5) intentional infliction of emotional distress and (6) retaliation. The complaint alleges that Defendants failed to maintain the property in a habitable condition and failed to make repairs after Plaintiffs requested them. (Comp. 11 and 12.) he complaint also alleges that De...

Excerpt: ...otion for summary judgment, or in the alternative, summary adjudication is continued to a.m. on September 20, 2023 #nding the filing of the FACC in accordance with this ruling. Background LH Concord Property, LLC and Andy Lin filed their original cross-complaint against Carlos and Susan Echegaray alleging causes of achon for declaratory relief, indemnification based on equitable indemnity, and apportionment of fault. Cross-defendants the Echegara...

Excerpt: ...on for a protective order is granted as discussed below. The request for sanctions is granted as discussed below. Counsel for all parties required to appear. Factual Background This Moton relates to actions taken by Plaintiff's Counsel in obtaining documents from third-party Heritage Bank of Commerce ("Heritage"), which Defendants claim were unethical and done in contravention of the procedures set forth in the Code of Civil Procedure. On June 9,...

Excerpt: ...located 25 Arlene Lane, Walnut Creek, California 94595 ("the Property"). Plaintiff Bryan Kappel, Jane Kappel's son, has resided at the Property at all relevant times. On May 28, 2019, Plaintiffs filed this action against Defendant Contra Costa Sanitation District ("Central San") for Dangerous Condition of Public Property (Gov. Code 5835), Nuisance (Civ. Code S 3479, et seq.), and Inverse Condemnation (Cal. Const., Art. l, S 19), related to a sani...

Excerpt: ...C and the prayer for relief on the grounds that "the language arises out of inadmissible settlement communications." For the following reasons, the motion is denied. Legal Standard Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 436 provides: 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 ou...

Excerpt: ...ve Trust (Civ. Code S 2224); (5) Adverse Possession; (6) Fraud (Promise without intent to perform); (7) Breach of Contract (Damages); (8) Breach of Contract (Rescission); (9) Financial Elder Abuse (Welt & Inst. Code S 15610.30); (10) Trespass (Intentional Tort). Defendants demurrer to all the causes of action set forth in the SAC on various grounds. First, they contend that all causes of action (except CoA 5 — Adverse Possession) are barred by ...

Excerpt: ...t. Any amended complaint shall be filed and served on or before September 18, 2023. Meet and Confer Defendants' declaration documenting efforts to meet and confer is insufficient in that it fails to indicate the "means by which" defendants met and conferred with the plaintiff and whether such efforts were "in person or by telephone." (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.41 (a) and (a)(3)(A).) However, failure to meet and confer in compliance with the statute ...

Excerpt: ...o be substantively the same — as are the oppositions thereto. As such, the Court will rule on the Motions as a whole. The Defendants' Request for Judicial Notice is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452(d)(1).) For the reasons set forth below, Defendants' Motions are granted. Procedural Background Plaintiff filed the initial Complaint on September 15, 2022. It appears the Defendants were served with the Complaint on September 27, 2022. Thereafter, th...

Excerpt: ...ained, without leave to amend. Background Plaintiff sued defendants in connection with derma filler injections administered by defendants on August 10, 2021. (First Amended Complaint, labeled "Amended Complaint" ("FAC") 10, 11. 16, 17.) He alleges he suffered prolonged or permanent damage to his trigeminal nerve which has caused "severe, debilitating, life-long pain." (FAC 13.) He asserts the injections were negligently administered and that he w...

Excerpt: ...hat all parties have captioned their papers as if Midstate were the only cross-defendant on this cross-complaint (which was true on Fryer's original crosscomplaint). In fact, there are two other cross-defendants here, both of which have answered. Demurrer Standards A demurrer for sufficiency tests whether the complaint states a cause of action. (Hahn v. Mirda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) In a demurrer proceeding, the defects must be apparent...

Excerpt: ...t a class action), alleging a variety of violations of the Labor Code concerning failure to provide rest and meal breaks, failure to pay minimum wages and overtime, and cascading derivative violations. In particular, plaintiff asserts alleged violations for violations concerning missed meal breaks, rest breaks, and second meal breaks for long shifts. This case was first filed on June 17, 2021, as a PAGA action (not a class action). The total sett...

Excerpt: ... including the Statement of Decision dated November 16, 2022, the Notce of Appeal filed on January 3, 2023, the Notice of Related Cases filed on August 18, 2023 (including this case), and the minute order dated August 22, 2023. Based on these documents, the Court implements a stay and sets a status hearing for January 24, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in this Department. On that date, assuming this case is still pending, parties are requested to appear and u...

Excerpt: ...ction for breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, respectively. Defendant's unopposed Request for Judicial Notice is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452 (b), (c).) Plaintiff's unopposed Request for Judicial Notice is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452(h).) For the following reasons, Defendant's MSA is granted in part and denied in part as explained below. Factual Background This matter pertains to work perfo...

Excerpt: ...For the following reasons, the motion is granted. Request for Judicial Notice Defendants unopposed request for judicial notice is granted. (Evid. Code SS 452, 453.) Relevant Law Civil Code S 910 provides: Prior to filing an acton against any party alleged to have contributed to a violation of the standards set forth in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 896), the claimant shall initiate the following prelitigation procedures. Section 910 and the ...

Excerpt: ...n Esquivel, a minor, by and through her guardian ad litem, Jennifer Barnes, filed this action against Defendant Contra Costa County on March 21, 2019. Plaintiffs allege that County, through its Contra Costa Regional Medical Center staff, negligently managed Tammy Esquivel's labor and delivery resulting in a severe hypoxic brain injury to Evelyn. Plaintiffs filed a notice of conditional settlement On August 17, 2020 and Judge We] approved the sett...

Excerpt: ...aintiff did not deliver copies to a Corteva officer or to a designated agent for service of process, nor did he serve the documents upon Jim Johnston or Monica Peters, who are two individual SA defendants who are moving to quash the Summons as well as the SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/31/2023 9 entity, Corteva. On April 12, 2023, Plaintiff filed proofs o...

Excerpt: ...face and is denied. Section 664.6(a) states: If parties to a pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by the parties outside of the presence of the court or orally before the court, for settlement of the case, or part thereof, the court, upon motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in ful...

Excerpt: ...COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 508- 1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 08/30/2023 Plaintiffs Jorgen Vindum and Carolyn Vindum as Trustees of the Vindum Family Trust ("Vindums" or "Plaintiffs") allege their residence in San Ramon was destroyed by a fire in December 2020. (Proposed Second Amended Complaint ("2AC") "1 1, 10, 14, 16.) Safeco Insurance Company of America ("Safeco") is Plaintiffs' insurer under a policy t...

Excerpt: ...ylvia Dudum FLP ("Dudum FLP") as owner and Kissane Company, Inc. as prime contractor for a commercial mixed-use development known as the "Clocktower Project" at a property located in Danville. (FACC 8, 9.) In their FACC, Cross-complainants Dudum FLP and Jack Dudum allege a seventh cause of action against cross-defendant Sean Joy for defamation. Joy generally demurs to that cause of action. Standards Governing Demurrer In ruling on the demurrer, t...

Excerpt: ...e Moton is denied. Request for Judicial Notice Defendants request judicial notice of the Contractor's State License Board Detail Information for Priceless Kitchen and Bath and the Registrar of contractors, contractors state License Board SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 08/28/2023 Department of Consumer Affairs, Order to Adopt Stipulated Settlement (as ...

Excerpt: ...nt Golden Rain Foundation ("Defendant" or "GRF") beginning in early 2002. Plaintiff was a member of a union and was represented by Local Union, Laborers' Union No. 34 (the "Union"). Defendant and the Union entered into a collective bargaining agreement ("C8A"), which was renewed in March 2022. Plaintiff was covered by the CBA as a member of the Union. It appears that in July 2020, GRF issued a 2020 Employee Handbook ("Handbook") to all employees....

Excerpt: ...t a proposed order consistent with this ruling and serve and file notice of entry of order. Defendants shall have 15 days from notice of entry of order in which to answer the Second Amended complaint. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 08/28/2023 Allegations of the SAC This action arises out of the custodial care and treatment provided to Dwayne Rideau wh...

Excerpt: ...cluding any SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/24/2023 supporting declaration or request for judicial notice, neither brief shall exceed eight pages. Parties are asked to directly address the analytical framework articulated in County of Alameda v. Janssen (1940) 16 Cal.2d 276 and whether the challenged portion of AB218 served a "public purpose." It is well s...

Excerpt: ... SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/24/2023 Defendants. Defendant's Demurrer is hereby overruled. Discussion Legal Standard "The function of a demurrer is to test the sufficiency 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 evident...

Excerpt: ... issue is the amount. To calculate the appropriate lodestar in this action, one must determine the reasonable hourly rate and multiply that figure by the reasonable number of hours spent. Graham v. DaimlerChrysler Corporation (2009) 34 Cal.4th 563, 579-580. To determine the total hours spent, the court not only considered all of the papers submitted, but also its own experience evaluating a multitude of Anti-Slapp fee motions. "The experienced tr...

Excerpt: ... costs, administrative costs, and a class representative payment. Since preliminary approval was granted, the administrator has mailed notices to 27 class members. After follow- up, only one notice was non-deliverable. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motion is granted. A. Prior Rulings and Judicial Comment When plaintiff's preliminary approval moton first came up for hearing, the Court indicated generally that the set...

Excerpt: ...023. Background Plaintiff generally alleges that after his spouse passed away, he was denied his community property SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/24/2023 interest in assets formerly held in accounts in his spouse's name at Principal Securities, Inc. Plaintiff sued his spouse's daughter Anita L. Budde, the financial firms that held or were otherwise affil...

Excerpt: ... defendant served formal responses to the discovery, objecting to all requests and interrogatories principally on the ground that defendant's arbitration motion was pending (although, for preservation, defendant also stated a number of other boilerplate objections). Thereafter, plaintiff's opposition to the arbitration motion convinced defendant that the motion would be denied, and defendant withdrew it. Defendant then assured plaintff that it wa...

Excerpt: ...tion, which include detailed procedural and substantive requirements for bringing those motions. Plaintiffs motion is denied on that basis, without prejudice to Plaintiff filing a motion for summary judgment and/or summary adjudication in conformity with the Statute and Rules of Court. The party moving for summary judgment has the burden of persuasion to show there is no triable issue of material fact and thus it is entitled to judgment as a matt...

Excerpt: ...ubject to any additional issues to be addressed after the hearing and after taking oral testimony, Plaintiff shall lodge a proposed order for judgment pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Agreement, consistent with Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6(a) and applicable authority which shall set forth the terms of the Settlement Agreement in full as stated in the agreement or shall incorporate and make the Settlement Agreement in full the judg...

Excerpt: ...se number QI-01689 present common questions of law and fact. (See MPA iso Mohon at p. 3:13.) For the following reasons, the Motion is denied. Brief Factual and Procedural Background July 10, 2019. Plaintiff files her initial complaint for general negligence and negligent hiring against Defendants Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries dba Higgins Chapel, Defendant Yen Tom, and Defendant Misty Lynn Cicerello. The gravamen of Plaintiff's claim is an alleged a...

Excerpt: ...resses, leaving only one non-deliverable. No objections have been received, and only one class member has opted out. The motion is granted. Background and Settlement Terms Defendant is in the shipping business. Plaintiff was employed as a driver. This case is unusual among wage-and-hour cases, in that its sole focus is on a failure-of-reimbursement claim rather than any allegations as to payment for time worked. Plaintiff alleges that defendant f...

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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... advice of Paul Bork", and "Internal document with legal advice of Paul Bork". CBE acknowledges that Bork is an inhouse attorney at Dow, and apparently does not dispute that Bork's legal advice is protected work product. CBE fails to state any basis for doubting the accuracy of these descriptions; nor for doubting that Bork's advice is attached, repeated, discussed, or incorporated into the challenged documents. 12. 9:00 AM CASE NUMBER: MSC21-020...

Excerpt: ... 128.7 is denied. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 08/17/2023 Fairfield shall prepare and submit a proposed order consistent with this ruling. Fairfield shall then serve and file notice of entry of order. Relevant Background On June 30, 2020, Plaintiffs Sandra Hernandez-Perez and Jenilee Perez, individually and as successors in interest to Jesus Berrios II, fi...

Excerpt: ...s. Plaintiff was employed there during the class period, though his job duties and dates are not provided. The original complaint was filed on December 22, 2021 as a class action. Plaintiff filed a separate PAGA acton on September 21, 2022. That action was dismissed and the PAGA claims amended into the class case to facilitate settlement. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $200,000. The class representative payment SUPERIOR CO...

Excerpt: ...partment. It started in a Whirlpool gas range (the "Range") which she purchased from Costco Wholesale and which was delivered and installed by moving Defendants Lopex and XPO (collectively the "Moving Defendants"). The Complaint alleges causes of acton for: (1) general negligence, (2) premise liability, (3) product liability, (4) general negligence, and (5) breach of contract. Only two of the causes of action are asserted against the moving Defen...

Excerpt: ...strict Court. Plaintiff initially filed this achon in July 2021 contending, inter alia, that the City of Hercules lacked authority to tow his vehicle. Defendants City of Hercules, Elmer Najarro and William Imboden ("City Defendants") filed a Notice of Removal in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The District Court granted a motion to dismiss brought by the City Defendants, and denied reconsideration of that...

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 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: ...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: ..."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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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...