Excerpt: ...plemental filing addressing defendant's new evidence. 1/19/24 Order (ROA 89). For the following reasons, defendant's motion is granted. The right to arbitration depends upon contract; a petition to compel arbitration is simply a suit in equity seeking specific per formance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponde...

Excerpt: ...ust file a pr oof of service with the court reflecting service of these orders on the LWDA. 2. Were any exclusions, objections or disputes received for the 31 remailed notices? 3. The settlement administrator states plaintiff's individual settlement share is $517.55. I s plaintiff anticipating any other compensation (not including any enhancement payment) from the settlement (such as for any individual claims)? 4. The settlement administrator s...

Excerpt: ...depends upon contract; a petition to compel arbitration is simply a suit in equity seeking specific performance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agr eement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense. Id. Def...

Excerpt: ...o provide responses to plaintiff's special interrogatories and requests for production and to pay sanctions. Plaintiff's motion is denied for the following reasons. Disobeying a court order to provide discovery is a misuse of the discovery process. Cal. Civ. Pro c. Code § 2023.010(g); Van Sickle v. Gilbert (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1495, 1516. A trial court should consider both the conduct being sanctioned and its effect on the party seeking discov...

Excerpt: ...Cane), and the “Litigation Files” (referring to files from and communications with Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLP (BWBO), SMTD Law LLP, and Barry Kellman). GrowthPoint asserts, and Crate and Pickell do not dispute, that Crate and Pickell possess documents from these law firms and lawyers. Except as discussed below regarding Pickell's privilege log, GrowthPoint's motion is granted. In an August 10, 2023 order (ROA 1633), the court (Judge ...

Excerpt: ... is false and misleading. Complaint (ROA 2) ¶¶ 1, 16 -20. Plaintiff alleges his claims on his own behalf and that of a putative class comprised of “[a]ll persons in California who purchased the Product during the statutes of limitations for each cause of action all eged.” Id. ¶ 43. Plaintiff alleges five causes of action: (i) violation of the California Unfair Competition Law; (ii) violation of the California False Advertising Law; (iii) ...

Excerpt: ...smiss that case? If so, when? If not, how do the parties propose to resolve that case? 2. The amount of attorneys' fees requested exceeds the “not to exceed” amount approved in the court's a. Counsel's information should be removed from the caption page; b. The caption and other references in the proposed order and judgment to the “class action settlement” should be revised to state “class action and PAGA settlement”; c. The proposed ...

Excerpt: ...ealth (together, the “State Defendants”), demur to plaintiffs Uber Technologies, Inc., Uber USA, LLC, Rasier -CA, LLC, Rasier, LLC and Portier, LLC's complaint. Defendants LaShon Hicks, James Jordan, Roberto Moreno and Karen VanDenBerg (together, the “Driver Defendants”) also demur to plaintiffs' complaint. For the following reasons, the demurrers are sustained without leave to amend. Background 5 6 implement and maintain an Injury Illnes...

Excerpt: ...nBerg (together , the “Driver Defendants”) also demur to Lyft's complaint. For the following reasons, the demurrers are sustained without leave to amend. Background On August 1, 2022 Cal/OSHA issued three citations to Lyft alleging that Lyft failed to establish, impleme nt and maintain an Injury Illness and Prevention Program and written COVID -19 Prevention Program, and failed to maintain records. Complaint (ROA 2) ¶ 33; State Defendants' R...

Excerpt: ...ns for lack of specific jurisdiction, the plaintiff has the initial burden of demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, facts justifying the exercise of jurisdiction. Ziller Electronics Lab GmbH v. Superior Ct. (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 1222, 1232 -33; Sacrament o Suncreek Apts., LLC v. Cambridge Advantaged Props. II, L.P. (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 1, 9. The plaintiff must do more than allege jurisdictional facts; the plaintiff must provide af...

Excerpt: ...ent: 27 1. D efendant's Notice of Non-opposition (ROA 300, at 5:17) states “over 400” class members opted out. How many class members opted out? The settlement administrator should submit a declaration stating the number of notices sent, the number of opt outs, and the number of class members. 2. How will individual PAGA payments be calculated? In addition, what is the estimated high, low and average PAGA payment? 3. What is plaintiff's expec...

Excerpt: ...ovision in paragraph 1.37 is overbroad. Amended Nordrehaug Decl. (ROA 217) Ex. 1 (Class Action and PAGA Settlement Agreement, ¶ 1.37). 10 11 The release must be fairly tailored to the claims that were or reasonably could have been asserted in the lawsuit based on the facts alleged in the operative complaint, i.e., the second amended complaint filed February 7, 2024 (ROA 239). 3. The Released PAGA Claims provision in paragraph 1.38 is overbroad....

Excerpt: ...lack of specific jurisdiction, the plaintiff has the initial burden of demonstrating, by a preponderance of the evidence, facts justifying the exercise of jurisdiction. Ziller Electronics Lab GmbH v. Superior Ct. (1988) 206 Cal.App.3d 1222, 1232 -33; Sacramento Sun creek Apts., LLC v. Cambridge Advantaged Props. II, L.P. (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 1, 9. The plaintiff must do more than allege jurisdictional facts; the plaintiff must provide affidavit...

Excerpt: ...d without prejudice. As discussed further below, the May 2, 2024 hearing on defendants' motion to compel arbitration is continued to August 29, 2024. Defendants have moved to compel arbitration of this coordinated proceeding. Plaintiffs oppose, including based on plaintiffs' contention that the transportation worker exemption in section 1 of the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) applies and exempts this case from arbitration. Defendants' motion to co...

Excerpt: ... granting petitioner's writ of administrative mandamus. Judgment (ROA 600). The judgment states petitioner shall recover its costs against the California Department of Insurance as to the petition for writ of administrative mandamus in accordance with Government Cod e section 11523 and Civil Procedure Code sections 1094.5(a) and 1095 in an amount to be determined. Id. Petitioner filed its costs memorandum on September 25, 2023 (ROA 607) seeking ...

Excerpt: ...tion to co mpel arbitration is simply a suit in equity seeking specific performance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense. Id. Defendant has carried its burden...

Excerpt: ...ion. For the followi ng reasons, defendants' motion is granted in part and denied in part. The sixth cause of action (failure to provide accurate wage statements) and the seventh cause of action (failure to reimburse for expenses) in plaintiff's complaint are ordered to arbitr ation. The remaining claims are stayed pending completion of the arbitration. Civ. Proc. Code § 1281.4. Defendants' motion to strike the class allegations is denied. The a...

Excerpt: ...lation of Class and PAGA Action Settlement, ¶ 4(A)). The release must be fairly tailored to the claims that were or reasonably could have been asserted in the lawsuit based on the facts alleged in the operative complaint. E.g., the word “reasonably” should be i nserted before “could have been pled”; “[t]he Complaints” should be replaced with “[t]he Second Amended Complaint”; and the phrase “(including the contemplated Second Am...

Excerpt: ...iminary Appr oval (ROA 255) served on the LWDA? Plaintiff must file a proof of service with the court reflecting service of the August 26, 2020 order on the LWDA. 2. Has defendant paid all sums owed under the settlement? See Hernandez Decl. (ROA 265) ¶ 15. If not, w hen will defendant pay the outstanding sums owed? 3. Was the escalator clause triggered? 4. The settlement administrator should state whether any disputes were received. 5. The set...

Excerpt: ...Inc., M S Int ernational, Inc., Lotte Chemical California, Inc., and NGY Group (Orange County) Inc. demur to the fourth cause of action for fraudulent concealment. For the following reasons, the demurrers are overruled. In ruling on a demurrer, a court must accept as true all allegations of fact contained in the complaint. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318. A demurrer challenges only the legal sufficiency of the affected pleading, not the...

Excerpt: ...ed in subdivision (b), actions brought under the provisions of thi s chapter shall be set for trial at the earliest possible date and shall take precedence over all other cases, except older matters of the same character and maters to which special precedence may be given by law. “(b) Any action brought under the provisio ns of this chapter in which the plaintiff seeks any relief, in addition to a declaration of rights and duties, shall take su...

Excerpt: ..., 986. PAGA settlements are subject to trial court review “to determine whether [they are] fair, reasonable, and adequate in view of PAGA's purposes to remediate present labor law violations, deter future ones, and to maximize enforcement of state labor laws.” Moniz v. Adecco USA, Inc. (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 56, 77. The cour t has reviewed and considered the papers filed in support of plaintiff's motion for approval of a $600,000 PAGA set...

Excerpt: ...6 Cal.4th 969, 986. PAGA settlements are subject to trial court review “to determin e whether [they are] fair, reasonable, and adequate in view of PAGA's purposes to remediate present labor law violations, deter future ones, and to maximize enforcement of state labor laws.” Moniz v. Adecco USA, Inc. (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 56, 77. The cou rt has reviewed and considered the papers filed in support of plaintiff's motion for approval of a $45...

Excerpt: ...n their opposition, cross -defendants have withdrawn the following aff irmative defenses: 14, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 55 and 56 (i.e., 55(2)). Becerra's demurrer to affirmative defenses 14, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 55 and 56 (i.e., 55(2)) is thus overruled as moot. For the following reasons, Becerra's demurrer to affirmativ e defenses 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 41, 42, 44, 46, 47, 48 and 50 is sustained ...

Excerpt: ...e Code section 583.310, (ii) continuing the trial date from July 1 5, 2024 to January 15, 2025, and (iii) continuing all trial -related deadlines to track the new trial date. Plaintiffs oppose. For the following reasons, defendants' motion is denied. 11 Section 583.310 provides that “[a]n action shall be brought to trial within five years after the action is commenced against the defendant.” For certain cases, including this one, this period...

Excerpt: ...ion: intentional interference with prospective economic relations, intentional interferenc e with contractual relations, and negligent interference with prospective economic advantage. For the following reasons, defendants' demurrers are sustained with leave to amend. allege facts demonstrating or excusing compliance with the claim presentation requirement. Otherwise, [their] complaint is In ruling on a demurrer, a court must accept as true all a...

Excerpt: ...c performance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013 ) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense. Id. Plaintiff argues defendant has not carried its burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration ...

Excerpt: ...f of service (ROA 138) does not reflect service of these documents on the LWDA. Plaintiff must file a proof of service reflecting service of the Order Granting Preliminary Approval and the motion for final approval and its supporting documents on the LWDA. 18 19 2. Has the deadline for exclusions, objections and disputes for the 22 remailed notices elapsed? If so, were any exclusions, objections or disputes received for the remailed notices? ...

Excerpt: ... “What are the last four digits of your Social Security number?” Ob jections: “Irrelevant and not discoverable, and instruct Ms. Mora not to answer.” Ruling: Motion to compel denied. See discussion below. 2. Mora Depo. at 15:14 -18: Question No. 2: “Do you understand that you actually sued my client because they would no t use the last four digits of your Social Security number?” Objections: “Argumentative; harassing witness. I inst...

Excerpt: ...er 31, 2023 were untimely. Motion (ROA 49) at 4:25 -28. Plain tiff served defendant with the Special Interrogatories and Requests for Production by email on September 27, 2023. Suh Decl. (ROA 39) Ex. A; Suh Decl. (ROA 45) Ex. A. Defendant's responses were due October 31, 2023, i.e., 30 calendar days, plus 2 court d ays for electronic service. Civ. Proc. Code §§ 1010.6(a)(3)(B), 2030.260(a), 2031.260(a). Defendant's responses were timely. Plaint...

Excerpt: ...ction (Set One), and Requests for Admissions (Set One). The court exercises its discretion to consider defendant's late -filed oppositions. For the following reasons, plaintiffs' motions are granted. Defendant asserts it has “never refused to provide the supplemental responses and will provide verified supplemental re sponses to the at issue discovery requests prior to the hearing on the Motions.” Gonzales Decl. (ROA 237) ¶ 10. Defense cou...

Excerpt: ...dismissal with prejudice on February 23, 2023 (ROA 19). For unknown reasons, the second amended complaint filed August 28, 2023 (ROA 57) includes Whang as a plaintiff. Second Amended Complaint (ROA 57) at 2:1, 5:1 - 3, 27:7. Whang filed a second request for dismissal with prejudice on October 4, 2023 (ROA 74) . Plaintiff confirms in her opposition what the court file reflects, i.e., that Whang dismissed his claims with prejudice and is no lo...

Excerpt: ...ot state the three declarations were served on the LWDA. Was the Orde r Granting Preliminary Approval (ROA 114) served on the LWDA? See ROA 125. Plaintiff must file a proof of service reflecting service of the declarations and the Order Granting Preliminary Approval on the LWDA. 2. How many class members are there? The Is las Declaration (ROA 128, ¶ 13) states there are 1,360 class members. The motion (ROA 127) states in one place there are 1,...

Excerpt: ...1. All demurrers to the first amended complaint based on Civil Procedure Code section 583.210 are overruled; 2. Lake's demurrer to Causes of Action Nos. 6 through 10 based on Labor Code section 2699.3 is overruled; 3. Diamond PEO, BZ Resources, VL Best PEO aka VL PEO, and Skyhigh PEO's demurrers to Causes of Action Nos. 6 through 10 based on Labor Code section 2699.3 are sustained without leave to amend; 4. Lake's demurrer to the first amended ...

Excerpt: ...mount be added to the gross settlement amount? How will the class mem bers be advised of this potential change in the settlement amount? If defendants have not paid the late fees, when will they do so? 2. Paragraph 4(e) of the Second Amended Settlement Agreement (ROA 459, Ex. 1) states defendants may void the settlement i f the number of persons who submit requests for exclusion is equal to or in excess of 10% of the total number of persons to wh...

Excerpt: ...led in support of the motion (ROA 187, 194 and 197) do not reflect servi ce on the LWDA. Plaintiff must file a proof of service identifying the specific documents served on the LWDA, when plaintiff served the documents, and how service was effected. 2. The motion does not provide sufficient information for the court to evaluat e whether the consideration being received for the release of class members' claims is reasonable in light of the stre...

Excerpt: ...Plaintiff's counsel should submit a declaration i n support of the requested attorneys' fees and litigation costs that includes: a. A statement that the hourly rate for each attorney is the reasonable and usual hourly rate charged by that attorney for similar services; b. The total number of hours worked by each attorney on the case; and c. If fees are sought for paralegals, verification that each paralegal meets the requirements of Business & P...

Excerpt: ...009) 46 Cal.4th 969, 986 . PAGA settlements are subject to trial court review “to determine whether [they are] fair, reasonable, and adequate in view of PAGA's purposes to remediate present labor law violations, deter future ones, and to maximize enforcement of state labor laws.” Moniz v. Adecco USA, Inc. (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 56, 77. The court has reviewed and considered the papers filed in support of plaintiff's motion for approval of ...

Excerpt: ...e documents, and how service was effected. 2. Were the moti on papers served on defendants? The only proof of service in the court file related to the motion papers is the proof of service attached to the Quezada Declaration (ROA 225), which states that only the Quezada Declaration was served on defendants. 3. Was the order granting preliminary approval (filed 6/16/23, ROA 212) served on the LWDA? Plaintiff must file a proof of service reflec...

Excerpt: ...rety. Brill Notice of Motion (ROA 47) at 1:25- 27; LNBYG Notice of Motion (ROA 9) at 2:6 -7. For the following reasons, Brill's and LNBYG's motions are granted. Factual background and allegations Stroj and Brill are both lawyers, although, as alleged in Stroj's complaint, Stroj was suspended from the practice of law for two years beginning in August 2021 “for illegal gambling that took place back in 2015.” Complaint (ROA 1) ¶ 23. Stroj alleg...

Excerpt: ...bing why the cy pres recipient (Legal Aid Foundation of Los Ang eles) is an appropriate recipient. The Supplemental Srourian Declaration (ROA 89) states: “Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles is an appropriate recipient because INSERT.” Supp. Srourian Decl. (ROA 89) ¶ 5. A declaration should be submitted describing why the cy pres recipient is an appropriate recipient. 2. The amendment to the settlement agreement (Supp. Srourian Decl. (ROA 89...

Excerpt: ...ix months of Þling. For the following reasons, defendants' motion is denied. Section 583.310 provides that “[a]n action shall be brought to trial within Þve years after the action is commenced against the defendant.” For certain cases, including this one, this period was extended for six months by COVID-19 pandemic emergency rules. Section 583.360(a) states that dismissal for failure to bring a case to trial within the required period is ma...

Excerpt: ...at contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense. Id. American Express does not contend Anca and American Express entered into a signed arbitration agreement. American Express ...

Excerpt: ...ictional discovery. 6 Motion to quash based on service of Eduardo Cosentino in British Columbia CG is a Spanish company headquartered in Spain. Vela Decl. (ROA 266) ¶ 4. Plainti
¯s personally served Eduardo Cosentino, CG's Executive Vice President for Global Sales, with the summons and complaint in Burnaby, British Columbia on September 13, 2023. Metzger Decl. (ROA 486) Ex. 4. CG contends personal service on its Executive Vice President for Glo...

Excerpt: ...�c performance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its defense. Id. Defendant carried its burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponde...

Excerpt: ...ims are dismissed without prejudice. The right to arbitration depends upon contract; a petition to compel arbitration is simply a suit in equity seeking specific performance of that contract. Little v. Pullman (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 558, 565. The petitioner bears the burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by the preponderance of the evidence, and a party opposing the petition bears the burden of prov-ng by a preponderanc...

Excerpt: ...refers only to the "proposed settlement." Plaintiff must file with the court a proof of service identifying the specific documents served on the LWDA, when plaintiff served the documents, and how service was effected. As to the settlement: 2. The Jusuf Declaration (ROA 454, at 'l 2) states the settlement is with defendant Capital Logistics & Warehousing Group, Inc. The settlement agreement (Jusuf Decl. Ex. 1, at 1:2-3) states the settlement is wi...

Excerpt: ...10, for all civil actions filed on or before April 6, 2020, the time in which to bring the action to trial is extended by six months for a total time of five years and six months." Defendants' reliance on Ables v. A. Ghazale Bros. , Inc. (2022) 74 Cal.App.5th 823 is misplaced. In Ables, the plaintiff's personal injury action was set for trial five years and seven months after it was filed. The trial court granted the defendants' motion to dismiss...

Excerpt: ...ourt (and this department) entitled Porcayo v. So Cal Land Maintenance, Inc. and Stephen Holt Guise, OCSC case No. 2021-01236054. Civ. Præ code S 430.10(c). This is a plea in abatement: "A plea in abatement pursuant to section 430.10, subdivision (c), may be made by demurrer or answer when there is another action pending between the same parties on the same cause of action." Plant Insulation Co. v. Fibreboard Corp. (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 781, 787...

Excerpt: ...rt. In the absence of contrary court order, a civil litigant's right to discovery is broad. Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 551. MFor discovery purposes, information is relevant if it "might reasonably assist a party in evaluating the case, preparing for trial, or facilitating settlement . " [Citation.] Admissibility is not the test and information unless privileged, is discoverable if it might reasonably lead to admissible evide...