Excerpt: ...errogatories seek the date and address of other purchases or sales of residential real property Defendant has engaged in, either on their own behalf or on behalf of Yu Liu, from 2010 to present. Movants contends this information is relevant to show that Defendant was sophisticated in real estate transactions and that Defendant engaged in fraud and breached the subject purchase contract in this case. In opposition, Defendant contends Plaintiffs th...

Excerpt: ...t p. 5:16- 18.) However, Plaintiff has not shown that she filed the instant motion in sufficient time in advance of the time limit for the completion of discovery (the 15th day before the initial trial date) to permit the deposition of any expert to whom the motion relates to be taken within that time limit. (See Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2034.610(b); 2024.030.) Trial in this case has been continued several times. Trial was initially set for 4/10/23...

Excerpt: ...at there i s no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. That is because of the general principle that a party who seeks a court's action in his favor bears the burden of persuasion thereon. (See Evid. Code, § 500.) There is a triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the motion in ac...

Excerpt: ...ht $2,451.64 arising from Defendants' failure to pay the HOA assessments plus related fees and costs of suit. On 11/18/20, the parties entered into a stipulated judgment against Defendants in the amount of $5,791.74 with fees/costs to be determined. The Court awar ded $13,500 in attorney fees on 2/11/21. On 4/22/21, the Court granted a motion to set aside the judgment. The Court denied Defendants' motion to disqualify counsel on 6/10/21. The Cour...

Excerpt: ...y to challenge defects that appear on the face of the pleadings under attack; or from matters outside the pleading that are judicially noticeable. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) No extrinsic evidence can be considered. (Ion Equipment Corp. v. N elson (1980) 110 Cal.App.3d 868, 881.) Therefore, the Court did not consider facts regarding the PPM or the Evertrust Loan Agreement that appear outside the allegations of the FAC in ruling o...

Excerpt: ...overy pro cedures.” (Khoury v. Maly's of California, Inc. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 612, 616.) Errors and confusion created by “the inept pleader” are to be forgiven if the pleading contains sufficient facts entitling plaintiff to relief. (Saunders v. Cariss (1990) 224 Cal. App. 3d 905, 908.) A party attacking a pleading on “uncertainty” grounds must specify how and why the pleading is uncertain, and where that uncertainty can be found in t...

Excerpt: ....” (Ladd v. Cou nty of San Mateo (1996) 12 Cal.4th 913, 917.) Plaintiff has sufficiently pled facts to constitute a cause of action for negligence. “[T]he Legislature did not require of regional centers anything like the hour -by -hour monitoring that would have been requir ed to prevent Bobby's tragic death. A regional center is required to establish a “schedule of regular periodic review and reevaluation to ascertain that planned serv...

Excerpt: ... the subject incident g iving rise to this complaint.” (FAC, EX-2 of Exemplary Damages Attachment.) Defendant was so impaired that he had “red/watery eyes, dilated pupils, slow lethargic speech, and difficulty concentrating” when being interviewed by the investigating Officer and failed the sobriety test. (Id.) “Defendant Topps knew from the onset that he must and would subsequently operate or control his vehicle on the public roads and t...

Excerpt: ...oanCare's Evidence should be OVERRULED. DMI moves on the grounds that during the Phase 1 of trial “LoanCare testified that it has no accounting records and for that reason, Judge Schwarm did not order LoanCare to account.” (Notice, 2:5 -7.) Specifically, during the Phase 1 of trial, DMI sought to compel an accounting against LoanCare based on its second cause of action for Accounting alleged in it Cross -Complaint filed on 2 -25 -21. (Penn...

Excerpt: ...nterroga tories 42-45, 58 -61, 74 -77, and 89, which generally seek (1) the contact information of three students who allegedly assaulted Plaintiff and (2) the names and contact information of “Students E -M,” who were thirdparty witnesses to the alleged incident(s). The Court grants the motion as to the first category of information but denies the motion without prejudice as to the second category. Code of Civil Procedure section 2017.010 s...

Excerpt: ...t all times men tioned, each of DEFENDANTS, except as otherwise alleged or contended, are and have been the partners, joint venturers, alter egos, and/or co -conspirators of each other.” (Compl. ¶ 12.) Further, Plaintiff alleged that “DEFENDANTS were “employers” within the meaning of Government Code section 12926(d) . . . .” (Compl. ¶ 8.) Although not initially raised in the MSA, Defendants now claim that Cedar Mountain and not Madiso...

Excerpt: ... Protectiv e Order as to Requests for Production are DENIED. Interrogatories and Requests for Admission Plaintiffs have not established their burden of justifying their additional discovery. A propounding party may justify propounding additional special interrogatori es or requests for admissions based on the complexity or quantity of issues within the case. (CCP §§ 2030.040(a)(1) and 2033.040(a).) Here, Plaintiffs only offered justifications ...

Excerpt: ...First Set of Form Interrogatories, is GRANTED. Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.290 states, in part, “If a party to whom interrogatories are directed fails to serve a timely response, the following rules apply: (a) The party to whom the interrogatories are dire cted waives any right to exercise the option to produce writings under Section 2030.230, as well as any objection to the interrogatories, including one based on privilege or on the p...

Excerpt: ...stems, f/k/a T riumph Structures – Los Angeles, Inc., a California corporation and Triumph Group, Inc. “The party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. That is because of the general principle that a party who seeks a court's action in his favor bears the burden of persuasion thereon. (See Evid. Code, § 500.) There is ...

Excerpt: ...e of C ivil Procedure section 2025.290 provides that depositions in civil cases are generally limited to seven hours of testimony. However, a party is only entitled to ask questions at deposition which are “reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admiss ible evidence.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 2017.010.) At this time, Defendant has not shown it is necessary for the Court to enter an order preemptively limiting Defendant's deposition. How...

Excerpt: ...ve of court. Sections 2032.310 and 2032.3 20 provide for additional physical examination with leave of court if good cause is shown. (See Shapira v. Superior Court (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 1249 -1256.) Defendant has demonstrated there is good cause to allow additional examinations. Plaintiff listed 72 injuries in response to Form Interrogatory 6.2 and stated he consulted with 15 different providers in response to Form Interrogatory 6.4, including a ...

Excerpt: ...s required to be given, evidence is required to be taken, and discretion in the determination of facts is vested in the infe rior tribunal, corporation, board or officer…” (Code Civ. Proc., §1094.5, subd. (a).) “The inquiry in such a case shall extend to the questions whether the respondent has proceeded without, or in excess of, jurisdiction; whether there was a fair trial; an d whether there was any prejudicial abuse of discretion.” (C...

Excerpt: ...urt to recover as part of the judgment a sum equal to the aggreg ate amount of costs and expenses . . . determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the buyer in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.” (Civ. Code § 1794(d).) “If the items appearing in a cost bill appear to be pro per charges, the burden is on the party seeking to tax costs to show that were not reasonable or necessary. On the other ha...

Excerpt: ...amily Trust failed to pay sanctions as ordered by this Court on 10- 19-23. Thus, Defendants violated the 10- 19-23 and 11 -16- 23 orders. Therefore, Defendants' conduct is sanctionable. Nonmonetary Sanctions Defendants' conduct does not warrant terminating sanctions. Terminating sanctions are appropriate wh en the “violation is willful, preceded by a history of abuse, and the evidence shows that less severe sanctions would not produce complianc...

Excerpt: ... which was opposed by defendant Philippe G. Delbar, as noticed on Febr uary 22, 2024. At that time, it held that plaintiff is entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees under Civ. Code § 5975 but that fees and costs would only be awarded up to the time of the initial entry of default judgment on the complaint on Marc h 1, 2002 and on the instant fees motion. The Court therefore continued the hearing on the motion to March 14, 2024, and o...

Excerpt: ...f Documents No. 7. Generally, Plaintiff moves to compel Defendant District to provide the following information and documents: (1) contact information of three students who allegedly assaulted Plaintiff; (3) names and contact information of “Students E -M,” who were third party witnesses to the alleged incident(s); and (3 ) Documents reflecting witness statements of third parties regarding the incident(s). Defendant objects and refuses to pr...

Excerpt: ... persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. That is because of the general principle that a party who seeks a court's action in his favor bears the burden of persuasion thereon. (See Evid. Code, § 500.) There is a triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the...

Excerpt: ...h 230, 251 -252, citing Bus. & Prof. Code, §17200.) “B ecause…section 17200 is written in the disjunctive, it establishes three varieties of unfair competition – acts or practices which are unlawful, or unfair, or fraudulent.” (Boschma v. Home Loan Center, Inc. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 230, 252.) Relevant herei n, “[b]y proscribing ‘any unlawful' business practice, ‘section 17200 ‘borrows' violations of other laws and treats them a...

Excerpt: ...complaint controverted by the defendant. (2) A statement of any new matter constituting a defense.” (Code of Civil Procedure Section 431.30(b).) The answer must aver facts “as carefully and with as much detail as the facts which constitute the cause of action and which are alleged in the complaint.” (FPI Development, Inc. v. Nakashima (1991) 231 Cal.App. 3d 367, 384.) An exception to this rule is the statute of limitations under Code of Civ...

Excerpt: ... the doctrine of issue preclusion, and failure to state suff icient facts. Statute of Limitations A demurrer on limitations grounds will not lie where the action may be, but is not necessarily barred: it must appear clearly and affirmatively that, upon the face of the complaint, the right of action is necessarily b arred. (Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1225, 1232). Under California law, the statute of limitations for a fraud claim is three year...

Excerpt: ...discovery and disobeying a court order are misuses of the discovery process. (C CP § 2023.010(d) and (g).) Here, Plaintiff failed to provide further responses, produce the component parts, and pay the sanctions within 30 days as ordered by this Court. Plaintiff argues that it has since complied with the 11 -9 -23 order, however, the dec laration does not contest that Plaintiff failed to comply within the 30 days required by the order. Thus, Plai...

Excerpt: ...der Code of Civil Procedure section 1032. However, Defendants also seek to recover expert witness fees under Code of Civil Procedure section 998. Plaintiff contends Defendants' Code of Civil Procedure section 998 offers were unreasonable. Defendants served a 998 offer of $5,000 on 9/28/20 and a s econd 998 offer of $25,000 on 12/6/21. The second offer was served after Defendants' expert Dr. Kiester conducted an examination of Plaintiff and prepar...

Excerpt: ...or [¶] (2) They have a claim, right, or interest adverse to the defendant in the property or controversy which is the subject of the action.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 378, subd. (a), emphasis added.) “It is not necessary that each plaintiff be interested as to every cause of action or as to all re lief prayed for. Judgment may be given for one or more of the plaintiffs according to their respective right to relief.” (Id., § 378, subd. (b).) S...

Excerpt: ...ss unreasonable, and shall inure to the benefit of and bind all owners of separate interests in the development. Unless the declaration states otherwise, these servitudes may be enforced by any owner of a separate interest or by the association, or by both. (b) A governing document other than the declaration may be enforced b y the association against an owner of a separate interest or by an owner of a separate interest against the association. ...

Excerpt: ...m Pleading Defendants argue that Plaintiff should n ot be allowed to amend his pleadings because the facts alleged regarding the amount due is incorrect and any subsequent complaint will be a sham. Under the sham pleading doctrine, the trial court may disregard amendments that omit harmful allegations in the original complaint or add allegations inconsistent with it. (State of California ex rel. Metz v. CCC Information Services, Inc. (2007) 149 C...

Excerpt: ...e not ruled upon are preserved for appeal. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(q).) As a threshold issue, Vizio argues this motion is moot and/or barred by judicial estoppel because the court previously found a triable issue of material fact exists as to whether Plaintiff is a third party beneficiary under the GPL license. (ROA 161.) The Court found that “the language of the GPLs is not so certain so as to preclude other interpretations.” (Ibid.) “Ju...

Excerpt: ...2, 1131 (Ketchum).) The “prevailing defendant on a motion to stri ke be allowed to recover attorney fees and costs only on the motion to strike, not the entire suit.” (LaFayette Morehouse, Inc. v. The Chronicle Publishing Co. (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 1379, 1383; S.B. Beach Properties v. Berti (2006) 39 Cal.4th 374, 381.) The award of fees may include “the fees incurred in enforcing the right to mandatory fees under Code of Civil Procedure sect...

Excerpt: ...dant may be designated in any pleading or proceeding by any name, and when his true name is discovered, the pleading or proceeding must be amended accordingly.” “‘The purpose of ... section 474 is to enable a plaintiff who is ignorant of the identity of the defendant to file his [or her] complaint before his [or he r] claim is barred by the statute of limitations.'” (Streicher v. Tommy's Electric Co. (1985) 164 Cal.App.3d 876, 882 (S...

Excerpt: ...hich applies to Plaintiff's claims against both Defendants. The RISC provides in pertinent part: “ARBITRATION PROVISION PLEASE REVIEW – IMPORTANT - AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS 1. EITHER YOU OR WE MAY CHOOSE TO HAVE ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN US DECIDED BY ARBITRATION AND NOT IN COURT OR BY JURY TRIAL. 2. IF A DISPUTE IS ARBITRATE D, YOU WILL GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AS A CLASS REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS MEMBER ON ANY CLASS CLAIM YOU MAY HAVE AGA...

Excerpt: ... In the first cause of action for breach of contract, pl aintiff alleges that, in May 2018, she was “offered employment as the clinical director of Crest Recovery dba Truvida Recovery for a salary and a 3% profit -sharing interest, among other benefits.” (TAC, ¶ 67.) Plaintiff alleges that she “signed an offer le tter agreement which was dated April 23, 2018 and a Bonus Compensation Addendum to her employment agreement of May 5, 2018, w...

Excerpt: ... memorandum as waiver of all grounds not supported. CRC 3.1113(a). Based upon these grounds, the Court sustains the unopposed demurrer. Although the demurrer is unopposed, the Court Þnds that Plainti
¯ should be given an opportunity to cure the defects in the operative complaint that were raised by Defendant in the demurrer. First Cause of Action – Negligence The statute of limitations for negligence, other than personal injury or property da...

Excerpt: ...he following Þndings: [¶] (1) The party has a substantial interest in the action as a whole. [¶] (2) The health of the party is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing the party's interest in the litigation. . . . (f) Upon the granting of such a motion for preference, the court shall set the matter for trial not more than 120 days from that date and there shall be no continuance beyond 120 days from the granting of the motio...

Excerpt: ...), which provides that “summary adjudication shall be granted only if it completely disposes of a cause of action, an a
¯irmative defense, a claim for damages, or an issue of duty.” (Emphasis added.)) The complaint (ROA 2) contains a single cause of action for medical negligence. It alleges that, on December 26, 2021 and thereafter, all Defendants, including the moving Defendant, undertook the care and treatment of the plainti
¯ in connecti...

Excerpt: ...action involving commerce.'” (Allied-Bruce Terminix Companies, Inc. v. Dobson (1995) 513 U.S. 265, 277 [quoting 9 USC § 2] [emphasis in original].) The arbitration provision contained in the Residence and Service Agreement (“RSA”) states that claims including claims for personal injury or wrongful death shall be resolved by binding arbitration “in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act.” (Zaragova Decl., Ex. B, para. 19.) Plainti
...

Excerpt: ...1-01236442, which is a proceeding in probate court. Plainti
¯ opposes the motion and objects to the certain of the documents for which judicial notice is requested, including a declaration that he Þled in this case in connection with an ex parte application for a TRO and OSC re: preliminary injunction. In that all documents were Þled in this action or the probate action, the Court takes judicial notice of them. To the extent that the notice of...

Excerpt: ...ncing evidence that the defendant has been guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice, the plainti
¯, in addition to the actual damages, may recover damages for the sake of example and by way of punishing the defendant.” (Civ. Code §3294, subd. (a).) Civil Code section 3294, subdivision (c)(1) deÞnes “malice” as “conduct which is intended by the defendant to cause injury to the plainti
¯ or despicable conduct which is carried on by the de...

Excerpt: ... entered into after mediating a prior lawsuit between them. Defendants contend that the action arises from activity "in furtherance of" their right to petition or free speech, which makes it subject to being stricken through an antSLAPP motion under section 425.16. They also contend that they are entitled to an award of attorneys' fees under subdivision (c) of section 425.16 for bringing a successful ant-SLAPP motion. Plaintiff opposes the moton....

Excerpt: ...e Notice of this Motion in the Wrongful Death Case. On 12- 14-23, Defendants filed Notice of Motion in the wrongful Death Case, which includes a copy of the instant Motion. The Court finds that this complies with California Rules of Court, rule 3.350. Merits Consolidation is provided for by Code of Civil Procedure section 1048, which provides that when there are actions "involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it ...

Excerpt: ...eserve evidence for another's use in pending or future litigation. While there is no tort cause of action for the intentional destruction of evidence after litigation has commenced, it is a misuse of the discovery process that is subject to a broad range of punishment, including monetary, issue, evidentiary, and terminating sanctions." (Willaims v. Russ (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 1215, 1223.) CCP S 2023.030 provides as follows: Misuses of the discove...

Excerpt: ... either Government Code S 815.2 or 815.4. (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e).) 2. Plaintiff failed to allege sufficient facts to state a statutory basis for a claim of breach of a mandatory duty for direct liability against the County under Government Code S 815.6. (Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. 3. Plaintiff failed to allege sufficient facts to state a claim against the County because Plaintiff did not comply with and does not allege compli...

Excerpt: ...te of Limitations A demurrer on limitations grounds will not lie where the action may be, but is not necessarily barred: it must appear clearly and affirmatively that, upon the face of the complaint, the right of action is necessarily barred. (Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1225, 1232). under California law, the statute of limitations for a fraud claim is three years. (Code Civ. Proc., S 338(d)). Plaintiff argues delayed discovery. The delayed d...

Excerpt: ...ehicle" alleges Defendant Delgado-Garcia was operating a motor vehicle owned by Defendant Coronado with her permission and Defendants Davis and The Car Store entrusted the motor vehicle, while the 2nd cause of action for negligence alleges Plaintiff was driving a car owned by Defendant Car Store with Defendant Davis' permission and Defendant Delgado- Garcia was driving a vehicle owned by Defendant Coronado. Defendant Davis argues the complaint fa...

Excerpt: ...ult on the part of the indemnitor and (2) resulting damages to the indemnitee for which the indemnitor is ... equitably responsible." ' [Citation.]" To qualify for declaratory relief, a party must show (1) a proper subject of declaratory relief, and (2) an actual controversy involving justiciable questions relating to the rights or obligations of a party. (Lee v. Silveira (2016) 6 Cal.App.5th 527, 545.) Summit Financial Holdings, Ltd. v. Continen...

Excerpt: ...n counsel for each party, plaintiff Noel Duarte and defendant Lisa Rochelle Siegel-Foigelman shall only appear at depositons in the above-captioned action by remote video or audio conference, and not in person. 2. Absent written agreement between counsel for each party, plaintiff Noel Duarte and defendant Lisa Rochelle Siegel-Foigelman shall only appear at pre-trial court hearings in the above-captioned action by remote video or audio conference,...

Excerpt: ...rogatories, Sets One from Defendant FEC and General Form Interrogatories from Defendant David Limones. Preliminarily, the Court notes that each opposition to each motion before the Court today was filed and served 4 days late, on 9-25-23 instead of 9-21-23, when they were due. The Court will exercise its discretion to consider the merits of each opposition given that Plaintiff filed substantive replies to each opposition. 1. Merits Code of Civil ...

Excerpt: ...Motion to Compel Production 10) Motion to Compel Response to Requests for Admissions 11) Moton to Compel Response to Requests for Admissions 12) Motion to Compel Response to Requests for Admissions 13) Motion to Deem Facts Admitted Motion 1 Defendant Newrez, LLC F/K/A New Penn Financial, LLC, D/8/A Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing's (Defendant)'s Motion to Compel Further Responses to Interrogatories, filed 2-17-23 under ROA No. 279 is GRANTED in par...

Excerpt: ...ce forum selection clauses contained in a contract freely and voluntarily negotiated at arm's length unless enforcement would be unfair or unreasonable. Although the forum selection clause here is contained in an adhesion contract, that clause in an adhesion contract is enforceable even though the defendant did not actually read as long as the clause provided adequate notice to the defendant that he was agreeing to the jurisdiction cited in the c...

Excerpt: ...eeded to gain access through that entry point at the Hamilton Gate entrance to what we call Strip 2 of the Easement" (ld. at 23:4-7); 3. "The Hickey Gate on the south part of the 25 acre will be coded" (ld. at 23:12-14.); 4. There will be an easement granted to Mr. Thier that provides for "vehicular and pedestrian, as well as equestrian rights but only as equestrian rights as [tol Strip 1, and usage for the Strip 1 for equestrian purposes is limi...

Excerpt: ...ries 8) Motion to Compel Production Defendant and Cross Defendant Linda Votaw mcwes to compel Defendant, Cross-Defendant and Cross-complainant Aaron Brower to serve further verified responses, without objections, to: (1) Form Interrogatories, Set One, Interrogatory Nos. 2.3-2.4, 7.1-7.3, 8.2-8.8, 9.1-9.2, 12.1-12.7, 13.1-13.2, 14.1-14.2, 15.1, 17.1, and 50.1- 50.6; (2) Special Interrogatories, Set One, Interrogatory Nos. 27-44, 69-80, and 84-92; ...

Excerpt: ...9241(a) prov-des: "In the event that a trustee under a deed of trust is named in an action or proceeding in which that deed of trust is the subject, and in the event that the trustee maintains a reasonable belief that it has been named in the action or proceeding solely in its capacity as trustee, and not arising out of any wrongful acts or omissions on its part in the performance of its duties as trustee, then, at any time, the trustee may file ...

Excerpt: ...t related to this action be barred. Circle K Defendants' motion previously came on for hearing on 9-14- 23. The motion was continued to 9-28-23 to allow Defendants to respond to Circle K Defendants' settlement agreement submitted with their reply pursuant to Mediplex of California, Inc. v. Superior Court (1995) 34 Cal.App.4th 748, 754. Defendants filed their supplemental opposition on 9-21-23 and Circle K Defendants filed their supplemental reply...

Excerpt: ...ties Agency (2011) 198 Cal. App. 4th 611, 529.) No later than 10/13/23, Defendants shall file and serve a supplemental brief, not to exceed five pages, stating what issues remain to be decided via demurrer in light of the Court's ruling on their ant-SLAPP moton to strike. Plaintiff may file and serve a responsive supplemental brief, not to exceed five pages, regarding the demurrers no later than 10/18/23. Ant-SLAPP Motion to Strike The Anti- SLAP...

Excerpt: ...eeded to gain access through that entry point at the Hamilton Gate entrance to what we call Strip 2 of the Easement" (ld. at 23:4-7); 3. "The Hickey Gate on the south part of the 25 acre will be coded" (ld. at 23:12-14.); 4. There will be an easement granted to Mr. Thier that provides for "vehicular and pedestrian, as well as equestrian rights but only as equestrian rights as [tol Strip 1, and usage for the Strip 1 for equestrian purposes is limi...

Excerpt: ...to their motions. In future, counsel shall file any separate statement as a separate document for the Court's review. Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.300 states in part, "(a) On receipt of a response to interrogatories, the propounding party may move for an order compelling a further response if the propounding party deems that any of the following apply: (1) An answer to a particular interrogatory is evasive or incomplete. (2) An exercise o...

Excerpt: ... "(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 396a [not applicable here], if an action or is commenced in a court having jurisdiction of the subject matter thereof, other than the court designated as the proper court for the trial thereof, under this title, the action may, notwithstanding, be tried in the court where commenced, unless the defendant, at the time he or she answers, demurs, or moves to strike, or, at his or her option, without answe...

Excerpt: ...gence Defendants argue that the first cause of achon is barred by the statute of limitations in Code of Civil Procedure section 340.5 for professional negligence. Plaintiff's Opposition concedes that the first cause of achon is barred by the statute of limitations. (Opposition, 2:19- 20.) Therefore, because Plaintiff concedes as to this cause of action, the demurrer to this cause of action is SUSTAINED. Because Defendants demur based on the statu...

Excerpt: ...[alny party to an action in which it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors...shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other claimant and one or more alleged tortfeasors..." The fundamental inquiry in a good faith hearing, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure 5877.6, is whether the settling Defendant is paying the Plaintiff an amount that is so far below Defen...

Excerpt: ...tion shall state facts showing a reasonable and good faith attempt at an informal resolution of each issue presented by the motion." "The Discovery Act requires that, prior to the initiation of a moton to compel, the moving party declare that he or she has made a reasonable and good faith attempt to obtain an informal resolution of each issue. This rule is designed to encourage the parties to work out their differences informally so as to avoid t...

Excerpt: ...Civil Procedure section 437c(f)(1) provides: "[al party may mcwe for summary adjudication as to one or more causes of action within an action, one or more affirmative defenses, one or more claims for damages, or one or more issues of duty, if the party contends that the cause of achon has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is...

Excerpt: ....290 states, in part, "If a party to whom interrogatories are directed fails to serve a timely response, the following rules apply: (a) The party to whom the interrogatories are directed waives any right to exercise the option to priNluce wr-tings under Section 2030.230, as well as any objection to the interrogatories, including one based on privilege or on the protection for work product under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2018.010) . ['ll ...

Excerpt: ...eeded to gain access through that entry point at the Hamilton Gate entrance to what we call Strip 2 of the Easement" (ld. at 23:4-7); 3. "The Hickey Gate on the south part of the 25 acre will be coded" (ld. at 23:12-14.); 4. There will be an easement granted to Mr. Thier that provides for "vehicular and pedestrian, as well as equestrian rights but only as equestrian rights as [tol Strip 1, and usage for the Strip 1 for equestrian purposes is limi...

Excerpt: ...ovides in pertinent part: (b) The court, for good cause shown, may make any order that justice requires to protect any party or other person from unwarranted annoyance, embarrassment, or oppression, or undue burden and expense. This protective order may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the following directions: ... (4) That the inspection, copying, testing, or sampling be made only on specified terms and conditions. (5) That a trade...

Excerpt: ...pute, however, this court must assume the truth not only of all facts properly pled, but also of those facts that may be implied or inferred from those expressly alleged in the complaint. [Citations.)" (City of Atascadero v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 445, 459.) Code of Civil Procedure section 452, states, "In the construction of a pleading, for the purpose of determining its effect, its allegations must be ...

Excerpt: ...for judicial notice pursuant to Evidence Code S 452(h). Defendants Rena Akhlaghi and Farideh Akhlaghi's Motion to Strike is DENIED as MOOT in light of the Court's ruling on the Demurrer. Demurrer Sham Pleading Defendant argues that Plaintiff should not be allowed to amend his pleadings because the facts alleged regarding the amount due is incorrect and any subsequent complaint will be a sham. under the sham pleading doctrine, the trial court may ...

Excerpt: ...rtments, LLC's ("Plaintiff") First amended Complaint. First Cause of Action for Breach of Written Indemnity Agreement Defendant argues that the FAC'S first cause of action is insufficiently pled for the following reasons: (1) Plaintiff cannot plead consideration at the time the 8-28-02 letter was issued because Plaintiff did not have a viable claim for breach of contract at that time, as Plaintiff's predecessor believed that the Property had been...

Excerpt: ...ts, the Court is inclined to consider Plaintiffs' untimely opposition. Application of Litigation Privilege: Defendants challenge all seven causes of action alleged in the FAC on the grounds that Defendants are immune from liability pursuant to the litigation privilege. Specifically, Defendants contend that the litigation privilege bars Plaintiffs claims because the claims arise out of the Associations' recording of an assessment lien against Plai...

Excerpt: ...able to fraud claims because they signed the purchase agreement in 2008 and were provided with copies of everything they signed including the settlement statement which states the final purchase price was $753,584. Defendant further contends that Plaintiffs' contention that the limitations period began to accrue on December 12, 2019 when they received an email from Defendant's representative lacks merit as they cannot rely on Defendant's most rec...

Excerpt: ...905, “there is no recovery in tort for negligently inflicted ‘purely economic losses,' meaning financial harm unaccompanied by physical or property damage.” (Id. at 922.) Additionally, “the rule functions to bar claims in negligence for pure economic losses in deference to a contract between litigating parties.” (Ibid.) “[T]here is no liability in tort for economic loss caused by negligence in the performance or negotiation of a contr...

Excerpt: ...ual to the aggregate amount of costs and expenses, including attorney's fees based on actual time expended, determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the buyer in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action.” Plaintiffs accepted Defendant's third Section 998 Offer to Compromise in the amount of $41,499.03 on March 28, 2023. The Section 998 Offer states: “KA will pay Plaintiffs' attorney's fees, expenses a...

Excerpt: ...mary judgment shall be granted where there is no triable issue of any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (c).) “A defendant moving for summary judgment meets his burden of showing that there is no merit to a cause of action if that party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action cannot be established or that there is a complete defense to that cause of...

Excerpt: ...sponses to Interrogatories, filed 2-17- 23 under ROA No. 279 is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Defendant moves for an order compelling Plaintiff Michael Pierce (Plaintiff) to provide further responses to Defendants' Form Interrogatories, Set One, numbers 2.7(d), 2.12, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.7, 7.2, 8.8, 9.1, 9.2, 11.2, 12.1, 14.1, 17.1, 50.1, 50.5 and Special Interrogatories, Set One, numbers 9, 12, 17, 19, 22-26, 33 and for an order imposing mone...

Excerpt: ...sal, order or other proceeding taken against a party. A court may grant discretionary relief upon the moving party's showing of “mistake, inadvertence, surprise or excusable neglect.” (Code Civ. Proc § 473, sub. (b); Leader v. Health Industries of Am., Inc. (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 603, 615-616.) While a request for relief under § 473(b) is entrusted largely to the trial court's discretion, the law strongly favors an exercise of that discretio...

Excerpt: ...scovered. [¶] (2) An exercise of the party's option to produce writings. [¶] (3) An objection to the particular interrogatory.” Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.260, subdivision (a), provides, in relevant part, “Within 30 days after service of interrogatories, the party to whom the interrogatories are propounded shall serve the original of the response to them on the propounding party . . . .” Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.270,...

Excerpt: ...t and DENIED without prejudice in part. The alternative Motion granting all Votow's pending Motions to Compel Further Responses to Discovery, together with all monetary sanctions requested therein is DENIED. Request for Terminating Sanctions: “[T]erminating sanctions are to be used sparingly, only when the trial court concludes that lesser sanctions would not bring about the compliance of the offending party.” (R.S. Creative, Inc. v. Creative...

Excerpt: ...24 (Ochoa). Ochoa declined to follow Felisilda v. FCA US, LLC (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 486, on which the Court's 3-32-23 Order was based. A motion for reconsideration made by a party must be based on new or different facts, circumstances, or law than those before the court at the time of the original ruling. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1008(a).) The motion must also be accompanied by an affidavit from the moving party that states: (1) what application was p...

Excerpt: ...ations are located; and (3) state what allegations are proposed to be added to the previous pleading, if any, and where, by page, paragraph, and line number, the additional allegations are located. (Cal. Rules Ct., rule 3.1324(a).) A separate declaration must accompany the motion and must specify: (1) the effect of the amendment; (2) why the amendment is necessary and proper; (3) when the facts giving rise to the amended allegations were discover...

Excerpt: ...irst appearance in this action and was filed prior to an answer. Additionally, Counsel for Plaintiff concedes he granted an extension to answer, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.110(d). (¶2-¶3 of Nicholson Declaration.) While Plaintiff's Counsel asserts the extension permitted only an answer, Code of Civil Procedure section 396b, subdivision (a) permits a motion to change venue “within the time otherwise allowed to respond to the...

Excerpt: ...ent. Demurrer for Uncertainty “A demurrer for uncertainty is strictly construed, even where a complaint is in some respects uncertain, because ambiguities can be clarified under modern discovery procedures.” (Khoury v. Mali's of California, Inc.  (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 612, 616.) “[D]emurrers for uncertainty are disfavored, and are granted only if the pleading is so incomprehensible that a defendant cannot reasonably respond.” (Lickiss v...

Excerpt: ...ant owed the plaintiff a legal duty, (2) the defendant breached the duty, and (3) the breach proximately or legally caused (4) the plaintiff's damages or injuries. (Thomas v. Stenberg (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 654, 662.) Here, Escrow Company contends Broker hasn't adequately alleged the element of duty regarding the transaction involving sale of real property in Irvine. The Cross-Complaint alleges Broker assisted Xiaoying Zhu in selling the subject ...

Excerpt: ...if., Inc. (1993) 14 Cal.App.4th 612, 616.) Here, the Complaint names Katherine Stride and her minor son, J.S., as Plaintiffs. The Complaint does not specify which individual plaintiff (Stride or her son) is bringing each cause of action, nor does it identify which causes of action apply to each Defendant (RSC, Moore, or Butts). The Complaint therefore fails to inform each Defendant of the allegations that are being raised against them, and of the...

Excerpt: ...r is clearly frivolous, the court shall award court costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the public agency.” “The PRA does not define the term ‘clearly frivolous' for purposes of an award of fees and costs under that statute.” (Bertoli v. City of Sebastopol (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 353, 368 (supra).) However, California courts have adopted the test articulated in In re Marriage of Flaherty (1982) 31 Cal.3d 637 (Flaherty), 183 to determin...

Excerpt: ...) Except as otherwise provided in Section 396a [not applicable here], if an action or proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction of the subject matter thereof, other than the court designated as the proper court for the trial thereof, under this title, the action may, notwithstanding, be tried in the court where commenced, unless the defendant, at the time he or she answers, demurs, or moves to strike, or, at his or her option, withou...

Excerpt: ...of handling the litigation would be promoted thereby, on motion 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 for special defenses which may b...

Excerpt: ...uary 2, 2023; on May 11, 2023, Plaintiff served Defendant with a notice of deposition for May 25, 2023; and on May 16, 2023, Plaintiff served Defendant with a notice of deposition for June 29, 2023, which was a date previously offered by Defendant's counsel. (Medvei Decl., ¶ 4-6, Exs. 1, 4, 6.) Each time Defendant objected to the deposition notice on the grounds that the deposition date was unilaterally chosen by Plaintiff and that Defense Couns...

Excerpt: ...unding party may move for an order compelling a further response if the propounding party deems that any of the following apply: (1) An answer to a particular interrogatory is evasive or incomplete. (2) An exercise of the option to produce documents under Section 2030.230 is unwarranted or the required specification of those documents is inadequate. (3) An objection to an interrogatory is without merit or too general.” SPROGs 8-13 seek informat...

Excerpt: ...re pending before the court, it may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the action; it may order all the actions consolidated and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay.” Rule 3.350(a) of the California Rules of Court sets forth the requirements for a motion to consolidate. (1) A notice of motion to consolidate must: (A) List all named parties in ea...

Excerpt: ...sting admissions may move for an order compelling a further response if that party deems that either or both of the following apply: ¶ (1) An answer to a particular request is evasive or incomplete. ¶ (2) An objection to a particular request is without merit or too general.” Timeliness A motion to compel further responses to requests for admissions must be filed “within 45 days of the service of the verified response, or any supplemental ve...

Excerpt: ...on agreement unless one of three limited exceptions applies. Those statutory exceptions arise where (1) a party waives the right to arbitration; (2) grounds exist for revoking the arbitration agreement; and (3) pending litigation with a third party creates the possibility of conflicting rulings on common factual or legal issues.” (Code of Civ. Proc., § 1281.2; Acquire II, Ltd. v. Colton Real Estate Group (2013) 213 Cal.App.4th 959, 967.) Simil...

Excerpt: ...ure section 437c, subdivision (p)(2) provides, “A defendant . . . has met his or her burden of showing that a cause of action has no merit if that party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action, even if not separately pleaded, cannot be established, or that there is a complete defense to that cause of action. Once the defendant . . . has met that burden, the burden shifts to the plaintiff . . . to show that a triable issue of ...

Excerpt: ...udgment on the Pleadings Eckler v. Neutragena Corporation (2015) 238 Cal.App.4th 433, 439, states, “ ‘ “A motion for judgment on the pleadings serves the function of a demurrer, challenging only defects on the face of the complaint.' [Citation.] As with a demurrer, ‘[t]he grounds for a motion for judgment on the pleadings must appear on the face of the complaint or from a matter of which the court may take judicial notice.' [Citation.]”...

Excerpt: ...the face of the complaint.' [Citation.] As with a demurrer, ‘[t]he grounds for a motion for judgment on the pleadings must appear on the face of the complaint or from a matter of which the court may take judicial notice.' [Citation.]” “A trial court's determination of a motion for judgment on the pleadings accepts as true the factual allegations that the plaintiff makes. [Citations.] In addition, it gives them a liberal construction.” (Ge...

Excerpt: ...its third cause of action for breach of guaranty in connection with the Equipment Finance Agreement No. 289865-000 against defendant William Gwathmey, Jr., including damages. 2. Plaintiff Balboa Capital Corporation established all of the elements of its fourth cause of action for indebtedness against defendant William Gwathmey, Jr., due to his breach of the guaranty in connection with the Equipment Finance Agreement No. 289865-000. A plaintiff mo...

Excerpt: ...nd by way of punishing the defendant.” (Civ. Code §3294, subd. (a).) Civil Code section 3294, subdivision (c)(1) defines “malice” as “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 safety of others.” (Civ. Code, §3294, subd. (c)(1).) Similarly, “oppression” is defined as “despicable cond...

Excerpt: ...r summary judgment meets his burden of showing that there is no merit to a cause of action if that party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action cannot be established or that there is a complete defense to that cause of action. [Citation.] If the defendant does so, the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to show that a triable issue of fact exists as to that cause of action or defense… A triable issue of material fact exists ...

Excerpt: ...ses, the ends of justice, or the economy and efficiency of handling the litigation would be promoted thereby, on motion 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 ther...