Excerpt: ...rike shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading being attacked to determine whether a resolution may be reached. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 430.41(a), 435.5(a). Here, counsel states he attempted to meet and confer with Plaintiff twice bef ore filing and Plaintiff did not respond. However, Plaintiff asserts in his own declaration that he attempted to call counsel twice to meet and confer and was informed that...

Excerpt: ...rtgage Co. v. Reece (2001) 89 Cal.App.4th 731, 745.) Defendants demur to the breach of contract cause of action on the ground it is not sufficiently pled because Plaintiffs cannot allege their performance under the contract and fail to allege any damages resulting f rom any purported breach by Defendants since Plaintiffs were damaged by their own conduct and inability to meet their obligations under the loan received from Defendants. Here, the 4A...

Excerpt: ...the grounds the Complaint fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Defendant and is “uncertain.” Defendant Endresen The Code provides that unless the grounds for a demurrer are distinctly specified, it may be disregarded. Code of Civil Procedure § 430.60. In the introduction to the points and authorities Defendants argue Endresen is not a proper party because there are no allegations he exceeded the scope of h...

Excerpt: ...parts in their context. If the complaint states a cause of action under any theory, regardless of the title under which the factual basis for relief is stated, that aspect of the complaint is good against a demurrer. [¶] The courts of this state have long since depar ted from holding a plaintiff strictly to the form of action that has been pleaded and 5 instead have adopted the more flexible approach of examining the facts alleged to determine ...

Excerpt: ...��[i]f a party to whom interrogatories are directed fails to serve a timely response.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290, subd. (b).) By failing to serve timely responses, BAT, Inc. waived “any right to exercise the option to produce writings under Section 2030.230, as wel l as any objection to the interrogatories, including one based on privilege or on the protection for work product.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290, subd. (a).) A propounding p...

Excerpt: ...tected c onduct of enforcing a judgment. (See Rusheen v. Cohen (2006) 37 Cal.4th 1048, 1052, 1055 -1056 [holding trial court correctly granted anti- SLAPP motion]; Weeden v. Hoffman (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 269, 286 -287 [obtaining and recording an abstract of judgment is protected conduct].) Plaintiffs fail to show defendant's conduct fell within the narrow anti -SLAPP exception for illegal conduct. (See Flatley v. Mauro (2006) 39 Cal.4th 299.) Def...

Excerpt: ...enging the validit y of the Doe amendment, usually the Doe defendant themselves. This can be shown by demonstrating that the plaintiff knew both the defendant's identity and the facts giving rise to liability when the complaint was filed but did not name them. Taito v. Owe ns Corning (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 698; Oakes v. McCarthy Co. (1968) 267 Cal.Ap.2d 231. Moving Party did not meet this burden. Arguably, plaintiff did know where the fall occurre...

Excerpt: ...ld have discovere d that psychological injury or illness occurring after the age of majority was caused by the sexual assault, whichever period expires later.” The first part of this provision therefore requires childhood sexual assault lawsuits to be filed by the plaintiff 's 40th birthday. However, the theneffective CCP §340.1(q) extended the statute by up to three years, with the limitations period expiring by no later than January 1, 202...

Excerpt: ...or leave to intervene in Urquidi v. City of Los Angeles, LASC No. 22STCP04044. Should Plaintiffs be denied leave to intervene in Urquidi, the Court will revisit the stay and the pending demurrer. A status conference will take place on August 23, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. The parties shall file a joint status conference statement by August 16, 2024. REQUESTS FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE As to LASC's initial request for judicial notice: the Court GRANTS notice of...

Excerpt: ...OS GUZMAN to leav e the Taft Elementary School campus in his vehicle. (FAC, ¶¶ 3, 26.) As a result, Guzman drove erratically and unlawfully in a school zone and struck Plaintiffs with his vehicle. (FAC, ¶¶ 8, 26) To prevail in a negligence action, a plaintiff must show the defendant owed a legal duty to him or her, the defendant breached that duty, and the breach proximately caused injury to the plaintiff. (Wiener v. Southcoast Childcare Cent...

Excerpt: ...dant argues that there is no separate cause of action for negligence per se and that the negligence per se portion should be sustained without leave to amend. “‘Ordinarily, a general demurrer does not lie as to a portion of a cause of action, and if any part of a cau se of action is properly pleaded, the demurrer will be overruled.' [Citation.]” (Elder v. Pacific Bell Telephone Co. (2012) 205 Cal.App.4th 841, 856, n.14.) Defendant generall...

Excerpt: ... her opposition. The court in Pillsbury v. Karmgard (1994) 22 Cal. App. 4th 743, 753, held that if any person other than a real party in interest brings an action, it is subject to general demurrer. In the case of a trust, the real party in interest is the trustee of the trust. Id. at 753 -54. Thus, to establish standing, plaintiff must amend her Complaint to state facts establishing her status as a trustee of the trust that owns the subject prop...

Excerpt: ...orceable to n onetheless recover attorney fees under that Defendants seek attorney fees pursuant to the terms of an Operating Agreement which provides: “If any party brings an action or proceeding to enforce the terms hereof or declare rights hereunder, the Prevailing P arty in any such proceeding, action, or appeal thereon, shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees.” (FAC, Ex. A, ¶ 9.) (Emphasis added.) The FAC alleges causes of actio...

Excerpt: ...he court previously granted a lengthy trial continuance of nearly seven months, continuing trial from 12/4/23 to 7/1/23. (See 7/14/23 Minute Order.) For that continuance, Plaintiff had requested a 12 - month continuance of trial, arguing that trial in a related civi l action was continued and Plaintiff needs a continuance “so that Plaintiff will be afforded a reasonable time period to conduct discovery in this action after the completion of dis...

Excerpt: ...ated to the iss ue of sanctions: 1. “Opposition to the request for any sanction”, filed on 1/10/24; 2. “Motion Petition to waive the Sanction on 10/20/2023 due to Medical Condition”, filed on 1/26/24; and 3. “Motion: Withdrawal of Motion – Petition to Waive Sanction du e to Medical Condition”, filed on 5/8/24 (which refers to a hearing date of 5/10/24). There is no motion/petition to waive sanctions properly calendared for hearin...

Excerpt: ...rty intending to move for a new trial shall file with the clerk and serve upon each adverse party a notice of his or her intention to move for a new trial, designating the grounds upon which the motion will be made and whether the same will be made upon affidavits or the minut es of the court. . . .” The Notice designates the following grounds as the basis for Plaintiff's Motion: (1) Irregularity in the proceedings of the court, jury or advers...

Excerpt: ...nsel also sh ould 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 c lass notice, rather than with just a supplemental declaration or brief that simply asserts the issues have been resolved. Plaintiff has not provided the court with the estimated hig...

Excerpt: ...settlement ag reement. Counsel also should provide a redlined 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 simply asserts the issues have been resolved. The settlement agreement submitted a...

Excerpt: ...on. Summary judg ment was previously granted in favor of the District. The Court of Appeal reversed as to the first cause of action for negligence and remanded to the trial court to determine whether some or all of the Rowland v. Christian (1968) 69 Cal.2d 108 (Rowland) f actors exist and whether they weigh in favor of limiting the District's duty to A.P. Negligence A.P. was a student at Villa Park High School and turned 19 years old her senior ...

Excerpt: ...ndant, Randy Ellison. Terminating sanctions are appropriate when the “violation is willful, preceded by a history of abuse, and the evidence shows that less severe sanctions would not produce compliance with the discovery rules.” (Mileikowsky v. Tenet Healthsystem (200 5) 128 Cal.App.4th 262, 279.) Randy Ellison is selfrepresented and has ceased communicating with Plaintiff. Randy Ellison has ignored this Court's order to meet and confer rega...

Excerpt: ... the event of a disagreement between Owners and in order to break a tie vote, the issue or issues, at the request of any party, shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) before an ar bitrator selected from the panels of the arbitrators of the AAA. In the event of referral to arbitration, the Owner requesting arbitration shall remit the fee to initiate the ar...

Excerpt: ...to provide dis covery. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (g); Van Sickle v. Gilbert (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1495, 1516.) If a party fails to obey an order compelling answers to discovery, the court may impose whatever sanctions are just, including issue sanctions, evide nce sanctions, terminating sanctions, and monetary sanctions. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030.) Imposition of sanctions for misuse of discovery lies within the trial court's discr...

Excerpt: ...). Pla intiffs allege that defendants know about the bedbug infestation in their room and failed to completely eradicate it. [Complaint, ¶¶90 -91] From this, the reckless disregard of the probability of emotional injury is alleged. [Complaint, ¶94] These alleg ations are sufficient to state two of the elements. However, defendants have not alleged “severe” emotional distress. “Severe emotional distress [is] emotional distress of substant...

Excerpt: ...lear.” Plaintiff resubmitted a copy of the declaration with a visible signature. (ROA 248 [Not. of Errata, Exh. B].) In light of the “corrected” declaration, Defendants' evidentiary objections are overruled. The Court may properly consider the Stelzer Declaration and exhi bits attached thereto. (Gall v. Smith & Nephew, Inc. (2021) 71 Cal.App.5th 117, 125.) Plaintiff moves, under Rules 8.278 and 3.1702, for an order fixing the amount of att...

Excerpt: ...tar figure may then be adjusted, based on consideration of factors specific to the case, in order to fix the fee at the fair market value for the legal services provided.” (Id.) “As the plain wording of section 1794, subdivision (d) makes clear, the trial court is ‘to base th e fee award upon actual time expended on the case, as long as such fees are reasonably incurred —both from the standpoint of time spent and the amount charged.' [...

Excerpt: ...d 13 parking spaces. The Malarky Parties asserted that the parking spaces are exclusively for their customers of Malarky's Irish Pub. All of their claims were dismissed on summary judgment or voluntarily excepting the declaratory relief and conversion claims. The case then proceeded to a bench trial on 8/16/23 for the first of several issue to be adjudicated in distinct stages. The bench trial determined the legal interpretation of the First Ame...

Excerpt: ...(Id., rule 3.1800(a)(2) -(8); see Kim v. Westmoore Partners, Inc. (2011) 201 Cal.App.4th 267, 288 [evidence of damages is required for default judgment]; see also ROA No. 419 – Heidary Decl., in passim [one -page conclusory declaration].) There is also no affidavit of notice. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 587; Bae v. T.D. Service Co. of Arizona (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 89, 108, fn. 15.) Indeed, there is no proof of service of the motion as to defendan...

Excerpt: ... requirements for re lief under C.C.P. § 1008(a). However, the Motion appears to be timely (see Markow Decl. at ¶ 23, in ROA 574), which the Opposition does not dispute. It is also based on “new or different facts, circumstances, or law” sufficient to support the Motion. (Id. at ¶ 24.) It also would in any event support reconsideration on the Court's own Motion, based on what has been presented. (See Le Francois v. Goel (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1...

Excerpt: ...nt to C.C. P. §§ 2023.010, 2023.030, 2033.280(b). PLAINTIFF also moves for an Order compelling DEFENDANT HORIZON CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING, INC. to serve verified responses, without objection, to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - Employment [Set Three], within ten (10) calendar days of the hearing on this Motion. (ROA 144.) Plaintiff moves for an order that Defendant Horizon and its counsel of record Fred Hayes and Rogers, MacLeith & Stolp, L...

Excerpt: ...t least 21 day s before the motion is filed. Section 128.7(c) reads, in pertinent part: "A motion for sanctions under this section shall be made separately from other motions or requests and shall describe the specific conduct alleged to violate subdivision (b). Notice o f motion shall be served as provided in section 1010, but shall not be filed with or presented to the court unless, within 21 days of service of the motion, or any other p...

Excerpt: ...m. The Ci ty moves for summary adjudication of 18 issues against defendant TIG Insurance Company. The City asserts that TIG has a duty to defend the City in three lawsuits under three TIG policies (No. SSP -37391435 for the period July 1, 1996- July 1, 1997; No. SSP-0037510979- 00 for the period July 1, 1997- July 1, 1998; and No. SSP-0037510979- 02 for the period July 1, 1998- July 1, 1999) (Issue Nos. 1 -9), and that TIG breached that duty (Iss...

Excerpt: ...ond cause of action for stri ct products liability. Request for Continuance In the alternative, Valley Forge contends that the hearing should be continued under Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(h) as additional facts regarding the purchase, installation, and failure of the Culli gan System will be revealed through additional discovery including the deposition of Defendant, Morris Inc.'s PMK which has not yet been taken; and which has been rev...

Excerpt: ...on motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the terms of the settlement.” “A court ruling on a motion u nder CCP § 664.6 must determine whether the parties entered into a valid and binding settlement. A settlement is enforceable under section 664.6 only if the parties agreed to all ...

Excerpt: ...s Abraham Cannon and MyMoveBid.com “to provide software development services for the MyMoveBid.com platform,” but that defendants have not paid over $135,000 for services performed. The complaint also alleges that “MyMoveBid.com is a fictitious business name for Abraham Cannon and if it is an entity, he is the alter ego of such entity.” (The court notes the written agreement attached to the complaint is executed by “Abraham Cannon.” ...

Excerpt: ... the drafting party pay certain fees and costs during the pendency of an arbitration proceeding, if the fees or costs required to continue the arbitration proceeding are not paid within 30 days after the due date, the drafting party is in material breach of the arbi tration agreement, is in default of the arbitration, and waives its right to compel the employee or consumer to proceed with that arbitration as a result of the material breach.” Se...

Excerpt: ...by Civ. Proc. Code § § 1032 and 1033.5. Plaintiff was the prevailing party at trial against each of the defendants other than 33D. (ROA #574.) “The mere filing of a motion to tax costs may be a “proper objection” to an item, the necessity of which appears doubtful, or which does not appear to be proper on its face. [Citation.] However, “[i]f the items appear to be proper charges the verified memorandum is prima facie evidence that the...

Excerpt: ...on, and application of the economic loss rule to the fourth, fifth, and sixth causes of action. The Court finds Defendants complied with their meet and confer obligations prior to filing the Demurrer. Statement of the Law “The party against whom a complaint or cros s-complaint has been filed may object, by demurrer or answer as provided in Section 430.30, to the pleading on any one or more of the following grounds: … (e) The pleading does...

Excerpt: ...moot as to paragraphs 56 and 86. It is denied as to paragraph 120 and granted with 15 days leave to amend as to paragraph 73. Demurrer A demurrer can be used only to challenge defects that appear within the “four corners” of the pleading – which includes the pleadi ng, any exhibits attached, and matters of which the court is permitted to take judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 311, 318; Donabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co. (2004) ...

Excerpt: ...action for breach of contrac t requires pleading of a contract, plaintiff's performance or excuse for failure to perform, defendant's breach, and damage to plaintiff resulting therefrom.” (Munoz v. MacMillan (2011) 195 Cal.App.4th 648, 655.) “A written contract may be pleaded either b y its terms— set out verbatim in the complaint or a copy of the contract attached to the complaint and incorporated therein by reference— or by its lega...

Excerpt: ...ent infliction of emotional distress and one of the two defamatory statements alleged as the basis for the first cause of action for defamation (and the court of appeal affirmed that ruling). The governing analysis for a fee motion regarding a partially successfu l special motion to strike was described in Mann v. Quality Old Time Serv., Inc. (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 328, 344- 345: “An award of attorney fees to a partially prevailing defendant ...

Excerpt: ... of two terms: (1) six months after the person's death, or (2) the limitation period that would have been applicable had the person not died.” Parsons v. Tickner (1995) 31 Cal. App. 4th 1513, 1525; Code Civ. Proc., § 377.30. The two -year statute of limitations, CCP § 335.1, applies to statutory elder abuse and negligence claims. Defendant argues the statute of limitations has run, even with the application of Emergency Rule 9(a), which s...

Excerpt: ...ubstitutions of attorn eys have been filed such that Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Trela no longer represent any of Defendants, after previously representing all Defendants. The motion is made pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure sections 128.5 and 128.7(b). The motion and arguments in support of it are sparse, but it is clear the motion is based on the mistrial declared in this action on September 12, 2023, after Ms. Maxwell and Mr. Trela declared a con�...

Excerpt: ...ode Ci v. Proc., § 418.10, subd. (a)(1).) The court may dismiss without prejudice the complaint in whole, or as to that defendant, when dismissal is made pursuant to Section 418.10. (Code Civ. Proc., § 581(h).) Here, Defendant, a Utah resident, asserts the cou rt lacks personal jurisdiction over him as it relates to Plaintiff's complaint. Defendant submits evidence showing he has been a resident of Utah since 2015, has a Utah driver's license, ...

Excerpt: ...elez [RO A # 1104], are sealed. Statement of Law “Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.550(c); In re Marriage of Tamir (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 1068, 1079.) “A record must not be filed under seal without a court order. The court must not permit a record to be filed under seal based solely on the agreement or stipulation of the parties.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2...

Excerpt: ...reinafter refer red to as “La Palma Intercommunity Hospital”). La Palma Intercommunity Hospital further seeks reimbursement of costs of motion from Plaintiff in the amount of $2,670.00. This Motion is made pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6, et seq. Code Civ. Proc., § 664.6 (a) If parties to pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by the parties outside of the presence of the court or orally before the court, for set...

Excerpt: ...D. (See Code Civ. Proc. § 2031.300.) As an initial point, plaintiff's points and authorities incorrectly reference a motion to compel responses to interrogatories, not a response to inspection demands. As the error did not prejudice defendant's ability to prepar e a response on the merits, the court is going to treat the motion as one to compel responses to inspection demands. A motion to compel responses to discovery requires the moving party t...

Excerpt: ... her mental examination on 11/17/23 per the parties' agreement. But, this is not supported by the evidence included with the motion. In particular, the Court notes that the last email sent between the parties regarding the proposed 11/17/23 examination date was an email on 11/8/23 from Defense counsel to Plaintiff's counsel stating: “Dr. Lavid is available on Nov. 17th for the IME. Please confirm that date so we can get it on calendar.” (Fel...

Excerpt: ... after service of a deposition notice, a party to the action or an officer, director, managing agent, or employee of a party, or a person designated by an organization that is a party under Section 2025.230, without having served a valid objection under Section 2025.410, fails to appear for examination, or to proceed with it, or to produce for inspection any document, electronically stored information, or tangible thing described in the depositio...

Excerpt: ...not apply to “ any case brought by an employee or applicant for employment against an employer for acts or omissions arising out of or relating to the employment relationship”], 2025.480 [authorizing motion to compel answers at deposition].) Plaintiff's evidentiary obje ction no. 3 to the Thomas Decl. is SUSTAINED [relevance]. Plaintiff's remaining evidentiary objections are OVERRULED. The motion is GRANTED as to a second session of plaintiff...

Excerpt: ...ty se eking arbitration has the “burden of proving the existence of a valid arbitration agreement by a preponderance of the evidence, while a party opposing the petition bears the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence any fact necessary to its def ense.” The trial court “sits as the trier of fact, weighing all the affidavits, declarations, and other documentary evidence, and any oral testimony the court may receive at its dis...