Excerpt: ...the complaint, on December 12, 2017, Levine signed a residential appraisal report (the appraisal) she prepared with respect to real property located at 2671 Painted Cave Road in Santa Barbara (the property). (Complaint, ¶ 8 & Exh. 1.) The appraisal identified the client name/intended user as Val‐Chris Investments, Inc. (Val‐Chris). (Ibid.) The value of $4.5 million attributed to the property in the appraisal was grossly inflated. (Id. at ¶ ...

Excerpt: ...d by Defendants Roe and Smythe related to an insurance claim involving an apartment building, in Pasadena, California, owned by plaintiffs. Michelle Smythe and Smythe Law Group (“Smythe Defendants”) were served on July 6, 2022. It does not appear that defendant Robert Roe has been served. The Smythe defendants filed the motion for change of venue, from Santa Barbara County to Los Angeles County on July 29, 2022. They argue that venue is prope...

Excerpt: ... 2018 accident, in which a black 2000 Ford Explorer (driven by Bibiano) collided with a 2013 silver Nissan Altima driven by Adriana. (Case No. 18CV03707, Judge Beebe.) Chubb Insurance Co., Everest Insurance Co. (“Everest”), and Great American Ins. Co. (“GAIC”) provided defenses for their respective insured. Underlying Defendants did not file a cross‐complaint. On April 24, 2019, the Underlying Plaintiffs resolved their claims at a Manda...

Excerpt: ...t would not treat the application as a motion for judgment on the pleadings (at least to the extent defendants were advancing a facial broadside to the allegations in the operative complaint). On August 17, 2022, the court granted plaintiff's request to file a fourth amended complaint, vacated the trial date, reopened discovery, and reaffirmed that Alberto Rodriguez was dismissed as a party to the second cause of action for declaratory relief. Th...

Excerpt: ...ph A. Schwar, Palmieri, Hennessey & Leifer, LLP For Defendant Bristol Farms dba Lazy Acres Market: Carl L. Grumer, Noro Mejlumyan, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP For Defendant HUB International Insurance Services, Inc.: Jeffrey A. Charlston, Stephen P. Soskin, Charleston, Revich & Wollitz LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of plaintiff Heritage Two LLC to enjoin arbitration between plaintiff Heritage Two LLC and defendant Bristol Farms is denied. T...

Excerpt: ...Montecito Retirement Association dba Casa Dorinda: Madona L. Devling For Defendant Jevson Arevalo: Debra Ellwood Meppen TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of Casa Dorinda to Compel Arbitration is granted. The following sentence contained in paragraph six of the arbitration agreement is sticken: “Unless otherwise ordered by the arbitrator, each party shall pay its/his/her own attorneys' fees, witness fees, and other expenses incurred by the party for ...

Excerpt: ...R. Reid, Peter E. Theophilos, Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The Motion of Defendant Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation is denied. Background: In his complaint filed on May 13, 2020, plaintiff Preston Breunig (Breunig) alleges that, while a business invitee at defendant Santa Barbara Zoological Foundation dba Santa Barbara Zoo (the Zoo), he was using the restroom on the Zoo's premises at 500 Ninos Drive in Santa Barbara,...

Excerpt: ...ount of $1,711.67 (Memorandum of Costs section (5)), will not be allowed; (3) Court Reporters Fees (Memorandum of Costs section (12)) will be allowed at the reduced amount of $1,795.50; (4) All other claimed expenses in the Memorandum of Costs will be allowed; (5) The court orders an award of costs in the amount of $40,852.69, pursuant to the Memorandum of costs, payable in favor of Eric Woosley and against Sheila Gianelli. Background: On May 5, ...

Excerpt: ...er against defendants Haley Christina and Alexandre Hort (defendants) alleged that on August 16, 2021, Kent, as owner, and defendants, as tenants, entered into a written residential rental agreement for premises located at 312 E. Sola Street, Unit 1, in Santa Barbara, California. (Compl., ¶¶ 3.a, 4, 6.a, 6.b, Exh. 1.) Defendants agreed to rent the premises as a one‐year tenancy and to pay monthly rent in the amount of $2,950. (Id. at ¶¶ 6.a...

Excerpt: ...ges that Havlik, as owner, and Dziedzic, as tenant, entered into a written residential rental agreement for premises located at 1007 Chino Street, Unit B, in Santa Barbara, California. (Compl., ¶¶ 3, 4, 6.a, 6.b, Exh. 1.) Dziedzic agreed to rent the premises as a month‐to‐month tenancy and to pay monthly rent in the amount of $1,950. (Id. at ¶ 6.a.(1) & (2).) On January 1, 2019, Dziedzic's rent increased to $1,975.00 per month. ( Id. at ¶...

Excerpt: ...ion. It does not appear that Continental Paragon Corporation was ever served. Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Chevron Corporation, and Unocal Corporation have been dismissed, leaving Union Oil Company of California, ConocoPhillips, and Kerr McGee Corporation (Kerr McGee) as defendants. Plaintiff alleges in the operative pleading that he lived at 2833 Starfire Street, Santa Maria, which was atop and “in close pr...

Excerpt: ...y's fees of $112,000, and costs of $3,372.50. Notice of entry of judgment was filed on August 18, 2022. Pacifica has filed a motion for a charging order against Mr. Steven Zaritsky, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 708.310 and Corporation Code sections 17705.03, 15907, and/or 16504. Pacifica asks for a lien on Mr. Zaritsky's transferable membership interest in Foothill Farms of Cuyama, LLC (hereafter, Foothill). Pacifica contends that ...

Excerpt: ...Cousineau, Richard Lloyd, Cappello & Noel LLP For Defendants and Cross‐Complainants Jeddediah Delmar Hazard and Mark Valdez Russell and Cross‐ Complainant Cal Green Medical, LLC: Joshua E. Lynn, Elizabeth A. O'Brien, Lynn & O'Brien, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The court requests that the parties submit supplemental briefs as set forth herein. The parties shall concurrently file supplemental briefs on or before November 7, 2022. The parties may file...

Excerpt: ...ast Village Homeowners Association: Courtney D. Flannery, Mark R. Weiner & Associates For Defendant and Cross‐Defendant City Of Carpinteria: James N. Procter II, Kristine A. Tijam, Procter, Shyer & Winter, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: Defendant City of Carpinteria's motion is denied. Background: As alleged in plaintiff Kelly Perez's (Perez) complaint filed on November 23, 2020, Perez was walking on the sidewalk at Seacoast Way and Foothill Road on Feb...

Excerpt: ... by defendant James D. Langhorne. Alcaraz alleges that Langhorne was negligent and that he was driving under the influence at the time of the collision. On August 27, 2020, Alcaraz filed his complaint, alleging a single cause of action for motor vehicle liability. Alcaraz seeks general damages, special damages, and punitive damages. In support of his prayer for punitive damages, Alcaraz states that the acts of Langhorne “were malicious and oppr...

Excerpt: ...complaint was served on August 12, 2022. On September 15, 2022, plaintiff filed the present motion for trial setting preference on the grounds that plaintiff is 91 years old and suffers from age related “brain atrophy, which impacts his cognitive function, including problems with focusing, memory, and performing everyday tasks.” (Motion, p. 3, lines 15-16.) The motion was originally scheduled to be heard on December 16, 2022, but on September...

Excerpt: ...nt. (Note: Due to common surnames and to avoid confusion, the court refers to each judgment debtor by their first names. No disrespect is intended.) Steven L. Powell, who is the assignee of a judgment, filed a motion for an assignment order regarding David and Courtney's right to payment from a trustee of a bypass trust. As stated in the declaration of Steven Powell submitted in support of the motion, the court entered a judgment against David an...

Excerpt: ...aged to be married in 2020. (FAC, ¶ 6.) With the assistance of a wedding coordinator, plaintiffs chose the Four Seasons Biltmore resort (the resort), which is owned by defendant 1260 BB Property LLC dba Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, to host the wedding. (Id., ¶¶ 3, 6.) At the time, the resort was closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Id., ¶ 7.) Plaintiffs were assured by employees of the resort that the closure would be temp...

Excerpt: ...da Bridge in Santa Barbara County, California. Plaintiffs Ronald and Sandy Wilmot (Wilmots) filed their original complaint on February 3, 2022. Thereafter, on May 19, 2022, plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint (FAC) against State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), County of Santa Barbara, Susan Gain McCurnin, and Does 1 to 20. The FAC contains causes of action for (1) negligence, (2) negligent entrustment, (3) danger...

Excerpt: ...s been renting the subject premises since May 25, 1985, on a month-to-month basis, and was served with a 60-day notice to quit on July 23, 2022. On September 2, 2022, defendant filed a general demurrer to the complaint on the grounds that the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10 subd. (e). Defendant filed a supplement to the demurrer on September 6, 2022. The supple...

Excerpt: ...n, and unfair business practices in violation of Business and Profession Code section 17200, et seq. Defendants jointly answered on December 3, 2021. Trial is scheduled for December 5, 2022. Briefly, plaintiff hired defendants to “design, plan, prepare construction drawings, and do landscape improvements to his 360 residential ranch located in Buellton . . . .” According to the operative pleading, defendants misrepresented their skill, their ...

Excerpt: ...endant City lf Santa Barbara for summary judgment and judgment on the pleadings ATTORNEYS: George Semaan of The May Firm, Inc. for plaintiff Roberta Ahrens Tom R. Shapiro / Michelle Sosa‐Acosta of City Attorney's Office for defendant City of Santa Barbara TENTATIVE RULINGS: Because the motion filed by defendant FM Properties was directed to plaintiff's complaint, and because plaintiff dismissed her action as to FM Properties, the Court deems th...

Excerpt: ... Kathleen Odell is overruled. Defendants shall file an answer to the complaint by October 24, 2022. Background: This action was commenced on August 5, 2022, by the filing of the complaint for unlawful detainer by plaintiff Summerland by the Sea (“Summerland”) against defendants Sjoerd Koppert, Kathleen Odell, and Sam McPherson. The complaint alleges non‐payment of rent. Plaintiff caused a three‐day notice to pay rent or quit to be served ...

Excerpt: ...tion. The penalties are for violations as set forth in the California Labor Code for: (1) failure to provide compliant meal periods or pay meal premiums; (2) failure to provide compliant rest periods or pay rest premiums; (3) inaccurate wage statements; (4) untimely payment of wages; (5) failure to pay wages at termination. On August 24, 2022, Fresh Start filed a motion to compel arbitration, stay the action, and dismiss non‐individual claims. ...

Excerpt: ...VE RULING: The motion of plaintiffs Jason Rodriguez, Nirasha Rodriguez, and Kennedy Cruz Rodriguez to Enforce the Settlement Agreement is granted. Plaintiffs shall prepare and file a Proposed Judgment in conformity with the signed settlement agreement. Background: Jason Rodriguez, Nirasha Rodriguez, and Kennedy Cruz Rodriguez (“plaintiffs”) filed their original complaint on August 23, 2018, against defendants, including Martin Jarchow (“Jar...