Excerpt: ...hat may be just." (Code of Civil Procedure secton 410.30(a).) A forum non conveniens challenge normally involves a two- step process. First, the trial court must determine whether a suitable alternative forum exists. (Stangvik v. Shiley Inc. (1991) 54 Cal.3d 744, 751.) If there is a suitable alternative forum, then the next step is to consider the private interests of the parties and the public interest in keeping the case in California. (Ibid.) ...

Excerpt: ... for Judicial Notice Defendants' request for judicial notice is granted under Evidence Code section 452. Ruling on Motion The motion is granted in part. Defendants seek to strike causes of action 7 through 11, 13 through 19, and 21 through 24 pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16. The ant-SLAPP statute creates a two-step process for determining whether an action is a SLAPP: First, the court determines whether the action arises from p...

Excerpt: ...nual wage adjustments for employees in accordance with Measure F, former County Code section 3.12.040, contending any amendment to Measure F must be by voter initiative pursuant to Elections Code secton 9125. Respondent files the instant motion contending Measure F was unconstitutional from its inception or alternately was superseded or rendered unconstitutional by subsequent voter initiative or other state law. Evidentiary Rulings Respondent's o...

Excerpt: ...ion demonstrating meaningful attempts to informally resolve the discovery dispute. (Code of Civil Procedure sections 2025.450()b)(2), 2025.480(b).) Meet and confer efforts pursuant to the Discovery Act are meant to benefit the parties, serving a critical role in the efficient administration of an acton. Indeed, the Discovery Act requires the parties make serious attempts to obtain an informal resolution of discovery issues. (Townsend v. Superior ...

Excerpt: ...vil Prmædure secton 438(c)(1)(A).) The moton is reviewed keeping this in mind. The elements for account stated include (1) previous transactions between the parties establishing the relationship of debtor and creditor; (2) an agreement between the parties, express or implied, on the amount due from the debtor to the creditor; and (3) a promise by the debtor, express or implied, to pay the amount due. (Zinn v. Fred R. Bright Co. (1969) 271 Cal.Ap...

Excerpt: ....3d 593, 504.) The complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. As to the third cause of achon for conversion, the demurrer is overruled. The allegations within the complaint, when read as a whole, are sufficient to support this claim. As to the second cause of action, a breach of bailment is generally a contractual relationship where one party agrees to deliver a thing to another party to conform for a specific purpose. (Windelerv. Scheers Jewele...

Excerpt: ... the pleadings are deemed true no matter how improbable they may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (2d Dist. 1981) 123 Cal .App.3d 593, 604.) However, the court 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.) Here, defendants contend the complaint fails to state a cause of action for unlawful detainer because it alleges plaintiffs gave def...

Excerpt: ...r opposition seeking a contnuance to conduct further discovery if the court is inclined to grant the motion. While plaintiffs do have a right to conduct discovery of the facts necessary to sustain their burden of proof, they must also demonstrate that discovery is likely to lead to the production of evidence of facts establishing jurisdiction. (In re Automobile Antitrust Cases I & II (2005) 135 Cal.App.4th 100, 127.) Plaintiffs have only made a g...

Excerpt: ...rnia Rules of Court, Rule 3.1345. Instead, plaintiff unilaterally submitted a concise statement without first seeking leave from the court. Rule 3.1345(b)(2) allows a party to submit a concise statement in lieu of a separate statement where the court authorizes such a submission. Plaintiff made no such request from the court prior to submitting its concise statement. Nor did plaintiff inquire as to whether separate motions, rather than combined m...

Excerpt: ...resno Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Plaintiff purchased a 2020 Chrysler Pacifica from Fresno Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, who is not named as a defendant in this action. FCA relies on the arbitration provision found in the RISC, where plaintiff agreed to arbitrate with Fresno Chrysler regarding: "Any claim or dispute, whether in contract, tort, statute or otherwise (including the interpretation and scope of this Arbitration Provision, and the arbitrabilit...

Excerpt: ... the current request, defendant seeks to compel plaintiff to participate in arbitration under the FAA for his individual PAGA claim in light of plaintiff's execution of the arbitration agreement. A request to compel arbitration under the FAA may be brought in state court. (Southland Corp. v. Keating (1984) 465 U.S. 1, 16; Main v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (1977) 67 Cal.App.3d 19, 24, disapproved of on other grounds in Rosenthal ...

Excerpt: ... improbable the allegations may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court, however, does not accept the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of law. (Genesis Environment Services v. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 597, 603.) A review of the SAC shows that it is sorely deficient. The allegations are unintelligible, making it nearly im...

Excerpt: ...tate facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action or when the pleading is uncertain. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subds. (e), (f).) 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 (6th Dist. 2CG) 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 ...

Excerpt: ...r reconsideration may be granted where the party makes a suffcient showing that there are facts or circumstances not previously considered and there is a valid reason 11 for not previously offering it earlier. (Code of Civil Procedure section 1008(a); Gilberd v. AC Transit (1995) 32 Cal.App.4th 1494, 1500.) Respondent's burden here is comparable to that of a new trial motion, the new or different information must be that which could not, with rea...

Excerpt: ...y demur where the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of acton. (Code Civ. Proc. S 430.10, subd. (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 (6th Dist. 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 Mat...

Excerpt: ..., 10, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are sustained. The remainder of the objections to the Torres declaration are overruled. Plaintiff's objections to the Boyle declaration no. 3, 4, 5, and 7 are sustained. The remainder of the objections to the Boyle declaration are overruled. Plaintiff's objections no. 1 to the Roseman declaration is sustained. Defendants' objections to the declaration are overruled in their entirety. Ruling on Motion The motion is denied....

Excerpt: ...nderson 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) The allegations in the pleading 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, The court reviews the demurrer keeping this in mind. As to the ninth cause of action, plaintiff concedes that this claim should not go forward and she intends to dismiss the cause of action. In light of this, the court sustains the demu...

Excerpt: ...ties entered into an agreement on December 10, 2018; however, exhibit 1 is dated in October 2022. The declaration provides a different payment schedule than that of exhibit 1. Plaintiff has presented insufficient evidence of entitlement to judgment and the motion is denied. Further, it appears this action is subject to mandatory dismissal because service of summons occurred more than three years after the action was commenced. "The summons and co...

Excerpt: ...le a cross-complaint at the tme of filing the answer must seek leave from the court to file the cross-complaint. (Code Civ. Proc„ SS 426.50, 428.50, subd. Leave to file a compulsory cross-complaint is generally granted unless the defendant has not acted in faith or there is substantial prejudice to the plaintiff if 8 leave is granted. (Silver Organization Ltd. v. Frank (1990) 217 Cal.App.3d 94, Foot's Transfer & Storage Co. v. Superior Court (1...

Excerpt: ...e pleading 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.) he court reviews the FAC keeping this in mind. Plaintiff alleges causes of action for negligence and intentional tort based upon an incident that occurred at the Target store in Roseville. Specifically, plaintiff alleges that on March 11, 2020, employees of defendant made false reports...

Excerpt: ...complainants' request for judicial notce is granted under Evidence Code section 452. Ruling on Demurrer In the current challenge, cross-defendants demur to all eight causes of action alleged in the cross-complaint. A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the pleading, not 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 pleading are deemed...

Excerpt: ...Civil Procedure section 437c(c).) The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing that one or more elements of a cause of action cannot be established or there is a complete defense to the cause of action. (ld. at 437c(p)(2).) Only when this initial burden is met does the burden shift to the opposing party to establish a triable issue of material fact. (Ibid.) In reviewing a motion for summary judgment, the trial court must view the sup...

Excerpt: ...ant's failure to contribute the full escrow funds when the original complaint was filed on September 1, 2020. (TAC 942.) Delayed discovery may toll the statute of limitations where the plaintiff shows (1) the time and manner of discovery and (2) the inability to have made an earlier discovery despite reasonable diligence. (Fox v. Ethicon Endo-surgery, Inc. (2005) 35 Cal.4th 797, 808.) Plaintiff, however, has not plead sufficient facts to allege d...

Excerpt: ...s 14 and 16 are sustained; objection numbers 5 through 11 and 13 are sustained as applied to this plaintiff but otherwise overruled. As to the Boyle declaration, plaintiff's objection numbers 4 and 5 are sustained; objection number 7 is sustained as applied to this plaintiff but otherwise overruled. As to the Roseman declaration, the objection is overruled as the substance of the declaration is to identify what was sent during meet and confer eff...

Excerpt: ...ded complaint pursuant to the stipulation of the parties. A party may demur to a complaint where the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Code Civ. Prtw S 430.10(e). A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the pleadings, not the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or the accuracy of the described conduct. Baderv. Anderson (2CG) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787. The court assumes the truth of all facts properly plea...

Excerpt: ...rt weighs the likelihood of whether the moving party will prevail on the merits and the relative interim harm to the parties from the issuance or nonissuance of the injunction. (Hunt v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 984, 999- I(M.) Turning first to whether plaintiff will prevail on the merits, plaintiff relies heavily on its claim for declaratory relief. An action for declaratory relief requires an actual controversy relating to the legal righ...

Excerpt: ...nner required by law, the order or decision is not supported by the findings, or the findings are not supported by the evidence.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1094.5 subd. (b).) “Where it is claimed that the findings are not supported by the evidence, in cases in which the court is authorized by law to exercise its independent judgment on the evidence, abuse of discretion is established if the court determines that the findings are not supported by t...

Excerpt: ... 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. (2d Dist. 1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) For defamation, a plaintiff must allege defendant made a false and unprivileged statement about plaintiff that tended to injure plaintiff's occupation or expose him to hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame, or to encourage others to shun him; defen...

Excerpt: ...ency of the pleadings, not the truth of the allegations or the accuracy of the described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (6th Dist. 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. (2d Dist. 1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) However, the court does not assume the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of facts or law. (Evans...

Excerpt: ...ection 430.10(a) and (c), arguing the court has no jurisdiction over the subject of the causes of action in the first amended complaint as there is another action pending between the same parties on the same causes of action. A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the pleading, not the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or accuracy of the described conduct. (Picton v. Anderson Union High School (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 726, 733.) All properly p...

Excerpt: ...In the current request, defendant seeks to compel plaintiff to participate in arbitration under the FAA for his individual PAGA claim in light of plaintiff's execution of the arbitration agreement. A request to compel arbitration under the FAA may be brought in state court. (Southland Corp. v. Keating (1984) 465 U.S. 1, 16; Main v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. (1977) 67 Cal.App.3d 19, 24, disapproved of on other grounds in Rosentha...

Excerpt: ... demurrer even where the challenge is untimely filed. (Jackson v. Doe (2011) 192 Cal.App.4th 742, 750.) Ruling on Demurrer The demurrer is sustained without leave to amend. A demurrer is reviewed under wellestablished principles. The challenge tests the legal sufficiency of the pleading, not the truth of the allegations or accuracy of the described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (2009) 179 Cal.App.4th 775, 787.) In this vein, the allegations are dee...

Excerpt: ...ished principles. The challenge is brought where the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10(e).) A demurrer is also appropriate based upon the statute of limitations where the grounds appear on the face of the pleading. (Aaronoff v. Martinez-Seftner (2006) 136 Cal.App.4th 910, 918.) The applicable statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the wron...

Excerpt: ...er of law.” Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(c). A party to the action may also move for summary adjudication if that party contends there is no merit to one or more of the affirmative defenses to the cause of action. Code of Civil Procedure section 437c (f)(1). However, a motion for summary adjudication shall only be granted where it completely disposes of a cause of action. Ibid. 2 The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing...

Excerpt: ...t is not bound by unpublished orders of trial courts. Plaintiff's objection to Exhibit 2 of the declaration of counsel Ali Ameripour is overruled. Ruling on the Motion The arbitration statutes evidence a strong public policy in favor of arbitration that is frequently approved and enforced by the courts. (Madden v. Kaiser Foundation Hospitals (1976) 17 Cal.3d 699, 706; Laswell v. AG Seal Beach, LLC (2d Dist. 2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 1399, 1405.) Unde...

Excerpt: ...s (2010) 186 Cal.App.4th 1380, 1389.) Further, the court reviews the moving papers along with the entirety of the court file to determine that the settlement is genuine, meaningful, and consistent with the underlying purposes of the PAGA-related statute. (Lab. Code, § 2699(l); O'Connor v. Uber Technologies, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2016) 201 F.Supp.3d 1110.) The court must also determine whether the PAGA settlement appears fundamentally fair, reasonable,...

Excerpt: ..., 787.) The allegations in the pleadings are deemed true no matter how improbable they may seem. (Del E. Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (2d Dist. 1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) Here, plaintiff alleges three causes of action against defendant: an unspecified “intentional tort,” general negligence, and fraud. As to all three causes of action, plaintiff alleges the following facts: It is unclear what “intentional tort” plaintiff is ...

Excerpt: .... Webb Corp. v. Structural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court, however, does not accept the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of law. (Genesis Environment Services v. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 597, 603.) This is compared to a motion to strike, which is used to strike portions of a complaint that are irrelevant, false, or improperly pleaded. (Code of Civil ...

Excerpt: ...mary judgment/summary adjudication. A party may be granted leave to amend a complaint upon any terms that are necessary and just. (Code of Civil Procedure section 473(a)(1), (2).) This includes allowing for a postponement of trial along with the recovery of any costs to the adverse party. (Ibid.) While there has been a sufficient showing to support plaintiffs' amendments, the defendants will be significantly prejudiced by this sixth iteration of ...

Excerpt: ... establishing the applicability of the FAA along with establishing the existence of a written agreement between the parties to arbitrate. Hoover v. American Income Life Insurance Co. (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 1193, 1207; Nixon v. AmeriHone Mortgage Company, LLC (2021) 67 Cal.App.5th 934, 946. Defendant Ford Motor Company relies on the arbitration provision of a contract that it has not signed. Nor does plaintiff dispute the existence of the arbitrat...

Excerpt: ...duction. Plaintiff had not responded in any way to the initial discovery requests. Plaintiff did not oppose the motion to compel initial responses nor did she respond to any meet and confer efforts. The court order granting the motion to compel directed plaintiff to provide responses within 10 days of service of notice of entry of order. Notice of entry of order was served on plaintiff June 4, 2021. Defendant presents evidence plaintiff failed to...

Excerpt: ...ficiency 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.) However, the court does not assume the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of facts or law. (Evans v. City of Ber...

Excerpt: ...iate Athletic Assn., (1994), 7 Cal.4th 1, 36., 37.) However, the right to privacy is not absolute and courts must balance the right of civil litigants to discover relevant facts against the privacy interests of persons subject to discovery. (See John B. v. Superior Court, (2006) 38 Cal. 4th 1177.) Disclosure may be ordered if a “compelling public interest” would be served thereby. (Britt v. Sup. Ct. (San Diego Unified Port Dist.) 20 Cal.3d at...

Excerpt: ...-defendant Piedmont Capital Management LLC seeks attorneys' fees in the amount of $40,285, asserting 115.1 hours at a rate of $350 per hour. Plaintiff's unopposed motion is granted in part. A prevailing party in an action on contract is entitled to recover reasonable attorneys' fees where the contract provides for their recovery. (Civ. Code, § 1717, subd. (a).) At trial in this breach of contract matter, the court entered judgment in plaintiff's...

Excerpt: ...ation Hospitals (1976) 17 Cal.3d 699, 706; Laswell v. AG Seal Beach, LLC, et al (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 1399, 1405. A defendant seeking to compel arbitration under the FAA bears the burden of establishing the applicability of the FAA along with establishing the existence of a written agreement between the parties to arbitrate. Hoover v. American Income Life Insurance Co. (2012) 206 Cal.App.4th 1193, 1207; Nixon v. AmeriHone Mortgage Company, LLC (...

Excerpt: ...& (f). 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. However, the court does not assume the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fa...

Excerpt: ...der 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.) However, the court 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.) Plaintiff alleges several causes of action in her first amended complaint ...

Excerpt: ... the documents as they appear in the court file rather than as they are presented by defendant. Plaintiff's request for judicial notice is granted. Ruling on the Motion Defendant Taylor's motion to set aside entry of default and default judgment is granted. The court may set aside default due to the moving party's “mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b).) A motion to set aside default must ...

Excerpt: ...ired by the Code. In light of the filing of Ikeda's motion contesting the application, the court will exercise its discretion to consider the application on the merits. The settlement of fewer than all joint tortfeasors must be made in good faith with respect to the remaining defendants. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 877, 877.6.) “The party asserting the lack of good faith shall have the burden of proof on that issue.” (Id. § 877.6, subd. (d).) In ...

Excerpt: ...ove for summary adjudication as to one or more causes of action if the party contends there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (f)(1).) The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing each element of the cause of action entitling them to judgment as a matter of law. (Id. subds. (f)(1), (p)(1).) Only if this initial burden is met will the burden shift to the opposing party to establish a tr...