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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ... 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...

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: ...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: ...s third surviving heir who could not or would not join as a plaintiff and is therefore named as a defendant. Plaintiffs have sued the driver of the vehicle, defendant Joseph Heath, and Heath's employer, defendant Spearhead Protection, Inc. Spearhead moves for summary judgment on the ground that Heath was commuting to work at the time of the accident, and Spearhead cannot be held liable for SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MART NE...

Excerpt: ...nt's twenty-third affirmative defense fails. The two "issues" included in the notice of motion are just different reasons why Plaintiff thinks that the twenty-third affirmative defense fails. Thus, the Court will discuss the two summary adjudication issues together. Plaintiff worked as a speech therapist at Morello Park Elementary, a school in Defendant's district. While working at this school, Plaintiff alleges that she was to toxins from a sewa...

Excerpt: ...d), (h).) Evidentiary Issues Initially, the Declaration of Plaintiff in Support of Motion to Set Aside Summary Judgment is not actually a declaration of Plaintiff David Litachevsky, despite the title. While the Declaration states that David Litachevsky "declares as follows:" the document is signed by "Dylan Hackett Attorney for Plaintiff David Litachevsky." "Although it would appear obvious, a declaration must be signed by the declarant personall...

Excerpt: ...fore the Court is also Defendant Juan Mejia's Motion to Quash Service of Summons. Defendant's Motion to Quash Service of Summons relates to Plaintiff's aforementioned Complaint. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 07/17/2023 Page 2 of 30 For the following reasons, Defendant's Motion to Set Aside Default is granted. Defendant's Motion to Quash Service of Su...

Excerpt: ... this matter is continued until August 20, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 18 to allow time for additional briefing by the Parties, as discussed below. Factual Background: Plaintiff John Scott ("Plaintiff") worked for Defendant Golden Rain Foundation ("Defendant" or "GRF" from early 2002 until September 2022. While the papers do not indicate if Plaintiff was fired or quit, the Complaint alleges that he was wrongfully terminated on September 16, 2...

Excerpt: ..."), Rule 2.551(b)(5), parties must notify the Court that the lodged records are to be filed, unredacted and unsealed, within 10 days. (Because defendants failed to lodge any unredacted version of their memorandum of points and authorities in support of defendants' motion for summary adjudication, they must also file the unredacted brief should defendants wish to proceed with the unredacted briefing.) Alternatively, if no notification is received,...

Excerpt: ...e. Cycle Gear shall serve and file notce of entry of order. Legal Standard CCP section 877.6(a)(1), provides, in relevant part, that, on noticed motion, "[alny party to an acton wherein it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors or co-obligors on a contract debt shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff and one or more alleged tortfeasors or co-obligors . "A deter...

Excerpt: ...bject to judicial notice. (Cal. Evid. Code S 452.) Procedural Background This matter generally relates to issues arising from the construction and sale of real property located at 2030 Hoover Avenue in Pleasant Hill (the "Property"). The original parties were previously ordered to arbitration. Then, when the arbitration failed to move forward due to Defendants' dismissal of their attorney and failure to hire other counsel, it was put back on the ...

Excerpt: ...t that school (and thus an employee of Defendant School District), as well as Plaintiff's social sciences teacher and faculty advisor for the school's Black Student Union, of which Plaintiff was a member. (Ibid.) It is generally alleged that Doe 2 engaged in 'highly inappropriate and sexual behavior with his minor students,' kept students in his classroom during the lunch period, shared vulgar stores about sex with his students, often hugged mino...

Excerpt: ...OP relates to Plaintiff Vahid Haghiri ("Plaintiff" or "Haghiri")'s First Amended Complaint ("FAC") for (1) Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; (2) Promissory Estoppel; (3) Negligent Misrepresentation; (4) Wrongful Foreclosure; (5) Cancellation of Instruments; and (6) Declaratory Relief. For the following reasons, the WOP is granted, without leave to amend. Request for Judicial Notice Defendants' unopposed Request for Judicial Notic...

Excerpt: ...f contract. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 07/05/2023 Defendant moves for summary adjudication on several grounds including the statute of limitations and the statute of frauds. For the following reasons, Defendant's Motion is granted-in-part and denied-in-part. Legal Standard Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") SS 437c(o)(1) and 437c(p)(2) prov...

Excerpt: ...ntiffs") Complaint for (1) violation of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act by breach of express authority; (2) violation of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warrant Act by breach of implied warranty; (3) violation of Business and Professions Code S 17200; and (4) negligent repair. For the following reasons, the Defendants' Mohon to Compel Arbitration is denied. Factual Background Plaintiffs' underlying Complaint in this case relates to Plaintiffs' p...

Excerpt: ...This is a property case wherein plaintiffs gave the City easements over their land. They claim the grants were the result of fraudulent inducement by the City. The City essentially told them the easements already existed and needed to be modified. Plaintiffs deeded what they believed were modified easements, but learned in 2019 that the City had no easement rights pursuant to a settlement with a prior owner, and the City had misrepresented fts ow...

Excerpt: ...r 30, 2020. The complaint was pleaded as a class action and alleged nine causes of action for various wage and hour violations under the Labor Code and Industrial Wage Order No. 5-2001. Defendant The Counter Walnut Creek LP filed a demurrer to the original complaint, which was sustained with leave to amend. (9/13/2021 Order.) Plaintiff filed a first amended complaint on September 3, 2021 which added as the tenth cause of action a representative c...

Excerpt: ...the sufficiency of particular responses to discovery and particular objections. If so, those will be the subject of a further motion to compel addressing discoverability (though the Court frankly hopes the parties will have resolved those disputes by meet-and-confer in the meantime). This, however, is not that motion. The present motion does not call on the Court to referee any discoverability issues or the validity of any objections. Rather, fts...

Excerpt: ...e Arbitration Proceeding, or in the alternative, Stay Arbitration Proceedings. For the reasons set forth below, the Motion is denied. The Relevant Parties This set of disputes involves multiple claims in both directions. As did the Court's prior ruling, for ease of reference and avoidance of confusion, the Court will refer to the competing sides by summarizing names rather than litigation designators. Plaintiffs in this court case (respondents in...

Excerpt: ..., that ruling can be viewed less as an order requiring plaintiff to comply, than as one giving plaintiff an opportunity to comply. The cost of noncompliance will not be any further discovery sanctions; it will be the inevitable granting of motons in limine barring most or all of plaintiff's case, for failure to identify facts, documents, and witnesses in support of plaintiff's trial contentions. This topic was discussed at considerable length in ...

Excerpt: ...imes at some of those restaurants. The present Gonzalez complaint was filed on January 5, 2021, and subsequently amended. This settlement also covers two other cases asserting similar claims. Plaintiff Frank filed his complaint in SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 06/22/2023 13 Alameda County in 2018; plaintiff Collins, in Santa Clara County in 2018. Those ...

Excerpt: ...EZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 06/22/2023 10 A. Background 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. Because of the preclusive effect of prior PAGA cases against defendants, this case was limited ...

Excerpt: ...and other "similarly situated" employees of defendant, Dolan's of Pinole Lumber and Building Materials Co. Specifically, plaintiff alleges the action is on behalf of "[all' persons who worked for any Defendant in California as an hourly-paid or non-exempt employee at any time during the [relevant time period]." (Complaint, 8:4- 5.) The entire complaint is alleged on information and belief. (Complaint, 1:1-2.) Plaintiff alleges SUPERIOR COURT OF C...

Excerpt: ...ction, and overruled with respect to the second, third, and fifth causes of action. The motion to strike is granted with respect to attorneys fees and denied as to punitive damages. Plaintiff has leave to amend. The amended complaint shall be filed and served on or before July 3, 2023. Background Plaintiff's complaint alleges that, on December 13, 2021, plaintiff was rear-ended while at an intersection in Brentwood. (Complaint, 915.) The other dr...

Excerpt: ...ant Amip Management (collectively, "Defendants")'s Demurrer. The Demurrer relates to Plaintiff Ricknauth Karan and Plaintiff Davitri Karan (collectively, First Amended Complaint ("FAC") for (1) wrongful foreclosure, (2) violations of Civ. Code 2923.5, (3) violations of Civ. Code 2924.11, and (4) declaratory relief. For the following reasons, the Demurrer is sustained, with leave to amend. Factual Background This is a wrongful foreclosure case. Pl...

Excerpt: ...e; (4) quiet title; (5) breach of fiduciary duty; (6) constructive trust; (7) partition by sale of real property; and (8) partition by sale of real property. Defendant demurs to all Plaintiff's causes of action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 430.10 on several grounds; in the alternative, Defendant moves to stay or enjoin pursuant to CCP S 418.10 and 526(a) based on pending family law proceedngs in Contra Costa Case No. D22-03945. F...

Excerpt: ...the action filed by the other two defendants heard concurrently with the demurrer. Background This action arises out of a long-running dispute among five siblings, the children of Silvio Garaventa, Sr. and Mary Garaventa, following the death of Mary Garaventa. The siblings are direct and indirect owners of the plaintiff, Garaventa Enterprises, Inc., a closely held corporation. (Compl. "115-25.) The Court will use first names of the siblings in th...

Excerpt: ...s the burden on both these issues. (Code of Civil Procedure 5405.30; see also, Kirkeby v. Superior Court (2004) 33 Cal.4th 642, 647.) A motion to expunge a lis pendens usually involves two questions. First, is whether the complaint involves a real property claim. (Code of Civil Procedure 5405.31.) Defendant concedes that the complaint here involves a real property claim. Probable Validity of Plaintiff's Claim Next, the Court considers the merits ...

Excerpt: ...il October 20, 2023, and a CMC shall be set for 8:30 a.m. on September 19, 2023. Any party seeking to extend the stay will need to file a noticed motion seeking such relief. Background This action arises out of a long-running dispute among five siblings, the children of Silvio Garaventa, Sr. and Mary Garaventa, following the death of Mary Garaventa. The siblings are direct and indirect owners of the plaintiff, Garaventa Enterprises, Inc., a close...

Excerpt: ...alendar days before the next CMC. The parties shall update the court as to the status of the stay and whether it can be vacated. (4) Plaintiff shall file and serve notce of entry of this order. Background Plaintiff Kevin Winans filed this acton to recover damages for battery, use of excessive force, civil rights violations pursuant to 42 USC section 1983, etc., against Defendants City of Brentwood Police Department and Officers Jonathan Davis and...

Excerpt: ...013. For illustration purposes only, below is a picture of area in dispute: The red pinpoint (left) indicates Defendants' house. The purple square (center) identifies Plaintiff's house. The road leading from Defendants' home to Pleasant Hill Road is a roadway ingress/egress easement that the three houses jointly possess. That easement does not appear to be at issue in this proceeding. Instead, in the general area of the orange circle is the so-ca...

Excerpt: ...s ruling and in accordance with the applicable Local Rules. Background Plaintiff and defendant California Custom Metals, Inc. ("CCM") entered into a Settlement Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A to the moton and supporting declaration of Plaintiffs counsel. The Settlement Agreement provides for a $70A)O payment to be made within 15 days after all parties executed the Settlement Agreement. (Mot./Yasman Decl. Exh. A, p. 7, Para. D....

Excerpt: .... Code S 2923.7; (4) negligence; (5) negligent misrepresentation; (5) violation of Bus. & Prof. Code S 172CK) et seq.; (7) declaratory relief; (8) breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and (9) promissory estoppel. Before the Court is Plaintiff's Motion for preliminary injunction pursuant to Code of Civ. Proc. ("CCP") S 526, 527 and Civ. Code S 2924.12(a) (the "Motion"). The Motion is opposed by Defendant Fay Servicing, LLC ("Defe...

Excerpt: ...lth's Request for Judicial Notce is denied. Although a court may judicially notice a SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608 1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 06/14/2023 Page 17 of 31 variety of matters (Evid. Code, S 450 et seq.), only relevant material may be noticed. (See, People ex rel. Lockyer v. Shamrock Foods Co. 24 Cal.4th 415, 422 ["any matter to be judicially noticed must b...

Excerpt: ...with California Rule of Court 3.112 regarding the required papers for Motions. Rule 3.1112 requires that the papers filed in support of a motion must consist of at least a notice of hearing on the motion, the motion itself, and a memorandum in support off the motion. (CRC 3.1112(a).) Defendant's Motion consists of just a single document, which moves the Court to dismiss the Complaint "on the basis of claim preclusion (Res Judicata), collateral es...

Excerpt: ...unopposed MSJ is granted. Procedural Background Defendant GTE Mobilenet of California Limited Partnership (erroneously sued as Verizon California, lnc and GTE Corporation) filed its MS] on January 6, 2023. The hearing on the MS] was scheduled for April 10, 2023. Thus, Plaintiff's opposition was due on or before March 27, 2023. No opposition was filed at that time. Instead, on April 6 — two court days before the hearing — Plaintiff filed a mot...

Excerpt: ...ide at property located at 180 Riverside Drive in Bay Po-nt. 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.) Both properties had a downward slope in the backyard. (AMF No. 4.) Defendants' predecessor o...

Excerpt: ...s denied. District shall file its answer to the complaint of Jane Doe 3 by June SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 18 JUDICIAL OFFICER: DANIELLE K DOUGLAS HEARING DATE: 05/12/2023 22, 2023. Background Plaintiffs, who filed this action under the pseudonyms "Jane Doe #1," "Jane Doe #2," and "Jane Doe #3," are three former students of defendant Miramonte High School, which is a high school operated by defendant...

Excerpt: ...s sufficient to constitute a defense. (b) The answer is uncertain. As used in this subdivision, "uncertain" includes ambiguous and unintelligible. (c) Where the answer pleads a contract, it cannot be ascertained from the answer whether the contract is written or oral." "Under general rules of civil procedure, an answer must contain the general or specific denial of the material allegations of the complaint controverted by the defendant and a stat...

Excerpt: ...0 class members and 128 PAGA aggrieved employees. Two packets were returned by the post office. Follow up resulted in one new address, leaving only one non-deliverable. No objections have been received, and only one class member opted out. E. Background and Settlement Terms The original complaint was filed on June 1, 2021. It remains the operative complaint. The alleged violations are of a technical nature. Defendant is not alleged to have underp...

Excerpt: ...se of Acton and denied, in part, as to the Second and Third Causes of Action, as fully explained below. 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 evidentiary facts" (Doe v. City of Los Angeles (2007) 42 Cal.4th 531, 550), but the plaint...

Excerpt: ..., filed this suit to recover for injuries sustained while operating a motor grader. Defendant American Equipment Company ("AMECO") allegedly manufactured, sold, or leased the defective equipment and defendant NorCal Rental Group, LLC ("NorCal") allegedly helped manufacture, supply and/or repair the defective equipment. On August 24, 2022, NorCal filed a cross- complaint against AMECO for express contractual indemnity. The cross-complaint alleged ...

Excerpt: ...aintiff was employed there as a stylist in the summer of 2021. The original complaint was filed on October 17, 2021. A PAGA claim was added by amendment in December 2021. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $450,000. The class representative payment to the plaintiffs would be $10,000. Attorney's fees would be $150,000 (one-third of the settlement). Litigation costs would not exceed $15,000. The settlement administrator's costs ...

Excerpt: ...s filed their motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, summary adjudication ("MSJ") on June 10, 2022. Plaintiff filed fts initial opposition to the MS] on August 11, 2022. Thereafter, on August 24, 2022, the Court issued a tentative ruling continuing the hearing on the MSJ and ordering Defendant to re-file its opposition so as to comport with the applicable California Rules of Court and Code of Civil Procedure. No party contested this ...

Excerpt: ...endant is the parent of Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. Plaintiff was employed with defendant as a neuromuscular therapist in the spring of 2021, though only briefly. The original complaint was filed on October 25, 2021. A PAGA claim was added by amendment in January 2022. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $150,000. The class representative payment to the plaintiff would be $5,000. Attorney's fees would be $50,000 (one-t...

Excerpt: ...uired Victory in January 2021, and continued its business with the same work force. Victory and Thorpe were in the business of designing and installing fire protection systems. Delamora was employed as a pipefitter from 2016 to 2021; Cardenas, as a carpenter from 2020 to 2022. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 12 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CHARLES S TREAT HEARING DATE: 06/08/2023 2 Delamora's original complaint was ...

Excerpt: ... dba Certified Heating and Air Conditioning and dba Certified Solar, Heating & Air Conditioning ("Certified") and Brian Arlaud arises out of Plaintiffs' purchase of a heating and air conditioning system ("HVAC") from Certified. (Pl. Sep. Stmt. of Undisputed Material Facts ("LJMF"), Issue l, UMF No. 1.) They allege Certified gave them a written "18 Month Certified Trust Guarantee" when they bought the system. (UMF No. 3.) The Huslers contend they ...

Excerpt: ...mately 2016 through 2018. (Separate Statement of Undisputed 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 Vivek Bansal M.D., Inc. (Plaintiff's SSUMF, Fact No. 2, and defendants' response.) In 2018, plaintiff sued defendants in another county for violations of the California Labor Code and that case was transferred to this ...

Excerpt: ...time to be determined at the hearing and supplemental briefing as set forth. Background This case arises out of a boundary dispute between adjoining landowners. The parties both agree that they engaged in a mediation before a third party mediator, and that as a result of the mediation, the parties entered -nto a written settlement agreement entitled "Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release" (the "Settlement Agreement") which, pursuant to paragrap...

Excerpt: ...gilio 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.) 80th properties had a downward slope in the backyard. (AMF No. 4.)...

Excerpt: ...l Notice ("RJN") regarding the documents recorded in the Contra Costa County Recorder's Office is granted. (Cal. Evid. Code 452(h); Evans v. California Trailer Court, Inc. (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 540, 549, overruled in part by Black Sky Capital, LLC v. Cobb (2019) 7 Cal.5th 156, 245.) Legal Standard The standard for granting a moton for judgment on the pleadings is essentially the same as that applicable to a general demurrer. (Burnettv. Chimney Sw...

Excerpt: ...vor of Defendants. Factual Background Plaintiff alleges that he was injured in a motor vehicle accident by an ambulance operated by Michael Dayton and owned by AMR. The form complaint alleges those facts, that the accident occurred on April 23, 2019 on Clayton Road in Concord, and that Defendants' acts were negligent. (Attachment to Compl.) The Complaint alleges one cause of achon for negligence arising out of the accident. The Complaint was file...

Excerpt: ...RIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 06/01/2023 10 Plaintiff filed the Complaint initiating this matter on March 13, 2023. She filed proofs of service of summons indicating that both Defendants, County of Contra Costa and Arnold Josselson, M.D., were personally served with the summons and Complaint on March 17, 2023 by delivering copies of her filings with the Board o...

Excerpt: ...T OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 06/01/2023 2 opposition and Joinder to the Motion. Defendant seeks to transfer the instant case to Calaveras County. For the following reasons, Defendant's motion is granted. Analysis The default venue for civil actions is "the superior court in either the county where the injury occurs or the injury causing death occurs or the county where...

Excerpt: ...p on which plaintiff tripped or slipped. The Rabinovicis own the adjacent residence. They are not accused of doing anything to cause the alleged dangerous condition — only of not having remedied it. The City cites a municipal ordinance requiring adjacent property owners to maintain sidewalks in a non- dangerous condition, and to "repair and replace" such sidewalks whenever necessary to maintain them in nan-dangerous condition. SUPERIOR COURT OF...

Excerpt: ...fendants' motion to confirm is granted, and Plaintiff's motion to vacate, change or correct the award is denied. Background This action involves a dispute over the assets of Katherine Hill-Ford, who died on November 30, 2015. Defendant Anita Budde is Hill's daughter. Plaintiff Lawrence Ford, who is not Budde's father, married Hill in 2006. Defendant Frankie Ross is Hill's financial advisor. Ford alleges that Hill filled out beneficiary designatio...

Excerpt: ...ure to meet their initial burden. Background Plaintiffs seek to quiet title against defendant Shadelands Medical Center Owners Association. Defendant is the owners association of owners of units in the Shadelands Medical Center condominium project ("Shadelands"), a common interest development as defined in Section 4100 of the California Civil Code. Historically, Shadelands was developed by Vertical Ventures - Wiget Lane, LLC ("Vertical"). Vertica...

Excerpt: ...ad litem) is suing the Defendant for negligence claims related to an accident. Defendant was driving when she hit Plaintiff who was crossing the street while in the crosswalk. Plaintiff is seeking punitive damages based on malice. The facts supporting punitive damages are that at the time of the accident, Defendant's driver's license was suspended for "lack of knowledge or skill". Defendant's license was suspended because she had slowed her vehic...

Excerpt: ...son Village Homes Corporation filed this action for breach of contract and negligence on SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 36 JUDICIAL OFFICER: CLARE MAIER HEARING DATE: 06/01/2023 6 February 7, 2023. Plaintiff is a nonprofit mutual housing corporation. Plaintiff currently has several hundred members who occupy over 400 housing units in Richmond, California. Rather than own individual properties themselves,...

Excerpt: ... interrogatories, stating that counsel "lost track of this discovery amongst the Wluminous sets of burdensome discovery by the numerous Defendants in this matter". However, it is plaintiff that chose to sue some 20 defendants in this case; it should have been prepared to respond to discovery from all of them. And as seen in its opposition to the trial-scheduling motion still pending, it is plaintiff that SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA...

Excerpt: ... Code S 2923.7; (4) negligence; (5) negligent misrepresentation; (5) violation of Bus. & Prof. Code S 17200 et seq.; (7) declaratory relief; (8) breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608 1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 05/31/2023 (9) promissory estoppel. Before the Court is Plaintiff's Motion for preliminary injunction pursua...

Excerpt: ...filed a cross-complaint against Insalaco and Lomax for declaratory and injunctive relief. PHH alleges that Insalaco executed a deed of trust in favor of WMC Mortgage Corporation in 2005. (Cross-Comp. 95 and Ex. 1.) Wells Fargo is the current owner of the loan and PHH is the current servicer of the loan. (Cross-Comp. "7-8.) Paragraph 11 of the deed of trust states in part that "[lin the event of a total taking, destruction, or loss in value of the...

Excerpt: ...ployed by some of the defendants during the relevant time period. A. Background 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, plaintiffs assert alleged violations for off-the-clock work, meal and rest breaks, reporting time...

Excerpt: ... to Richmond's adoption of a new business tax mulel ("Measure U" or "the Richmond Business Tax") based on business' gross receipts instead of a flat tax rate. The new system, which was originally promoted as being "based on the Berkeley Model," results in significant increased taxes on plaintiffs. Plaintiffs allege their taxes have increased by a factor of more than and that their class of businesses, Class C, is disproportionately affected. (See...

Excerpt: ...nsidering Jorgensen, she missed the deadline for filing an LWDA notice by two years. And looking to the effect of Jorgensen's notice and complaint, although the parties argue about whether Chayrez does or doesn't get to piggyback onto what Jorgensen had done, doesn't matter much because even if Chayrez steps fully into Jorgensen's LWDA notice and complaint, Jorgensen's position was that of representing employees for a PAGA period that didn't star...

Excerpt: ...ator has mailed notices to 859 class members. 114 packets were returned by the post office. Follow up resulted in 73 new addresses, leaving 39 nondeliverable. No objections or requests to opt out have been received. The motion is granted. A. Background and Settlement Terms The original complaint was filed on March 9, 2020. There are a number of claims in the complaint, but they all arise generally from the allegation that defendant made a practic...

Excerpt: ...y products in agriculture and structural pest control. Plaintiffs were employed (Desantis formerly, and Barnes currently) as workers in a warehouse facility in California. The original complaint was filed by Desantis on September 8, 2021 as a class action and PAGA case. Barnes filed a parallel class action complaint on February 18, 2022. The settlement would create a gross settlement fund of $372,500. The class representative payments to the name...

Excerpt: ...about which causes of achon include Ralph Padilla (as opposed to Padilla Construction Company). Perhaps out of an excess of caution, Ralph Padilla sought summary adjudication as to causes of action one, two and three. In the opposition, however, plaintiffs confirmed that they are suing Ralph Padilla only for negligence (cause of action one). The Court's review of the fourth amended complaint also shows that plaintiffs are not suing Ralph Padilla ...

Excerpt: ...is hearing. The Court has provided a tentatve ruling on this matter to assist the parties in preparing for argument. The Court has not reached a final decision on this matter. l. BACKGROUND Real Party in Interest Marathon Petroleum Company operated an oil refinery in Martinez. The refinery operated for 107 years, until it stopped operating in April of 2020. It now proposes to repurpose the refinery into a renewable fuels refinery, i.e., a refiner...

Excerpt: ...e arbitration agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. section 1, et seq. ('FAA") or by the California Arbitration Act, Code of Civil Procedure section 1280 et seq. ("CAA'I), is the threshold issue of whether a valid and enforceable agreement to arbitrate exists is determined under California law and procedures. (Rosenthal v. Great Western Fin. Securities Corp. (1996) 14 Cal.4th 394, 413; Code Civ. Proc. SS 1281, 1281.2, 129...

Excerpt: ...e 13, 2023. Plaintiff's supplemental opposition, if any, is due no later than June 20, 2023. Relevant Background Plaintiff Jasvir Singh Shahi ("Plaintiff") filed this breach of contract action on November 8, 2022. Plaintiff alleges he entered into an oral construction contract with Defendant Felipe Pena ("Defendant") which Defendant breached, resulting in damages to Plaintiff in the amount of $106,930. According to the proof of service filed on J...

Excerpt: ...udice. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 05/24/2023 Procedural Background Plaintiff initiated this matter by filing her Complaint on March 24, 2022. Defendant was not served until August, and thereafter filed a demurrer to the Complaint on September 16, 2022. Instead of filing an opposition, Plaintiff filed her First Amended Complaint (FAC) on ...

Excerpt: ...ion 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. SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MARTINEZ, CA DEPARTMENT 21 (925) 608-1121 JUDICIAL OFFICER: JILL C FANNIN HEARING DATE: 05/24/2023 For the following reasons, the Demurrer is sustained, with leave to amend. Request for Judicial Notice Defendant requests judicial ...

Excerpt: ...r filed its own motion.) Plaintiff, Nancy Lowenstein, moves for trial preference. The motions to compel arbitration, and the joinder, are granted. All further proceedings (including the motion for trial preference and plaintiff's third cause of action against Legacy) are stayed pending the outcome of arbitration. (Code Civ. Proc., S 1281.4.) Parties are encouraged to proceed jointly with a single arbitration proceeding. The Court sets a hearing d...

Excerpt: ...Sahar, Nathan Sahar, and Michele Sahar filed the initial complaint in this matter, Case No. C22-00746 (the "Present Matter"), by dropping the necessary papers in the Red Drop box outside of the 1st floor entrance to the Martinez Civil Courthouse on that date. o Plaintiff contends that this was "the Court's required process at this time for filing of civil documents." (emphasis added.) This statement is incorrect, as the Court's filing window was ...

Excerpt: ...aintiffs' Motion is granted. Procedural Background On October 11, 2022, the Parties attended a settlement conference before court appointed mediator Jessica Braverman. After exhaustive negotiations, the parties came to an agreement to settle the case. That same day, all four Parties, i.e. Plaintiffs Manuel ü)pez and Helen Kei and Defendants Gregory and Dana Freeman, signed a Settlement Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions of the sett...

Excerpt: ...ion, if he can provide additional information on his financial situation and/or there is other that becomes available in the future. Defendant Christian Cizek's motion contesting the good faith application by Manuel TelloChavez is denied. The Court finds that the settlement between Plaintiff and Tello-Chavez is in good faith pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 877.6. The party claiming that a settlement is not in good faith under Code of ...

Excerpt: ... judgment on the pleadings on the fourth cause of action for financial elder abuse alleged in Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint ("2AC '). For the reasons set forth, the motion is denied. Background Plaintiffs George Byers and Sheila Byers allege they are both over 65 and that Mrs. Byers is largely confined to a wheelchair. (Second Amended Complaint ("2AC") 1.) They have sued their homeowners insurance carrier defendant USAA General Indemnity C...

Excerpt: ...("Motion"). Appearances are required by all Parties to discuss how they would like to proceed based on the Conclusion at the end of this Tentatve Ruling. The required hearing will take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. Background Defendant Susan Dixon owns real property located at 820 Bates Avenue in El Cerrito, California ("Dixon Property"). The Dixon Property is bordered, either directly or next to an easement, by 12 other properties...