Excerpt: ...Barnard: Tionna Dolin, James L. Carroll, Rebecca E. Neubauer, Strategic Legal Practices, APC For Defendant General Motors, LLC: Mary Arens McBride, Arash Yaraghchian, Erskine Law Group, PC TENTATIVE RULING: (1) The Court grants plaintiffs' motion to compel further responses to set one requests for production of documents and for monetary sanctions. On or before September 28, 2023, or on another date to be determined at the hearing, defendant Gene...

Excerpt: ...TIVE RULING: The Court overrules the demurrer of defendants Maria E. Rangel and Julio Rodriguez Ornelas to plaintiff's complaint. Defendants shall file and serve their individual answers or a joint answer to plaintiff's complaint no later than five days after service of written notice of entry of the Court's order herein, notwithstanding the time periods provided in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013. Defendants shall also serve notice of the C...

Excerpt: ... on the part of defendant and awarding plaintiff $2,000,000 in past non-economic damages and $1,250,000 in future non-economic damages. The jury was polled and the verdict was supported by 11 of the twelve jurors. Judgment was filed on 6/13/2023. Defendant has filed a motion for a new trial pursuant to CCP section 657, 659 or for a remitter pursuant to CCP section 662.5. Plaintiff has filed opposition. The Court finds that the evidence was suffic...

Excerpt: ...al injury action on December 15, 2021, by plaintiff William B. Rosenberg (“Rosenberg”) against defendant The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC (“Ritz”). As alleged in the judicial council form complaint, on December 25, 2019, Rosenberg, while a guest at a Ritz property in Santa Barbara, slipped and fell down a marble staircase due to a dangerous and defective condition. (Complaint, ¶ GN-1.) Rosenberg alleges that he suffered wage loss, hos...

Excerpt: ...es. The Neutral entity provider in this case is JAMS. JAMS requires that the parties deposit the fees and expenses for the Arbitration from time to time during the course of proceedings and prior to the scheduled Arbitration Hearing. (JAMS Employment Rules, Rule 31(b).) No due date is specified in the JAMS rules. In fact, the JAMS rules suggest that the responsible party has until the date of the arbitration to pay the fees. The factual aspect of...

Excerpt: ...ENIED. Defendant Yardi Systems Inc.'s Motion for Summary Adjudication as to the Third Cause of Action (Wrongful Death- Negligent Entrustment) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs' Motion to Amend Complaint to allege basis for punitive damages is DENIED. Basis for Ruling/ First and Second Causes of Action: The issue regarding Defendant Yardi Systems, Inc.'s (hereinafter “Defendant Yardi”) vicarious liability for Defendant Bryan Paul Charette's conduct turns...

Excerpt: ...y Mutual Insurance Company. According to the uncontested exhibits, McKiernan[1] made a demand for settlement in the amount of $750,000 to defendant's adjuster, Nancy Ball, on August 11, 2020. Ms. Ball countered with an offer of $16,250 on August 25, 2020. This was rejected on September 8, 2020. On January 8, 2021, McKiernan emailed medical and billing records from Center of Specialized Surgery of Santa Barbara to Liberty Mutual with a cover lette...

Excerpt: ...ng-Beverly Act) (Civ. Code, § 1790, et seq.); 2) breach of the express warranty under the Song-Beverly Act; 3) breach of express warranty pursuant to Commercial Code section 2-313; and 4) violation of a Magnuson Moss Warranty Act pursuant to title 15 U.S.C. section 2301(1), et seq. Briefly (and according to the operative pleading), on August 27, 2019, plaintiff purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (hereafter, vehicle); plaintiff contends in para...

Excerpt: ... Law For Defendants Christian Younger and the Law Offices of Christian Younger: R. Chris Kroes, Linda Elias-Wheelock, Law Offices of McCarthy & Kroes TENTATIVE RULING: (1) The Court continues the hearing on the motion to be relieved as counsel to September 18, 2023. On or before September 5, 2023, counsel for plaintiff shall file and serve a supplemental declaration or, alternatively, a proof of service and shall lodge a proposed order in accorda...

Excerpt: ...RULING: The application will be granted, and the court will issue a right to attach order and writ of attachment upon plaintiff's posting of an undertaking in statutorily required amount of $10,000.00. Background: Plaintiffs George LaPlante and Barbara LaPlante filed their complaint on April 17, 2023, alleging causes of action for breach of contract and common counts, and seeking damages of $753,320.00, plus interest. The complaint alleges that o...

Excerpt: ...lo ATTORNEYS: Plaintiffs John Marinello and Richard Marinello are sellf-represented Barry J. Reagan / Guillermo E. Partida / Gabriele Lashly of Slaughter,Reagan & Cole, LLP for defendants Joan Elaine Spath, Renee Spath, and Walnut Park Associates. TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is granted. Background: Plaintiffs John Marinello and Richard Marinello filed their complaint on April 29, 2021, alleging causes of action against Elaine Spath, Renee Spath,...

Excerpt: ... Law For Defendant and Cross-Complainant Brighton Collectibles, LLC: Peter W. Ross, Charles Avrith, Browne George Ross LLP For Cross-Defendant L.A Models, Inc.: Gene H. Shioda, Steven P. Chang, Heidi M. Cheng, Shioda Langley & Chang, LLP TENTATIVE RULING, Brighton's motions to compel deposition testimony and production of documents are denied. Background: (1) Plaintiff's Complaint On December 16, 2019, plaintiff Natalie Hockey filed her complaint...

Excerpt: ...ek Research, LLC; and William Parrish.: A. Barry Cappello, Lawrence J. Conlan, and Richard Lloyd For Defendant Starr Indemnity & Liability Co.: Ralph S. LaMontagne, Jr., Eric Amador, Michael J. Terhar, and Don Swaim TENTATIVE RULING: The motion to compel production of documents is denied. Background: Attorney Michael Avenatti (Avenatti) had previously acted as attorney for William Parrish (Parrish) with respect to various matters. In 2016, the tw...

Excerpt: ...defendant Simons Urbina-Mena TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is granted. The dismissal of the action is vacated, and judgment shall be entered against defendant in the total amount of $9,385.72, pursuant to the terms of Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. Background: This is a collections action, arising from an unpaid credit card debt, in which the amount of $17,724.80 was sought in the complaint. On April 14, 2021, the parties entered into a St...

Excerpt: ...nlawful detainer against defendant Luke Strauss (Strauss). As alleged in the complaint, Strauss agreed to rent premises located at 5671 Calle Pacific in Carpinteria, California (the premises) from plaintiff's deceased brother-in-law Brian Daily (Daily) as a month-to-month tenancy pursuant to a written agreement (agreement) dated February 1, 2022. (Complaint, ¶¶ 3.a., 6.a(1), 6.b(4).) Strauss agreed to pay monthly rent of $4,000. (Id. at ¶ 6.a(...

Excerpt: ...on. The Court intends to sign the proposed order submitted by defendant ISL Employees, Inc. Background: On May 31, 2023, plaintiff Antonia Ramirez, individually and on behalf of current and former non-exempt California employees, filed a class action complaint against defendants ISL Employees, Inc. (ISL), The Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara, LLC (Oak Cottage), and ADP Totalsource I, Inc. (ADP) (collectively, defendants) asserting eleven causes of ac...

Excerpt: ...ded complaint (FAC). The FAC asserted eight causes of action: (1) false arrest; (2) false imprisonment; (3) negligence; (4) battery; (5) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (6) violation of statutory duty to properly train officers; (7) violation of statutory duty to properly supervise officers in the field; (8) violation of title 42 United States Code section 1983. Defendants the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, the County of...

Excerpt: ...it 1 to its opposition to defendant's demurrer, on or before August 28, 2023. (2) For all reasons discussed herein, the Court overrules the demurrer of cross-defendant Bernardino Garcia Hernandez to the cross-complaint filed by James P. Gerety. Cross-defendant shall file and serve his answer to the cross-complaint on or before August 28, 2023. Background: The complaint filed in this matter on January 19, 2023, by plaintiff American Mutual Insuran...

Excerpt: ...al date in this case is 2/7/24. On 6/23/23 a motion to compel a deposition was filed by Plaintiffs which is set for hearing on 8/16/23. The motion seeks to compel Defendant Wendy P. McCaw (McCaw) to appear for a deposition and seeks monetary sanctions against McCaw and her counsel of record. McCaw is identified in the motion as the Chief Executive Officer of Defendant Ampersand Publishing, LLC (Ampersand). In the motion, Plaintiffs contend that M...

Excerpt: ...nd Person of Rosemary Free Leahy: David J _ Tappeiner For Defendants Channe Coles and Thc Law Ofice of Channe G. Coles: R. Chris Kroes For Defendants Patricia Wollum and Susan Reynolds: Gabriella L _ Sternfeld, David A _ Napper, Gregory K _ Sabo For Defendant Patrick Leahy: Self-Represented 2. 3. 4. 5. RULNG The demurrer of Defendants Channe Coles and The Law Office of Channe G. Coles, to Plaintiffs' first amended complaint, is sustained with lea...

Excerpt: ... Mutual Insurance Company According to the uncontested exhibits: McKiernanlJl made a demand for settlement in the amount of $750,000 to defendant's adjuster: Nancy Ball: on August 11 : 2020. Ms. Ball countered u.ith an offer of S16,250 on August 25, 2020. This was rejected on September 8, 2020. On January 8, 2021 McKieman emailed medical and billing records from Center of Specialized Surgery of Santa Barbara to Liberty Mutual with a cover letter ...

Excerpt: ...only known as the ' 'lemon law. Briefly (based on allegations in the operative pleading): on August 23, 2010, plaintiffs purchased a 2020 Nissan Versa for a total purchase price of S32:435 28 (hereafter: the vehicle); Nissan issued a manufacturer's warranty contained in Exhibit 1 to the operative pleading. The vehicle began to suffer electrical and engine difficulties, and plaintiffs took the vehicle to an authofized Nissan repair facility: which...

Excerpt: ...es, LLC: Wesley D. Hurst, Allegra Gorchynski, Polsinelli LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The Court continues the hearing on defendant's motion to transfer and coordinate cases to September 11, 2023. On or before September 1, 2023, defendant Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company of Los Angeles, LLC, shall file and serve its supplemental brief, declarations, or other necessary documents in accordance with this ruling. Background: As alleged in the operative first am...

Excerpt: ...o set aside default is granted. The Court orders the default entered on March 17, 2023, vacated. Any response to plaintiff's complaint or challenge to service must be filed and served on or before September 13, 2023. No request for entry of default, if appropriate, as against defendant may be filed by plaintiff prior to September 14, 2023. Background: Plaintiff Brett Lauter filed a complaint in this matter on December 22, 2022, alleging eight cau...

Excerpt: ...ry M. Crosner For Defendant Ventura Investment Co.: Brier Miron Setlur TENTATIVE RULING: The motion for approval of settlement under the private attorney's general act is granted. The court will sign the proposed order. Background: Plaintiff Matt Del Campo, on behalf of himself, the State of California, and others similarly situated and aggrieved, filed his complaint on June 7, 2022. The complaint alleges a single cause of action for violation of...