Excerpt: ...orandum in supp ort of the petition and by subsequent motion filed April 8, 2024, petitioners also requested this court seal the personal identification information in the operating agreement which is attached to the petition as attachment 4(b). The Motion to seal is GRA NTED. This court in exercising its discretion, after considering and balancing all the factors in California Rules of Court, rule 2.550 and NBC Subsidiary (KNBC -TV), Inc. v. S...

Excerpt: ...y appear t o have been served by regular mail, in violation of Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 1005(c). The Court will overlook the violation in this instance, but may continue future hearings, or disregard filings, for non- compliance with Sect. 1005(c). Legal standard. A demu rrer is used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the pleading, or from matters outside the pleading that are judicially noticeable. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 31...

Excerpt: ...roduction of Documents, Set Two, and Requests for Admission, Set One from Defendant Herbert Perez is DENIED. As a preliminary matter, the motion is untimely. Notice of a motion to compel further responses must be given “given within 45 days of the service of the verifi ed response, or any supplemental verified response” otherwise “the requesting party waives any right to compel a further response to the” request for production or reques...

Excerpt: ...Laws and Disgorg ement Per Business and Professions Code section 7031(b). “Except as provided in subdivision (e), a person who utilizes the services of an unlicensed contractor may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state to recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor for performance of any act or contract.” (Bus. & Prof. Code § 7031(b).) “Section 7031 is directed at precluding unlicensed contract...

Excerpt: ...edwood City, CA, which is part of the Lynda Lake Gardens (“LLG”) development. In short, this action concerns Plaintiffs' access to the central lake in their housing development (“Lot A”) and its surrounding pathway easements. Among other matters, Plaintiffs primarily contend that the actions of the Homeowners' Association (“HOA”) and in particular, Defendant Gary Ernst as owner of the plot in between Plaintiffs' and the lake, prevent ...

Excerpt: ... Equity Growth Asset Management (“EGAM”) did not attempt to meet and confer with him before filing this motion. Under penalty of perjury, he denies EGAM's counsel's declaration that she called Suafai on four separate days, that no one picked up, that the number does not permit leaving a message, and that she sent an email a week before filing the motion. (See Jan. 16, 2024 Declaration of Joanna Kozubal, ¶¶ 3 –7.) Without weighing the cr...

Excerpt: ...plaint (“SAC”) is SUSTAINED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 430.10(e).) Hearing location. Defendants' 12 -28 -23 Notice of Demurrer incorrectly states that the hearing on this Demurrer will take place in the San Mateo courthouse. The hearing will take pla ce in Department 23, which is located to 400 County Center, Redwood City, Ca. Defendants' 12 -28 -23 Request for Judicial Notice (RJN) is GRANTED. (Evid. Code Sect. 452(d).) T...

Excerpt: ...er than five (5) days after service of written notice of this order. Defendants demur to the Complaint under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (e). They argue that the three -day notice to pay rent or quit (referred to as the “Notice”) served to them should have specified that payment of the overdue rent could be made by mail, rather than solely by personal delivery. “A valid three -day pay rent or quit notice is a prere...

Excerpt: ...s Third Cause of Action for Breach of Implied Warranties of Fitness and Merchantability under the SongBeverly Consumer Warranty Act (“Act”) based on failure to allege facts sufficient to support this claim. Defendant argues that Plaintiff has not alleged facts sufficient to support that he gave Defendant pre -suit notice to allow Defendant an opportunity to repair or replace the bicycle, as required under the Act. However, Defendant fails to ...

Excerpt: ...matter, Defendant The Charles Armstrong School (“the School”) fails to demonstrate it satisfied its meet -and -confer obligations. The Declaration of Kellie M. Murphy reveals that the parties' counsel only exchanged correspondence and did not “meet and confer in person, by t elephone, or by video conference” as required. (Code of Civ. Proc., § 430.41, subd. (a).) “A determination by the court that the meet and confer process was insuf...

Excerpt: ...graph 3 of the lease, Defendant PCHRG agreed to pay initial base rent of $15,500.00 monthly for the first two years of the lease, with annual increases thereafter. (See Compl. Ex. 1.) Under paragraph 3, the base rent increased to $17,505.00 on Jan. 1, 2023 and again to $ 18,030.00 on Jan. 1, 2024. Under paragraph 5 of the lease, PCHRG agreed to pay Plaintiff 100% of all real estate taxes assessed against the Premises as additional rent. Accordin...

Excerpt: .... (“SPS”) and U.S. Bank, N.A. (“US Bank”) (collectively, the “Lender Defendants”) regarding a mortgage loan relating to real property located in Daly City, CA. The Lender Defendants demur to each cause of action in the Complaint. Defendants' Request for Judicial Notice (“RJN”) is GRANTED pursuant to Cal. Evid. Code § 452(c), but only as to their existence and not as to the truth of the factual matters contained therein. For the r...

Excerpt: ...s Complaint asserts six causes of action against her employer, Defendant Visa Technology & Operations LLC (“Visa”), for gender, race, and national origin discrimination and retaliation in violation of California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”). (Govt. Code Sect. 1 2940 et. seq.) The Complaint alleges that at all relevant times, Plaintiff resided and worked in Virginia. (Cmplt., para. 4.) It alleges that “[Visa's] office overs...

Excerpt: ...cted free speech under the common interest doctrine set forth in Civil Code § 47(c)(1). The County seeks to strike paragraphs 38 through 43 and 61 through 68 of Plaintiff Steven Heindel's First Amended Complaint. The alleged defamatory statements are contained in paragrap hs 38 through 40 of the First Amended Complaint, which state: 38. Several senior ranking members of the Sheriff's Office have spread rumors that Sergeant Heindel was “walked ...

Excerpt: ... Maduros' (collectively, “Respondents”) “Motion to Transfer Venue,” filed 12 -2223, is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 392 et. seq.) Background. Petitioners/Plaintiffs the City of San Bruno and Walmart.com USA, LLC (“Petitioners”) filed this Petition/Complaint against Respondents, seeking to set aside/invalidate certain decisions (“Reallocation Notices”) made by the CDTFA on April 17, 2023. Petitioners contend that the April 17, ...

Excerpt: ...plaint is DEN IED. Plaintiff and Cross -defendant Montgomery Sansome, L.P.'s Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED as to all items, but only for the existence of these documents as court records and not for the truth of any fact therein. (See Lockley v. Law Office of Cantrell, Green, Pekich, Cruz & McCort (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 875, 883– 884.) Defendant and Cross-complainant Nathalie Anne Gachot's papers reference a request for judicial notice ...

Excerpt: ...aranty Agreement to guarantee the lease entered into by Plaintiff and its tenant, Green Haven LLC (“Tenant”). The Guaranty Agreement calls for joint and several liability among the Guarantors, of whom Defendant Hester is one. (Defendant's SSUMF ¶ 9.) The Tenant defaulted on its re nt obligations in January 2023. (Defendant's SSUMF ¶ 5; Kronenberg Decl. ¶ 3.) Plaintiff now moves for summary judgment against Defendant for breach of guaranty....

Excerpt: ...icken is irrelevant, false, or improper under Code Civ. Proc. § 436(a).) A motion to strike may be used to attack the entire pleading, or any part thereof, even single words or phrases. (Baral v. Schnitt (2016) 1 Cal.5th 376, 393 -394.) The motion lies to strike any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading, or to strike any pleading or part thereof which is not drawn or filed in conformity with the laws of this state, a co...

Excerpt: ...t (SAC), is GRAN TED. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 437c.) The State's alternative Motion for Summary Adjudication (“MSA”) is therefore DENIED AS MOOT. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 437c.) Plaintiff's 11 -6 -23 Objections to Evidence (to the 10 - 10 -23 Corrected Marshall Decl.) are ruled upon as follows: • Marshall Decl., Para. 4 -5. OVERRULED. Plaintiff's objections go to the weight of this testimony. Marshall testified in deposition that she does not...

Excerpt: ...lows: Demurre r to the Seventh Cause of Action for Breach of Duty of Common Carrier, based on failure to state facts sufficient to support this cause of action, is OVERRULED. The FAC alleges that the ambulances operated by Defendants are common carriers under Civil Cod e section 2168 because they hold themselves out to the public generally and indifferently to transport people from place to place for profit. (FAC, ¶ 129.) Defendants argue that ...

Excerpt: ...l Procedure Section 397(a). As Defendants point out, Cal. Code of Civil Procedure Section 395.5 provides: A corporation or association may be sued in the county where the contract is made or is to be performed, or where the obligation or liability arises, or the breach occurs; or in the county where the principal place of business of such corporation is situated, subject to the power of the court to change the place of trial as in other cases. Pl...

Excerpt: ... than ten (10) days after service of written notice of entry of the formal order. As a preliminary matter, the notice of demurrer is defective, as it fails to state “the nature of the order being sought and the grounds for issuance of the order.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.110(a).) However, the memorandum of points and authorities sufficiently sets out the information so as to provide notice to Plaintiff Safeco Ins. Co. of America (“Safec...

Excerpt: ...of Au gust 31, 2023. Based on this alleged nonpayment, Plaintiff served Defendants a “Notice to Pay Rent or Quit” pursuant to CCP § 1161(2) which provides Defendants with ten days to pay the owed rent in full —or, if Defendants fail to cure the default within 10 days, compels Defendants to vacate and deliver up possession of the premises within 30 days of service of the Notice. (Ex. B to Compl.) The parties do not dispute that the tenancy ...

Excerpt: ...ve plea ding, the pleading is OVERRULED. However, Plaintiff's Complaint on its face discloses a fatal defect which requires the Court to instead render judgment on the pleadings in favor of Defendant. Plaintiff has failed to comply with statutory notice requirem ents. “Due to the summary nature of [an unlawful detainer] action, a three -day notice is valid only if the landlord strictly complies with the provisions of section 1161, subdivision 2...

Excerpt: ...plain t is DENIED. Plaintiff and Cross -defendant Montgomery Sansome, L.P.'s Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED as to all items, but only for the existence of these documents as court records and not for the truth of any fact therein. (See Lockley v. Law Off ice of Cantrell, Green, Pekich, Cruz & McCort (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 875, 883 –884.) Defendant and Cross- complainant Nathalie Anne Gachot's papers reference a request for judicial notic...

Excerpt: ... efendants Brius, LLC, Brius Management Co., Rockport Healthcare Support Services, LLC, San Mateo Wellness GP, LLC, San Mateo Healthcare & Wellness Centre, LP, Susan Ehrlich, Nora De Leon, Bryan Guillermo, Shirley Faller, Kristine Guillermo, Chester Kuna ppilly and Shlomo Rechnitz (collectively “Defendants”) to the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) of Plaintiffs Rosario Custodio (“Rosario”), et al. (collectively “Plaintiffs”) is rul...

Excerpt: ...onetary Sanctions is GRANTED. Deendant Tesla Energy Operations, Inc. shall designate and produce a person or persons most qualiÞed to testiy as to the twenty-our categories listed in Plainti
¯s Brad Jones' and Maria Jones' Notice o Entity Deposition No. 3 or deposition and produce the documents requested therein no later than February 23, 2024, or a later date mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing. Deendant Tesla Energy Operation...

Excerpt: ...in 2020. Defendant VintaBio, Inc. (“Defendant” or “VintaBio”) now moves to compel arbitration pursuant to section 10 of the agreement, “Dispute Resolution.” (Li Decl. Ex. A, section 10.) Plainti
¯ opposes, arguing that the arbitration provision is unconscionable and should not be enforced. The arbitration provision states, in relevant part, that “[i]n the event the parties hereto are unable to settle a dispute between them regardin...

Excerpt: ... Sect. 452(d).) The Court declines to rule on Plainti
¯s' 1-29-24 Objection to Evidence on grounds that it is immaterial to disposition of the motion. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 437c(q).) LEGAL STANDARD. A motion for summary judgment or adjudication shall be granted if the papers submitted show there is no triable issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 437c(c).) A pl...

Excerpt: ...mplaint review and analysis document, which is the subject of this motion, on or about June 14, 2014. Devyatov Decl., paragraph 13. That document was discussed between Draegen and Defendant Groeneweg at a June 28, 2019 web conference, wherein Groeneweg obtained a copy of the document. Ibid., at paragraph 14. Draegen argues that the document is protected by attorney-client privilege. Attorney- client privilege is governed by Cal. Evidence Code Sec...

Excerpt: ...t appear on the face of the pleading under attack, or from matters outside the pleading that are judicially noticeable. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) (2) Defendants Demurrer to the Complaint is OVERRULED based on failure to allege facts su
¯icient to support an unlawful detainer action. A demurrer may be brought on the ground that “[t]he pleading does not state facts su
¯icient to constitute a cause of action.” (Code Civ. Pr...

Excerpt: ...f the arbitration proceeding. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 1281.4.) Defendant Meta's former employee, Plainti
¯ Alina Hunanyan, opposes Meta's request for arbitration, arguing that the parties' Arbitration Agreement is unconscionable, mainly because it severely curtails (or prevents) her ability, in arbitration, to conduct pre-hearing, thirdparty discovery. For the reasons explained below, and without discounting Plainti
¯'s expressed concerns about ...

Excerpt: ...lso whether or not sanctions should be imposed at all. The Court thanks counsel for their thorough brieÞng and supplemental brieÞng of these matters. In its initial tentative issued before a hearing on December 4, 2023, this Court concluded that Defendant Martijn Groeneweg (“Groeneweg” or “Defendant”)'s Motion to Compel should be denied on grounds of procedural deÞciency, for a failure to meet and confer prior to Þling the motion. The...

Excerpt: ...A s a threshold matter, a demurrer can be used only to challenge defects that appear on the face of the pleading under attack, or from matters outside the pleading that are judicially noticeable. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) (2) Defendants Demurrer to the Complaint is OVERRULED based on failure to allege facts su
¯icient to support an unlawful detainer action. A demurrer may be brought on the ground that “[t]he pleading does n...

Excerpt: ...(Lazar v. Superior Court (1996) 12 Cal.4th 631, 638.) Plainti
¯ must plead facts showing how, when, where, to whom, and by what means the alleged representations were made. (Id. at 645.) The Complaint lacks these allegations. As against the First and Second Causes of Action, Defendant argues that paragraph 11 does not constitute actionable fraud. (Mov. P&A at 5:2-5.) The argument is misguided because the fraud claims are not based on Paragraph 1...

Excerpt: ...in part and SUSTAINED in part WITH LEAVE TO AMEND as set forth below. Plainti
¯s Dennis Johnson and Rose Johnson may Þle and serve a Third Amended Complaint no later than January 12, 2024. Aron Construction, Inc. and Navneet Aron (collectively “Aron Defendants”) here demur to the eighth through tenth causes of action in the Second Amended Complaint (the “SAC”). Defendant ADL 7, LLC (“ADL 7”) has joined in the demurrer. Because the a...

Excerpt: ...orceable, a promise need only be "definite enough that a court can determine the scope of the and the limits of performance must be sufficiently defined to provide a rational basis for the assessment of damages." (Broome v. Regents of Univ. of California (2022) 80 Cal.App.5th 375, 389.) Plaintiff argues that alleged promise, on which the claim is based, is based on paragraphs 55 and 57 of the Second Amended Complaint. (Opp. P&A at 4:8-15.) Those ...

Excerpt: ...on for judgment on the pleadings has the same function as a general demurrer but is made after the time for demurrer has expired. The rules governing demurrers apply. (Cloud v. Northrop Grumman Corp. (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 995, 999.) The grounds for a motion for judgment on the pleadings must appear on the face of the challenged pleading and/or be based on facts the court may judicially notice. (Code Civ. Proc. sect. 438(d); Tung v. Chicago Title ...

Excerpt: ...art, without leave to amend pursuant to Cal. Code of Civil Procedure Section 430. IO(e) as to the Second COA for Breach of Written Contract and Third COA for Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, and OVERRULED, in part, as to the Tenth COA for Fraudulent Concealment, as follows. Second COA for Breach of Contract SUSTAINED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. Plaintiffs' allegations of breach of contract against the demurring Defendants hinge ...

Excerpt: .... Defendants urban Flat, LLC's and Evan Haskell's Request for Judicial Notice is DENIED as irrelevant. (AL Holding Co. v. O'Brien & Hicks, Inc. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1310, 1313 fn. 2 ["a court must decline to take judicial notice of material that is not relevant"].) A. Legal Standard on Demurrer On a demurrer, the Court must "assume the truth of the facts alleged in the com-plaint and the reasonable inferences that may be drawn from those facts."...

Excerpt: ...TIMOTHY ALEXANDER TENTATIVE RULING: The Motion of Defendant Timothy Alexander ("Defendant") to Compel Further Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set 1, Special Interrogatories, Set 1 and Request for Production, Set 1, from Plaintiff Ole Ventures Inc. ("OVI") and Request for Sanctions is ruled on as follows: (1) The Motion to Compel Further Responses to Form Interrogatories and Special Interrogatories is DENIED as untimely. A motion to compel furt...

Excerpt: ...g a "Shareholder Agreement" ("Agreement") entered into on April 1, 2016 by Plaintiff Ester Uziel ("Plaintiff") and her son, Defendant David uziel ("Defendant"). The Agreement, attached as Exhibit A to both Plaintiff's initial verified Complaint and her unverified First Amended Complaint ("FAC") contains an arbitration provision at paragraph 9.1, which reads: "If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement or its breach, the parties agree...

Excerpt: ...on submitted in support of Defendants' Reply is OVERRULED. Existence of Agreement to Arbitrate On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party to the agreement refuses to arbitrate that controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, u...

Excerpt: ...laint is SUSTAINED in part and OVERRULED in part. Defendants Matte Sun Group, LLC's and Evan Haskell's Request for Judicial Notice is DENIED as irrelevant. (AL Holding Co. v. O'Brien & Hicks, Inc. (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1310, 1313 fn. 2 ["a court must decline to take judicial notice of material that is not relevant"].) As a preliminary matter, Plaintiff TGA F299 Franklin LLC's opposition was not timely filed or served. (See Code of Civ. Proc„ S ...

Excerpt: ...0 for an order compelling Plaintiff Swenberg to provide responsive documents to the Document Request Nos. 21, 22, 80, 88, 89, 100-103, 105, and 113-118 which were attached to Dmarcian's Second Amended Notice of Continued Deposition to Plaintiff. In particular, Dmarcian seeks the production of the following documents: First category: mitigation documents Relating to Agari: consulting agreement, invoices, records of payments, and any 1099 form from...

Excerpt: ... DISCOVERY PROCESS BY PLAINTIFFS OLE TRAVEL INC. AND OLE VENTURES INC. TENTATIVE RULING: The Motion of Plaintiffs Ole! Travel Inc. and Ole Ventures Inc. ("Plaintiffs") for Monetary Sanctions, Issue Sanctions, Evidentiary Sanctions, Terminating Sanctions and/or Contempt Sanctons against Defendant Timothy Alexander is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Plaintiffs filed this Motion on March 5, 2023, which was originally set for hearing on September 11, 2023....

Excerpt: ..., and OVERRULED in part as to the general demurrer to the SAC as being barred by collateral estoppel, as follows. Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED pursuant to Cal. Evidence Code Section 452(d). Collateral Estoppel as to Entire SAC OVERRULED. Collateral estoppel applies when an issue determined in a prior adjudication is identical to that presented in a subsequent action, the prior adjudication resulted in a determination on the ...

Excerpt: ...ice of Appeal "fails to state a cause of action" against the Fields, and/or improperly names them as parties (real parties in interest) in this appeal. (Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 430.10(d), (e).) The function of a demurrer is to test whether, as a matter of law, the facts alleged in the complaint state a cause of achon under any legal theory. Intengan v. BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 1047, 1052. Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 389(a) stat...

Excerpt: ...to amend, as to the Special Demurrer to the First Cause of Acton ("COA") for Civil Rights Violations pursuant to Cal. Code of Civil Procedure Section 430.10(e). OVERRULED with respect to the general Demurrer to the Complaint and the remaining special demurrers. General Demurrer OVERRULED. Defendants argue that each cause of action in the Complaint must be dismissed pursuant to Heck v. Humphrey, (1994) 512 U.S. 477 ("Heck") because the claims impl...

Excerpt: ... Reply Request for Judicial Notice is DENIED because none of the requested matter is material to the Court's evaluation of Defendants' motion. l. ABO COMIX STANDING The motion is DENIED as to A. 8.0. for lack of standing. The cases cited by County do not support this motion. In the case of Creed-21 v. City of Wildomar (2017) 18 Cal.App.5th 690, the complaint alleged that the plaintiff organization was "formed and operating under the laws of Calif...

Excerpt: ... served form interrogatories, a first set of special interrogatories, and a first set of document requests on Plaintiff. (Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice ("RJN") Ex. C-1.) After some back and forth with Plaintiff's counsel, Defendant requested an Informal Discovery Conference ("IDC") before Commissioner Mau, which was held on June 5, 2023. (ld.) Plaintiff agreed to serve substantive supplemental discovery responses by June 13, 2023. (ld.)...

Excerpt: ... strike paragraphs 19 and 25 from the First Amended Complaint on the grounds that these paragraphs contain false matter under CCP S 436. However, 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. (CCP S 437.) The falsity of Plaintiff's allegations does not appear on the face of the FAC, and Defendants have not requested that the Court take judicial notice...

Excerpt: ...E failed to provide verified responses to Form Interrogatories that were served in July 2021. The Court granted Plaintiff Oakville Produce Partners' motion to compel verified responses and ordered Defendant Le to provide verified responses "within 14 days of service of this order" and to pay a monetary sanction of $1,185.00 "within 30 days service of this order." (Order, Dec. 8, 2022 (filed Dec. 9, 2022.) Plaintiff served Notice of Entry of Order...

Excerpt: ... COA for Breach of Contract Plaintiffs were given leave to amend the original Complaint as to the sustained demurrer to the Second Cause of Action for Fraud. See June 20, 2023 Order. The amendments to the First Cause of Action for Breach of Contract were not authorized by that order. Following an order sustaining a demurrer or a motion for judgment on the pleadings with leave to amend, the plaintiff may amend his or her complaint only as authoriz...

Excerpt: ...e an amended answer no later than November 20, 2023. Cross- complainants FXIO International, Inc.'s and Plan B Equipment Rentals, LLC's Request for Judicial Notice is DENIED as irrelevant. (Licudine v. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2016) 3 Cal.App.5th 881, 902 ["trial court retains its usual discretion not to take judicial notice of matters that are irrelevant"].) As a preliminary matter, the notice of demurrer provides the incorrect address for t...

Excerpt: ... GRANTED as to Exhibits 5-6. (Evid. Code Sect. 452(c).) As to each of these documents, the Court takes judicial notce of their contents and the dates that they were filed and/or issued, but the Court does not take judicial notice of the truth of statements/allegatons in the documents. Plaintiff Li's 10-24-23 Reply brief was untimely filed, but the Court has considered it. Plaintiff's Reply brief was due 10-23-23. Plaintiff filed it on 10-24-23, o...

Excerpt: ... Owner, LLC ("Plaintiff" or "The Marina"). Plaintiff and, collectively, the five Defendants brought cross-motions for summary judgment. Plaintiff partially settled with four of the five defendants, leaving Defendant Matthew Klein ("Defendant" or "Klein") the sole remaining Defendant in the action. The Court granted summary judgment for Plaintiff against Klein and entered the Judgment following its Order Granting Summary Judgment on June 29, 2023....

Excerpt: ...t to Cal. Evidence Code Section 452(d). Fourteenth COA for Breach of Fiduciary Duty OVERRULED. The SAC alleges that Defendant Hillhouse had authority and control over Plaintiff's finances, books, records and accounting documents, and that she handled Plaintiff's money and was entrusted to handle the finances at Plaintiff's law practice. SAC, "5, 171. It also alleges that Defendant Hillhouse had control and access to Plaintiff's American Express C...

Excerpt: ...Anthony L Webb shall file his Third Amended Complaint no later than December 4, 2023. As a preliminary matter, the demurrer is made on behalf of Defendants Private Defender Program Office ("PDPO"), Lisa Maguire, and Paul Demeester. However, Maguire and Demeester were dismissed on October 27, 2023. The portion of the demurrer made by them is thus moot, and only the portion of the demurrer made by POPO is relevant here. Though the five causes of ac...

Excerpt: ...e absence of any extrinsic evidence, the Court may "determine the parties' intentions as disclosed by the lease itself, looking at the plain language" of the contract, "viewed within the lease as a whole." (Frittelli, Inc. v. 350 N. Canon Drive, LP (2011) 202 Cal.App.4th 35, 44.) Although Paragraph 9 is titled "Indemnification of Lessor" and includes language of indemnification, the first sentence of Paragraph 9 is tantamount to an exculpatory cl...

Excerpt: ...tes that Defendant's counsel's meet and confer declaration states that the parties met and conferred via email. (Schultz Decl., '1 2.) However, CCP S 430.41 requires the parties to meet and confer "in person or by telephone." Any subsequent failure to file a meet and confer declaration will result in the matter being ordered off calendar. Defendant demurs to Plaintiff's Third Cause of Acton for Breach of Implied Warranties of Fitness and Merchant...

Excerpt: ...ng that interest on the judgment would accrue at 10% per annum from the date of entry until paid. Matrix now moves the Court to amend the judgment to add Vitaly Golomb ("Golomb"), the sole owner and officer of Plaintiff Time Traveller, Inc. ("Time Traveller" or "Plaintiff") as a judgment debtor pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure ("CCP") S 187. For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED. CCP S 187 empowers the trial court t...

Excerpt: ...laintiff's request for attorney's fees on the grounds that Plaintiff has not stated any grounds for recovery of fees, except for Plaintiff's Third Cause of Acton for violation of Civil Code 1790, et.seq. Because Plaintiff has not stated a claim for violation of the Song-Beverly Act, Plaintiff has not asserted any viable claim for recovery of attorney's fees. Accordingly, Defendant's moton to strike Plaintiff's claim for attorney's fees is GRANTED...

Excerpt: ...r Judicial Notice (RJN) is GRAN ED. (Evid. Code Sect. 452(c).) Background. Plaintiff's 11-17-22 FAC alleges that Plaintiff Mboma started working as an for Defendant DPR Constructon in 2020. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants discriminated against her due to her race/national origin and her pregnancy/sex, that Defendants harassed and retaliated against her, and ultmately terminated her. Plaintiff's FAC asserted 20 total causes of action, six (6) of...

Excerpt: ...nt"). Plaintiff Jose David Sanchez, a former employee of Defendant, initially brought a complaint to the Labor Commissioner. The Labor Commissioner is empowered to hold administrative "Berman" hearings to provide an ex#ditious and less costly means to adjudicate wage claims. (Lolley v. Campbell (2CM) 28 Cal.4th 367, 372-373.) The parties settled the claim and agreed that Defendant would pay Plaintiff (via the Labor Commissioner) settlement sums a...

Excerpt: ... DENIED without prejudice. A motion for an order compelling further responses to interrogatories must file a meet and confer declaration that states "facts showing a reasonable and faith attempt at an informal resolution of each issue presented by the motion." of Civ. Proc., S 2015.010; see id., at S 2030.300, subd. he purpose of these statutory requirements is to make civil discovery self-executing, without the need for judicial intervention. (T...

Excerpt: ...he ground of fraud or mistake. Cal. Code of Civil Procedure Section 338(d). Plaintiff's cause of action for fraud is based on events that took place from July to September of 2017. Complaint, 99, 16. This action was filed more than three years later, on September 20, 2021. This cause of action is therefore time-barred on the face of the Complaint, and the Demurrer is SUSTAINED on this basis. Defendant additionally argues that the Complaint fails ...

Excerpt: ...econd, and Eighth Causes of Action, arguing that they do not sufficiently state a cause of action. The Court finds that these three claims are adequately pled at the pleading stage, for the reasons stated below. Legal standard. A demurrer is used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the pleading, or from matters outside the pleading that are judicially noticeable. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) A demurrer assumes all fact...

Excerpt: ...z, Rebecca Yuhasz, Chase Yuhasz and Max Yuhasz (collectively "Plaintiffs") is OVERRULED. The FAC alleges a single cause of action for Declaratory Relief. Plaintiffs allege that an actual controversy exists between Plaintiffs and Defendants regarding the amount of attorneys' fees and costs, if any, to which Defendants are entitled to Plaintiffs' recovery from the Fire Victim Trust. (FAC 33.) Defendants claim they are entitled to the entire contrac...

Excerpt: ...Mayer communicated with his attorney concerning Plaintiff Mayer's expert testimony. Any privilege that existed between Plaintiff Mayer and his attorney as to communications regarding expert testimony was waived when Plaintiff Mayer testified as an expert at his deposition. Plaintiff has already agreed to produce such documents but stated that none exist. (Mayer Deposition, attached as Exhibit G to Moving Declaration of Varnica.) The motion is DEN...

Excerpt: ...the Court sustained Defendant's Demurrer to Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint, in part, with respect to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth causes of acton therein, without leave to amend at that time because leave to allege those causes of action was not within the scope of the leave to amend permitted by the Court's December 9, 2022 Order. The denial of leave to amend on July 10, 2023 was issued without prejudice to granting leave to a...

Excerpt: ...ich are directed to the FAC'S Third Cause of Acton, which asserts a claim for "foreclosure of mechanic's lien." As explained below, the Court finds that these arguments are not grounds for a demurrer. Defendant Rose's unopposed Request for Judicial Notice, filed 4-25-23, is GRANTED as to Ex. 1 (Evid. Code Sect. 452(d)), and GRANTED as to Ex. 2. (Evid. Code Sect. 452(h).) As to the USPS website page, the Court takes judicial notice of the contents...

Excerpt: ...THOUT LEAVE TO AMEND and OVERRULED IN PART. Defendants Marianne Onate and Emmanuel Onate shall file their answer(s) no later than ten (10) days after entry of this order. Defendants Marianne Onate's and Emmanuel Onate's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. Plaintiffs Proud Thai Massage LLC's and Alexander Mayer's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. The demurrer is SUSTAINED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND, with respect to the First through Eighth C...

Excerpt: ...eclaration in Defendant's demurrer filed March 24, 2023. However, because a failure to meet and confer is not grounds to sustain or overrule a demurrer, the Court proceeds to the merits of the motion. In this subrogation action, Plaintiff alleges that Defendant negligently provided professional plumbing services to Plaintiff's insured. The Complaint contains two causes of action: negligence and breach of implied warranty. Defendant demurs on vari...

Excerpt: ...intiff did not unreasonably delay its request to amend the Complaint. Additionally, the Court takes note of the rule that requests to amend are to be liberally granted. Nestle v. City of Santa Monica (1972) 6 Cal.3d 920, 939. When amendment would not prejudice and has not misled the other side, even if the request is delayed, the liberal policy of allowing amendments prevails and it is an abuse of discretion to deny leave in such a case even if s...

Excerpt: ...otion for Order to Release Plaintiff and Crossdefendant Mavericks Builders' Mechanics Lien and Expunge Lis Pendens is GRANTED for the reasons set forth below. Defendants, Cross-complainants, and Cross-defendants Ryan Atkins and Meghan Concra are ordered to prepare a formal order or orders that include the required specifications of the lien and lis pendens and release Plaintiff and Cross-defendant Mavericks Builders' claim of a mechanics lien and...

Excerpt: ...filed on August 19, 2019, and this amended complaint was otherwise substantially unchanged from the initial complaint. A Second Amended Complaint was filed on January 13, 2020, alleging eight causes of action: The First COA for Breach of Contract against the seller, Betty L. Swedberg; Second COA for Fraud against Swedberg; Third COA against Swedberg for Negligent Misrepresentation, and Fourth Cause of Acton against Swedberg of violations of Civil...

Excerpt: ... to a commercial lease. The dispute centers on whether the parties' lease agreement included/incorporated by reference an "Addendum A," which purportedly granted/provided the tenants/defendant an option to renew the lease upon its expiration. The parties participated in a July 7, 2023 court trial, which inwlved witness testimony. upon its conclusion, the Court issued a Minute Order indicating its intenton to find in favor of Defendant (tenant) an...

Excerpt: ...-motions for summary judgment. Plaintiff partially settled with four of the five defendants, leaving Defendant Matthew Klein ("Defendant" or "Klein") the sole remaining Defendant in the action. The Court granted summary judgment for Plaintiff against Klein and entered the Judgment following its Order Granting Summary Judgment on June 29, 2023. Plaintiff served the Notice of Entry of Judgment Following Order Granting Summary Judgment on Defendant ...

Excerpt: ...ss and Professions Code section 7031(b). "Except as provided in subdivision (e), a person who utilizes the services of an unlicensed contractor may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state to recover all compensation paid to the unlicensed contractor for performance of any act or contract." (Bus. & Prof. Code S 7031(b).) Plaintiffs seek summary adjudication on the ground that Defendant was an unlicensed contractor duri...

Excerpt: ...he Complaint. PhotoGauge contends that (1) the first cause of action fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action and (2) the Court has no jurisdiction over the subject of the second cause of action. (Code of Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subds. (a), A. First Cause of Action: Breach of Contract The first cause of acton is premised upon the employment contract entered into Heslin and PhotoGauge in March 2021. (Sep. 14, 2022 Complaint, '...

Excerpt: ...claim is one upon which an attachment may be issued, (2) plaintiff has established the probable validity of the claim, (3) the attachment is not sought for any purpose other than to secure recovery on the claim, and (4) the amount to be secured is greater than zero. CCP S 484.090. Except as otherwise provided by statute, a claim is one upon which an attachment may be issued: (1) in an action on a claim or claims for money, (2) based upon a contra...

Excerpt: ...Sanctions is ruled on as follows: (1) The Motion to Requests for Production ("RFP") Nos. 1, 2, 7, 22, 24, 29, 34, 36, 38-40, 68, 70, 71, 76, 77, 79, 81, 83, 92, and 97 is GRANTED. The dispute regarding these RFP pertains to a 9/1/15 Plan Set that Plaintiff contends Suffolk deleted from Procore Technologies, Inc. ("Procore") and failed to produce in response to these RFP. Suffolk asserted objections to these RFP, but then notwithstanding those obj...

Excerpt: ...very Order is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART for the reasons set forth below. Defendants Jason Ertola and Brittany Ertola are ordered to provide responses without objections to Plaintiff Mark Benson's March 27, 2023 Form Interrogatories no later than three (3) days after service of written notice of this order. Defendants Jason Ertola and Brittany Ertola are also ordered to pay, jointly and severally, Plaintiff Mark Benson's reasonable expens...

Excerpt: ...of action." Code Civ. Proc. Sect. 430.10(c); see Michael Liberty's 5-2-23 Second Amended Complaint (SAC) in the earlier-filed case, Case No. 21ClV04741, captioned Michael Liberty v. Bank of the West. Accordingly, Mr. Liberty's FACC in this case is HEREBY ABATED/STAYED, pending resolution of Liberty's claims against Hillhouse in Case No. 21CIV04741. Sect. 430.10(c) prov-des for demurrer, and for abatement of the laterfiled action, where "there is ...

Excerpt: ...nt had knowledge of the object to be attained and intentionally participated in the wrongdoing. Demurrer, 6:5-7. The Complaint alleges that each Defendant is an alter ego of the other. Complaint, 937. It also alleges that each Defendant acted both individually and in alignment with the other Defendants with full knowledge of their respective wrongful conduct and building upon each other's wrongdoing in order to accomplish the acts alleged in the ...

Excerpt: ...re or quit for breach of lease covenant on March 8, 2023." (MPA, p.4.) According to Defendants, because Plaintiff's Complaint does not attach a threeday notice to cure or quit served on March 8, 2023, the notice requirements of Civ. Code 1946.2(c) have not been satisfied, and Plaintiff's Complaint is fatally ambiguous. Plaintiff responds that both the Three-Day Notice to Quit and the Complaint allege that Defendants were first given notice of the...

Excerpt: ...laintiff's Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") is DENIED. The parties' respective requests for judicial notice are GRAN ED pursuant to Cal. Evidence Code section 452(d). Defendants argue that Plaintiff does not sufficiently allege a fiduciary duty owed to herself individually, because she alleges her ownership interest of FMCTD and Bayshore were through her interest in Nucleus Management. Reply, 2:23-3:16. The Ninth COA in the SAC alleges, in part: ...

Excerpt: ... the burden of proof is on the plaintiff to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that "minimum contacts" exist between defendant and the forum state to justify the imposition of personal jurisdiction. (Mihlon v. Sup. Ct. (1985) 159 Cal.App.3d 703, 710; Ziller Electronics Lab GmbH v. sup. ct. (1988) 206 cal.App.3d 1222, 1232-1233.) Under a general jurisdiction analysis, a nonresident defendant may be sued on a cause of acton unrelated to...

Excerpt: ...cer. (Complaint at 42; Javer Dec. at '1 4.) In Defendants' conditional non- opposition to Plaintiffs' motion, Defendants do not dispute that Plaintiffs are entitled to a trial preference pursuant to Code Civ. Proc. S 36(a). Accordingly, the Court finds that, pursuant to CCP S 36(a), Plaintiff has demonstrated a substantial interest in this action and that her health is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing her interest in the...

Excerpt: ... filed on December 20, 2018. A First Amended Complaint was filed on August 17, 2020. Defendant was substituted as Doe Defendant no. 1, and was served with the summons and complaint on September 14, 2022. (Mitrione Decl. 1-2.) A "summons and complaint shall be served upon a defendant within three years after the achon is commenced against the defendant." (Code of Civ. Proc. ("C.C.P.") S 583.210(a).) An action is "commenced" at the time the complai...

Excerpt: ...est for Judicial Notice is GRANTED pursuant to Cal. Evidence Code secton 452(d). In an action is for injury to person or personal property or for death from wrongful act or negligence, the superior court in either the county where the injury occurs or the injury causing death occurs or the county where the defendants, or some of them reside at the commencement of the action, is a proper court for the trial of the action. Cal. Code of Civil Proced...

Excerpt: ... three payment options in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1161(2). The Court agrees with Defendant. Pursuant to CCP S 1161(2), a three-day notice must provide the following information relating to how payment may be made: (1) "the amount that is due, the name, telephone number, and address of the person to whom the rent payment shall be made, and, if payment may be made personally, the usual days and hours that person will be avai...

Excerpt: ... does not state that non-renewal of lease will render termination of the tenancy. The notice should have given the opportunity to cure. This did not happen because the notce was to quit without the opportunity to perform." The argument lacks merit. The Notce expressly states that rent was not paid by February 1, 2023, and it sets forth explicit instructions on how and where to pay the delinquent rent. The Notice is sufficient. Defendant's argumen...

Excerpt: ...hnson and Rose Johnson shall file a second amended complaint no later than ten (10) days after service of written notice of this order. Defendants Compass California II, Inc. ("Compass") and Joe Velasco demur to the tenth cause of action for fraudulent concealment set forth in Plaintiffs Dennis Johnson's and Rose Johnson's First Amended Complaint (the "FAC")— pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision on the grounds that it...

Excerpt: ...or "Creditor's Claim Deemed Rejected." (SAC 33-43.) The SAC states that Plaintiff previously filed a creditor's claim in the related pending probate action, Estate of Omid Tabatabai, San Mateo Superior Court Case No. 22PRO[n832 ("probate action"). (SAC '134.) The SAC alleges that Defendants failed to take action on the creditor's claim, and therefore Plaintiff exercises its option to deem the creditor's claim as rejected. (SAC 38-42.) Since a cre...

Excerpt: ...urchased the vehicle. Richards's purchase was financed, creating a lien immediately upon the sale. Defendants towed the vehicle pursuant to Vehicle Code section 22651, resulting in an immediate lien "for caring for and keeping the vehicle safe." (Veh. Code S 22851, subd. (a)(l).) Plaintiff's lien is superior to Defendants' lien, having been created and having attached first. The owner of a vehicle towed pursuant to Section 22651 has a right to re...

Excerpt: ...ment Debtor VITALY GOLOMB concedes belong to him, his wife Kateryna Mamyko-Golomb, and Golomb Solet Capital. Judgment Debtor Golomb concedes that he was CEO and "owner" of TIME TRAVELLER. If that is true, then money transfers to his wife and to Golomb Solet-i Capital raise questions about their propriety, especially since at least some of the transfers occurred after this lawsuit was filed. To determine whether the transfers were fraudulent for t...

Excerpt: ...and Reply briefs, and considers them timely. Facts. This is a residential unlawful detainer (UD) case. The allegations in Plaintiff's Complaint appear to be undisputed. As alleged, on 12-6-23, Plaintiff served Defendant with a Three-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Vacate. Defendant was two months behind in her rent payments at this time, having failed to pay rent for both November and December, 2023. On 12- 9-23, the Three-Day Notice expired. After the...

Excerpt: ...D as to exhibits A—B attached to the April 7, 2023 Declaration of Jason George and DE-NIED as to exhibits C—H. A hearing was held November 7, 2022, at which the Court continued the hearing to May 22, 2023, and permitted the parties to file supplemental briefing. The Court has considered the supplemental briefing and issues this modified tentative ruling. Defendant Facebook, Inc. ("Facebook") demurs to the First Amended Complaint (the "FAC") o...