Excerpt: ... Contract‐ Personal Guaranty, a Sixth Cause of Action to enforce License Bond against Surety, a Seventh Cause of Action for Foreclosure of Mechanics Lien, and an Eighth Cause of Action (named in the complaint as a second Seventh Cause of Action) to Enforce Private Work Stop Payment Notice. On November 19, 2020, Plaintiff filed a motion for summary judgment, or in the alternative, summary adjudication, of the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fi...

Excerpt: ...aratory Relief pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 1060. The instant application by Plaintiffs for Temporary Restraining Order and Order to Show Cause re Preliminary Injunction seeks eleven categories of mandatory injunctive relief and is supported by twelve initial and four responsive declarations. Notice of the instant application has been provided to Defendant and Defendant has filed an opposition supported by three initial ...

Excerpt: ...ere as follows: The Motion by Lenice Wilson as Trustee of the Wilson Charles & Lenice 2015 Revocable Living Trust Incorrectly Sued as Estate of Charles Rayburn Wilson to Compel Responses by Estate of Edyna Sischo‐Nownejad to Request for Admissions, to Strike Improper Objections, Compel Verification, and Request for Monetary Sanctions of $2,343.75. pursuant to CCP § 2033.010 is GRANTED. The Motion by Lenice Wilson as Trustee of the Wilson Charl...

Excerpt: ...de standing to litigate the reasonableness of an industrial use of water. (See In re Water of Hallett Creek Stream Sys. (1988) 44 Cal.3d 488, 472 fn 16.) While COVID‐19 related guidelines may be relevant to whether an injunction may issue at a given point in time, they do not preclude litigation of the underlying rights for which injunctive relief is sought and cannot preempt state law concerning unreasonable use of water within that state. Fin...

Excerpt: ...lex Vega and using the reference name “CW‐1” prepared a 3 page written report of the interview in which “CW‐1” reported that Joseph Elias Castrillo confessed to “CW‐1” that Castrillo had murdered Merced Taxi Cab driver Dean Barker” and alleged in Paragraph 30 “that in the written report of the interview with “CW‐1” by Detective Johnson in Case #2015‐00669 included personally The following tentative rulings shall beco...

Excerpt: ... motion seeks to continue. Second, while the court is sympathetic to the death of counsel's sister and the delay that may have caused to the filing of a motion to disqualify defense counsel, there has as yet been no showing that the outcome of the motion to disqualify is relevant to the right of the Defendants to obtain the discovery sought, regardless of whether their current counsel is disqualified. The court notes that the nature of the discov...

Excerpt: ...ncerns can be addressed by a suitable protective order or redaction of employee identifying information and assignment of an identification code to each record. Defendant is ordered to produce records of employees who are members of the putative class alleged in the operative complaint having even numbered social security numbers, without regard to employment location, without regard to business line, unless the parties enter into a written agree...

Excerpt: ...e regular rate of pay of covered employees udering the relevant time period] and 32 [Describe Defendants methods, polices and procedures during the relevant time period for rounding covered employees' overtime pay] and for monetary sanctions of $4,666.50 against Defendants and its counsel of record pursuant to CCP § § 2023.010 is GRANTED IN PART. Defendant's objections are frivolous and are therefore overruled, and Defendant is ordered to serve...

Excerpt: ...the employees of Defendant Smart & Final Stores, LLC employed during the period applicable to each claim by representative plaintiffs. It would appear that the only potential conflict where a firm represents more than one PAGA representative Plaintiff against the same Defendant would be the potential effect that the representation of one PAGA representative Plantiff might have on a different PAGA representative Plaintiff's ability to be compensat...

Excerpt: ...led a Notice of Settlement. The declaration indicates that the parties have reached an impasse on the wording of the release. The acceptance of a CCP § 998 constitutes an agreement to enter judgment for the agreed upon amount in the pending action which in turn, pursuant to the doctrine of res judicata, bars further actions on claims that were brought or could have been brought in the pending action. In does not necessarily bar “all claims kno...

Excerpt: ... its documents in support of or in opposition to the motion [for class certification] must be filed.” (Cabrini v. Superior Court (1994) 26 Cal.App.4th 239, 244.) While there is merit to Defendant's contentions that some discovery requests were unartfully drafted or contained provisions barred by the discovery rules, the remedy is to provide appropriate responses to the portion of a request that seeks legitimate discovery and refuse to provide r...

Excerpt: ... complies or orders declaring matter admitted or established if answers are not received. It is only when a party persists in disobeying the court's orders that the ultimate doomsday sanctions of dismissing the action is justified. (Deyo v. Kilbourne (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 771, 796; Lopez v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc. Of New York, Inc. (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 566, 604; Siry Investments, L.P. v. Farkhondepour (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 1098, 1117 [disc...

Excerpt: ...fendant Travelers Property Casualty Company contends that Plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because proposed undisputed facts are not supported by admissible evidence, and that an exclusion for professional services contained in the subject policy precludes coverage because there is a triable issue of material fact as to whether Plaintiff Architectural Firm Bunton, Clifford & A...

Excerpt: ...o Facts Number 2, 6, 7, 8, and 10. Plaintiff's evidentiary objections are SUSTAINED. Motion for Summary Judgment by Defendants Richard J. Meyer, Linda B. Meyer and Meyer Family Trust. ‘ The motion for Summary Judgment by Defendants Richard J. Meyer, Linda B. Meyer and Meyer Family Trust is GRANTED. First, the Complaint's first cause of action for Dangerous Condition on Public Properly Pursuant to Government Code § 835 does not establish a clai...

Excerpt: ...the first, second, and sixth causes of action of the complaint by Bernards Bros, Inc. in Case 19CV‐03817 is DENIED. Defendants fail to provide admissible evidence establishing a prima facie case that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Even if Defendants were deemed to have established a prima face case, Bernards Bros., Inc, has established triable issues of material fact with regard to each ground on which summary judgment or sum...

Excerpt: ...fendant Travelers Property Casualty Company contends that Plaintiff has failed to establish a prima facie case that it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because proposed undisputed facts are not supported by admissible evidence, and that an exclusion for professional services contained in the subject policy precludes coverage because there is a triable issue of material fact as to whether Plaintiff Architectural Firm Bunton, Clifford & A...

Excerpt: ...nt cause of the accident does not entitle Defendant to judgment as a matter of law because California is a comparative negligence state and even though a jury might find Plaintiff to be 99% or 100% at fault, the degree of Plaintiff's comparative fault is a triable issue of material fact. Defendant's Undisputed Facts Numbers 1‐7 are supported by admissible evidence and establish a prima facie case that Defendant is entitled to judgment as a matt...

Excerpt: ...of Request for Admissions Numbers 1‐3 and unambiguously denies the reaminder. Sanctions in the amount of $1,220.00 are awarded pursuant to CCP §§ 2023.010 and 2023.030(a). Plaintiff is to serve Supplemental responses and payment of sanctions by September 25, 2020. Motion for Summary Adjudication Defendant Liberty Packing Company's motion for summary adjudication of the following issues: (1) The First Cause of Action for Discrimination is with...

Excerpt: ...tion. Accordingly, leave to amend would appear to be futile. This court therefore SUSTAINS the Demurrer to the Third Amended Complaint WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Under White v. Square, Inc. (2019) 7 Cal.5th 1019, a person intending to use web based services who encounters a facially neutral term of service that bars some categories of transactions but not others, does not have standing to pursue intentional discrimination claim based on allegations ...

Excerpt: ...tion. Accordingly, leave to amend would appear to be futile. This court therefore SUSTAINS the Demurrer to the Third Amended Complaint WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Under White v. Square, Inc. (2019) 7 Cal.5th 1019, a person intending to use web based services who encounters a facially neutral term of service that bars some categories of transactions but not others, does not have standing to pursue intentional discrimination claim based on allegations ...

Excerpt: ...nce that establishes a prima facie case that Defendant Apple, Inc. is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. This shifts the burden of proof to Plaintiff to establish a triable issue of material fact. The essence of Plaintiff's opposition is that Defendant failed to accommodate Plaintiff's disability because Plaintiff was unable to perform the duties of the job she was hired to perform, even with reasonable accommodations because she suffered e...

Excerpt: ...ing information from discovery is asserted, the party asserting such privilege, work product or other grounds for withholding documents or information from discovery will be barred from offering such documents or information, or testimony about such documents or information, at trial. That motion is GRANTED. Any party is free to waive privilege, work product, or other basis for withholding information from discovery; however, to the extent that a...

Excerpt: ...of Request for Admissions Numbers 1‐3 and unambiguously denies the reaminder. Sanctions in the amount of $1,220.00 are awarded pursuant to CCP §§ 2023.010 and 2023.030(a). Plaintiff is to serve Supplemental responses and payment of sanctions by September 25, 2020. Motion for Summary Adjudication Defendant Liberty Packing Company's motion for summary adjudication of the following issues: (1) The First Cause of Action for Discrimination is with...

Excerpt: ...o Facts Number 2, 6, 7, 8, and 10. Plaintiff's evidentiary objections are SUSTAINED. If there is any objection to this tentative ruling, this motion is continued on the court's own motion to Friday, September 11, 2020 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 8. Motion for Summary Judgment by Defendants Richard J. Meyer, Linda B. Meyer and Meyer Family Trust. The motion for Summary Judgment by Defendants Richard J. Meyer, Linda B. Meyer and Meyer Family Trust is...

Excerpt: ...s of action for (1) Inverse Condemnation against Merced Irrigation District, (2) Negligent Maintenance against Merced Irrigation District, (3) Dangerous Condition on Property against Merced Irrigation District, (4) Nuisance against Merced Irrigation District, (5) Breach of Contract against the Ransom Piro Construction and Development Defendants, (6) Violations of Civil Code § 895 against the Ransom Piro Construction and Development Defendants, (...

Excerpt: ...isting order are not being obeyed. The appropriate remedy for any violation of the existing restraining order is to report such violation to the police. If, in January of 2021, Respondent wishes to extend the terms of the restraining order, she may file an application for renewal on or before the existing order expires on February 26, 2021. Since there is no action for the court to take at this time, the Petition to Modify is DISMISSED. If there ...

Excerpt: ...se the plaintiff lacks mental competence allegedly as a result of a traumatic brain injury suffered as a result of the incident giving rise to this action. Consequently, the Guardian Ad Litem lacks personal knowledge of many facts that a typical competent plaintiff could testify to based on the Plaintiff's own personal knowledge. When receiving discovery requests, the Guardian Ad Litem has an obligation to conduct a diligent search and make reaso...

Excerpt: ...t Defendant's Motion to Quash Plaintiff's Subpoena for Business Records filed by Defendant Foster Poultry Farms. The stay appears to apply only to this court's June 29, 2020 order and not to other matters pending in this case. In this motion for sanctions by Defendant Foster Poultry Farms, to which Defendant Dan Huber joins, Defendants seek an order, pursuant to CCP § 2023.010(g) either (a) an order dismissing Plaintiff Curtis LaClaire's Second ...

Excerpt: ...closes the expert who prepared the existing Defense Cost of Repair Allocation, all reports by that expert, including the subject Defense Cost of Repair Allocations must be produced. If Bernard Bros., Inc. discloses a different expert for Cost of Repair Allocations, then the subject report will remain privileged, and the new report of the designated expert will be produced in accordance with normal expert discovery rules. If Bernard Bros., Inc. do...

Excerpt: ...uses of action arising out of the refusal of Merced Irrigation District to sell water to Cross‐Complainants between two lawsuits, Case 19CV‐02453 in which CrossComplainants brought a Verified Petition for Peremptory Writ of Mandate to compel the sale of water that had been allegedly denied for not being in the best interest of Merced Irrigation District, and this action, Case 19CV‐03470, in which they seek damages for the both the original ...

Excerpt: ...yment contract with Apple to maintain an office in their home that meets specified requirements, but who are not reimbursed for the expense of such home office. The complaint seeks damages and reimbursement for the expenses incurred by members of the class in maintaining the home office. Thus, inspection of Plaintiff's home, and the home office within it, is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence as to the appropria...

Excerpt: ...xist. Accordingly, there are triable issues of material fact with regard to Facts 3, 4, 5, 6 and Additional Disputed Fact F. Plaintiff's lay opinion that the floor was excessive slippery, an issue within the scope of her day to day experience, is based on her percipient observation of the floor and is admissible evidence that the floor was excessively slippery. ...

Excerpt: ...unts terminated on the basis of their occupation without evidence that they engaged in a transaction prohibited by the terms of service. An intentional discrimination claim cannot be based on an arbitrary termination of services based on an algorithm absent allegations that such algorithm uses a protected classification as a criteria for the termination of services. Absent the allegation that a protected class criteria is applied, an algorithmic ...

Excerpt: ...ompensation is claimed as part of an alleged continuing claim. Note that if there are claims involving multiple properties, separate facts establishing a continuing claim must be alleged for each property. The motion to strike the injunctive relief claim for failure to comply with the Government Claims Act is DENIED. The motion to strike the drainage injunctive relief claim is GRANTED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND to separately allege specific facts establ...

Excerpt: ... strike is GRANTED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. This will become the order of the court unless a party notifies the court that it objects to the tentative, in which case, the order of the court will be that the matter is CONTINUED TO TUESDAY MAY 26, 2020 at 8:15 a.m. in Courtroom 8. ...

Excerpt: ...el further response to Requests 12‐14, 19, 28, and 32 is granted with respect to document involving driver Jeffrey Cone and otherwise denied. The motion to compel further response to Requests 48‐51 are granted with regards to documents in Responding Party's possession and control and otherwise denied. The motion to compel further response to Requests 58‐59 is denied. The motion to compel further response to Requests 60‐64, 71, 73, 79‐80...

Excerpt: ... discovery, but not to extrinsic evidence of facts in declarations filed by adverse parties contradicting the pleading. (See Del e. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604‐605.) Since the allegations of the First Amended complaint's ¶ 24 are not contradicted by matters of which this court takes judicial notice, and since the allegations on their face state facts sufficient to establish a cause of action and are no...

Excerpt: ...essed to and received by crossdefendant) referenced in the cross‐complaint are not attached as exhibits to the pleading. Demurrers for uncertainty under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (e) are disfavored. (Chen v. Berenjian (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 811, 822.) “A demurrer for uncertainty is strictly construed, even where a complaint is in some respects uncertain, because ambiguities can be clarified under modern discovery proc...

Excerpt: ...nd notice of the entry of the default judgment was served by mail on the moving defendant on December 14, 2018. To challenge the entry of default, the motion must be filed and served within a reasonable time, but no later than six months after the entry of default. (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b); Bae v. T.D. Serv. (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 89, 97.) Here, defendant's motion challenging the default entered on March 16, 2018 and default judgment e...

Excerpt: ...oper remuneration. In addition to provisional relief, MID seeks damages for conversion and trespass. Before the Court this day is a defense motion to remove and transfer the action to a “neutral” county. Pursuant to CCP §394(a), any action brought by a government agency in its own locality against an entity doing business in a different county shall be removed and transferred to a neutral county – that is, a county where neither the plaint...

Excerpt: ...ndment permitting Sergio Garcia Sanchez to be a new class representative and include a Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (“PAGA”) claim, is (a) time‐barred from pursuing a PAGA action, (b) an attempt to add a new claim, and (c) untimely. First, the relation‐back doctrine is applicable to this representation action as the cases cited by defendant (Bartalo v. Super Ct. (1975) 51 Cal.App.3d 526 and San Diego Gas & Elec. Co. v. Super Ct. ...

Excerpt: ... § 657).) Plaintiff's arguments do not support claims of error based on the explicit grounds contained in Code of Civil Procedure section 657. Plaintiff's seventeen (17) purported “grounds” are actually arguments that Plaintiff has already made in support of its objections to the Court's Statement of Decision. Thus, Plaintiff has failed to raise any new issue of fact or law not already fully considered by the Court because each issue raised ...

Excerpt: ...less the parties agree to a later date. Counsel shall meet and confer regarding available dates for the depositions. If counsel cannot resolve deposition scheduling issues after a good faith attempt to resolve informally without court intervention, the Court will entertain a motion on shortened time for a protective order regarding scheduling as well as for monetary sanctions. It is further noted that Plaintiff's counsel is currently not in conta...

Excerpt: ...d finalization of representation; fees and costs as indicated on the Memorandum of Costs; and the amount of the appraisal and the appraiser to appear for the trial. The prevailing party is directed to prepare a written order consistent with the Court's ruling for the Court's signature, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1312, and to provide notice thereof to the opposing party/counsel as required by law and the California Rules of Cour...

Excerpt: ...surprise because Mr. Wright was in discussions to purchase the property with a third party that is not a party to the action. The court finds the assertion that Plaintiffs participated in fraudulent negotiations to lack sufficient basis to grant the motion. The prevailing party is directed to prepare a written order consistent with the Court's ruling for the Court's signature, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1312, and to provide not...

Excerpt: ...xamination of a party to the action where the physical or mental condition of that party is at issue. Various subdivisions describe the terms on which ‘a' physical or mental examination ‘conducted under this section' is to be carried out, but no language specifically limits the number of examinations to only one. Such a limit cannot be implied from the use of the nonrestrictive singular article ‘a.' In fact, the statutory language clearly c...

Excerpt: ... adequately addressed the “opposition” in their reply, so the Court will consider the Plaintiff's late “opposition”. The Court notes that even where a demurrer is sustained for failure to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, leave to amend the complaint is routinely granted. Courts are very liberal in permitting amendments, not only where a complaint is defective in form, but also where substantive defects are apparent:...

Excerpt: ...and special interrogatories served on February 22, 2019, is GRANTED. The Court notes that while plaintiffs' counsel has inexplicably filed some responses to the discovery with the court in lieu of opposition (see Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.280(a) and 2031.290(a)), in reply defendant's counsel has declared under penalty of perjury that plaintiffs' discovery responses have not been provided to her. Additionally, the one set of discovery responses d...

Excerpt: ...The following tentative rulings shall become the ruling of the court unless a party gives notice of intention to appear as follows: 1. You must call (209) 725‐4240 to notify the court of your intent to appear. 2. You must give notice to all other parties before 4:00 p.m. of your intent to appear. Per California Rules of Court, rule 3.1308(a)(1), failure to do both items 1 and 2 will result in no oral argument. Note: Notifying CourtCall of your ...

Excerpt: ...tentative rulings shall become the ruling of the court unless a party gives notice of intention to appear as follows: 1. You must call (209) 725‐4240 to notify the court of your intent to appear. 2. You must give notice to all other parties before 4:00 p.m. of your intent to appear. Per California Rules of Court, rule 3.1308(a)(1), failure to do both items 1 and 2 will result in no oral argument. Note: Notifying Court Call of your intent to app...