Excerpt: ... right to appear at the scheduled hearing on the motion, make oral argument, and present evidence. (Code Civ. Proc. S 391.2; Bravo v. Ismaj (2002) 99 Cal.App.4th 211, 225.) For the reasons set forth, the Court's tentative ruling is as follows: (1) the motion is granted in part insofar as it seeks (a) an order designating Plaintiff Malaya Taylor Keys a vexatous litigant under Code of Civil Procedure section 391(b)(1), and (b) a prefiling order pro...

Excerpt: ...end the judgment to add Matrai's former spouse, Michele Uriarte, as an alter ego judgment debtor under CCP section 187.1. Brar contends that Uriarte is in possession of funds belonging Goodwood Properties which could be used to satisfy the judgment. Plaintiff applied for an order of third- 18 party examination of Uriarte to answer concerning property of the judgment debtors in her possession or control but was unable to serve Uriarte with the ord...

Excerpt: ...ended interlocutory judgment for partition, regarding a single-family residence. At the time of the interlocutory judgment, the owners of the fee simple interest in the property were Plaintiff 50% and Defendant 50%. Subsequent to the interlocutory order, Defendant Mattie B. Edwards passed away. Thereafter, Odette Crawford moved to substitute the Estate of the Decedent in place of Deceased Defendant pursuant to CCP S 377.32. The Court granted the ...

Excerpt: ...t all times relevant" she was an employee of Lyft, Inc. and "a beneficiary under an insurance policy" purchased by Lyftfrom Allstate. (Compl. '12.) She alleges an actual controversy has arisen under the insurance policy as to the rights of Plaintiff and Allstate in that she contends she is entitled to benefits under Lyft's policy based on an accident that occurred on November 7, 2021 on the 1-80 freeway. (Comp'. 3.) Standards Governing Demurrer I...

Excerpt: ...to CCP section 473(b) are granted. Pipia's motion to quash service of the summons and cross complaint is denied. Cross Defendants shall answer the cross-complaint no later than December 15, 2023. 5 Background This is a debt collection case filed by LVNV Funding, LLC (LVNV) against Defendant Mark T. Walker on March 22, 2023. Walker answered on May 2, 2023, at which time Walker also filed a putative class acton cross-complaint against Mandarich Law...

Excerpt: ...rovide such services. After a dispute arose between the Parties, Curia initiated arbitration related to the dispute. Curia ended up prevailing at the arbitration. Curia then moved to have the Court confirm the arbitration award. The instant motion to seal relates to portions of the motion to confirm, along with statements made in documents related to the underlying arbitration, including in the demand for arbitration and the partial final award. ...

Excerpt: ...21. Factual and Procedural Background In August 2022 following shoulder surgery, plaintiff Nancy Lowenstein was admitted to Legacy Post Acute Care, a skilled nursing facility operated by defendant Sycamore Healthcare Associates (hereinafter "Legacy"). Plaintiff alleges Legacy withheld care and failed to prevent her from developing serious pressure sores while in Legacy's care. One sore, located on plaintiff's heel, reached her bone and Achilles t...

Excerpt: ...lings. On or about December 16, 2018 their mother, Dolores Murray, passed away. Plaintiff, Rosemary, and their brother John were all beneficiaries in a trust created by their mother, to which virtually all her property and assets were transferred upon death. Upon Dolores' death, Rosemary became the successor trustee. One of Dolores' primary assets was a house located in San Francisco, which was transferred into the trust. After Rosemary became tr...

Excerpt: ...pany") to perform construction work on her home. She alleges the work was defective. She asserts in a judicial council form complaint two causes of action for negligence and breach of contract against both the Company and Jeffrey Klaus. Defendant Klaus generally demurs to both causes of acton. Standards Governing Demurrer In ruling on the demurrer, the Court must accept as true all well- pled factual allegations of the complaint, but not legal or...

Excerpt: ... amend, and the demurrer to the fourth cause of action is overruled. Background Plaintiff Renee Cotton alleges her claims individually "and/or as the surviving heir and/or dependent" of Dorothy Marshall, the decedent, "and/or as personal representative and successor in interest" of Dorothy Marshall. (FAC 2.) Plaintiff filed her original complaint on December 23, 2021. The FAC alleges three causes of action for professional medical negligence (1st...

Excerpt: ... under the pseudonym "C.W.," was a student at Kensington Elementary School in West Contra Costa Unified School District ("District"). (SAC, "11-2.) Plaintiff alleges that from approximately 1971 to 1973, plaintiff suffered the sexual assault and abuse of his special education teacher, who was employed by the District. (SAC, 919.) The acts of sexual abuse and assault took place in the classroom and at a local riding and gun club. (SAC, 919.) Plain...

Excerpt: ...dants: (1) intentional interference with ex#cted inheritance; (2) financial elder abuse; (3) aiding and abetting financial elder abuse; and (4) imposition of constructive trust and accounting. Defendants demurrer to causes of action 1, 2, and 4. Meet and Confer Requirement Before filing a demurrer, the "demurring party shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to the demurrer...." (Cal. ...

Excerpt: ...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 cause of action cannot be separately established, even if that element is separately pleaded. Section 437c(p)(2) provides, in relevant part: A defendant or cross-defendant has met his or her ...

Excerpt: ...Procedure S 391 et seq. Plaintiff opposes the motion. For the following reasons, the motion is granted with respect to declaring Plaintiff a vexatious litgant. Defendant's request that Plaintiff post a security is also granted. Plaintiff is to post a security of $11,000. This matter is stayed pending payment ofthe security or "until 10 days after the required security has been furnished and the moving defendant given written notice thereof." (Cal...

Excerpt: ...inehart on June 23, 2023 are ordered vacated. Defendants shall file their answer to the complaint by no later than November 15, 2023. Plaintiff's requests for attorneys' fees and/or imposition of a penalty under Code of Civil Procedure section 473(c) are denied. Background Plaintiff Concentric Development Group, Inc. filed a complaint against defendants Exact Construction and Developers, Inc. and Ricky Rhinehart for breach of contract and convers...

Excerpt: ... defendant has failed to pay this amount under the parties' agreement. These facts are supported by the declaration of Raymond Cordova, and the supporting exhibits included with it. No opposition has been filed by defendant. Standard A motion for summary judgment shall be granted if all the papers submitted show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ...

Excerpt: ...23 ("Collections Complaint"). The Collections Complaint pleads causes of action for account stated and open book account for Walker's alleged breach of a credit card agreement with LVNV's assignor, Navy Federal Credit Union ("NFCU"), in the approximate amount of $26,000. On May 2, 2023, Defendant and Crosscomplainant Mark T. Walker ("Walker") filed an unverified Class Action Cross- Complaint for Declaratory Relief and Damages against LVNV ("Cross...

Excerpt: ...act. Defendant demurs to Plaintiff's claims on several grounds. For the following reasons, the Demurrer is sustained without leave to amend. Request for Judicial Notice Defendant requests judicial notice of a settlement agreement between the parties as well as several County documents and dc„cuments from the California Department of Industrial Relations. Plaintiff objects to the request for judicial notice. With respect to the Settlement Agreem...

Excerpt: ... Plaintiff is unlikely to prevail on the merits of the dispute. The Motion is hereby GRANTED. Discussion Request for Judicial Notice Defendant's unopposed request for judicial notice is granted. (Evid. Code SS 452, 453.) The Court will take judicial notice of the recorded property documents and accepts the fact of their existence but not the truth of their contents. (See Herrera v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1366, 1375; ...

Excerpt: ...ars 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 motion for judgment on the pleadings involves the same type of procedures that apply to a general demurrer. (Richardson-Tunnell v. School Ins. Program for Employees (2007) 157 cal.App.4th 1055, 1061; Burnett v. Chi...

Excerpt: ...023. A hearing for the matter will take place on January 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 9.1. Did the Order Discharging Defendant Registrar From Liability (filed May 22, 2023) dismiss the Complaint's 14th Cause of Action in favor of the State of California defendants, particularly the Registrar of Contractors, Contractors State License Board? (See Order, p. 2, lined 6-7, "That the Fourteenth Cause of Action for Claim of Deposit Against CSLB ...

Excerpt: ...Should plaintiff choose not to amend, the time to answer shall run from that date. Background Plaintiff, who filed this action under the pseudonym "Jane Doe A.M.M.," is a former high school student at Richmond High School in West Contra Costa Unified School District's ("District"). (SAC, 913.) Plaintiff alleges that, during the time she attended, approximately 1979 to 1983, District employed a counselor who used his position to groom, lure, and e...

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

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

Excerpt: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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 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: ...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: ...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: ...icensed contractor — B&P S Code 7031; (3) breach of implied covenant to perform work in a good and competent manner — construction; (4) negligent design and construction; (5) violation of B&P Code S 7160; (5) recovery on contractor's state license bond; (7) declaratory relief; and (8) injunctive relief. All causes of action, except cause of action 6, are alleged against Cross-Defendant Monte Blanco General Construction, Inc. ("Monte Blanco")....

Excerpt: ...erra" or "defendant"), which operates drug and alcohol treatment centers. (Separate Statement of undisputed Material Fact, hereinafter "SSUMF," Fact Nos. 1-2, and plaintiff's response.) Approximately a month later, she was promoted to Interim Director of Nursing. (SSUMF, Fact No. 4, and plaintiff's response.) In that capacity, plaintiff received two disciplinary "write-ups," one for failing to regulate overtime for nursing staff and another for f...

Excerpt: ...d denied, in part, as fully explained below. Discussion Request for Judicial Notice Defendant's unopposed request for judicial notice is granted. (Evid. Code SS 452, 453.) The Court will take judicial notice of the recorded property documents and accepts the fact of their existence, but not the truth of their contents. (See Herrera v. Deutsche Bank Nat'l Trust Co. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1365, 1375; Kalnoki v. First American Trustee Servicing Solu...