Excerpt: ... has not filed an opposition. Here, on June 21, 2023, Defendants served written discovery, including the instant Request for Admissions, Set One, by mail on Plaintiff, and responses were due no later than July 26, 2023. (Declaration of David W. Tetzlaff, ¶ 4, Ex. A.) To date, Plaintiff has failed to provide any response to Defendants' discovery requests, despite Defendants' counsel's attempts to meet and confer on August 22, 2023. (Id., ¶¶ 5,...

Excerpt: ... true.” (SI 59 LLC v. Variel Warner Ventures, LLC (2018) 29 Cal.App.5th 146, 154; CACI 1903.) “It also requires the tortfeasor's intent to induce reliance, justifiable reliance by the person to whom the false assertion of fact was made, and damages to that person.” (Ibid.) “An implied assertion of fact is ‘not enough' to support liability.” (Ibid.) Like fraud, negligent misrepresentation must be specifically pled. (Cadlo v. Owens - ...

Excerpt: ...ward -Clyde & Associates (1985) 38 Cal.3d 488. Any party objecting to a proposed settleme nt has the burden to prove an absence of good faith. (Code Civ. Proc., § 877.6, subd. (d).) The objecting party must prove that the settlement is “so far out of the ballpark” in comparison to the Tech- Bilt factors that it is inconsistent with the equitab le objectives and purposes of section 877.6. (Tech -Bilt, supra, 38 Cal.3d at pp. 499 -500.) Page 1...

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: ... Professions Code section 17200. Defendant attacks these causes of action based on one argument: the fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth causes of action are based on the same nucleus of facts that would constitute a claim for trade secret appropriation and are preempted by Civil Code section 3426.7. Defendant does not address each element of these causes of action and relies solely on the argument that they are preempted because they are based on ...

Excerpt: ...nt Inducement – Concealment” against Ford, based on alleged defects in their vehicle, but asserts only economic losses. Under the economic loss rule (the “ELR”), where a purchaser's expectations in a sale are frustrated because the product is not working properly, the remedy is in contract alone, for he has suffered only economic losses. (Robinson Helicopter Co., Inc. v. Dana Corp. (2004) 34 Cal.4th 979, 988.) Claims for monetary loss...

Excerpt: ...alment” against Ford, based on alleged defects in his vehicle, but asserts only economic losses. Under the economic loss rule (the “ELR”), where a purchaser's expectations in a sale are frustrated because the product is not working properly, the remedy is in contract alone, for he has suffered only economic losses. (Robinson Hel icopter Co., Inc. v. Dana Corp. (2004) 34 Cal.4th 979, 988.) Claims for monetary losses between contractual p...

Excerpt: ...Civil Procedure section 430.41(a) provides that “the demurring party shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer . . . .” Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41(a)(3) requires that the demurring party file and serve with the demurrer a declaration stating eithe r “[t]he means by which the demurring party met and conferred with the party who filed the pleading subject t...

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

Excerpt: ...in. DEMURRER TO FAC A demurrer for sufficiency tests whether the complaint states a cause of action. (Hahn v. Mirda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) When considering demurrers, courts read the allegations liberally and in context. (Wilson v. Transit Authority of City of Sacramento (1962) 199 Cal.App.2 d 716, 720-21.) In a demurrer proceeding, the defects must be apparent on the face of the pleading or via proper judicial notice. (Donabedian v. M...

Excerpt: ....) When considering demurrers, courts read the allegations lib erally and in context. (Wilson v. Transit Authority of City of Sacramento (1962) 199 Cal.App.2d 716, 720 -21.) In a demurrer proceeding, the defects must be apparent on the face of the pleading or via proper judicial notice. (Donabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co. (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 968, 994.) As such, the court assumes the truth of the complaints properly pleaded or implied factual alleg...

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: ...� 437c, subds. (a), (p)(2); SSUMF Nos. 18 -37 [COA 1], 48 -56 [COA 1], 68 -72 [COA 1]; 148 -160 [COA 2]; 339 -352; [COA 5]; and 357 -370 [COA 6].) Plaintiff has failed to meet her burden to identify a triable issue of material fact with admissible evidence. Plaintiff's attempt falls short as she seeks to establish a triable issu e through a self-serving declaration or citation to evidence that does not actually contradict the material facts Defen...

Excerpt: ...tion of the party in question.” (Id. at 851.) The parties must set forth admissible evidence. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (d).) A defendant moving for summary judgment satisfies his or her initial burden by showing that one or more elements of the cause of action cannot be established or that there is a complete defense to the cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c(p)(2).) The scope of this burden is determined by the allegations of t...

Excerpt: ...existence of duty/absolute duty]; Chee v. Amanda Goldt Property Management (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 1360, 1369 [“landlord does not owe a duty of care to protect a third party from his or her tenant's dog unless the landlord has actual knowledge of the dog's dangerous propensities”]; accord, Fraser v. Fa r v i d (2024) – Cal.App.5th – (Fraser) [2024 WL 510111, at *1]; see also Def. SSMF Nos. 3, 6 -9, 12 -16, 19.)“ ‘Under California law, ...

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: ...urt may, when the convenience of witnesses, the ends of ju stice, 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 hel d, 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 ...

Excerpt: ...ion consistent with the provisions of the arbitration agreement . The POS in this matter shows service by mail and email but absent an agreement to the contrary such service would not be code -compliant. However, respondent's counsel appeared at the prior hearing mooting the issue of service. Code Civ. Proc. §410.5 0; In re Marriage of Obrecht (2016) 245 Cal.App.4th 1, 7 -13 (finding appearance at hearing to be general appearance where no objec...

Excerpt: ...UNSTOPPABLE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, LLC (Plaintiff's former employer) separately moves for an aw ard of fees. Initially, the action was initiated on 4/19/2023 when Plaintiff filed the Complaint. Thereafter, she filed a First Amended Complaint on 4/25/2023 pleading causes of action for Sexual Harassment, Retaliation, Failure to Prevent Harassment and Retaliation, Retaliation under Labor Code. The parties herein do not dispute that a valid Arbitration ...

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: ...Procedure section 2030.300, subdivision (c). On Septemb er 29, 2023, Defense Counsel emailed as follows: “Let's do October 31 as the deadlines for both parties to move to compel on all discovery to date served on each other (unless the current deadline is later than that, in which case the later deadline contro l s ) …” (¶9 of Watson Declaration and Exhibit 5 thereto; See also ¶7 of Rutten Declaration and Exhibit H thereto [ROA No. 101 at...

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

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

Excerpt: ...n of the motion. To assist the parties in resolving the matter i nformally, the court would offer the following thoughts. The court notes that the motion is procedurally improper on numerous grounds. It does not, for example, specify the time, place, manner, scope, and nature of the examination in accordance with the requirements of Code of Civil Procedure section 2032.310. Nor does it comply with the California Rules of Court that govern motion ...

Excerpt: ...laintiff need not use the words ‘alter ego,' but must allege sufficient facts to show a unity of interest and ownership, and an unjust result if the corporation is treated as the sole actor.” (A.J. Fistes Corp. v. GDL Best Contractors, Inc. (2019) 38 Cal.App.5th 677, 696 citing Leek v. Cooper (2011) 194 Cal.App.4th 399, 415, [ complaint alleging individual defendant was owner of all stock of defendant corporation and personally made all its b...

Excerpt: ...must be accepted as true. Aubry v. Tri -City Hospital Dist. (1992) 2 Cal. 4th 962, 966 -67. A pleading is adequate if it contains a reasonably precise statement of the ultimate facts, in ordinary and concise language, and with sufficient detail to acquaint a defendant with the nature, source and extent of the claim. The degree of detail required depends on the extent to which the defendant in fairness needs such detail which can be conveniently p...

Excerpt: ... to an authorized method of discovery is a misuse of the discove ry process warranting sanctions. Code Civ. Proc. § 2023.010(d). So, too, is disobeying a court order to provide discovery. (Id., subd. (g); Van Sickle v. Gilbert (2011) 196 Cal. App. 4th 1495, 1516.) Imposition of sanctions for misuse of discovery lies within the trial court's discretion. (Doppes v. Bentley Motors, Inc. (2009) 174 Cal. App. 4th 967, 991.) The moving party need only...

Excerpt: ...d a Complaint on 9 -21 -22 against Defendants, SRC -PH Investm ents, LLC; Sunrise Pacific Construction; Sunranch Capital Partners, LLC; Baldwin & S ons, Inc.; Baldwin & S ons, LLC; Shawn M. Baldwin; Randall G. Bone; and Jose Capati for (1) Breach of Contracts; (2) Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; (3) Breach of Express Warranties; (4) Breach of Implied Warranties; (5) Negligence; (6) Misrepresentations; (7) Express Indem...

Excerpt: ...ections. (Jenkins Decl. ¶ 4, Ex. B.) Defen dant initiated the meet and confer process on 11/01/2023 and demanded further responses and responsive documents by Friday, 11/10/2023. (Jenkins Decl. ¶ 5, Ex. C.) One day before that deadline, Plaintiff asked for a 30 -day extension to respond. (Jenkins De cl. ¶ 6, Ex. D.) Defendant compromised by offering an extension to Monday 11/13/2023 —effectively a one- court- day extension. (Jenkins Decl. ¶...

Excerpt: ... (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.550(c); In re Marriage of Tam ir (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 2.551(a) . ) “A party requesting that a record be filed under seal must file a motion or an application for an order sealing the reco...

Excerpt: ...same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as the cause brought against him or (2) asserts a claim, right, or interest in the property or controversy which is the subject of the cause brought against him.” Code of Civil Procedure section 428.50 states: “(a) A party shall file a cross -complaint ag ainst any of the parties who filed the complaint or cross- complaint against him or her before or at the same time as...

Excerpt: ...within a reasonable time, in no case exceeding six mo nths, after the judgment, dismissal, order, or proceeding was taken.” (Ibid.) The relief offered by section 473, subdivision (b) is to be liberally applied. (Fasuyi v. Permatex, Inc. (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 681, 696 (Fasuyi).) “The law favors judgmen ts based on the merits, not procedural missteps.” (Lasalle v. Vogel (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 127, 134.) Therefore, “‘any doubts in applying...

Excerpt: ...or employees and monetary sanctions in the amount of $1,490.00. “If a d efendant who has demanded a physical examination under this article, on receipt of the plaintiff's response to that demand, deems that any modification of the demand, or any refusal to submit to the physical examination is unwarranted, that defendant may m ove for an order compelling compliance with the demand. This motion shall be accompanied by a meet and confer decl...

Excerpt: ...intiff's Special Interrogatories, Nos. 2, 3, 6 -22, 27 -29, 33, 35, 42, 59 -60, 62 -65 ; and for monetary sanctions against Defendant and defense counsel in the amount of $2500. 3. (ROA 45) Plaintiff Angela Bahri seeks an order to compel Defendant to provide further verified responses to Plaintiff's Form Rogs, Set 1, Nos. 12.112.4, 12.6, 15. 1, 16.1, and 17.1 and monetary sanctions against Defendant and defense counsel in the amount of $2500. 4....

Excerpt: ...otion for summary judgment shall be granted if all the papers sub mitted 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 al l of the evidence set forth in the papers, except the evidence to which objections have been made and sustained by the court, a...

Excerpt: ...s the proximate cause of the alleged decrease in 6S's value from 2016 to the present. Defendant seeks adjudication of a claim for damages, i.e., damages regarding 6S's alleged decrease in value from 2016 to the present, that does not dispose of the entire cause of action. A party may move for summary adjudica tion 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 ...

Excerpt: ...struction of significant alteration of evidence or the failure to preserve 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 rang e of punishment, including monetary, issue, evidentiary, and terminating sanctions.” (Williams v. Russ (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th...

Excerpt: ...e, the loan has been terminated. The Complaint alleges causes of action for concealment and breach of contract. UCC § 2 -609 applies to “transactions in goods” and contracts relating to the present or future sale of goods. It does not apply to the subject loan, which includes a promissory note and deed of trust. Inste ad, Article 3 and Article 9 of the UCC apply to the subject loan. Therefore, Plaintiff cannot state a claim against Defendant...

Excerpt: ...Thus, “any SLAPP defendant who brings a successfu l motion to strike is entitled to mandatory attorney fees.” (Ketchum v. Moses (2001) 24 Cal.4th 1122, 1131.) Relevant herein, Cross -Defendants filed an anti -SLAPP motion on May 12, 2023, which sought to strike all thirteen causes of action included within the Cross -Complaint. (ROA No. 168.) Subsequently, on September 5, 2023, the Court granted the motion in part and denied the motion in pa...

Excerpt: ...ion to Strike. As an initial matter, the Court notes that De fendants have not satisfied the requirement to meet and confer in person or by telephone. The parties are admonished that the failure to comply with applicable rules and statutes in the future may result in a motion being denied or sanctions, where appropriate. Uncertainty Demurrers for uncertainty “are granted only if the pleading is so incomprehensible that a defendant cannot reaso...

Excerpt: ...ended Complaint using the same reservation number as Defendant's demurrer and motion to strike that are currently pending. As long as any demurrer and/or a motion to strike with respect to the Fourth Amended Complaint is filed and served in compliance with the Civil Procedure Code, they may be heard on May 20, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in Department N15. Plaintiffs Thomas Phillips; Fashion Island Surgery Center, LLC; and Thomas J. Phillips, M.D. move fo...

Excerpt: ...; C.C.P. § 437c(c).) To satisfy this burden, a defendant must establish that one or more of the elements of a cause of action (a “COA”) cannot be established or that a complete defense exists to the cause of action. (Id.; C.C.P. § 437c(o).) If the defendant meets this burden, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to show a triabl e issue of material fact exists as to either the particular COA or the proffered defense thereto. (Id.) The plainti...

Excerpt: ...iff Qi. By way of the subject motion, Verde seeks leave to file a FAXC against plaintiff Qi. Rule 3.1324 sets forth the requirements for a motion for leave to amend. Here, the motion fails to state what allegations are to be added and deleted. Therefore, the motion fails to comply with 3.1324(a)(2)&(3). Additionally, the Motion does not include an attached copy of the proposed amended XC. However, on the same day the motion was filed, Verde als...

Excerpt: ....3d 531. Standard for Reconsideration Civil Procedure Code section 1008 states that: When an application for an order has been made to a judge, or to a court, and refused in whole or in part, or granted, or granted conditionally, or on terms, any party affected by the order may . . . make application to the same judge or court that made the order, to reconsider the matter and modify, amend, or revoke the prior order. (Civil Proc. Code, § 1008, s...

Excerpt: ...ns that Defendant contends are privileged from Plaintiff's SAC. DEMURRER A s an initial matter, the Court notes Defendant is asking the Court to sustain a demurrer to the fourth cause of action for which notice was not properly provided. Defendant did not include the demurrer to the fourth cause of action in Defendant's notice o f demurrer and demurrer. Plaintiff does not address the demurrer to the fourth cause of action in Plaintiff's oppositio...

Excerpt: ...hth, tenth, and elev enth causes of action on the grounds they do not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action against Quan/MTC and they are uncertain. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 430.10(e) and (f).) A demurrer challenges the defects appearing on the face of the pleadin g or from other matters properly subject to judicial notice. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) The issue is the sufficiency of the pleading, not the truth of th...

Excerpt: ...Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) Defendant demurs to the second cause o f action for negligent infliction of emotional distress on the grounds the cause of action is uncertain and does not plead facts sufficient to state a cause of action. To plead negligent infliction of emotional distress (“NIED”), Plaintiffs must plead 1) the defendant was negligent, 2) the Plaintiff suffered serious emotional distress, and 3) Defendant's negl...

Excerpt: ...dicial Council form complaint and alleged a cause of action for intentional tort. (See Complaint, p. 5.) Plaintiffs allege (1) Defendant had a duty to avoid driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of a controlled substance; (2) immediately prior to driving, Defendant chose to consume alcohol/drugs until he was under the influence; (3) the substances severely impaired his physical and mental faculties; (4) he chose to in...

Excerpt: ... the contract or excuse for nonperformance, the defendant's breach and resul ting damage.” (Harris v. Rudin, Richman & Appel (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 299, 307.) Defendants demur to the breach of contract claim, asserting the “facts pleaded in the Complaint fail to state any specific terms of any such agreement that Defendants breache d, and how Plaintiff fully performed under the terms of the agreement.” (Demurrer 4:22 -25.) Contrary to the a...

Excerpt: ...e, untrue or misleading advertising.' [Cit ation.]” (Zhang v. Superior Court (2013) 57 Cal.4th 364, 370 (Zhang).) “Because the UCL is written in the disjunctive… An act can be alleged to violate any or all of the three prongs of the UCL — unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent. [Citation.]” (Aton center, Inc. v. United Healthcare Inc. Co. (2023) 93 Cal.App.5th 1214, 1248, internal quotation marks omitted.) “The UCL's unlawful prong borrows v...

Excerpt: ...1320(j).) Defendant Fountain Valley Regional Hospital and Medical Center (Defendant Hospital ) demurs to the 1st Cause of Action for Elder Abuse of the First Amended Complaint (FAC) filed by Plaintiff Maria Guadalupe Torres. Standard for Demurrer In ruling on a demurrer, a court must accept as true all allegations of fact contained in the compla int. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) A demurrer challenges only the legal sufficiency of...

Excerpt: ... to state facts sufficient to constitute the claims. UPCOMING EV ENTS: Status Conference – May 14, 2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is a putative class action for alleged violations of California's consumer protection laws. On May 30, 2019, Plaintiffs Joe Maldonado, Alfredo Mendez, J. Peter Tuma, Jonabette Michelle Tuma, and R oberto Mateos Salmeron, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated (“Plaintiffs”), filed a Complaint aga...

Excerpt: ...e § 430.10(e) and (f).) “To state a cause of action for breach of contract, a party must plead the existen ce of a contract, his or her performance of the contract or excuse for nonperformance, the defendant's breach and resulting damage. [Citation.] If the action is based on alleged breach of a written contract, the terms must be set out verbatim in the body o f the complaint or a copy of the written agreement must be attached and incorpo...

Excerpt: ...the defendant's breach and resulting damage.” (Harris v. Rudin, R ichman & Appel (1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 299, 307.) Per the complaint, the parties entered into a Reseller Agreement on January 1, 2019 (Comp. ¶10 & Exhibit 1), which was amended on August 26, 2019 (Comp. ¶17 & Exhibit 1 -A) and again on November 4, 2021 (Com p. ¶18 & Exhibit 1 -B). The complaint includes several allegations of alleged breaches. (Comp. ¶¶39 -49.) Defendant, in t...

Excerpt: ...n the basis the attached exhibits are not file -stamped. As these documents give no indication they were filed, it is unclear whether they constitute “court records” for purposes of Evidence Code section 452, subdivision (d). The remainder of the request is granted. Previously the Court sustaine d Defendants' Demurrer to the Complaint, without leave to amend. Therefore, Defendants' request for an order dismissing this action is MOOT. (ROA N...

Excerpt: ...e of a valid Arbitration Agreement, before arbitration can b e compelled. (See 9 U.S.C. §2 and C.C.P. §1281.2). “If a party to a civil action asks the court to compel arbitration of the pending claim, the court must determine in a summary proceeding whether an ‘agreement to arbitrate the controversy exist.'” (Iyere v. Wise Auto Group (2023) 87 Cal.App.5th 747, 754.) “Because the existence of the agreement is a statutory prerequisite to ...

Excerpt: ...ERS that judgment shall be entered in favor of Plaintiff National Funding, Inc. and against Defendant Robert Bitz as to the 2nd Cause of Action of the Complaint in the sum of $374,191.91 plus any prejudgment interest, reasonable attorney's fees, and costs allowed by law. Plaintiff National Funding, Inc. shall prepare a proposed judg ment and serve it on Defendants Hard Rock Exteriors LLC dba Nu Normal and Robert Bitz, and submit it to the court p...

Excerpt: ...y concedes that supplementation is warranted for Nos. 1 -31 and 34, and the Motion demonstrates that this is so. It does not suffice to merely claim that an interrogatory is “premature,” or to just point to records without complying with C.C.P. § 2030.230. Nor does it appear that C.C.P. § 2030.230 applies for many of thos e responses. The Motion is therefore GRANTED for Nos. 1 -31 and 34. For Nos. 32 and 33, the Motion is GRANTED IN PART. W...

Excerpt: ...e), without objections, within 30 days of service of the notice o f ruling. Defendant Aileen Pham is ORDERED to serve full, complete, and verified responses and responsive documents to the Post Judgment Debtor Request for Documents (Set One), without objections, within 30 days of service of the notice of ruling. Defend ant Aileen Pham is ORDERED to pay to Plaintiff M.V. Partners sanctions in the amount of $1,432.50 (3.5 hours x $375 per hour in ...

Excerpt: ...1, and Request for Admission Number 34, within 21 days of servic e of the notice of ruling. Defendant Maya Linda II, LLC is ORDERED to pay to Plaintiff Sharon Galasso sanctions in the amount of $2,495 (1.0 hours x $500 per hour and 5.0 hours x $375 per hour in reasonable attorney's fees and $120 in motion filing fees) within 21 days of service of the notice of ruling. Plaintiff Sharon Galasso (Plaintiff Galasso) moves to compel further responses...

Excerpt: ... on 08/20/24. (Ortega -Carrillo Decl. ¶ 6, Ex. A.) While the criminal trial is only approximately five -months away from the date of this hearing, that does not support staying the entirety of this action. The court recognizes a criminal prosecution should not be able to obtain information through civil proceedings to which it was not entitled under the criminal discovery rules and that to allow the prosecutors to monitor the civil proceedings ...

Excerpt: ...power inherent in every court ‘[t]o control in furtherance of justice, the conduct of its ministeria l officers, and of all other persons in any manner connected with a judicial proceeding before it, in every matter pertaining thereto.' ” People ex rel. Dept. of Corporations v. SpeeDee Oil Change Systems, Inc. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1135, 1145 (quoting Code Ci v. Proc., § 128, subd. (a)(5)). “[D]isqualification motions involve a conflict betw...

Excerpt: ...forth below. The motion as to the RFP is DENIED. As an initial matter, t he court notes the motion was improperly filed as one motion, when it is actually three motions to compel further responses to discovery. Form Interrogatories With the exception of Form Rog 200.6 discussed below, the court finds Plaintiff's responses to the at issue Form Rogs are code compliant. It appears Defendant is not satisfied with the responses and believes additio...

Excerpt: ...writing, the demanding party waives any right to compel a further response to the demand.” Here, plaintiff submits evidence that NorCal served verified responses to RFP, Set One, on 7/17/23 by email. The subject motion was not filed until 10/5/23 which is more than 45 days after the responses were served. Plaintiff did not submit evidence of an agreement by NorCal to extend the motion deadline. Accordingly, the motion is untimely and denied. ...

Excerpt: ...iff moves for orders compelling Defendant to: (1) produce its Person Most Knowledgeable for deposition and produce documents requested in the deposition notice; and (2) provide further responses to Requests for Production. UPCOMING EVENTS: Status Conference – 4/10/2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is a PA GA-only action. On May 13, 2019, Plaintiffs Keith E. Riley and John Styles, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated (“Riley Plain...

Excerpt: ... verbatim in the petition or attached thereto. (C.R.C. 3.1330.) The burden then shifts to the resisting party “to demonstrate that an arbitration clause cannot be interpreted to require arbitration of the dispute.” (Buckhorn v. St. Judge Heritage Medical Group (2004) 121 Cal.App.4th 1401, 1406.) Any reasonable doubt as to whether a claim falls within the arbitration clause is to be resolved in favor of arbitration. (Villacreses v. Molinari (2...

Excerpt: ... Instruments, Declaratory Relief, and Accou nting. Defendants' Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. Defendants move pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. section 2. The FAA provides: “A written provision in . . . a contract evidencing a transaction involving commerce to sett le by arbitration a controversy thereafter arising out of such contract or transaction, or the refusal to perform the whole or any part thereof, ...

Excerpt: ...bjection. Plaintiff argues he answered the question, implying the obj ections are irrelevant. But the responses are not complete. This interrogatory is straightforward and seeks how much income Plaintiff claims to have lost as of result of Defendant's actions. This response does not require an expert opinion. Plaintiff all eges he was not paid for overtime, meal or rest periods, etc. Plaintiff should know how many days he worked, how many hours p...

Excerpt: ... 12, 2024 2. Pretrial Conference – April 12, 2024 3. Jury Trial – June 3, 2024 FACTS/OVERVIEW: This is an eminent domain matter related to the 405 Freeway improvement project. On February 20, 2019, Plaintiff OCTA filed a C omplaint in Eminent Domain against Defendants Hyundai Motor America; BASF Video Corporation; SFII Fountain Valley, LLC; International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation; FHP, Inc.; and Southern California Edison Company. ...

Excerpt: ...EW: This is a putative class action for the alleged violation of privacy rights related to a data breach. On May 23, 2023, Plaintiff Ferdinand Rivera, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated (“Plaintiff”), filed a Complaint against North Orange County Community College District (“Defendant”). (ROA 2.) The Complaint allege s seven causes of action for: 1. Negligence; 2. Violation of the California Confidentiality of M...

Excerpt: ...verruled as to no. 1 and sustained as to nos. 2 and 3. The court did not consider Cox's further separate statement on reply. Code Civ. Proc. §437c(b); Nazir v. United Airlines, Inc. (2009) 178 Cal. App. 4th 243, 252.. Motion #2 Cross - Defendant Park West Landscape Maintenance Inc's (“Park West”) motion for s ummary judgment on Defendant and CrossComplainant Cox's cross -complaint against Park West is denied. Basic Rules for Summary Judgment...

Excerpt: ...oses of motions for summary judgment and summary adjudication : . . . (2) A defendant . . . has met his or her burden of showing that a cause of action has no merit if the 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 compl ete defense to the cause of action. Once the defendant or cross- defendant has met that burden, the burden shifts to the plaintiff o...

Excerpt: ...les of Court, rule 3.1345(a)(7).) Failing to respond to an authorized method of discovery is a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (d).) So, too, is disobeying a court order to provide discovery. (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, inc...

Excerpt: ...o v. Owens -Corning Fiberglas C orp. (1971) 22 Cal.App.3d 116, 124 -125 [property right required]; Edwards v. City of Los Angeles (1941) 48 Cal.App.2d 62, 67 [lodger has no property right]; see also Compl. Ex. A [hotel receipt].) On the other hand, defendants have not shown plaintiff can not assert a public nuisance. Plaintiff adequately “alleges facts showing special injury to himself in person . . . of a character different in kind from that ...

Excerpt: ...excuse for nonperformance, (3) defendant's breach, and (4) the resulting damages to plaintiff.” (Careau & Co. v. Sec. Pac. Bus. Credit, Inc. (1990) 222 Cal.App.3d 1371, 1388.) The FAC sufficiently alleges the elements of a breach of contract claim. The demurrer to the first cause of action is OVERRULED. Second, Third and Fourth Cause of A ction - Breach of Oral Contract: Commercial Code section 2201(1) states: “Except as otherwise provided i...

Excerpt: ...rel. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Weitzman (2003) 107 Cal.App.4th 534, 5 38 (Weitzman).) The term “qui tam” comes from the Latin expression “qui tam pro domino rege quam pro se ipso in hac parte sequitur,” which means, “'who pursues this action on our Lord the King's behalf as well as his own'.” (Ibid.) The Insurance Fraud s Prevention Act (IFPA) was enacted in 1993 to combat workers' compensation fraud. (People ex rel. State ...

Excerpt: ...ed Complaint (“TAC”). The BT Defendants' main arguments for each cause of action is that they owed no duty to the decedent, they did not provide alcohol at the event, they did not have constructive knowledge that alcohol was being served at the event, they were not present at the event, and they did not manage or supervise the event. The court disagrees with the BT Defendants that, at this pleading stage, the court can determine that the BT D...

Excerpt: ...t for 4/8/24. The Petition appears to have been prompted by the prior c ourt's ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings as to the Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”), a ruling issued on 12/1/23. The court granted the motion as to the second cause of action for negligence, finding that Plaintiffs failed to comply with Code of Civil Procedure section 425.15 and stating the following: “Code of Civil Procedure section 425.15 applies becaus...

Excerpt: ...thin 10 days after service upon the party of written notice of entry of the order.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1008, subd. (a).) Defendant gave written notice of the court's ruling on defendant's motion for summary judgment on 7 -14 -23. (ROA No. 127.) The instant Motion was filed on 8 -14 -23, more than 10 days after Defen dant gave notice of the court's ruling. (ROA No. 148.) Even if the court were to find the motion timely, the court no longer h...

Excerpt: ... Complaint filed by Plaintiff JOSE MARTINEZ -DURAN (“Plaintiff” ). The Alternative Motion for Summary Adjudication of Issues is therefore MOOT. The Complaint contains 10 causes of action related to alleged discrimination and unpaid wages by Defendant, Plaintiff's former employer. After showing that Plaintiff faile d to comply with multiple court orders concerning discovery and finding that Plaintiff was not likely to comply with the discove...

Excerpt: ... Summary Adjudication of Issues. The motion concerns the follo wing three issues: • No. 1: Whether Defendant ROSAURA DE KUYPER (“Defendant”) breached her fiduciary duties to Plaintiff. • No. 2: Whether Defendant breached her duty of loyalty to Plaintiff. • No. 3: Whether there is no merit to Defendant's third affirma tive defense for failure to mitigate. “‘The elements of a claim for breach of fiduciary duty are (1) the existence ...

Excerpt: ...urden to show any challenged cause of action has no merit. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subds. (a), (p)(2) [burden]; Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850 -851 [same].) Defendant has “the burden to show that it [is] entitled to judgment with respect to all theories of liability asserted by ” plaintiff. (Lopez v. Superior Court (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 705, 717; accord Hawkins v. Wilton (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 936, 942 [m...

Excerpt: ...efendants' expert witness Carl Mellinger (ROA 334) are OVERRULED. Plaintiff's objections to the declaration of Defendants' expert witness Harvey Kreitenberg (ROA 335) are OVERRULED. Plaintiff's objections to the declaration of Defendant Freitas (ROA 336) are OVERRULED. Defendants' objections to the declaratio n of Plaintiff Chang (ROA 344) are SUSTAINED as to objection no. 10 (hearsay) and OVERRULED as to the remaining objections. Defendants' obj...

Excerpt: ...ove for an order compelling the deponent's attendance and testimony at deposition. The motion must be accompanied by a declaration under Code of Civil Procedure section 2016.040 stating that the moving party contacted the deponent to inquire about the nonappearance. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.450, subd. (b)(2).) Code of Civil Procedure section 2025.410, subdivision (b) provides in part that any deposition taken after the service of a written objec...

Excerpt: ...aud, or malice. “Malice” means conduct that is intended to cause injury or despicable conduct that is carried on with a willful and conscious disregard of the right and safety of others. (Civ. Code, § 3294, subd. (c)(1).) At the pleading stage, the complaint must allege facts supporting circumstances of oppression, fraud, or malice. (See Grieves v. Superior Court (1984) 157 Cal.App.3d 159, 166.) Punitive damages cannot be pled in conclusory ...

Excerpt: ...in civil actions.'” (Brown v. Desert Christian Center (2011) 193 Cal.App.4th 733, 737 –738.) Specifically, in a ctions to enforce the governing documents of a common interest development such as covenants, conditions and restrictions ("CC&Rs"), Civil Code section 5975, subdivision (c) provides that “the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs.” Code of Civil Procedure section 1032, subdivision (b), ...

Excerpt: ... is taxed in the total amount of $41,089.46, as further discussed b e l ow. Pl aintiff's remaining costs in the total amount of $115,732.31 are granted against defendant Regents only. Plaintiff's 998 offer Plaintiff's Code of Civil Procedure section 998 (section 998) offer to compromise (998 offer) served on Regents on 8/18/17 was valid and effective. The fact that plaintiff obtained a more favorable judgment than his 998 offer is prima facie evi...

Excerpt: ...he court did not consider this document. Summary Judgment Standard “[F]rom commencement to conclusion, 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.” (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4 th 826, 850.) A “party moving for summary judgment bears an initial burden of production to make a prima facie show...

Excerpt: ...y must contain an answer with the information sought, an exercise of th e party's option to produce writings, or an objection. Each response must be “complete and straightforward as the information reasonably available to the responding party permits. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.220, subd. (a).) “If an interrogatory cannot be ans wered completely, it shall be answered to the extent possible.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.220 subd. (b).) If a tim...

Excerpt: ...(Bohrer v. County of San Diego (1980) 104 Cal.App.3d 15 5, 164 [“[a]bsent a special statute, there is no authority for the court to take judicial notice … from a governmental document to establish the cause of death”].) Defendant's Reply Separate Statement (ROA 315) is not authorized and was not considered. (Na zir v. United Airlines, Inc. (2009) 178 Cal.App.4th 243, 252.) 1st cause of action: elder abuse / neglect. Moving party has not met...

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: ...Page 7 of 23 an individual, under Code of Civil Procedure section 187. Defendants contend that Mr. D'Al essio is the owner, sole member, manager, president, and alter ego of NHV and VMG; that there is a unity of ownership; that Mr. D'Alessio refers to them interchangeably with himself; that NHV and VMG have not adhered to corporate formalities for years and have been suspended multiple times during this litigation; that Mr. D'Alessio testified h...

Excerpt: ...�lessee,” and Norm Reeves Honda Superstore is identified as “les sor (dealer).” Below that, in a separate area, it states that, “‘Lessor' refers to the Lessor (‘Dealer') named above and Assignee,” which is identified as “Honda Lease Trust.” Pertinent here, paragraph 15 on the first page of the agreement states that “p arties agree that any unresolved disputes shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the Arbitrat...

Excerpt: ...hysical and mental condition. (ROA 491, Exs. 1 -4.) Riemann here asserts that because Plaintiff had obtained trial continuances and a temporary stay on certain discovery based on neurosurgeries performed in 2022 and her subsequent recuperation requirements, these subpoenas were justified and appropriate. However, the records sought are plainly confidential records subject to substantial privacy protections. Where privacy rights are at issue in ...

Excerpt: ... to Civ. Proc. Code § 2031.310. As to relevance of d ocuments, “[u]nless otherwise limited by order of the court in accordance with this title, any party may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action or to the determination of any motion made in that action, if the matter either is itself admissible in evidence or appears reasonably calculated to lead to the dis...

Excerpt: ...ted protective order to the court. If the parties fa il to timely do so, the court will impose a protective order limiting the use of responses to the interrogatories in which a confidentiality/privacy right is claimed to this litigation and requiring that such information be surrendered or destroyed at the conclusion of this litigation. Upon entry of the protective order, Defendant John Marcin is ordered to serve complete, non- evasive further ...

Excerpt: ...earing shall name as respondents all parties to the arbitration, and othe rs bound by the award (Civ. Proc. Code, § 1285), and must set forth the grounds on which the request is made. (Civ. Proc. Code, § 1285.8). The petition must also set forth the substance of the arbitration agreement or have a copy attached, name the arbitra t o r, and set forth or have attached a copy of the award and the arbitrator's written opinion, if any. (Civ. Pro...

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: ...party may give notice that he or she will not appear at a law and motion hearing and submi t the matter without an appearance unless the court orders otherwise. The Court must rule on the motion as if the party had appeared.” The Court ORDERS Plaintiff's counsel to appear at the hearing on February 29, 2024. Plaintiff's counsel contends that counsel failed to appear at the May 11, 2023 order to show cause hearing where the instant action was or...

Excerpt: ...alif. Rules of Court, rule 3.1350(b); Truong v. Glasser (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 102, 118.) Defendant's separate statement fails to comply with Calif. Rules of Court, rule 3.1350(b). Rather than deny the motion outright (CCP 437c(b)(1); Beltran v. Hard Rock Hotel Licensing, Inc. (2023) 97 Cal.App.5th 865, 875), the court el ects to treat defendant's motion as one for summary judgment only. Defendants fails to meet their initial burden to show the e...