Excerpt: ...subd. (b).) The court may, upon any terms as may be just, relieve a party or his or her legal representative from a judgment, dismissal, order, or other proceeding taken against him or her through his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect." (Code Civ. Proc., S 473, subd. (bj.) "Notwithstanding any other requirements of this section, the court shall, whenever an application for relief is made no more than six months after en...

Excerpt: ...t prejudice to the extent it seeks the production of additional documents. On receipt of a response to a demand for inspection, the demanding party may move for an order compelling a further response if the demanding party deems that any of the following apply: (1) A statement of compliance with the demand is incomplete; (2) A representation of inability to comply is inadequate, incomplete, or evasive; (3) An objection in the response is without ...

Excerpt: ...d that Plaintiff "is informed and believes [that Circelli] is (l) an officer of CHICAGO TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY; (2) a member of the executive team of defendant FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC. and (3) Chief Human Resources Offcerfor FIDELITY NATIONAL FINANCIAL, INC." (ld.) The Circelli Deposition Notice lists 9 categories of inspection demands. (ld.) CTIC served objections to the Circelli Deposition Notice on May 1, 2023. (Lucal Dec., '1 7 and ...

Excerpt: ...adding or striking out the name of any party, or by correcting a mistake in the name of a party, or a mistake in any other respect; and may, upon like terms, enlarge the time for answer or demurrer. The court may likewise, in its discretion, after notice to the adverse party, al ow, upon any terms as may be just, an amendment to any pleading or proceeding in other particulars; and may upon like terms allow an answer to be made after the tme limit...

Excerpt: ...d this requirement. (McNeil Dec.) A demurrer presents an issue of law regarding the sufficiency of the allegations set forth in the complaint. (Lambert v. Carneghi (2008) 158 Cal.App.4th 1120, 1125.) The challenge is limited to the "four corners" of the pleading (which includes exhibits attached and incorporated therein) or from matters outside the pleading which are judicially noticeable under Evidence Code SS 451 or 452. Although California cou...

Excerpt: ...cause of action (civil rights violations) is SUSTAINED without leave to amend. The demurrer to the third cause of action (civil rights violations) is OVERRULED as to Defendant Brown and SUSTAINED without leave to amend as to Defendant Journey. The demurrer to the fourth cause of action (negligence) is OVERRULED The demurrer to the fifth cause of action (negligent retention and supervision) is OVERRULED. A demurrer challenges the defects appearing...

Excerpt: ...considering demurrers, courts read the allegations liberally and in context. (Wilson v. Transit Authority of City of Sacramento (1962) 199 Cal.App.2d 716, 720-21.) In a demurrer proceeding, the defects must be apparent on the face of the pleading or via proper judicial notice. (Donabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co. (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 968, 994. "A demurrer tests the pleading alone, and not on the evidence or facts alleged." (E-Fab, Inc. v. Accountant...

Excerpt: ...t to attach order and writ of attachment. (Code Civ. Proc., S 484.010.) Following a hearing on the application, the court shall issue a right to attach order it finds all of the following: (1) The claim upon which the attachment is based is one upon which an attachment may be issued; (2) The plaintiff has established the probable validity of the claim upon which the attachment is based; (3) The attachment is not sought for a purpose other than th...

Excerpt: ...onstitute a cause of action. (f) The pleading is uncertain. As used in this subdivision, 'uncertain' includes ambiguous and unintelligible." (Code Civ. Proc„ S 430.10, subds. (e) & (f)l; see S 430.50, subd. (a) [demurrer may be taken to whole pleading or to any of the causes of action stated therein].) "A person against whom a complaint or cross-complaint has been filed may, within 30 days after service of the complaint or cross-complaint, demu...

Excerpt: ...me of a party, or a mistake in any other respect; and may, upon like terms, enlarge the time for answer or demurrer. The court may likewise, in its discretion, after notice to the adverse party, allow, upon any terms as may be just, an amendment to any pleading or proceeding in other particulars; and may upon like terms allow an answer to be made after the time limited by this code." (Code Civ. Proc., S 473, subd. (a)(l).) Amendments to pleadings...

Excerpt: ...pril 26, 2023, the court ordered Defendant Anthony Bell to serve verified responses without objections to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories , Set Two, Special Interrogatories, Set Two, and Requests for Production of Documents, Set Two within 30 days of service of notice of ruling. (ROA No. 183, [04/25/23 Minute Order].) Plaintiff's counsel served notice of the ruling on Defendant Robert Bell on April 27, 2023. (Stark Decl. '1 8, Ex. A; ROA No. 201...

Excerpt: ...gh contnuances of trials are disfavored, each request for a continuance must be considered on its own merits. (Cal. Rules Ct., Rule 3.1332(c).) A party moving to continue trial must make an affrmatve showing of "good cause" justifying the requested relief. (See Cal. Rules Ct., Rule 3.1332(c).) In addition, the motion must be made "as soon as reasonably practical once the necessity for the continuance is discovered." (Cal. Rules Ct., Rule 3.1332(b...

Excerpt: ..., or the economy and effciency of handling the litigation would be promoted thereby, on moton of a party, after notice and hearing, make an order, no later than the close of pretrial conference in cases in which such pretrial conference is to be held, or, in other cases, no later than 30 days before the trial date, that the trial of any issue or any part thereof shall precede the trial of any other issue or any part thereof in the case, except fo...

Excerpt: ...quest for judicial notice is DENIED as to the remaining exhibits. (Eivd. Code S 452.) The webpages do not consist entirely of facts "that are not reasonably subject to dispute and are capable of immediate and accurate determination by resort to sources of reasonably indisputable accuracy." (Evid. Code S 452(h).) California's long-arm statute permits courts in California to exercise jurisdiction "on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution...

Excerpt: ... or her through his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect." Relief under Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b) may be based either on an "attorney affdavit of fault," in which event, relief is mandatory, or on declarations or other evidence showing "mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect," in which event relief is discretionary. (Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (Th...

Excerpt: ...laintiffs Vince Rinner ("Vince"), Diana Rinner ("Diana"), Nicholas Estanislau ("Nicholas"), and Laura Estanislau ("Laura") (collectively, "Plaintiffs") commenced this action against defendants Brian Hoyt ("Brian"), Alain Hoyt ("Alain"), William Kalpakoff ("William"), and Sandra Kalpakoff ("Sandra") (collectively, "Defendants"). (ROA 2). Plaintiffs allege they own real property adjacent to an easement that included a flood control channel ("Carbon...

Excerpt: ...s confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.550(c); In re Marriage of Tamir (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 1068, 1079.), However, “[t]hese rules do not apply to discovery motions and records filed or lodged in connection with discovery motions or proceedings. However, the rules do apply to discovery materials that are used at trial or submitted as a basis for adjudication of matters other ...

Excerpt: ...he deposition until the day before (Id. at ¶ 4.) On January 30, 2023, Plaintiff's counsel stated that he was unable to confirm whether his client would appear for deposition on January 31, 2023. (Id. at ¶ 4.) On January 31, 2023, neither Plaintiff nor her counsel appeared for the deposition. (Id. at ¶ 5.) Defendant took a Certificate of Non-Appearance. (Id. at Ex. C.) On February 1, 2023, Defendant served a Notice of Second Continuance of Taki...

Excerpt: ... following reasons, the unopposed motion is GRANTED. 1. Code of Civil Procedure section 877.6 & Overview of “Tech-Bilt” Factors Code of Civil Procedure section 877.6 provides in pertinent part: (a)(1) Any party to an action in which it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors or co-obligors on a contract debt shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other c...

Excerpt: ...mation the employee “has reasonable cause to believe ... discloses a violation of state or federal statute” or of “a local, state, or federal rule or regulation” with a government agency, with a person with authority over the employee, or with another employee who has authority to investigate or correct the violation.” (Lawson v. PPG Architectural Finishes, Inc. (2022) 12 Cal.5th 703, 709, citing Labor Code § 1102.5, subd. (b).) Defend...

Excerpt: ...d from interfering in any way with or attempting to dissuade any borrower from making payments to Plaintiff's attorney. Judgment Debtors file no opposition. For the following reasons, the unopposed motion for assignment order and restraining order is GRANTED. On 09/09/2022, this court entered judgment in favor of Judgment Creditor and against Defendants/Judgment Debtors Assent Mortgage, LLC, and Mahyar Kazemi aka Matt Kazemi [ROA 242]. Notice of ...

Excerpt: ... cause of action. (f) The pleading is uncertain. As used in this subdivision, ‘uncertain' includes ambiguous and unintelligible.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subds. (e) & (f) [1]; see § 430.50, subd. (a) [demurrer may be taken to whole pleading or to any of the causes of action stated therein].) “A person against whom a complaint or cross-complaint has been filed may, within 30 days after service of the complaint or cross-complaint, demur...

Excerpt: ...e is limited to the “four corners” of the pleading (which includes exhibits attached and incorporated therein) or from matters outside the pleading which are judicially noticeable under Evidence Code §§ 451 or 452. Although California courts take a liberal view of inartfully drawn complaints, it remains essential that a complaint set forth the actionable facts relied upon with sufficient precision to inform the defendant of what plaintiff i...

Excerpt: ... in presenting his grievances, and fully recognizes the personal investment plaintiff has in his case, the court must treat a pro per party the same as a represented party, i.e., uniformly applying the procedural and substantive rules. (Nwosu v. Uba (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 1229, 1246-1247.) “ ‘A litigant has a right to act as his own attorney [citation] “but, in so doing, should be restricted to the same rules of evidence and procedure as is...

Excerpt: ...(a).) The court may also “order all the actions consolidated and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.” (Ibid.) The purpose of consolidation is to enhance trial court efficiency (i.e., to avoid unnecessary duplication of evidence and procedures), and to avoid the substantial danger of inconsistent adjudications (i.e., different results when matters are tried before different ju...