Excerpt: ...rbitration. The Court finds defendant has met its initial burden to show there is an arbitration agreement between the parties (De la Torre Dec., filed Nov. 13, 2023, ¶ 5, Ex. A), and Plaintiff has not met his shifting burden to demonstrate ground for denial by a preponderance of the evidence. (Knight, Cal. Prac. Guide: Alt. Disp. Res. (Rutter, Dec. 2023 Update) ¶¶ 5:320, 5:321, 5:322. See Reply, filed Jan. 8, 2024, at p. 4:2- 3 [arguing �...

Excerpt: ... any terms as may be proper.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (a)(1).) There is a policy of “great liberality” in allowing amendments to pleadings at any stage of the proceeding so as to dispose of cases upon their merits where the authorization does not prejudice the substantial rights of others. (Board of Trustees v. Superior Court (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 1154, 1163.) When considering whether to permit amendments to pleadings, court should...

Excerpt: ... of Danie l D. Geoulla (Geoulla Decl.) ¶¶ 3-4; id., exh. C.) Petitioner seeks relief from the requirement of presenting a claim for personal injury within six months of accrual of his cause of action before bringing an action against Burlingame. There is no dispute that he did not present a claim to Burlingame within six months, but Rhodes contends his failure was due to his mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. A. Legal Standa...

Excerpt: ...ontinued t he hearing to the instant hearing date: [T]o permit plaintiff to depose declarant Alberto Germano for the limited purpose of inquiring into the two screenshots at Paragraph 5 at of his two otherwise identical declarations filed on December 28, 2023 and Feb ruary 13, 2024, respectively, and explanation regarding a printing error. (See Reply, filed February 13, 2024, at p. 3:25 -28, fn. 2; Defendant's Response, filed February 21, 2024...

Excerpt: ... on uncertain ty is OVERRULED. Legal Standard on Demurrer A party may demur to a pleading on any one or more of the grounds laid out in Code of Civil Procedure, section 430.10, including that the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10.) A court must “treat the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law [an...

Excerpt: ...shall be verifie d and allege all of the following: (a) The date of recordation of the claim of lien. A certified copy of the claim of lien shall be attached to the petition. (b) The county in which the claim of lien is recorded. (c) The book and page or series number of t he place in the official records where the claim of lien is recorded. (d) The legal description of the property subject to the claim of lien. (e) Whether an extension of cred...

Excerpt: ...nopposed motion for summary judgment against defendant Andreas Tzortiz (“Defendant”). This Court denied plaintiff's first motion for summary judgment due to procedural deficiencies with the proof of service. As to plaintiff's second motion for summary judgment, the Court fin ds that a rebuttable presumption of proper service has been established, and therefore proceeds to consider the merits of the motion for summary judgment. In ruling on...

Excerpt: ...Proc., § 437c.) Accordingly, defendants' alternative Motion for Summary Adjudication is DENIED AS MOOT. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c.) Hearing location. Defendants' January 11, 2024 Notice of Motion incorrectly states that the April 10, 2024 hearing will take place in the Redwood City courthouse. The hearing will take place in Department 28 in the San Mateo courthouse, which is located at 800 North Humboldt St., San Mateo, California 94401. Defenda...

Excerpt: ...20(g); Code Civ. Proc. § 472b.) Defendant City of San Mateo's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED as to all items for the purposes of this demurrer. The Complaint asserts a single cause of action against defendant City of San Mateo (City) for dangerous conditio n of public property. It alleges that plaintiff William Trapp was riding his bicycle along the Bay Trail in San Mateo when he “encountered orange barrier fencing that had entered his...

Excerpt: ... effective Janu ary 1, 2020. (See former Code. Civ. Proc., § 340.1, repealed by Stats. 2022, c. 444 (A.B. 2959), § 1, eff., Jan. 1, 2023, and then repealed by Stats. 2023, c. 655 (A.B. 452), § 1, eff., Jan. 1, 2024.) Doe 1 seeks to stay this action on the ground that this same issue is currently under review by the First District Court of Appeal in Jane Doe v. Acalanes Union High School District (A169013) (MPA, at p. 2.) Appeals frequently tak...

Excerpt: ... sued various defendants including cross-complainants Real Advantage Title Insurance Company, Orange Coast Title Company of Northern California, and Orange Coast Title Company (Orange Coast parties); Donald M. Bronstein; Donald M. Bronstein, Trustee of the Don and Chery l Bronstein Family Trust Account 125; Donald M. Bronstein, Trustee of the Nicole Bronstein Living Trust; Donald M. Bronstein, Trustee of the Kimberly Bronstein Living Trust; and I...

Excerpt: ...l amend the J udgment to find that Shuppe materially breached Section 2.4 and the Estate of Georgy Shuppe is ORDERED to perform the obligations set forth in Section 2.4 of the 2012 Agreement, within 30 days of notice of entry of this Order. The Court GRANTS - IN -PART th e Libermans' Motion for a New Trial, or Additur, as to the SOD's award of damages to the Libermans as to the acquisition of Darberry by Groupon, and finds that the Court should...

Excerpt: ...4 hearing of t his Motion will take place in the Redwood City courthouse. Department 28 (Judge Healy) is, in fact, located at Courtroom I, 800 North Humboldt St., San Mateo, California 94401. Background. The following “facts” are taken from the parties' recently filing s, and are intended only to describe the general background of this case and the present Motion. Plaintiff Xin Li and defendant Oded Haner each hold a 50% interest in FC4X Rea...

Excerpt: ...tiffs in settlements with other defendants. Plaintiffs are the prevailing party and on January 23, 2024, filed a memorandum of costs, seeking a total of $68,368.87. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1032.) Defendants have filed a motion to tax costs. In their opposition, plaintiffs agreed that certain of their requested costs are not supported and reduced the total requested to $53,066.35. Defendants have argued that $838.48 for “Court -ordered transcript...

Excerpt: ...rt state d that plaintiff had waived a jury trial by failing to pay the fees, but set a jury trial based on defendants' payment. (Note, however, that the parties represented at paragraph 12 in their joint case management and trial setting conference statement, fil ed on April 7, 2023, that “[a]ll parties have demanded a jury trial on all issues.”) Plaintiff's counsel admits that he did not understand that jury trial fees are due at the time ...

Excerpt: ...alifornia Rules of C ourt, rule 2.550. Accordingly, the motion to seal is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Specifically, defendant has moved to seal the following documents: • Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Defendant Timothy Logue's Motion for Summary Judgmen t; • Separate Statement of Undisputed Material Facts in Support of Defendant Timothy Logue's Motion for Summary Judgment; • Declaration of Timothy Logue; • Declaration ...

Excerpt: ..., or oppre ssion” required under Civil Code, section 3294 to support an award of punitive damages. In order to survive a motion to strike an allegation of punitive damages, the plaintiff must plead the ultimate facts showing an entitlement to such relief. (Clauson v. Superior Court (Pedus Services, Inc.) (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1253, 1255.) In order to state a prima facie claim for punitive damages, a complaint must set forth the elements as stat...

Excerpt: ... The Notice of Motion incorrectly states that the hearing on this Motion will take place in the Redwood City courthouse. The Court notes that Department 28 (Judge Healy) is located at Courtroom I, 800 North Humboldt St., San Mateo, California 94401. Meet and co nfer. The December 21, 2023 Declaration of Azim Khanmohamed does not comply with Code of Civil Procedure, section 435.5, which requires that the declaration supporting a motion to strike s...

Excerpt: ...y wages on termination; to provide rest periods or compensation; and to provide accurate, itemized wage statements. (First Amended Complaint, filed April 13, 2018.) The case was tried in two phases. On December 6, 2023, the Honorable Marie S. Weiner (retired) issued a final statement of decision and judgment after court trial in favor of plaintiffs, awarding penalties totaling $274,900 against defendants Lisa Meteyer and Sunnyvale Massage, join...

Excerpt: ...lobal Enterp rises, Inc., et al. v. Tim Onderko, Case No. 22 -CIV -02099, and then re -filed on January 9, 2024 in Tim Onderko v. Donald Wilson, Case No. 22 -CIV -02332, is GRANTED -in -part and DENIED -in -part. Onderko's Petition to Confirm Arbitration Award is GRANTED. Ond erko's request for an award of interest on the Arbitration Award is GRANTED in the amount of $83,243.95. Onderko's request for an award of attorney's fees and costs is pri...

Excerpt: ...mily home fo r $9 million. Escrow closed on the house on November 7, 2013. (Final Statement of Decision, filed Jan. 9, 2024, at p. 3.) After moving in, the plaintiffs discovered numerous flaws in the home's construction. (See id., at pp. 6 -7, 10 -25.) On January 9, 2024, the Honorable Marie S. Weiner (retired) issued a final statement of decision and judgment after court trial in favor of plaintiffs, awarding them $1.2 million in damages, for...

Excerpt: ...rvice of written notice of entry of this order, unless the parties stipulate otherwise. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1320(g); Code Civ. Proc., § 472b.) Defendants Janet Wyler Griggs, Thomas S. Griggs, and Ash 1031 LLC's Demurrer to the First Amended Complaint and Motion to Strike portions of the First Amended Complaint are MOOT in light of the Court's ruling. The Court GRANTS LEAVE TO AMEND to plaintiffs Bruce K. Pederson, individually and as co...

Excerpt: ...ing date of February 28, 2024 by the required 16 court days, plus five additional calendar days for service by mail, as required by Code of Civil Procedure, sections 12c and 1005, subdivision (b), the final day to serve notice of this hearing by mail was Janua ry 29, 2024. “The principal purpose of the requirement to file and serve a notice of motion a specified number of days before the hearing (§ 1005, subd. (b)) is to provide the opposi...

Excerpt: ... Proce dure, section 473 provides that a court may, in its discretion and after notice to the adverse party, allow an amendment to a pleading upon any terms as may be just. (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (a)(1).) The court's discretion will usually be exercised liberally to permit amendment of the pleadings. (Howard v. County of San Diego (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1422, 1428 (Howard).) “The policy favoring amendment is so strong that it is a rare...

Excerpt: ...D. Initial ly, the court notes that defendant Owl, Inc. (Owl) has provided the incorrect address for the hearing. Department 28 is not located in Redwood City as the notice states, but instead at the Central Courthouse, Courtroom I, 800 North Humboldt St., San Mateo , CA 94401. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1110 [the Notice “must specify” the location of the hearing].) As another preliminary matter, the declaration submitted by Owl is insu...

Excerpt: ...hip o f, and benefits flowing from, six real properties in Hayward, California. On January 10, 2023, defendant/cross- complainant Ashwani Kumar Bhakri (defendant) filed a cross -complaint alleging, inter alia, promissory fraud and breach of written contract, argu ing an alternative version of facts in which the two oral contracts alleged in the FAC never existed, and that the parties never entered into the fiduciary relationship which forms t...

Excerpt: ...is o ver 70 years of age may petition the court for a preference, which the court shall grant if the court finds both that the party has a substantial interest in the action as a whole, and that the health of the party is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing the party's interest in the litigation. Section 36, subdivision (a) “is mandatory and absolute in its application in civil cases whenever the litigants are 70 yea...

Excerpt: ...ard at Floribunda. Defendant Justin McSharry is alleged to be the President of the board, while plainti
¯ appears to be a candidate for board election. Plainti
¯ Timothy Conway alleges that McSharry defamed him in an email letter that was sent to the Floribunda Community. The email, attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A , describes a history of nuisance and harassment by plainti
¯ and another resident of his condo unit, including harassing an...

Excerpt: ...Floribunda. Plainti
¯ Timothy Conway appears to be a candidate for board election. Plainti
¯ alleges that defendant Nirav Shah participated in disseminating an email letter which allegedly defamed Plainti
¯, and also provided the allegedly defamatory statements at issue to the writer of the letter. The email, attached to the Complaint as Exhibit A, describes a history of nuisance and harassment by plainti
¯ and another resident of his condo u...

Excerpt: ...al. Rules of Court, rule 3.1320(g); Code Civ. Proc., § 472b.) Initially, the Court notes that plainti
¯ has provided an incorrect address for the hearing. Department 28 is not located in Redwood City as the notice states, but instead is at the Central Courthouse, Courtroom I, 800 North Humboldt St., San Mateo, CA 94401. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1110 [the Notice “must specify” the location of the hearing].) A. Legal Standard on Demur...

Excerpt: ...on the Complaint. The parties do not dispute that the Complaint's causes of action for negligence and premises liability are based on upon the same facts and governed by the same legal standards in this case, where a dangerous condition of property is alleged to have cause injury. Nor do they dispute that the Complaint's third cause of action for negligent inßiction of emotional distress depends upon the Þrst two such that all rise and fall tog...

Excerpt: ...fendants' counsel, Martin GlickÞeld, submitted a declaration in support of defendant's demurrer to the FAC, which included a copy of the “Jones Family 2021 Global Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release” (“Settlement Agreement”). (Declaration of Martin Glickfeld, Nov. 21, 2023 [GlickÞeld Decl.] Exh. A; MPA iso Demurrer, at p. 4.) The FAC alleges breach of the parties' 2021 Settlement Agreement, and thus, it is appropriate to take judici...

Excerpt: ...vil Procedure, section 430.10, subdivision (f). Cross-defendants SnippetSentry and Edward “Eddie” Green's demurrer to the second cause of action in the Cross Complaint for Failure to Pay Wages on the ground that the claim is uncertain is SUSTAINED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, section 430.10, subdivision (f). Cross-defendant SnippetSentry's demurrer to the third cause of action in the Cross-Complaint for Common Coun...

Excerpt: ...t that location. Parties may appear by Zoom (see Department 28's website). Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, section 437c. Defendant's objections to plaintiff's evidence are OVERRULED. The objections do not comply with the requirements of California Rules of Court, Rule 3.1354. The Court has nonetheless reviewed the objections in the body of Opposition, and they are overruled on the merits. Co...

Excerpt: ...3.) The sole remaining issues in the action are plaintiffs' claims for declaratory and injunctive relief. In the motion currently pending before the Court, defendant seeks to join her home insurance provider, CSAA Insurance Exchange ("CSAA"), as a party to the action under Code of Civil Procedure, section 379. Defendant contends that joinder is necessary because "[w]ithout adding CSAA as a party in this action, I cannot have an independent attorn...

Excerpt: ..., Redwood City, California 94063. Plaintiffs Empire Movers USA, Inc. and its chief executve officer Ruslan Vdovin (collectively "Empire") allege that sometime in early 2022, Empire sought a commercial space from which to conduct fts business and park fts trucks. (June 19, 2023 Complaint, "1 1-2, 10, 12.) Empire entered into a lease (the "Lease") for a space with an attached yard (the "Property") with the assistance of its brokers and agents, defe...

Excerpt: ...nse), impracticability (Seventh Affirmative Defense), and frustration of purpose (Sixth Affirmative Defense). The motion is DENIED as to Civil Code, section 1511 (Fourth Affirmative Defense) and force majeure (Fifth Affirmative Defense). Additionally, the Court SUSTAINS defendant's first evidentiary objection, and GRANTS each party's request for judicial notice. The instant dispute arises from a lease for commercial tenancy entered into by the pa...

Excerpt: ...greement, and none of the exceptions under Code of Civil Procedure, section 1281.2 exists. Plaintiff opposes the motion on the ground that the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (EFAA, codified at 9 U.S.C. 402(a)), which amends the Federal Arbitration Act, permits victims of sexual assault or harassment to pursue claims in court even if they are bound by a predispute arbitration agreement. The EFAA does not appl...

Excerpt: ...ry judgment. However, the proof of service accompanying the motion for summary judgment states that on "September 18, 2023, I served a copy of the foregoing document(s)" by U.S. Mail. The proof of service describes those documents as: Notice and Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Memorandum of Points & Authorities in Support Thereof; [Proposed] Order; [Proposed] Judgment. Moreover, the proof of service states that these documents were served o...

Excerpt: ... causes of action for: (1) Breach of Contract; (2) Prospective Interference with Prospective Economic Advantage; (3) Illegal Constructive Eviction; (4) Breach of the Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing; and (5) Conversion. All five causes of action alleged in the Complaint are based on the same factual allegations that plaintiff and defendant Westlake Skyline Plaza, LLC entered into a First Amendment to Lease Agreement and Release of Guaranty...

Excerpt: ...from Ruling on Defendant's Petition This action was stayed when the Court granted defendant's motion to compel arbitration. (See Order, Aug. 7, 2023.) Once arbitration is ordered and the action stayed, the Court retains "merely vestigial jurisdiction over matters submitted to arbitration." Those matters include confirming, correcting, or vacating an arbitration award. (Titan/value Equites Grp., Inc. v. Superior Ct. (1994) 29 Cal.App.4th 482, 487;...

Excerpt: ...v. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e).) A. Background This case arises from a series of disputes between plaintiff Tadayoshi Hirata and individual defendant William Watt ("Watt"), who is alleged to be an officer and manager at defendant AVM. AVM filed a demurrer to plaintiff's First Amended Complaint ("FAC"), which the Court sustained with leave to amend. (September 13, 2023 Minute Order.) As did the FAC, the SAC again asserts four causes of action again...

Excerpt: ...n on Plaintiff Lorie Jones' Complaint. For the reasons below, summary judgment is warranted. A. Legal Standard on Summary Judgment "A party may move for summary judgment in an action or proceeding if it is contended that the action has no merit or that there is no defense to the action or proceeding." (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (a)(l).) A cause of action has no merit if one or more of its elements cannot be separately established or an affir...

Excerpt: ...aint at paragraphs 36—37, 39, and 4142. Plaintiffs Abdulrahman Alkablany and Majdy Alkablany shall, jointly and severally, pay Defendants Severum, LLC's and Dean Najdawi's reasonable attorney fees in the amount of $4,000 no later than thirty (30) days after service of written notice of this order. Defendants Severum, LLC's and Dean Najdawi's Objections to Evidence are SUSTAINED as to items nos. 1 and 4—5 and OVERRULED as to nos. 2—3 and 6. ...

Excerpt: ...to Compel Arbitration, in which defendant Giyasim Babayev has joined, is GRANTED pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, secton 1281.2. Where a party petitions the court alleging the existence of a written arbitration agreement, contends that another part refuses to arbitrate a controversy covered by the agreement, and the court determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, it shall order the parties to arbitration unless the cou...

Excerpt: ...ts filed their Demurrer to the initial Complaint, plaintiff Martin Lanfranco ("Plaintiff") filed a First Amended Complaint ("FAC"). he parties stipulated that the Demurrer would be treated as a Demurrer to the FAC instead, and the stipulation was approved by the Court. (Stipulation and Order filed November 30, 2023.) Thus, the Court treats this Demurrer as a Demurrer to the FAC. Defendants loan Depot and Perrez's Demurrer to the First Cause of Ac...

Excerpt: ...On November 13, 2023, plaintiff applied ex parte for a temporary restraining order and order to show cause why a preliminary injunction should not issue. This Court granted plaintiff's ex parte application, and issued a temporary restraining order enjoining the termination of PG&E services to the premises and ordering that any previously terminated PG&E services be restored. The matter is now before the Court on an order to show cause why a preli...

Excerpt: ...Summary Judgment (MS]), filed August 24, 2023, which seeks summary judgment of all claims asserted against each of them in Plaintiff Liezel De Guzman's August 31, 2022 Second Amended Complaint (SAC), is GRANTED as to each of defendants RTR, MERS, and Boedeker. (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c.) Accordingly, the moving defendants' alternative Motion for Summary Adjudication (MSA) is DENIED AS MOOT. (Code Civ. Proc., S 437c.) Defendants' request for adjudi...

Excerpt: ...e applicable statute of limitations. The Complaint alleges that on November 29, 2019, the decedent, plaintiff's mother, was admitted to Mills Peninsula Medical Center due to difficulty breathing. (Complaint, 6.) Plaintiff alleges that one of decedent's lungs collapsed on November 30, 2019, and she was transferred to the ICU and placed on a ventilator. (Ibid.) According to the Complaint, "[Orom 11-28-2019 until 12-19-2019 it was here that [the dec...

Excerpt: ...e granted approval by this Court at the final fairness hearing. (Kullar v. Fint Locker Retail, Inc. (2008) 158 cal.App.4th 115, 133.) (See MPA, at po. 9:2-17, 10:7-13; Potashnick Dec., 9, 12.) Multiple portions of Plaintiff's memorandum are not supported by citations to evidence or contemplated in counsel's declaration. (See MPA, at pp. 10:24-25, • Plaintiff failed to append the Settlement Agreement as Exhibit A or Exhibit 1 to the Potashnick D...

Excerpt: ...10) days after service of written notice of this order. Defendant City of South San Francisco (the "City") demurs to the second and third causes of action in the Complaint of plaintiff L C General Engineering & Construction, Inc. ("LCG") on the grounds that neither states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of acton. (See Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e).) A. Legal Standard on Demurrer The purpose of a demurrer is to test the legal suffici...

Excerpt: ...elf when he fell through an inadequately secured piece of plywood flooring. Plaintiff served Bomel with Set One of his Requests for Admission ("RFAs"), which included the three requests (the "subject RFAs") at issue: Request Number 39: Admit that YOLI were the creating employer pursuant to Labor Code S 6400 at the time of the SUBJECT INCIDENT. Request Number 40: Admit that YOU were the controlling employer pursuant to Labor Code S 6400 at the tim...

Excerpt: ...ion against the claimants compelling them to interplead and litigate such claims. (Code Civ. Proc., S 386, subd. (b).) "The purpose of interpleader is to prevent a multiplicity of suits and double vexation." (City of Morgan Hill v. Brown (1999) 71 Cal.App.4th 1114, 1122.) Accordingly, the existence of at least two competing claims on the same property or obligation is required to maintain an interpleader acton. The Complaint alleges that Defendan...

Excerpt: ...n 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, unless it determines that the right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner, or grounds ex...

Excerpt: ...f for legal services performed on an hourly rate basis for attorney Cary Kletter at $550 per hour. (UMF, Nos. 1, 3.) Defendant also does not dispute that (1) in April 2022, Plaintiff resolved the underlying matter with Defendant's express consent which resulted in a settlement agreement with the opposing party signed by Defendant, or that (2) Defendant has not paid any portion of the $23,116.77 in legal fees and costs billed to him under the part...

Excerpt: ...tatutory notice requirements will not support an unlawful detainer action. (Code Civ. Proc., S 1162, see also Kwok v. Bergren (1982) 130 Cal.App.3d 596, 600 (Kwok) ["The statutory procedure must be strictly followed."l.) Proper service of a valid notice is a prerequisite, and invalid notice will not support a judgment. Code Civ. Proc., S 1161; Kwok, supra, 130 Cal.App.3d, at p. 599.) Plaintiffs three-day notice to pay rent or quit is fatally defe...

Excerpt: ...d. (e). These causes of action are tme barred by the applicable statute of limitations under Code of Civil Procedure, section 337, subd. (a), and therefore fail to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The gravamen of Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint arises out of alleged overcharges on Plaintiff's real estate loan from Defendant Bank of America, in which Plaintiff purportedly received a misstated HUD-I statement when he signed the l...

Excerpt: ...n on the same cause of action as alleged in Plaintiffs complaint." (Demurrer, at p. 2: 15-17.) The other action is the marital dissolution case, FAM 08648. The record shows that final judgment was entered in 21W6, with no further activity in that matter since then. Therefore, no claim of partition between the parties is pending in any other action. The Demurrer quotes Section l, Paragraph 5 of the Marital Settlement Agreement ("MSA"), providing t...

Excerpt: ...n required by Code of Civil Procedure, section 430.41. Defendants' counsel is reminded to strictly comply with all meet and confer requirements going forward. In the Court's discretion, despite the defective meet and confer, the Court will proceed to rule on the demurrer's merits. Defendants' Demurrer to the Eleventh Cause of Acton (violation of FEHA) is OVERRULED. Defendants argue that this claim fails to state a cause of action because (a) Plai...

Excerpt: ...tice of this order. Plaintiff TGA F299 Franklin LLC's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. Defendants Matte Sun Group's and Evan Haskell's Request for Judicial Notce is DENIED. Defendants Matte Sun Group (MSG) and Evan Haskell demur to the First Amended Complaint's two contract claims generally, on the basis that neither states facts suffcient to constitute a cause of action, and specially, on the bases that Haskell is not a proper party and t...

Excerpt: ... TO AMEND. The complaint contains many evidentiary allegations that Plaintiff was harassed on the basis of his Indian heritage. The Complaint, however, does not allege discrimination based on his Indian heritage. There are no allegations that Plaintiff was treated differently from any employees who were not of Indian heritage. The Complaint alleges that sexual harassment is actionable as discrimination if it is so severe or pervasive as to alter ...

Excerpt: ...laint no later than five (5) days after service of written notice of this order. Plaintiff TGA F299 Franklin LLC's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. Defendants Urban Flat, LLC's and Evan Haskell's Request for Judicial Notice is DENIED. Defendants Urban Flat, LLC ("urban") and Evan Haskell demur to the First Amended Complaint's two contract claims generally, on the basis that neither states facts suffcient to constitute a cause of action, an...

Excerpt: ...ries, depositions, and matters of which judicial notice shall or may be taken." Under Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, the party moving for summary judgment has the burden of production to make a prima facie showing that there is no triable issue of any material fact. The burden then shifts to the nonmoving party to make a prima facie showing that there is a triable issue of material fact. Here, there is no opposition, so ...

Excerpt: ...iberally to permit amendment of pleadings. Nestle v. Santa Monica (1972) 6 Cal.3d 920, 939. Particularly "[w]here no prejudice is shown to the adverse party, the liberal rule of allowance prevails." Higgins v. Del Faro (1981) 123 Cal.App.3d 558, 564. The Court agrees, in part, with Accessible Home Lift Companvs ("Accessible") allegations of delay and lack of diligence in seeking leave to amend. HSS's proposed FACC seeks to add Mesa underwriters S...

Excerpt: ...ions is DENIED. Defendants move this Court to strike Plaintiff's allegations as to alter ego liability because, inter alia, they argue that Plaintiff has failed to adequately plead facts supporting a unity of interest between the Defendants such that the corporate veil should be pierced. At the pleading stage, the Court looks to whether Plaintiff has adequately pled sufficient facts to support the two requirements of the alter ego theory: unity o...

Excerpt: ...nd Annie Zhao because, although they were parties to the original Complaint filed on April 17, 2017, they were not named as Plaintiffs in the First Amended Complaint (FAC) filed on October 30, 2017. According to Defendants, "this Court could not award an individual recovery to SUN and ZHAO without the FAC being amended to include SUN and ZHAO as individual plaintiffs, and that amendment being served on the Chu Defendants, which did not occur in t...

Excerpt: ... no merit against El Camino Motors. The Court exercises its discretion to not rule on Plaintiffs' Objections to UMFs 7, 8, 9, 18, 20, 36, and 39 (incorrectly cited as UMFs 6, 7, 8, 17, 19, 35, 38). None of the challenged material facts is material to the Court's disposition of the motion. (Code of Civ. Proc. S 437c, subd. Further, objections must be to evidence. Except for Objection No. 1, Plaintiff improperly objects to the undisputed Material F...

Excerpt: ...ion for summary adjudication of issues. As a preliminary matter, the exhibits filed in support of this motion fail to comply with California Rules of Court rule 3.1110(f)(4). All future exhibits must include electronic bookmarks with links to the first page of each exhibit and with bookmark titles that identify the exhibit number or letter and briefly describe the exhibit. Failure to properly bookmark exhibits may result in rejection of the filin...

Excerpt: ...ocedure Section 430.10(e). Counsel for Defendants shall prepare, circulate and submit a proposed Judgment of Dismissal. Each of the complaints in the consolidated achon is based on a 60-day notice and intent for the landlord and his family to move in under the City of East Palo Alto 2010 Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction Ordinance (the "Just Cause Ordinance"), with each notce stating: ...Landlord is in compliance with Sections 14.04....

Excerpt: ...e CCP S 1094.5 and Vehicle Code Section S 13559 to Set Aside Suspension of Driving Privilege — DUI with Refusal of Chemical Test (Petition), March 2, 2023, Exh. A (CHP Form DS 367); Exh. E (CHP Form 202, Investigative Pettoner later pled guilty to driving in violation of California Vehicle Code, S 23152, subd. (b), which provides, in pertinent part, that "[i]t is unlawful for a #rson who has 0.08 #rcent or more, by weight, of alcohol in his or ...

Excerpt: ...gh its "mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect" on "any terms as may be just." Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 473, subd. (b). The moving party must show that the act or omission resulting in the default is one that a reasonably prudent person might have committed under similar circumstances. Renteria v. Juvenile Justice, Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation (20436) 135 Cal.App.4th 903, 910. In addition, the party must show that the moton...

Excerpt: ...filed on April 6, 2023, is GRANTED-IN-PART and DENIED-IN-PART. Background. The Court's June 6, 2023 Order, which continued the hearing on this Motion to July 18, 2023, described the background of this case and this Motion at length, which the Court will not repeat here. The June 6, 2023 Order requested that Plaintiffs identify, out of the 48 RFPs initially raised by this Motion, the 20 RFPs that are most important to Plaintiffs' case. Following t...

Excerpt: ...of a residential property to Plaintiffs Jose Gonzalez and Faviola Gonzalez. Plaintiffs allege that the property contained construction defects. The first through fourth causes of action (breach of contract, breach of express warranw, breach of implied warranty, and breach of implied covenant of good faith) all depend on the allegation that Defendants Scott Duong and Leanne Duong were owners and sellers of the Subject Property. These claims fail t...

Excerpt: ...counts therein. A. Legal Standard on Summary Judgment and Adjudication "A party may move for summary judgment in an action or proceeding if it is contended that the achon has no merit or that there is no defense to the action or proceedng." Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 437c, subd. (a)(l). A party may also simultaneously move for summary adjudication as to individual causes of action as an alternative to summary judgment. ld., at subd. (f). A cause of ...

Excerpt: ... failed to serve the Notice prior to its filing, as required by Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 405.22. Defendants assert that Plaintiff "filed a notice of the lis pendens action with the court without giving any notce to Defendants." MPA, at p. 4. Accordingly, Defendants assert that the Notice is wid and invalid pursuant to Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 405.23. In response, Plaintiff contends that the Notice concerns a mobile home, which is not real property,...

Excerpt: ...City's ("Plaintiff) Motion to strike Defendant's Cross- Complaint, and the Motion filed by Defendant's attorney, Joseph M. Goethals, to be relieved as Defendant's counsel. Mr. Mogannam has not responded to either motion. Mr. Goethals's unopposed Motion to be Relieved as Defendant's Counsel is GRANTED. Because Mr. Mogannam has not responded to Plaintiff's Special Motion to Strike the Cross-complaint pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure, ...

Excerpt: ...de Civ. Proc., S 437c. Accordingly, BBV PSP's alternative Mohon for Summary Adjudication is DENIED AS MOOT. 1. Preliminary Matters a. Plaintiff has not demonstrated good cause to continue the hearing to conduct further discovery. Plaintiff argues that this Motion is premature, and that the hearing should be continued, because discovery is still on-going. Opp., at p. 9. The only discovery Plaintiff identifies as incomplete is the "conclusion" of Z...

Excerpt: ... 425.15 is DENIED for the reasons set forth below. Plaintiff seeks to strike Defendants/cross-complainants' ("Defendants") Cross-complaint on the grounds that "the gravamen of the Cross-complaint against Cross-Defendant involves acts taken during litigation activities." MPA, at p. 2. Plaintiff argues that, "[iln essence, Cross-complainants are countersuing Cross- Defendant because Cross-Defendant threatened to file a lawsuit and did file a lawsui...

Excerpt: ...der both Buchalter and Jaffer to pay me my share of the said properties as set out in the Operating Agreements." Deft.'s MPA, at p. 5. Defendant's motion, however, is both substantively and procedurally defective. The moton is procedurally defective because it fails to comply with the California Rules of Court relating to the formatting and content of the motion. First, Defendant's moton is single-spaced, in violation of Rule 2.108. Second, Defen...

Excerpt: ...-complaint, which applies to the First Amended Verified Cross-complaint pursuant to stipulation of the parties, is DENIED. Cross-Defendant's Objections to Evidence are OVERRULED. Cross-Defendant's Evidentiary Objections Cross-Defendant's objections to exhibits submitted by Cross-complainant are substantially premised on the litigation privilege, Cal. Civ. Code, S 47, subd. (b). This privilege "applies to any communication (1) made in judicial or ...

Excerpt: ...2021). The Court GRANTS Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice of Defendant's Exh. A (Complaint), but not for the truth of its contents (Cal. Evid. Code, S 452, subd. (d)(l)); and Exh. C (Judgment). The Court GRANTS Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice of the existence of Exh. B (De Melo Declaration), but DENIES Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice of the contents of Exh. B, with the exception of paragraphs 1-2 thereof, on the ground that ...

Excerpt: ...USTAINED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND as to the first, second, and seventh causes of action; and OVERRULED as to the third and sixth causes of action for the reasons set forth below. Plaintiffs Kamipeli Finau and Ateliana Finau shall file a second amended complaint no later than ten (10) days after written notice of this order. Defendants New Rez, LLC and The Bank of New York Mellon's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED as to the existence of the do...

Excerpt: ...ot plead facts establishing that C&W and/or Pope were negligent or breached any fiduciary duty owed to Plaintiff Cheese Bear, LLC ("Cheese Bear") or April Lee, DDS, MS, Inc. ("Lee," and collectively, Plaintiffs). Plaintiffs' lengthy Complaint includes numerous allegations of concealment and/or misrepresentation by the sellers of the property (that is, the Vorsatz Defendants), but it alleges almost no facts pertaining to these demurring Defendants...

Excerpt: ...DERS evidence sanctions and monetary sanctions, as set forth below. A. Terminating Sanctions Plaintiff failed to respond to form interrogatories, special interrogatories, and a request for production of documents. Following an informal discovery conference, the Court ordered Plaintiff to respond to all three sets of discovery. Plaintiff eventually provided responses to the form and special interrogatories, but not the document requests. The Court...

Excerpt: ...indicating that Geico committed acts that "were the legal (proximate) cause of injuries and damages to plaintiff." Complaint, 'l MV-I. The Court agrees. Because there are no facts to indicate that Plaintiff's injuries were caused by Geico, Plaintiff cannot state a cause of achon for negligence against Geico resulting from the alleged motor vehicle accident. Geico further asserts that a direct action against an insurer is not allowable until after...

Excerpt: ...tions, filed April 6, 2023, is CONTINUED-IN-PART (to July 18, 2023), and DENIED-IN-PART. A. Non-compliant briefs 80th parties' Memoranda of Points and Authorities exceed the 15-page limit. Cal. R. Ct., Rule 3.1113(d). See Plaintiff's April 6, 2023 Memorandum (23 pages) and FCA US, LLC's May 10, 2023 Opposition brief (18 pages). Plaintiffs' non-compliant Memorandum is accompanied by a 100+ page Separate Statement, and a 485-page supporting declara...

Excerpt: ...tiff and Cross-defendant Puja Gupta ("Gupta") no later than thirty (30) days after service of written notce of this order. De Martini's Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED as to exhibits A—I as to the existence of the documents as court records but not as to "the truth of matters stated therein." Herrera v. Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. (2011) 196 Cal.App.4th 1366, 1375. As a preliminary matter, the Notice of Motion lists the incorrect ad...

Excerpt: ...Anthony J. Martinez ("Mr. Martinez") is to bring a copy of all Operating Agreements to the hearing. 2. Who are the "current lien holders" to whom Mr. Martinez stated in his May 17, 2023 email to Plaintiff's counsel that he would deed cwer the property? See Domingue Decl., Exh. B. 3. What are the terms of any loans from the lien holders or the basis of any liens? 4. What is the current valuation of the property, and what is the current amount owed...

Excerpt: ...s of service of written notice of entry of this order. Plaintiffs shall not file any Request for Entry of Default against Bragg or Silicon Valley Real Ventures before that date. California Code of Civil Procedure, section 1054, subd. (a) provides in pertinent part that When an act to be done, as provided in this code, relates to the pleadings in the action, ... , the time allowed therefor, unless otherwise expressly provided, may be extended, upo...

Excerpt: ... order granting Plaintiffs' Special Motion to Strike in part (the "Anti-SLAPP Motion"), pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure, secton 425.16 subd. Plaintiffs are entitled to an award of reasonable attorneys' fees incurred in connection with that portion of the motion that was granted. Richmond Compassionate Care Collective, Inc. v 7 Stars Holistic Found., (2019) 33 Cal.App.5th 38, 45. The majority of Plaintiffs' fees were incurred in con...

Excerpt: ...END as to all asserted causes of action. Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 430.10, subd. (e). Defendants' March 20, 2023 Request for Judicial Notice is GRANTED. Cal. Evid. Code, S 452, subd. (d). The Court takes judicial notice of the documents attached to the Declaration of Susan K. Riggio, but does not take judicial notice of the truth of statements or allegations therein. Applicable legal principles In reviewing a demurrer, the Court assumes that all pr...

Excerpt: ...). A. Legal Standard for Judgment on the Pleadings A defendant may move for judgment on the pleadings on the grounds that "the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against that defendant." Code Civ. Proc., S 438, subd. (c). "The grounds for motion provided for in this section shall appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from any matter of which the court is required to take judicial notice." ld., at ...

Excerpt: ...laintiffs' Judicial Council form FAC alleges that six causes of action are attached at item 10: (1) Motor Vehicle, (2) General Negligence, (3) Intentional Tort, (4) Fraud, (5) Breach of Contract, and (6) Extortion. However, there is only one attachment, which is entitled "NEW DISCOVERY AMENDMENT TO COMPLAINT FOR AUTO FRAUD, BREACH OF CONTRACT, DISCRIMINATION & INTENTIONAL & INFLICTED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS," which appears to intend to name four cause...

Excerpt: ...ral Rules of Venue for Contract Actions As applied to this action, Code of Civil Procedure Section 395 provides two alternative bases for venue: Defendant's residence and the place where the contract was entered into or to be performed. (Cal. Code Civ. Proc., S 395, subd. (a).) Based on the facts of this case, venue based on the contract does not apply. 8. Section 395 Does Not Apply to this Case By the express language of Section 395, the locatio...

Excerpt: ...contends that the issues raised by his Motion have been resolved in part by the production of documents on November 8 and November 29, 2022, but that the issues of a privilege log and of sanctions have not been resolved. (See Reply, at p. 2:3-15.) Defendant's request for an order compelling production of any documents is now moot, as Defendant agrees that the documents were produced after the filing of the Motion. Defense counsel has sought a pri...

Excerpt: ...otection Act of 2019 (TPA). According to Defendant, "Although [the Thirty Day Notice to Terminate) purported to state 30 days' notice to tenants, it did not state the 'no fault — just cause' basis, which is critical for determining (at present and in hindsight) whether the TPA has been complied with." (MPA iso Demurrer, at p. 3.) In response, Plaintiff claims that the TPA does not apply because "The Complaint alleges that the lease at issue her...

Excerpt: ...ction Act of 2019 (TPA). According to Defendant, "Although [the Thirty Day Notice to Terminate) purported to state 30 days' notice to tenants, it did not state the 'no fault — just cause' basis, which is critical for determining (at present and in hindsight) whether the TPA has been complied with." (MPA iso Demurrer, at p. 3.) In response, Plaintiff claims that the TPA does not apply because "The Complaint alleges that the lease at issue here i...

Excerpt: ... quiet title and constructive trust are real property claims. 80th claims, if successful, would result in a change of title. However, as discussed below, Plaintiff fails to plead facts demonstrating the probable validity of any real property claims. 1. Quiet Title. The general rule is that the holder of equitable title cannot maintain a quiet title action against the holder of legal title. (Warren v. Merrill (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 96, 113.) An ex...

Excerpt: ...otection Act of 2019 (TPA). According to Defendant, "Although [the Thirty Day Notice to Terminate] purported to state 30 days' notice to tenants, it did not state the "no fault — just cause" basis, which is critical for determining (at present and in hindsight) whether the TPA has been complied with." (MPA iso Demurrer, at p. 3.) In response, Plaintiff claims that the TPA does not apply because the "Complaint alleges that the lease at issue her...

Excerpt: ...t Protecton Act of 2019 (TPA). According to Defendant, "[a]lthough [the Thirty Day Notice to Terminate] purported to state 30 days' notice to tenants, it did not state the "no fault — just cause" basis, which is critical for determining (at present and in hindsight) whether the TPA has been complied with." (MPA, at p. 3.) In response, Plaintiff claims that the TPA does not apply because the "Complaint alleges that the lease at issue here is for...