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