Excerpt: ...ll the papers 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 acton may also move for summary adjudication that party contends there is no merit to one or more of the causes of action. (Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(f)(1).) The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing that one or m...

Excerpt: ...City of Auburn's answer to the petition filed December 13, 2018, is deemed the answer to the petition as verified June 15, 2019. The court sustains petitioner's objections to Exhibit A of the request for judicial notice, and the declaration of Jon R. Di Cristina. Respondent City of Auburn's request for judicial notice is denied as to Exhibit A, and granted as to Exhibit B. Petitioner Z Brothers Investment, LLC petitions for a writ of administrati...

Excerpt: ...to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." (Code Civ. Proc. S 437c, subd. (c).) Plaintiff, as the moving party, meets their burden if they prove each element of the cause of action. (ld. subd. (p)(l).) Only when this initial burden is met does the burden shift to the opposing party to show a triable issue of material fact exists as to the cause of action. (Ibid.) In reviewing a motion for summary judg...

Excerpt: ...urt notes that Nextitle was granted leave to strike crossdefendants from the second cause of action for contribution. The order was entered on January 22, 2023. In light of this, the court will only address the motion as to the remaining causes of action for equitable indemnity; tort of another; and declaratory relief. Ruling on Objections Nextitle's objections are overruled in their entirety. Ruling on Request for Judicial Notice Cross-defendant...

Excerpt: ...der a record be filed under seal upon express findings of fact that establish: (1) an overriding -nterest that overcomes the public's right to access, (2) an overriding interest supporting sealing the record, (3) a substantial probability that the overriding interest will be prejudiced if the record is not sealed, (4) the sealing of the record is narrowly tailored, and (5) there are no less restrictive means to achieve the overriding interest. (C...

Excerpt: ...dant demurs to the en
Ÿrety of the complaint asser
Ÿng, among other things, that there is another ac
Ÿon pending between the par
Ÿes. (Code of Civil Procedure sec
Ÿon 430.10(c).) The moving party must show an absolute iden
Ÿty of par
Ÿes in both ac
Ÿons with the iden
Ÿcal cause of ac
Ÿon involved in both cases. (Plant Insula
Ÿon Co. v. Fibreboard Corp. (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 781, 788- 789; Bush v. Superior Court (Rains) (1992) 10 Cal.Ap...

Excerpt: ...ly 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 Garc:ia v. McCutchen (1997) 16 Cal.4th 469, 478, fn. 4.) Defendants' Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories and Sanctons The motion is granted. Plaintiff Roghie Fathi shall provide verified responses, without obj...

Excerpt: ...iency of the pleading, not the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or accuracy of the described conduct. (Bader v. Anderson (21%9) 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, 604.) Furthermore, "[t]he courts will not close their eyes to situations where a complaint contains allegations ...

Excerpt: ... 752-753; Ruth v. Kizer (1992) 8 Cal.App.4th 380, 385.) Said another way, the court reconsiders the evidence presented and makes its own independent findings. (Ibid.) There is a strong presumption of correctness concerning the administrative findings and the party challenging the decision has the burden of showing the findings are contrary to the weight of the evidence. (Norasingh, supra.) Moreover, an agency's interpretation of its regulations a...

Excerpt: ...roup v. Drexler (2CM) 22 Cal.4th 1084, 1095; Serrano v. Priest (Serrano Ill) (1977) 20 Cal.3d 25, 48-49.) "The reasonable hourly rate is that prevailing in the community for similar work." (P LCM Group v. Drexler (201%) 22 Cal .4th 1084, 1095 The court has carefully reviewed the billing statements, taking into consideration the hourly rates for comparable work conducted during the same period of time for other similar cases within Placer County, ...

Excerpt: ...the related unlawful detainer action. Actions involving common questions of law or fact pending in the same court may be consolidated into a single case. (Code of Civil Procedure section 1048(a).) However, unlawful detainer actions are summary proceedings with expedited timelines. (Martin-Bragg v. Moore (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 357, 385.) The issues raised in such actons are generally limited in scope to possession of the property. (Ibid.) Plaintif...

Excerpt: ...re 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 cross-complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. Initially, cross- complainant concedes the fourth and fifth causes of action are deficiently pleaded. The court sustains the demurrer as to these claims. Looking at the first, second, and third causes of action, all three are sufficiently plead...

Excerpt: ...mmary adjudication is reviewed under well established principles. A party to the action may move for summary adjudication that party contends there is no merit to one or more of the causes of action. (Code of Civil Procedure section 437c(f)(1).) A plaintiff seeking summary adjudication bears the initial burden of establishing each element of the cause of action of acton. (ld. at 437c(p)(1).) Only when this initial burden is met does the burden sh...

Excerpt: ...e secton 452. Plaintiff's request for judicial notice is granted overthe objection of defendant. Ruling on Objections Defendant's objections are overruled in their entirety. Ruling on Motion In the current request, defendant seeks either entry of summary judgment against the entirety of the complaint or summary adjudication as to each of the seven causes of action alleged in the complaint. A motion for summary judgment may be granted if "all the ...

Excerpt: ...ority to amend a judgment to include additional non-party judgment debtors under an alter ego theory. (Curci Investment, LLC v. Baldwin (2017) 14 Cal.App.5th 214, 222.) This is true even where the judgment is based upon a summary judgment motion. (see Down Jones Co., Inc. v. Avenel (1984) 151 Cal.App.3d 144, 148-149.) Nonetheless, the judgment creditor must make a show-ng, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the nonparty alter ego entity con...

Excerpt: ...ponses to interrogatories are not mandatory where there is no opposition to the motion. (Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.290(c).) It is true that there are no meet and confer requirements to grant a motion for initial responses. Nonetheless, it seems to this court that a party filing multiple discovery motions against an opposing party who is active in the litigation should demonstrate attempts to informally resolve discovery disputes when s...

Excerpt: ...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, 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, 503.) A review of the first, second, third, and fourth causes of ...

Excerpt: ...ructural Materials Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court, however, does not accept the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of aw. (Genesis Environment Services v. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 597, 503.) The complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. First Cause of Action — Constructive Fraud Plaintiff's first cause of achon alleges a claim for constructive fraud. This ty...

Excerpt: ... as to Exhibit B. Ruling on Motion The motion is denied. In the current request, Nissan NA seeks to compel arbitration, invoking both the FAA and the CAA, between ftself and plaintiff pursuant to an arbitration provision included in the retail installment sales contract (RISC) executed by plaintiff and Future Nissan Inc. A defendant seeking to compel arbitration under the FAA bears the burden of establishing the applicability of the FAA along wit...

Excerpt: ... Motion In the current challenge, defendants Brian Peters and SCS-CA seek either summary judgment or summary adjudication as to the claims alleged against them in the complaint. They argue each cause of action is barred under the doctrine of judicial estoppel. The trial court shall grant a moton for summary judgment if "all the papers submitted show that there is no triable issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgm...

Excerpt: ...ions 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 aw (Genesis Environment Services v. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (21%3) 113 Cal.App.4th 597, 603.) The complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. As to the fifth, sixth, and seventh causes of action, the allegations within the compla...

Excerpt: ...lling plaintiff to fulfill her discovery obligations and respond to the propounded written discovery. The first three discovery motions were heard on February 23, 2023. At that time, the court did not impose any form of sanctions but did admonish plaintiff that sanctions could be awarded in the future if plaintiff failed to comply with her discovery obligations. Plaintiff still would not comply with her discovery obligations or the court's three ...

Excerpt: ... (SAC) also identifies Sutter Valley Hospital dba Sutter Medical Center [there is also a reference to "Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento" in the SAC] as a defendant in the action. This defendant has not filed an answer to the SAC nor does it join in the current motion. With this clarification, the court proceeds to review the substance of the pending challenge. Rulings on Objections Plaintiff's objections are overruled in their entirety. Defendan...

Excerpt: ....) 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, 604.) A demurrer seeking a plea of abatement due to another action pending between the same parties on the same cause of action does not apply where one action is in state court and the other is in federal court. (Gregg v. Superior Court (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 134, 136...

Excerpt: ...t does not state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of acton. (Code of Civil Procedure secton 438(c)(1)(B)(ii).) The moton has the same function as a demurrer but is brought where the time for a demurrer has expired. (Code of Civil Procedure section 438(g); Southern California Edison Co. v. City of Victorville (2013) 217 Cal.App.4th 218, 227.) Here, defendants challenge the single cause of action alleging violations under the Unruh Civil Righ...

Excerpt: ...ling the record, (3) a substantial probability that the overriding interest will be prejudiced if the record is not sealed, (4) the sealing of the record is narrowly tailored, and (5) there are no less restrictve means to achieve the overriding interest. (Calfornia Rules of Court, Rule 2.550(d).) Defendant identifies two areas of confidentiality, namely, excerpts of plaintiff's medical records from Sutter Roseville Medical Center and Associates i...

Excerpt: ... to the City's motion. Ruling on Motion The motion is denied. The filing of a contest to the settlement requires the moving party to provide the court with declarations and other evidence demonstrating the facts necessary for the court to evaluate the settlement in light of the Tech-Bilt factors. (Ibid.) At a minimum, the moving party must explain who has entered into the settlement; the amount of the settlement; the allocation of the settlement,...

Excerpt: ...s Co. (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 604.) The court, however, does not accept the truth of contentions, deductions, or conclusions of aw. (Genesis Environment Services v. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 597, 503.) The complaint is reviewed keeping this in mind. First Cause of Action — Constructive Fraud Plaintiff's first cause of achon alleges a claim for constructive fraud. This type of claim arise...

Excerpt: ...erreaching 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 to act intelligently; (3) class counsel is experienced in sim...

Excerpt: ...for a common interest development. The Act does not define the term "prevailing party", nonetheless, case law has interpreted the term to mean the party who prevailed "on a practical level" by achieving the main litigation objectives. (Rancho Mirage Country Club Homeowners Assn. v. Hazelbaker (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 252, 260; Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj (2004) 33 Cal.4th 73, 94; Almanor Lakeside Villas Owners Assn. v. Carson (201...

Excerpt: ...(c); SASCO v. Rosendin Electric, Inc. (2012) 207 Cal.App.4th 837, 848-849.) The request is brought by the defendant who prevailed after a jury trial, so the applicable analysis looks to whether the claim of misappropriation was made in bad faith. Bad faith for the purposes of attorneys' fees under UTSA refers to a claim that was objectively specious and plaintiff subjectively harbored bad faith. (Cypress Semiconductor Corp. v. Maxim Integrated Pr...

Excerpt: ...ion was filed and set for hearing within the proper timelines. The hearing was continued twice due to strained judicial resources and over setting on the court's calendar. The court expressly finds that the continuances were required due to the conditions of the court's docket. Ruling on Request for Judicial Notice Defendants' request for judicial notice is granted under Evidence Code section 452. Ruling on Objections Defendants' objections are d...

Excerpt: ... probability that the overriding interest will be prejudiced if the record is not sealed, (4) the sealing of the record is narrowly tailored, and (5) there are no less restrictve means to achieve the overriding interest. (California Rules of Court, Rule 2.550(d).) Plaintiff identifies a single area of confidentiality, namely, his personal medical records attached as Exhibit B of the com#ndium of exhibits in support of defendant's motion to compel...

Excerpt: ...ing party", nonetheless, case law has interpreted the term to mean the party who prevailed "on a practical level" by achieving the main litigation objections. (Rancho Mirage Country Club Homeowners Assn. v. Hazelbaker (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 252, 2ü Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj (2Cu) 33 Cal.4th 73, 94; Almanor Lakeside Villas Owners Assn. v. Carson (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 761, 773.) Here, it cannot be determined defendant prevaile...

Excerpt: ... judicial notice is granted under Evidence Code section 452. Real party's request for judicial notice is granted under Evidence Code section 452. Ruling on Motion The moton is granted. In the current request, the real party seeks to recover $140,265.W plus a 1.5 multiplier, for a total fee award of $350,662.n, plus $230.35 in costs. Real party asserts that attorneys' fees are recoverable pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure secton 1021.5. This sec...

Excerpt: ...ow 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 that party contends there is no merit to one or more of the causes of action. of Civil Procedure section 437c(f)(1).) The moving party bears the initial burden of establishing that one or more elements of a cause of a...

Excerpt: ...tiff and (2) a showing by the plaintiff of a reasonable probability of prevailing on the merits. (Hunt v. Superior Court (1999) 21 Cal.4th 984, 999-1000.) The plaintiff has the burden of showing plaintiff would be harmed if the preliminary injunction were not granted. (Casmalia Resources, Ltd. v. County of Santa Barbara (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 827, 838.) Plaintiff has made a sufficient showing that the balancing of hardships weigh in favor of plain...

Excerpt: ...ng, 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 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, 504.) The SAC is reviewed keeping these principles in mind. Both causes of achon remain barred under the version of Civil Code sec...

Excerpt: ...years as required in Sections 583.210 and 583.250 while also failing to bring the matter to trial within five years under Sections 583.310 and 583.50. As it pertains to the mandatory three year dismissal statute, the general appearance of the defendant within the statutory period prevents such a dismissal. (Code of Civil Procedure secton 583.220.) Defendants filed answers to the original complaint on May 3, 2021, making general appearances in the...

Excerpt: ...t 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 armslength bargaining; (2) the investigation and discovery were sufficient to allow class counsel and the court to act intelligently; (3) class counsel is exper...

Excerpt: ...set one, within ten days of service of the signed order after hearing. Defendant's Motion to Compel Responses to Request for Production of Documents As an initial matter, the court continued the moton in light of a purported agreement reached by the parties. The court, however, has not received any further information as to this agreement and will proceed to hear the substance of the motion. The unopposed motion is granted. Plaintiff Michael Care...

Excerpt: ...ver, plaintiff Vanessa Kuzel is admonished that 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, including terminating sanctions. (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.) Defendant's Mohon to Compel Further Responses Specia...

Excerpt: ...1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 593, 504.) The court reviews the FAC keeping this in mind. Here, defendant challenges the single cause of action for declaratory relief alleged in the FAC. An action for declaratory relief requires an actual controversy relating to the legal rights and duties of the parties. (Code of Civil Procedure secton 1060.) It is only appropriate where there is an actual controversy and not an abstract or academic dispute. (Connerly v. ...

Excerpt: ...en discovery against multiple individuals. It appears some of the requests to compel are, in actuality, requests to compel further responses. A motion to compel further responses generally requires the filing of a separate statement, which has not been filed here. (California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1345.) It also appears defendants are attempting to compel responses from non-parties who have not been properly served. It is also worth noting that ...

Excerpt: ...re irrelevant to allegations made in the TAC. The court grants the motion as to these sections and exhibit without leave to amend. The motion is denied as to paragraph 44. Defendants' Demurrer to the Third Amended Complaint (TAC) The demurrer is overruled. 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.) T...

Excerpt: ...onal evidence. The court will not consider improperly subm-tted briefing, especially where defendants have had the opportunity but failed to bring a proper request. Since the court has stricken defendants' supplemental opposition, the court will not consider PCWA's substantive arguments in the supplemental reply or declaration filed on April 25, 2023. Ruling on Objections PCWA's objections to defendants' SSLJMF are sustained in their entirety. PC...

Excerpt: ...for Judicial Notice Defendant's request for judicial notice is granted. Plaintiff's request for judicial notce is denied in light of the court's ruling on the objections. Ruling on Motion The motion is granted. The trial court shall grant a motion for summary judgment if "all the papers 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...

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...