Excerpt: ...the dispute between the parties. The document is extrinsic evidence submitted in an attempt to broaden review beyond the scope of the allegations within the complaint, which is improper. A court cannot convert a demurrer into an incomplete evidentiary hearing through the submission of extrinsic evidence under the guise of a judicial notice request. (Fremont Indemnity Co. v. Fremont General Corp. (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 97, 114‐115.) Ruling on De...

Excerpt: ... here are at the heart of the dispute between the parties. The documents are extrinsic evidence submitted in an attempt to broaden review beyond the scope of the allegations within the complaint, which is improper. A court cannot convert a demurrer into an PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. PLACER SUPERIOR COURT – DEPARTME...

Excerpt: ...6. The grounds for a motion to strike must appear on the face of the pleading under attack, or from matter which the court may judicially notice. Code Civ. Proc. § 437. The court has not considered statements made in plaintiff's opposition, or in the declaration of plaintiff's counsel, which are not alleged in the first amended complaint, and for which no request for judicial notice has been made. The motion is denied. The first amended complain...

Excerpt: ...ce was proper. Dill v. Berquist Construction Co., Inc. (1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1441‐1442. A proof of service filed May 26, 2021, states that defendant was served by personal service on May 17, 2021, at 5:05 p.m. Defendant generally denies that personal service was effectuated on that date, stating only that she found a copy of the summons and complaint on the ground in front of her garage on May 25, 2021. (Declaration of Linda Vaccarezza, �...

Excerpt: ...enied, as the motion was unopposed. Code Civ. Proc. § 2030.290(c). However, repeated conduct of failing to comply with discovery obligations may lead the court to find an abuse of the discovery process and award sanctions on that basis. Laguna Auto Body v. Farmers Ins. Exchange (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 481, overruled on other grounds in Garcia v. McCutchen (1997) 16 Cal.4th 469, 478, fn. 4. Motion to Compel Responses to Interrogatories (Emma Ledesm...

Excerpt: ...s in the pleadings are deemed true no matter how improbable they may seem. Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604. Defendant's demurrer to the first cause of action for negligence is overruled. The court previously sustained defendant's demurrer to the claim of negligence alleged in the complaint, finding that as pleaded, the claim was subject to the doctrine of primary assumption of risk. In the sporting con...

Excerpt: ...n. (Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10(c).) Under a statutory plea of abatement the pendency of an earlier action arising from the same transaction and between the same parties is grounds for abatement of the second action. (People ex rel. v. American Autoplan, Inc. (1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 760, 770.) Here, defendant has not made a sufficient showing in support of statutory abatement. A PAGA claim is brought by an employee who acts a proxy for t...

Excerpt: ...tration where there is a written contract involving interstate or foreign commerce or maritime transactions. (9 U.S.C. §§1, 2.) Where the FAA governs, conflicting state law is preempted under the Supremacy Clause. (AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Concepcion (2011) 563 U.S. 333; 131 S.Ct. 1740, 1745‐1746.) Thus, the first step of the inquiry is to determine whether the subject arbitration provision is governed by the FAA. To reiterate, the FAA applies t...

Excerpt: ... sale of the subject property. Plaintiff's request is granted as to Exhibit 1. The remainder of plaintiff's request for judicial notice is denied. /// PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR AUGUST 26, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. PLACER SUPERIOR COURT – DEPARTMENT 42 Thursday Civil Law and Motion – Tentative Rulings Page 2 of 12 Ruling on the Motion In the current r...

Excerpt: ...edure section 437c(c).) In reviewing a motion for summary judgment, the trial court must view the supporting evidence, and inferences reasonably drawn from such evidence, in the light most favorable to the opposing party. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Company (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843.) In this instance, defendant has made a sufficient showing regarding the applicability of the Privette doctrine. There is a presumption that an independent contr...

Excerpt: ...nsuring that the agreement is not a product of fraud, overreaching parties, or collusion and that the settlement, as a whole, is fair, reasonable, and adequate. (7‐Eleven Owners for Fair Franchising v. Southland Corp. (2000) 85 Cal.App.4th 1135, 1145.) A presumption of fairness exists where: (1) the settlement was reached through arms‐length bargaining; (2) the investigation and discovery were sufficient to allow class counsel and the court P...

Excerpt: ...in. Code Civ. Proc. § 430.10(e), (f). A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the pleadings, not the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or the accuracy of the described conduct. Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787. The court assumes the truth of all facts properly pleaded, but does not assume the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of facts or law. Evans v. City of Berkeley (2006) 38 Cal.4th 1, 6. Dwelle demurs to ...

Excerpt: ...on of John Isaac Southerland are ruled on as follows: Objection Nos. 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 are sustained. The remaining objections are overruled. The motion to strike the declaration in its entirety is denied. Ruling on Motion Plaintiff's motion to compel further responses to requests for production of documents, set one, is granted in part. The motion is granted as to Request No. 6 as defendant Ford Motor Company's response does not comply w...

Excerpt: ...he default entered against her on or about September 2, 2020. As a preliminary matter, the court notes that the motion was not timely served pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1005. Nevertheless, as plaintiff has responded substantively and does not demonstrate any prejudice caused by the lack of sufficient notice, the court has considered the motion on its merits. The court finds that the motion has been timely made. Relief under Code o...

Excerpt: ...nt should be stricken since cross‐complainant did not serve the pleading within 30 days of issuance of the summons. Such relief is not proper under the circumstances. A cross‐complaint is subject to discretionary dismissal when the cross‐defendant is not served within two years after the action is commenced. (Code of Civil Procedure sections 583.420(a), 583.110.) The cross‐complainant may avoid discretionary relief by making a showing of ...

Excerpt: ...nt of $1,000, under Code of Civil Procedure section 473(c)(1)(B). A party may seek leave from a default within a reasonable time, no later than six months after its entry, upon a showing of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. (Code of Civil Procedure section 473(b).) A court shall grant relief, when timely brought and presented in the proper format, where an attorney submits a sworn affidavit attesting to the attorney's mistake...

Excerpt: ...nctions should be awarded upon the failure of the responding party to timely respond. (Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting, Inc. v. Pacific Healthcare Consultants (2007) 148 Cal.App.4th 390, 410‐411.) The court has carefully reviewed the declarations of counsel submitted in support of their respective positions. The circumstances surrounding the delay in responses may have initially been justifiable. However, the exceedingly lengthy period of time it...

Excerpt: ... 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 are overruled. Ruling on Motion Defendant SGE moves to quash service for lack of jurisdiction. Defendant SGE opposes the court exercising jurisdiction over it in this California action involving injury to a California plaintiff who was injured in Utah. On the other hand, plaintiff asserts this court has specific jurisdiction over SGE. California courts may exercise jurisdiction on any basis so long as it is not inconsi...

Excerpt: ..., fourth, and sixth causes of action are brought against Strauch & Company, who was dismissed from the action on January 27, 2021. The court file does not reflect there have been any amendments to allege these three claims against the moving defendants. In light of the posture of the court file, the court declines to entertain the motion as to the third, fourth, and PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HON...

Excerpt: ...nt motion is a renewal motion pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1008(b) lacks merit. Code of Civil Procedure section 1008(b) states: A party who originally made an application for an order which was refused in whole or part, or granted conditionally or on terms, may make a subsequent application for the same order upon new or different facts, circumstances, or law, in which case it shall be shown by affidavit what application was made b...

Excerpt: ...athaway, James Middleton, Alliance United Insurance Company, and SelfServe Petroleum dba Gas & Shop. After issuance of the summons, but before PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR AUGUST 12, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. PLACER SUPERIOR COURT – DEPARTMENT 42 Thursday Civil Law and Motion – Tentative Rulings Page 16 of 25 providing proof of service, plaintiff dismis...

Excerpt: ... described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court reviews the demurrer keeping this in mind. In paragraph 20, plaintiffs allege “Corcoran acquired Oliver Luxury Real Estate in 2020, and that Corcoran lists Defendants Michael Oliv...

Excerpt: ... accuracy of the described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court reviews the demurrer keeping these principles in mind. /// PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB ...

Excerpt: ...ot the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or accuracy of the described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. A review of the complaint reveals significant pleading deficiencies, making it di...

Excerpt: ... requested in plaintiff's request for judicial notice. The remainder of the request is denied. New evidence submitted with reply papers generally will not be considered where the opposing party has not had the ability to address the new evidence. (Alliant Ins. Services, Inc. v. Gaddy (2009) 159 Cal.App.4th 1292, 1307‐1308; Plenger v. Alza Corp. (1992) 11 Cal.App.4th 349, 362, fn. 8.) PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION D...

Excerpt: ...ved by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 5, 2021. Non‐Party Holly Piatyszek's Motion for Protective Order Preliminary Matters According to the notice of motion, the motion is directed at defendants Strauch & Company Inc. and Donnie Barksdale. Strauch & Company was dismissed PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR JULY 29, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTE...

Excerpt: ...ers submitted show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. (Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(c).) A party to the action may also move for summary adjudication if the party contends there is no merit to one or more of the causes of action. (Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(f)(1).) In reviewing a motion for summary judgment or summary adjudication, the trial c...

Excerpt: ...efendant is still required to PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 42 THE HONORABLE CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR JULY 29, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ANY ORAL ARGUMENT REQUESTED WILL BE HEARD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. IN DEPARTMENT 42. PLACER SUPERIOR COURT – DEPARTMENT 42 Thursday Civil Law and Motion – Tentative Rulings Page 9 of 20 comply with its discovery obligation...

Excerpt: ...rt. (Code of Civil Procedure section 436(a), (b).) The grounds for a motion to strike must appear on the face of the pleading or from judicially noticeable matters. (Code of Civil Procedure section 437(a).) The request is reviewed keeping this in mind. The motion is granted as to paragraphs 9, 10, 17, 19, 20, 21 and the prayer for punitive damages. The language in paragraphs 9, 10, 20, and 21 include PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL L...

Excerpt: ...f America (1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 55, 58; Generale Bank Nederland, N.V. v. Eyes of the Beholder Ltd. (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1384, 1399. On February 22, 2021, defendants were served with an informational Notice of COVID‐19 Tenant Relief Act Extension and New Rental Assistance Program which instructed defendants regarding the necessary steps to protect against an unlawful detainer action for failure to pay rent. On March 4, 2021, defendants were ser...

Excerpt: ...b), 1013, 12a and 12c. In addition, although a proof of service executed by Allen Shamsari under penalty of perjury states that the motion was served by mail on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, defendant rebuts the presumption of proper service by showing that the documents it received were postmarked on Saturday, June 5, less than 16 court days prior to the scheduled hearing date. Demurrer to Complaint Defendant's request for judicial notice is granted. D...

Excerpt: ...ctions, courts do not impose such a sanction lightly. Upon careful review of the moving papers and the court file, the court determines that terminating sanctions are appropriate in this instance. Plaintiff served defendant with discovery requests in June 2020, including interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and requests for admission. Defendant failed to serve any responses. Plaintiff moved to compel responses and to deem reques...

Excerpt: ...iv. Proc. § 430.10(e). A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the pleadings, not the truth of the allegations or the accuracy of the described conduct. Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787. The allegations in the pleadings are deemed true no matter how improbable they may seem. Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604. No extrinsic evidence may be considered in ruling on the demurrer. Ion Equip...

Excerpt: ...gations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court reviews the complaint keeping these principles in mind. A review of the two causes of action reveal both suffer from pleading deficiencies. The third cause of action alleges a claim for professional negligence. Professional negligence specifically incorporates t...

Excerpt: ...79 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) In this instance, the factual allegations in the complaint are insufficient to plead defendant is a corporate entity with liability for the prior entity the Lincoln City Colts. “Successor liability issues are equitable issues to be exam...

Excerpt: ...hat Ryan's moving papers argue that the entire FAC should be dismissed. Ryan argues that the FAC fails to join an indispensable party to the action. A party is considered indispensable if: (1) in his absence complete relief cannot be accorded among those already parties or (2) he claims an interest relating to the subject of the action and is so situated that the disposition of the action in his absence may (i) as a practical matter impair or imp...

Excerpt: ...al notice of the legal effect of a document's language where that effect is clear. Poseidon Dev., Inc. v. Woodland Lane Estates, LLC (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 1106, 1117‐1118; see also McElroy v. Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corp. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 388, 394. With respect to Exhibit 4, the court takes judicial notice of the 2009 loan modification agreement, but not numerous related documents included within the exhibit which do not constitute the ...

Excerpt: ...no showing of prejudice to the opposing 4 party. Howard v. County of San Diego (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1422, 1428; Douglas v. Superior Court (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 155, 158. Defendants fail to establish prejudice sufficient to deny plaintiff's motion. Given that it is plaintiff's burden to establish the elements of each of the alleged causes of action, including in some cases scienter and intent, the court is not persuaded that decedent Herbert Fei...

Excerpt: ..., 374; StorMedia, Inc. v. Superior Court (1999) 20 Cal.4th 449, 457, fn. 9. The court may also take judicial notice of the legal effect of a document's language where that effect is clear. Poseidon Dev., Inc. v. Woodland Lane Estates, LLC (2007) 152 Cal.App.4th 1106, 1117‐1118; see also McElroy v. Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corp. (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 388, 394. Plaintiff's objections to evidence are ruled on as follows: Objection Nos. 1, 2, 3, 6...

Excerpt: ...E CHARLES D. WACHOB TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR JULY 15, 2021 AT 8:30 A.M. purportedly filed by defendant Aspen Earthworks. The court file reflects the subject objections were rejected by the clerk and not filed with the court. Since the objections were not properly filed with the court, Welsh Hagen's supplemental filings from July 12, 2021 will not be considered. Ruling on Objections Welsh Hagen's objections, filed on July 8, 2021, are sustained in th...

Excerpt: ...Executive Orders as does so. The request is denied as to Exhibit M. Plaintiffs' request for judicial notice is granted in its entirety. Ruling on Demurrer In the current request, defendants challenge all eleven causes of action alleged in the original complaint. They allege the complaint is deficient in several respects, focusing primarily on the assertion plaintiffs' action is moot. “California courts will decide only justiciable controversies...

Excerpt: ...ictorville (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 218, 227.) Where a plaintiff brings a the motion, the plaintiff must establish the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action and the answer does not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense to the complaint. (Code of Civil Procedure section 438(c)(1)(A).) A review of the complaint shows the single cause of action for breach of contract is sufficiently pleaded. A review of the answer ...

Excerpt: .... Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court reviews the crosscomplaint keeping these principles in mind. In this instance, cross‐defendants demur to the purported first cause of action in the cross‐complaint. The filing of the cross‐complaint was improper since cross‐complaints generally cannot be filed in unlawful detainer action. (Code of Civil Procedure section 1170; Knowles v. Robinson (1963) 60...

Excerpt: ...y judgment as to the claims alleged in plaintiff and cross‐defendant Van Jordan's (“plaintiff's”) complaint and defendants' second amended cross‐complaint. Summary judgment may be granted where there is no triable issue as to any material fact, and moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Code Civ. Proc. § 437c(c). Defendants moving for summary judgment bear the burden of persuasion that one or more elements of the causes...

Excerpt: ...ds should have been paid to them, instead of being interpled. 4 Pacific Loan Mgmt. Corp. v. Superior Court (1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 1485, 1489. Further, the order may not be made contingent upon plaintiff's compliance with alleged pending discovery obligations. Turning to the issue of plaintiff's requested fees and costs, the court may award plaintiff its reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred in this action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedur...

Excerpt: ... 30, 2020, by plaintiffs Jeannie Depalma (“Depalma”) and Patrick Shields, who allege that Depalma was injured when she slipped and fell on an unknown substance on the floor at defendant's premises. In its case management statement filed October 22, 2020, defendant acknowledged that Depalma “alleges that she slipped on water that had leaked from the ceiling HVAC system”. (Defendant's Case Management Statement filed October 22, 2020.) In th...

Excerpt: ...f asserts in its moving papers that “FCA responded to the Requests in the same obstructionist, bad faith manner that it routinely uses against California consumers who file Lemon Law claims.” Defendants make their own accusations, including for example “Nevertheless, in what has become all too common in California lemon law litigation, Plaintiffs here demand class action‐type discovery, in some instances, in violation of third‐party pri...

Excerpt: ... triable issue of material fact and that the party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850.) The moving party has the burden of showing, by affidavit, facts establishing every element necessary to sustain a judgment in favor of the party. (Consumer Cause, Inc. v. Smilecare (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 454, 468.) Once a plaintiff proves its prima facie case, the burden of proof shifts to t...

Excerpt: ...terrupted because of “the State's unprecedented quarantine response to COVID 19 and that, as a result, the trial was paused for over two and half months.” They claim this delay “and the fear of COVID 19 destroyed the continuity of EMS's case.” EMS and Gerhardt claim that when the trial resumed, the defendants/crosscomplainants were able to complete their evidence without an interruption. They assert this unfairly prejudiced their right to...

Excerpt: ...e described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed to be true no matter how improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court reviews both claims keeping these principles in mind. In the fifth cause of action, plaintiffs allege a claim for breach of fiduciary duty against defendant Dennis Socolean. A caus...