Excerpt: ... had previously conducted an independent medical examination of Plainti
¯ in July 2021. Having failed to resolve this dispute informally, Defendant Sun now moves the Court for an Order requiring Plainti
¯ to make himself available for another independent medical examination. Defendant Sun argues that Cal. Code Civ. Proc.. §2032.220, subd. (a) provides “any party” with the right to take a single physical examination on demand without leave ...

Excerpt: ...ses.'” (Ibid.) “The overall policy of preventing future harm is ordinarily served, in tort law, by imposing the costs of negligent conduct upon those responsible. [Citation.] In general, internalizing the cost of injuries caused by a particular behavior will induce changes in that behavior to make it safer. That consideration may be ‘outweighed, for a category of negligent conduct, by laws or mores indicating approval of the conduct or by t...

Excerpt: ...(1) the claim upon which the attachment is based is one upon which an attachment may be issued; (2) the plainti
¯ 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 the recovery on the claim upon which the attachment is based; and (4) the amount to be secured by the attachment is greater than zero. (Code Civ. Proc., § 484.090(a)(1)-(4).) If an action i...

Excerpt: ...uires an employee to prove ‘severe or pervasive' harassment.” (Beltran v. Hard Rock Hotel Licensing, Inc. (2023) 97 Cal.App.5th 865, 878.) While “‘[a] single incident of harassing conduct'” may be sufficient, the conduct still must have “‘unreasonably interfered with the plaintiff's work perfo rmance or created an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.'” (Ibid.) Here, the complaint alleges a single meeting at wh...

Excerpt: ...njamin's indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief causes of action. VCG also contends that these defects cannot be cured as none of VCG's vehicles were involved in the alleged incident although VCG had trucks parked on the street where there was an accident. VCG additionally contends that it satisÞed the meet and confer requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41. Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41, subdivision (a) requires...

Excerpt: ... through twenty-Þrst, and the twenty-third through twenty-Þfth defenses fail to refer to the cause of action they are intended to answer and thus fail to comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 431.30(g); that all 25 defenses fail to name or identify what defense is being pled and so fail to comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 430.20(b), and are uncertain; that all 25 defenses fail to state any facts that constitute a defense and on...

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: ...ing members/board o directors o POKI CAT INNOVATIONS, LLC ("POKI CAT" or "deendant LLC"), a Caliornia limited liability company ("LLC"), and its member managers/presumptive Board o Directors to pursue the below-described claims against POKI CAT, Does 1 to 25, inclusive, deendants, and each o them, and the various co-deendants or diversion, conversion, deception, embezzlement, tax raud, securities raud, breach o contract, sel-dealing,...

Excerpt: ...with the pleading rules governing statutory claims.” (Carter v. Prime Healthcare Paradise Valley LLC (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 496, 407 (citing Covenant Care, Inc. v. Superior Court (2004) 32 Cal.4th 771, 790).) Here, while lengthy, the Complaint is hazy on the details when it comes to alleging how Moving Defendants' conduct constituted “neglect” within the meaning of the Act and how that neglect was a causal factor in the injuries alleged. Sp...

Excerpt: ...ion of Labor Code sections 201, 202. The Þrst cause of action does not “clearly and a
¯irmatively” appear time-barred on its face. (See Lee v. Hanley (2015) 61 Cal.4th 1225, 1232 (Lee) [a demurrer based on the statute of limitations is only permissible where the running of the statute appears “clearly and a
¯irmatively” from the dates alleged, it is not su
¯icient that the complaint might be barred].) The statute of limitations for an...

Excerpt: ...19-32, within 30 days of service of the notice of ruling. However, if the parties have not agreed upon a Protective Order, and given both parties' representations they are prepared to execute same, the Court ORDERS Plainti
¯s and Defendant to meet and confer – in person – regarding the execution of the Protective Order. Request for Production nos. 37-41 Defendant and its counsel are ORDERED to serve full, complete, and veriÞed responses to ...

Excerpt: ...d out at $525 per hour; and the paralegal is billed out at $250 per hour. Those (alleged) billing rates are substantially above the attorney fee rates in the local Orange County legal community for the same or similar work. Even the most experienced Lemon Law attorneys in this community are not awarded fees based on such billing amounts, except in complex cases that require experience. The standard attorney fee rate for non-complex cases runs at ...

Excerpt: ...nd “First Cause of Action – Common Count,” her “Second Cause of Action – Fraud,” and her Fourth Cause of Action;” and that all three of Plainti
¯s causes of action against the Wallace Þrm arise from protected activity related to prelitigation and litigation of two unlawful detainer actions where the Wallace Þrm represented Plainti
¯s landlord, including giving 60-day notice, statements made during the proceedings themselves, a...

Excerpt: ...emises Liability Cause of Action. It contends that Plainti
¯ targets the Wallace Firm because it represented Casa Nicolina LP, Plainti
¯s former landlord, in litigation and prelitigation related to a successful unlawful detainer action against Plainti
¯; that all of Plainti
¯s allegations against Page 16 of 63 the Wallace Firm arise from its communications related to the termination of Plainti
¯s tenancy in preparation for the unlawful de...

Excerpt: ...n that there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Aguilar v. Atlantic RichÞeld Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 849- 850). A plainti
¯ has met his or her burden of showing there is no defense to a cause of action if that party has proved each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on that cause of action. (CCP §437c(p)(1)). Once the plainti
¯ has met that burden, the b...

Excerpt: ...tion or proceeding.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c(a)(1).) “The motion for summary judgment shall be granted if all the papers submitted show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. In determining if the papers show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact, the court shall consider all of the evidence set forth in the papers, except the evidence t...

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: ...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: ...Pinel Realtors, Inc. (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 972, 977-978.) “An arbitration agreement must be in writing to be valid and enforceable. [Citation.]” (Id. at p. 978.) Page 52 of 63 “Under ‘both federal and state law, the threshold question presented by a petition to compel arbitration is whether there is an agreement to arbitrate.' [Citation].” (Cruise v. Kroger Co. (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 390, 396, emphasis in original.) The court is to dete...

Excerpt: ...ROG, No. 17.1 regarding RFA, Nos. 15 and 16 are neither complete nor straightforward as required by Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.220; that Defendant has only provided objections based on privilege and no substantive response; that the objections based on attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine do not provide an adequate description of documents claimed to be privileged such that Plainti
¯ can evaluate the merits ...

Excerpt: ...ng charging order – it is needed only to create a prehearing lien. (Code Civ. Proc., § 708.320.) It is not clear whether the court prematurely awarded attorney fees on the cross -complaint while the complaint was still pending. “A cross -complaint is generally considered to be a separate action from that initiated by the complaint.” (Westamerica Bank v. MBG Industries, Inc. (2007) 158 Cal.App.4th 109, 134 [allowing postjudgment costs on cr...

Excerpt: ...osed to be added to the previous pleading, if any. (Cal. Rules of Ct., Rule 3.1324(a).) The motion must also be supported by a declaration that speciÞes: (1) the e
¯ect of the amendment; (2) why the amendment is necessary and proper; (3) when the facts giving rise to the amended allegations were discovered; and (4) the reasons why the request for amendment was not made earlier. (Cal. Rules of Ct., Rule 3.1324(b).) The court Þnds the motion and...

Excerpt: ... any one or more of the following grounds: … (e) The pleading does not state facts su
¯icient to constitute a 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); see Code Civ. Proc., § 430.50, subd. (a) [demurrer may be taken to whole pleading or to any of the causes of action stated therein].) “A person against wh...

Excerpt: ...onabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co. (2004) 116 Cal. App. 4th 968, 994. Limited to the “four corners” as such, a pleading is adequate if it contains a reasonably precise statement of the ultimate facts, in ordinary and concise language, and with su
¯icient detail to acquaint a defendant with the nature, source and extent of the claim. Leek v. Cooper (2011) 194 Cal. App. 4th 399, 413. On demurrer, a complaint must be liberally construed. Code Civ. P...

Excerpt: ...cy of the a
¯ected pleading, not the truth of the factual allegations in the pleading or the pleader's ability to prove those allegations. (Cundi
¯ v. GTE Cal., Inc. (2002) 101 Cal.App.4th 1395, 1404-05.) Questions of fact cannot be decided on demurrer. (Berryman v. Merit Prop. Mgmt., Inc. (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 1544, 1556.) Because a demurrer tests only the su
¯iciency of the complaint, a court will not consider facts that have not been alleg...

Excerpt: ... the statute o laches. (ROA 100.) The Court Þnds neither the statute o limitations issue, nor the issue o laches, is suitable or resolution at this early stage o the proceedings. With respect to the statute o limitations, Podobas has not shown the IIED (Domestic Violence) claim is time barred. (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.15, subd. (a).) And, Plainti
¯ has su
¯iciently alleged “abuse” within the meaning o CCP section 340.15, which it ad...

Excerpt: ...021, order of dismissal, 3) the Court of Appeal's Opinion, and 4) the April 25, 2023, judgment dismissing the arbitration. The Court grants the request for judicial notice. (Evid. Code § 452(d).) Evidentiary Objections Defendant Þled objections to the declaration of Patrick Ergina. The Court declines to rule on these objections because they are not material to the disposition of the motion. ( C o d e C i v. Pro c. § 4 3 7 c( q ) .) G en eral P...

Excerpt: ...ainti
¯ pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16, subdivision (c)(1). As an initial matter, the Court notes the action was stayed on 6/14/2022, pending Defendants' appeal. Remittitur was issued on 10/10/2023. Plainti
¯'s motion to tax and Defendants' motion for fees were Þled shortly after Remittitur was issued. This case was reassigned to this Department after Defendants Þled a peremptory challenge. No order lifting the stay was is...

Excerpt: ...uperior Court (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 1213. On 06/06/2023, the court entered default judgment in favor of Judgment Creditors/Plainti
¯s Mark Adams and Julie ThorntonAdams (the “Judgment Creditors” or “Creditors”) and against the Defendants/Judgment Debtors Rajesh Gupta and Sarita Gupta, as Trustee of the 1996 Rajesh Kranti Gupta Family Irrevocable Trust dated August 15, 1996 (the “Judgment Debtors” or “Debtors”). On 08/23/2023, Jud...

Excerpt: ...ecuring the Note).) Evidentiary Objections Plainti
¯ improperly presents evidentiary objections in the opposition to the Separate Statement. Written objections must be served and Þled separately from papers supporting or opposing the motion. [CRC 3.1354(b); Hodjat v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (2012) 211 CA4th 1, 8-9, 149 CR3d 93, 9899—court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to consider objections not Þled separately as required b...

Excerpt: ...egoing exhibits, and Defendant's unredacted October 24, 2023, Opposition, are sealed. [ROA # 910, 916-921, 941] Statement of Law “Unless conÞdentiality 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.) “A record must not be Þled under seal without a court order. The court must not permit a record to be Þled under seal based solely on...

Excerpt: ...lin v. Kearny Mesa AMC/Jeep/Renault, Inc. (1984) 155 CA3d 381, 385-386; W. A. Rose Co. v. Municipal Court for Oakland-Piedmont Judicial Dist., Alameda County (1959) 176 Cal.App.2d 67, 72.) To the extent Defendant is requesting the Court to grant him relief from default, the Court Þnds Defendant fails to demonstrate that grounds exist to vacate said default. Code Civ. Proc. § 473(b) permits a court to grant relief from a judgment, dismissal, ord...

Excerpt: ...ourth causes of action against Defendant GREGORY SANCHEZ for breach of guaranty on the grounds that Defendants have failed to satisfy their obligations under the applicable loan agreements and guaranties. Procedurally, the motion is defective. First of all, while the caption and the notice of motion seek adjudication, it appears Plainti
¯ seeks adjudication of all four causes of action, which if granted, would be summary judgment. Second, the is...

Excerpt: ...VERRULED. The Brakke Defendants demur to the Third Cause of Action for Professional Negligence. “Ordinarily, an insurance agent assumes only those duties normally found in any agency relationship. This includes the obligation to use reasonable care, diligence, and judgment in procuring the insurance requested by an insured. [Citation.]” (Jones v. Grewe (1987) 189 Cal.App.3d 950, 954; (PaciÞc Rim Mechanical Contractors, Inc. v. Aon Risk Ins. ...

Excerpt: ...t party has proved each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on the case of action. Once the plainti
¯ has met that burden, the burden shifts to the defendant to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists as to the cause of action or defense thereto. (Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(p)(1).) A motion for summary adjudication shall proceed in all procedural respects as a motion for summary judgment. (Code Civ....

Excerpt: ... (FAC ¶ 1.) Kramer admits he did not pay the challenged assessment but contends he has standing as a homeowner and business owner whose primary residence is located less than one block from the Downtown District and he may be subject to pay the assessment in the future. (FAC ¶¶ 4-5, 9.) “ ‘As a general principle, standing to invoke the judicial process requires an actual justiciable controversy as to which the complainant has a real intere...

Excerpt: ...he elements of its cause of action for breach of contract. 2. Defendant has no defense to plainti
¯'s cause of action for breach of contract. Defendant has opposed the motion, although it has not submitted any evidence in support of its oppositio n. It conced es that it has breach ed the promissor y note on which the action is based. It contends that while most of the facts are not in dispute, the motion cannot be granted because moving plainti
...

Excerpt: ...nish security in the amount of $100,000.00 within ten days in order to pursue her claims against Jocelyn Plummer in the crosscomplaint. The amount of security is based on the likely time and expense which would be expended by Jocelyn Plummer if she remains a party to the litigation. As discussed below, the litigation has been exceptionally contentious and has involved an extraordinary number of Þlings by both sides as well as an appeal. The Cour...

Excerpt: ...210, 220-221; Fairmont Ins. Co. v. Sup.Ct. (Stendell) (2000) 22 Cal.4th 245, 255.) Plainti
¯ has failed to justify the objections. Instead, Plainti
¯ argues that Defendant's failure to timely respond to Plainti
¯'s discovery has delayed Plainti
¯'s a b i l i t y to provide responses. Defendant served responses to Plainti
¯'s discovery requests on July 17, 2023 (Reply, p. 2, lns. 7-8), therefore, Plainti
¯ has had over 5 months to respond to...

Excerpt: ...w that the cause o action arises rom an act in urtherance o the moving party's right o petition or ree speech. Then, i the court determines that showing has been made, the court determines whether the opposing party has demonstrated a probability o prevailing on the claim. (Navellier v. Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 88.) “At the Þrst step, the moving deendant bears the burden o identiying all allegations o protected activity, and t...

Excerpt: ...ame time the answer to the complaint is Þled. (Code Civ. Proc., § 428.50, subd. (a).) A party who fails to plead a compulsory cross-complaint, whether through oversight, inadvertence, mistake, neglect or other cause, may seek leave to Þle a cross- complaint at any time during the course of the action. (Code Civ. Proc. Code, § 426.50.) A court, after notice to the adverse party, shall grant, upon such terms as may be just to the parties, leave...

Excerpt: ... granted if “it completely disposes of a cause of action, an a
¯irmative defense, a claim for damages, or an issue of duty.” Code of Civil Procedure § 437c(f)(1).) As used in this section, a “cause of action” means the invasion of a primary right, i.e., an injury, rather than a theory of liability. Lilienthal & Fowler v. Superior Court (1993) 12 Cal.App.4th 1848, 1854. Defendant/Cross-Complainant Emerson Maintenance Corporation (the “...

Excerpt: ...s in a complaint.” (Rakestraw v. Cal. Physicians Service (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 39, 42.) Plainti
¯s well-pleaded facts are assumed to be true by the Court, but the Court does not assume the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fact or law. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) Third Cause of Action: Breach of Implied Warranty Defendants argue that the third cause of action for breach of implied warranty must fail because...

Excerpt: ...f contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fact or law. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) Fifth Cause of Action: Intentional Inßiction of Emotional Distress (“IIED”) To state a claim for IIED, a plainti
¯ must allege "(1) extreme and outrageous conduct by the defendant with the intention of causing, or reckless disregard of the probability of causing, emotional distress; (2) the plainti
¯'s su
¯ering severe or extreme emotion...

Excerpt: ...robable, the allegations made must be accepted as true for the purpose of ruling on the demurrer. (Del E. Webb Corporation v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) Absent court orders or other items subject to judicial notice, or items attached as exhibits to the complaint, the court may not consider the contents of pleadings or other exhibits when ruling on a demurrer. (Day v. Sharp (1975) 50 Cal.3d 904, 914; Sosinsky v. Gran...

Excerpt: ...t within 10 days of the expiration of the period of time to amend. (See Cal. Rules of Ct. rule 3.1320(j).) Defendant General Motors LLC demurs to the 9th and 10th Causes of Action of the Complaint filed by Plaintiff Maria Alvarez. Defendant General Motors LLC also moves to strike the prayer for punitive damages contained in the Complaint. (See Compl. at p. 14:5 [Prayer, ¶ 11].) Request for Dismissal On January 4, 2024, Plaintiff filed a Reques...

Excerpt: ...thal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act does not apply to the commercial transaction underlying this action. Balboa also moves for an order striking Riojas' request for punitive damages. Balboa seeks judicial notice of the Equipment Finance Agreement and Personal Guaranty attached to the Complaint as Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively. Balboa's request is predicated on the fact that these documents are attached to the Complaint and constitute Court r...

Excerpt: ... contract. Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1032, attorney's fees are recoverable as costs when authorized by contract, statute or law. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1033.5(a)(10)(A)-(C).) As set forth in the Statement of Decision (“SD”), the Court found against the Defendants on two claims: Sexual Assault (First Cause of Action) and Sexual Battery pursuant to Civil Code section 1708.5 (Second Cause of Action). In plainti
¯s' closing brief, Tina ...

Excerpt: ...inti
¯ sets forth the allegations to be amended. Plainti
¯ also submits the declaration of counsel which explains the e
¯ect of the amendment and why the amendment is necessary and proper, including reference to the red-line version attached. The declaration also states when the facts were discovered. Counsel states “It was only after defendants Þled their answer to the original complaint after remand that I realized the First Amended Compl...

Excerpt: ...as to its legal and factual merit; and is subject to sanctions for violation of this certiÞcation. Code Civ. Proc. § 128.7; see also Murphy v. Yale Materials Handling Corp., 54 Cal. App. 4th 619, 623 (1997). The purpose of the statute is “to check abuses in the Þling of pleadings, petitions, written notices of motions or similar papers.” Musaelian v. Adams, 45 Cal. 4th 512, 514 (2009). The person presenting the paper to the Court impliedly...

Excerpt: ...strike Plainti
¯ Jennier Loe
¯ler's Þrst cause o action or breach o CC&Rs and third cause o action or violations o Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in the First Amended Complaint (FAC). 12 Legal Standard Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 53, 67, holds: “[W]e may summarize a court's task in ruling on an anti-SLAPP motion to strike as ollows. Section 425.16, subdivision (b)(1) requires the court ...

Excerpt: ...s in the amount of $716.25 (1.75 hours x $375 per hour in reasonable attorney's fees and $60 in motion filing fees) within 30 days of service of the notice of ruling. Plaintiff and Judgment Creditor M.V. Partners moves to compel Defendant and Judgment Debtor Joann Pham to serve responses to the postjudgment Written In terrogatories (Set One). Standard to Compel Responses to Interrogatories A judgment creditor who has obtained a judgment “may p...

Excerpt: ...50(d). However, again, Plainti
¯ did not make an issue of this in the reply brief, and the court may consider the merits of a case absent a proper separate statement when the case involves a single simple issue” with minimal evidentiary support, such as here. (Gilbertson v. Osman (1986) 185 Cal. App. 3d 308, 316.) The court will proceed on the merits, but cautions defense counsel to comply with code requirements in the future. “(p) For purpo...

Excerpt: ...�'s Demand or Inspection and Destructive Testing. The Motion is GRANTED. However, the order is limited to those tests speciÞcally set orth in the Notice, which speciÞcally include: 1. Removing the bottom course o roo tile 3' in each direction rom the rain gutter spike and errule. 2. Removing the eave strip ßashing. 3. Removing the entire rain gutter. 4. Removing an area o stucco, likely 3' wide, rom eave to top o window. 5. Installing...

Excerpt: ...a notice of motion to quash service of summons on the ground of lack of jurisdiction of the court over him or her.” Once a defendant challenges the Court's jurisdiction, it is up to the plainti
¯s to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that personal jurisdiction exists. (Vons Companies, Inc. v. Seabest Foods, Inc. (1996) 14 Cal.4th 434, 449. This must be shown by a
¯idavits, declarations, or other competent evidence. (In re Automobile ...

Excerpt: ...m (“Anna”) joins in the Opposition. This action involves two consolidated cases. The action arises out of a dispute over the family business, May Enterprises, LLC. The lead case, Kim v. Kim (Case No. 2021- 01183125), was initiated by Mira against her sisters (Defendants Gina Kim and Anna Kim), her parents (Defendants Kyong Su Kim aka Kyung Soo Kim and Myong Kil Kim) and May Enterprises, LLC. Mira alleges claims for, amongst other things, brea...

Excerpt: ...lying Case”) is granted. The HOA moves to strike Cross- Complainant Jennier Loe
¯ler's Þrst cause o action or breach o CC&Rs, third cause o action or violations o Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and ourth cause o action or violations o the Consumer Credit Reporting Agencies Act in her Cross-Complaint (CC). Legal Standard Equilon Enterprises v. Consumer Cause, Inc. (2002) 29 Cal.4th 53, 67, holds: 5 “[W]e may summari...

Excerpt: ...ems proper: (a) Strike out any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading.” (Civ. Proc. Code § 436(a).) Regarding punitive damages under Civ. Code § 3294: “(a) In an action for the breach of an obligation not arising from contract, where it is proven by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant has been guilty of oppression, fraud, or malice, the plainti
¯, in addition to the actual damages, may recover damages f...

Excerpt: ...rth below, the Court Þnds that the transfer and coordination will promote the ends of justice pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 404.1. The Court understands that counsel for Ganahl Lumber Company (“Ganahl”) expressed concern that the Merced Action cannot be transferred to this Court because it includes a cause of action for foreclosure of mechanics lien, and the property that is the subject of that claim is located in Merced County. Thi...

Excerpt: ...to transfer this matter to the Ventura County Superior Court. Standard for Transfer of Venue The Civil Procedure Code states that: [I]f 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 answer...

Excerpt: ...Provide Responses to Special Interrogatories (Set Two) is GRANTED. Plaintiff Cliq, Inc. f/k/a Cardflex, Inc.'s Motion to for An Order Compelling Responses, and A Production of Documents, from Defendant Sabin Burrell in Response to Requests for Production of Documents (Set Two) is GRANTED. Plaintiff Cliq, Inc. f/k/a Card flex, Inc.'s Motion to for An Order Compelling Responses, and A Production of Documents, from Defendant Capital Managers, LLC ...

Excerpt: ...FP, Set Two, Þled by Gorla and directed to Plainti
¯/Cross-Defendant, Hospitality Marketing Concepts, LLC (“HMC”). The RFP propounded to HMC that were the subject of the January 8th order are identical to the RFP propounded on the Ramadan brothers. The court notes the arguments raised in the four motions to compel are nearly identical. Because the document requests to the Ramadan brothers and to HMC are identical and because the Ramadan bro...

Excerpt: ...OVERRULED as to evidentiary objection numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10, and the first sentence objected to in evidentiary objection number 11, and SUSTAINED as to evidentiary objection numbers 7 and 9, and the second sentence objected to in evidentiary objection number 11. Defendant Deloitte Services LP's evi dentiary objections to the Declaration of Plaintiff Judy Fisher are OVERRULED as to evidentiary objection numbers 1 -9. Defendant Deloi...

Excerpt: ...Group 2023) ¶ 7:162.1.) The court exercises its discretion to consider the merits of the demurrer and motion to strike. Plainti
¯s opposition exceeded the 15-page limit, without seeking leave to Þle a longer memorandum. The opposition also did not include a table of contents or table of authorities. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113(d) & (f).) The court considered the opposition, given that Defendant improperly combined the demurrer and motio...

Excerpt: ...should submit an amendment to the settlement agreement rather than any amended settlement agreement. Counsel also should provide a red- lined version of any revised papers, including the class notice. Counsel also should provide the court with an explanation of how the pending issues were resolved, with references to any corrections to the settlement agreement and the class notice, rather than with just a supplemental declaration or brief that si...

Excerpt: ...presented evidence that discovery in this matter would result in the production of conÞdential and proprietary documentation. (Newman Decl., ¶ 4.) Further, the parties agreed a protective order is warranted, and they agreed to the language of the protective order. (Newman Decl., ¶¶ 89.) 2. Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings The court DENIES American Express's motion for judgment on the pleadings – as to (1) the Cross- Complaint Þled by C...

Excerpt: ...rovement that proximately caused injury to private property. Paterno v. State of California (2003) 113 Cal. App. 4th 998, 1029. Here, plainti
¯s' allegations of the City's substantial participation are insu
¯icient as a matter of law. Plainti
¯s allege in ¶71.1 of the Second Amended Complaint, “Defendant City of Cypress never reviewed the proposed land use instituted by Defendant Cypress School District in July 2021, and further did not app...

Excerpt: ...y tailored; and 5) No less restrictive means exist to achieve the overriding interest. Petitioner's request to seal the applicable records, as submitted in their already redacted form, is GRANTED. Pursuant to CRC 2.550(e), the court concludes that the proposed sealed portions are properly sought and agrees with petitioner that disclosure “would … disclose private, conÞdential and sensitive medical information ….” Petitioner's request for...

Excerpt: ...ings, without leave to amend. UPCOMING EVENTS: Case Management Conference, March 27, 2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is a PAGA-only action. On July 28, 2023, Plainti
¯ Gustavo Chavez Franco, solely as a representative of the Labor & Workforce Development Agency and the Aggrieved Employees (“Plainti
¯”), Þled a PAGA Representative Action Complaint against Defendant Padilla Construction Company (“Defendant”). (ROA 2.) The Complaint alleges Def...

Excerpt: ...' request for judicial notice of Exhibits A through E (ROA 65), is granted. (Evid. Code, § 452, subd. (c); see Ragland v. U.S. Bank National Assn. (2012) 209 Cal.App.4th 182, 194.) In taking judicial notice, the court does not take judicial notice of the truth of the matters stated therein. (Herrera v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1366, 1375.) Violations of California Foreclosure Statutes (Civ. Code §§ 2924 et seq., ...

Excerpt: ... in some respects uncertain, because ambiguities can be clariÞed under modern discovery procedures.” (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 su
¯icient facts entitling plainti
¯ to relief. (Saunders v. Cariss (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 905, 908.) A demurrer for uncertainty should be overruled if the facts are presumpt...

Excerpt: ...6) 177 Cal.App.3d 792, 802 [“the statute or ‘enactment' must at the very least be identiÞed” in the complaint].) Here, the 4th cause of action identiÞes Government Code section 815.6, which codiÞes the negligence per se doctrine against public entities who violate mandatory statutory duties. (FAC ¶ 142.) The speciÞc statues allegedly imposing mandatory duties on defendant are then identiÞed as Education Code section 32261, 32280-32282...

Excerpt: ...irst, the court disagrees with L.A. Care that County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (2023) 14 Cal.5th 1034 stands for the proposition that Plainti
¯s are limited to a quantum meruit claim. In County of Santa Clara, the California Supreme Court considered whether a lawsuit for reimbursement of emergency medical services may be maintained against a health care service plan operated by a public entity or whether the Government Claims Act immunize...

Excerpt: ... sustained. Defendant's remaining objections are overruled. New Evidence Submitted With Reply Plainti
¯s submitted new evidence in support of their reply. “The general rule of motion practice . . . is that new evidence is not permitted with reply papers. . .‘[T]he inclusion of additional evidentiary matter with the reply should only be allowed in the exceptional case . . .' and if permitted, the other party should be given the opportunity to...

Excerpt: ...fense]; CACI No. 4552 [same].) Virzi shows its work at the property was completed and accepted on 9/18/19. (See Def. SSUF # 13, 15, 17.) The alleged defect consists of a raised wheel stop/parking block in the blue-striped pedestrian access aisle next to a parking space for persons with disabilities. (See Def. SSUF #2; Def. Evid. (ROA #185), Ex. B [Pl. Depo. 39:9-40:9, 44:1-14]; see also Compl. ¶¶ 10-11; Pl. Evid. (ROA #213), Ex. A.) This is a p...

Excerpt: .... In the alternative, Travelers moves for summary adjudication of each cause of action in LaBarre's Third Amended Cross-Complaint (3AXC). For the reasons set forth below, the motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. EVIDENTIARY MATTERS A. LaBarre's Objections to the Declarations of Shadie Maghareh and Shryl Anderson All objections are overruled. B. Travelers' Objections to the Declaration of Neal Bordenave Objections 1-5, 8-13, and 15-17 are overr...

Excerpt: ..., Nos. 2 through 8, and to Requests for Production, Set Two, No. 3. UPCOMING EVENTS: Status Conference – 02/07/2024; Motion to Strike – 04/05/2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is a putative wage-and-hour class action and PAGA matter. On February 7, 2022, Plainti
¯ Alondra Rosas Valencia, as an individual and on behalf of other similarly situated employees (“Plainti
¯”) Þled a Complaint against Defendant NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc. (“Defen...

Excerpt: .... In the alternative, Travelers moves for summary adjudication of each cause of action in LaBarre's Third Amended Cross-Complaint (3AXC). For the reasons set forth below, the motion for summary judgment is GRANTED. EVIDENTIARY MATTERS A. LaBarre's Objections to the Declarations of Shadie Maghareh and Shryl Anderson All objections are overruled. B. Travelers' Objections to the Declaration of Neal Bordenave Objections 1-5, 8-13, and 15-17 are overr...

Excerpt: ..., the court will refer to contentions contained in the GHH Brief and the DHCD Brief as to both Petitions. Further, the court will refer to Respondents' (City of Anaheim and City Council of Anaheim) Oppositions to the GHH Brief and the DHCD Brief in addressing the issues. SpeciÞcally, Respondents Þled their Opposition to the GHH Brief (GHH Opposition) on 818-23 under ROA No. 280, and their Opposition to the DHCD Brief (DHCD Opposition) on 9-18-2...

Excerpt: ...payment of the disputed monetary discovery sanctions on 01/18/24. (Khojayan Dec. ¶ 2, Exh. 1.) All requests for sanctions are denied. Defendant is ordered to give notice. Motion No. 2: Defendant Yao Geng's Motion to Stay Action is DENIED. An application for a stay is addressed to the “sound discretion” of the trial court. “In exercising its discretion, the court should consider the importance of discouraging multiple litigation designed so...

Excerpt: ...., ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) After Plainti
¯ Þled his Motion, Defendant also served a veriÞcation for its initial response to the Form Interrogatories. (Williams Decl., ¶ 3, Ex. 2.) Plainti
¯'s request for sanctions is DENIED for failure to comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.040. Plainti
¯ to give notice. Plainti
¯'s Motion to Compel Defendant Martin Lopez's Responses to Form Interrogatories General Set One, and Request for Sanctions Pla...

Excerpt: ... also moves to stay this litigation pending the completion of arbitration. FACTS/OVERVIEW: On August 4, 2022, after Defendants produced a copy of an arbitration agreement purportedly signed by Plainti
¯ at the commencement of his employment, Plainti
¯ Þled a Request for Dismissal of Class Allegations Without Prejudice. (ROA 25.) The Order dismissing the class claims was entered on August 30, 2022. (ROA 28.) On July 6, 2023, Plainti
¯ and Defe...

Excerpt: ...s to one which the court Þnds acceptable), in which case defendant must provide supplemental responses within 90 days only for employees who do not respond within 60 days that they do not want their information shared. The supplemental responses will be subject to a protective order whereby the information provided may be used only for purposes of this litigation. Plainti
¯'s Special Interrogatories #1 and 2 seek the contact information of puta...

Excerpt: ... interrogatories, instead, stating in response to most of them, that “Plainti
¯ was not employed by Del Signore, nor is Del Signore synonymous with Truclear.” Each answer in the response must be “as complete and straightforward as the information reasonably available to the responding party permits. If an interrogatory cannot be answered completely, it shall be answered to the extent possible.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.220, subds. (a) &...

Excerpt: ...to submit all of her individual claims to binding arbitration, and dismissing the class claims without prejudice. UPCOMING EVENTS: Case Management Conference, February 21, 2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is a putative wage-and-hour class action. On July 14, 2023, Plainti
¯ Lingyan Xing, individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated current and former employees (“Plainti
¯”), Þled a Class Action Complaint against Defendant Winn, Inco...

Excerpt: ...acle Light Industrial, LLC (“Defendant”) alleging violations of Labor Code section 2802 for Defendants failure to reimburse necessary business expenses. (ROA 2.) On July 16, 2021, Plainti
¯ Þled the operative First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) adding a PAGA claim. (ROA 17.) The class consisted of those employees who sought mileage/travel reimbursement. An Unlawful Business Practices claim is alleged on the same basis. The PAGA claim is ba...

Excerpt: ...ation.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 36, subd. (a), emphasis added; Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2023) ¶ 12:246:1 [“Trial priority is not mandatory and absolute merely because one of the parties is age 70. The court has discretion to determine the extent of that party's interest and Þnd as a matter of fact the risk posed of that party's death or incapacity if trial is delayed.”].) Plainti
¯s s...

Excerpt: ... ownership interest she received in Plaza 205, and (#28) the 25% ownership interest she received in the Harbor Gateway Project. Goldman asserts the tax return privilege, but that privilege does not apply here. Goldman concedes that courts will Þnd a waiver of the tax return privilege where the gravamen of the lawsuit is so inconsistent with the continued assertion of the taxpayer's privilege as to compel the conclusion that the privilege has bee...

Excerpt: ...s. If a timely motion to compel has been Þled, the responding party has the burden to justify any objection or failure fully to answer the discovery requests. (Coy v. Sup.Ct. (Wolcher) (1962) 58 Cal.2d 210, 220-221.) Request for Admissions The Court Þnds Plainti
¯'s response to RFA 1 is not “as complete and straightforward as the information reasonably available to the responding party permits.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2033.220(a).) RFA 1 ask...

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: ... the propounding party deems that any of the following apply: [¶] (1) An answer to a particular interrogatory is evasive or incomplete . . . [¶] (3) An objection to an interrogatory is without merit or too general.” Defendant's motion seeks a further response to Form Interrogatories 9.1/9.2 and 17.1. Plainti
¯ objected to 9.1/9.2 on the grounds that manner in which defendant deÞned the term, “incident,” made the interrogatory vague and ...

Excerpt: ...hat it “will comply in part and produce the following documents in its possession, custody or control: [list of documents].” Plainti
¯ contends these responses are deÞcient because (1) no privilege log was provided for withheld documents and (2) the responses are not code compliant as they do not state that GM has conducted a diligent search for responsive documents. In opposition, GM contends that it has already produced responsive documen...

Excerpt: ...s each appears to exceed the appropriate scope of discovery based on what has been shown here to date. For Interrogatory Nos. 13-18, the Motion is GRANTED IN PART. For Nos. 13 -15, GM is to identify (and produce, on Motion 2 below) its warranty policy/procedure manuals and claim handling manuals for the period between Plainti
¯s date of purchase and the date of suit; the Motion is otherwise DENIED. Motion 2 is GRANTED IN PART. SpeciÞcally, the...

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: ...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: ... another manner speciÞed in this article and that either: (1) A cause of action exists against the party upon whom service is to be made or he or she is a necessary or proper party to the action[; or] (2) The party to be served has or claims an interest in real or personal property in this state that is subject to the jurisdiction of the court or the relief demanded in the action consists wholly or in part in excluding the party from any interes...

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: ...ection with a public issue shall be subject to a special motion to strike, unless the court determines that the plainti
¯ has established that there is a probability that the plainti
¯ will prevail on the claim.” This section is to be construed broadly. (Code Civ. Proc. § 425.16(a).) The court's determination of an anti-SLAPP motion is a two-step process. First, the court determines if the party moving to strike a cause of action has met its...

Excerpt: ...ion to compel arbitration. As an initial matter, the Court notes it is unclear whether service on respondent Dan Nguyen aka Dan Ngoc Nguyen aka Huu Dan The Nguyen (“Nguyen”) by mail and certiÞed mail with return receipt requested is proper. Petitioner previously represented to the Court that Nguyen no longer maintained a mailbox at the address where the current petition was mailed. (Diaz Decl. in Support of Application for Order for Service ...

Excerpt: ... a valid and enforceable arbitration agreement found in Section M(2); that the arbitration provision in the home warranty service plan subjects all of Plainti
¯s' claims to an arbitrator, including on issues related to the applicability or arbitrability of the contract, including any disputes over payments; and that the arbitration provision explicitly delegates all questions of arbitrability to the arbitrator such that questions of whether the ...