Excerpt: ...ndant shall file and serve his answer to the complaint on or before January 8, 2020. BACKGROUND: This action stems from a motor vehicle collision. On the night of December 7, 2018, defendant Charles Stimson was traveling southbound in the 1200 block of San Andreas Street, Santa Barbara, when he collided with a parked vehicle in which plaintiffs Paul Gularte and Emily Gularte were passengers. Defendant failed to stop and continued to his residence...

Excerpt: ... to cure. Background: On July 29, 2016, plaintiffs American Express Bank, FSB, and American Express Centurion Bank and defendant Michael Sandel filed a Stipulation for Conditional Entry of Judgment (“Stipulation”). On August 8, 2016, the court entered an order dismissing the case and retaining jurisdiction pursuant to CCP § 664.6 over the parties to enforce the Stipulation. The Stipulation provided that plaintiffs shall recover $48,666.49 (i...

Excerpt: ...s action against defendants Regents of the University of California (Regents) and Stephen Klock. On March 8 and May 17, 2019, the parties went to a mediation represented by counsel. (Miller Dec. ¶ 2.) At the mediation on May 17, the parties agreed to a settlement and each plaintiff executed a separate Settlement Agreement and Release. (Id. ¶ 3, Exhibit A.) Each settlement agreement provided that “Defendant” would pay a sum to each plaintiff...

Excerpt: ...ple of the State of California ex rel. Ariel Pierre Calonne: Ariel Pierre Calonne, John S. Doimas, Office of the City Attorney: Matthew R. Silver, Rene L. Farjeat, Silver & Wright LLP For Defendants Dario L. Pini, D.L.P. Properties, Dario L. Pini, trustee of the Dario L. Pini Trust dated March 2, 2015, Nonnie Investments, LLC, 104 Las Aguajes, LLC, Alamar II, LLC, and Alamar III, LLC: Paul R. Burns, Solange D. Sanhueza, Law Offices of Paul R. Bur...

Excerpt: ...rt. Defendant is ordered to provide further responses to RFP Nos. 15, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, and 42, SPI Nos. 5 and 6, and FI No. 50.5. The further responses shall be provided on or before January 10, 2020. In all other respects, plaintiff's motion to compel is denied. The requests for monetary sanctions by both sides are denied. BACKGROUND: In 1990, Laurence O. Pilgeram (“Mr. Pilgeram”) contracted with plaintiff Alcor Life Extension Foundat...

Excerpt: ...equent depositions of both plaintiffs Patrick William Kinsella and Snejana Kinsella and orders both plaintiffs to make themselves available for subsequent depositions in California. The subject of the subsequent depositions shall be limited to the loss of consortium cause of action, including damages. Plaintiffs shall be solely responsible for their own travel costs. Nothing in this order shall limit other means of discovery. Background: The acti...

Excerpt: ...s to call the CMC Calendar matter on this case at 9:30am; appearances at 8:30am are not expected. BACKGROUND: Plaintiffs Ajna Bayet (“Bayet”) and Kathleen Korsan (“Korsan”) are former employees of defendant Peter Levy, D.C., a chiropractor with offices located at 3710 State Street, Suite E, Santa Barbara, California 93105. On October 8, 2019, plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint alleging two causes of action against defendant. T...

Excerpt: ...arbitration and to stay action is granted as to plaintiff Armstrong Associates, Inc. and moving defendant. The remainder of the action is ordered stayed pending resolution of that arbitration. BACKGROUND: This is a construction dispute stemming from alleged defects and/or incomplete work performed in connection with the Arlington Village apartment complex (the “Project”) located at 1330 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101. Defenda...

Excerpt: ...strong Associates, Inc. Scott R. Baker for Defendant Advanced Drywall Solutions, Inc. James B. Cole for Defendant Mountain West Construction Group, Inc. Christopher E. Haskell for Defendant Anderson Systems, Inc. Anthony R. Strauss for Defendant Venco Western, Inc. Raymond A. Myer for Defendant All American Roofing, Inc. Michael P. Denver for Defendant Mission Ready Mix RULING: The motion of defendant Arlington Theatre Property, LLC to compel arb...

Excerpt: ...sica C. Cook, Stevenson Law Office; Robert Adler RULING: (1) For the reasons set forth herein, the demurrer of defendant Joi K. Stephens to the third cause of action (conversion) of plaintiffs' complaint is sustained with leave to amend. Plaintiffs Christopher S. Vincent and Shelby G. Vincent shall file and serve their first amended complaint, if they choose to do so, on or before January 2, 2020. (2) For the reasons set forth herein, the motion ...

Excerpt: ...gh the entrance of the store and struck plaintiff. His complaint, filed March 6, 2017, asserted claims against Golomb, Trader Joe's Company, Earl M. Hill Family Limited Partnership, and The Towbes Group. Defendant Golomb settled out of the action in late 2017, and the court granted a good faith determination with respect to the settlement. The remaining parties unsuccessfully attempted to mediate the action in early 2018. A conflict arose after t...

Excerpt: ...oseph Benaron and Emily Benaron reside at 9 Fellowship Circle, Santa Barbara (the Benaron Property). (Complaint, ¶ 1.) Defendants Cardilino and Frances Cardilino reside at 15 Fellowship Circle (the Cardilino Property). (Complaint, ¶ 2.) The Cardilino Property is located in the center of Fellowship Circle, with neighboring homes surrounding it. (Ibid.) The Cardilino Property faces the Benaron Property. (Ibid.) In February 2016, plaintiffs began ...

Excerpt: ... California State Lands Commission shall file an amended complaint on or before December 30, 2019. Complaint: On October 15, 2019, plaintiff California State Lands Commission (the “Commission”) filed its complaint for breach of contract, trespass, and declaratory relief against defendants Signal Hill Service, Inc.; and Pacific Operators, Inc., dba Pacific Operators Offshore, Inc. The Commission alleges: On February 29, 1968, the Commission is...

Excerpt: ...minary injunction. Background: On September 17, 2019, plaintiff ECO Property Group, LLC (“ECO”), filed its complaint against defendants Snider Investments, LLC (“SI”), and David Snider. SI filed a cross-complaint against ECO and its members Eli Owens and Roger MacFarlane. The dispute arises out of formation of Southern California Cultivation Partners, LLC, which was later renamed Morongo Equity Partners I, LLC (the “Company”). The Com...

Excerpt: ...provide rest periods; 5) waiting time penalties; 6) failure to keep and provide accurate wage statements; 7) failure to reimburse business expenses; 8) unfair business practices; and 9) violation of the California Private Attorney General Act (PAGA).[1] Defendants own and operate a private post-secondary education institution. According to the operative pleading, plaintiff and the proposed class were employed by defendants within 4 years of the f...

Excerpt: ...Frances Cardilino is granted to strike paragraph 9 of the prayer of the complaint, with leave to amend, and is otherwise overruled. (3) As set forth below, plaintiffs shall file and serve their first amended complaint on or before January 6, 2020. Background: As alleged in the complaint: Plaintiffs Joseph Benaron and Emily Benaron reside at 9 Fellowship Circle, Santa Barbara (the Benaron Property). (Complaint, ¶ 1.) Defendants Cardilino and Fran...

Excerpt: ...other equitable relief, was filed by the People on January 28, 2019. It alleges that defendant Highland Green, Inc. (HGI) at all times operated a cannabis cultivation site on four parcels within Santa Barbara County (131-090-073, 131-090-074, 131-200-016, and 131-200-018), also known as 1825 Tepusquet Road and 7930 Blazing Saddle Drive in Santa Maria. Defendant Highland Hilltop Ranch, Inc. (HHRI), formerly known as Unified Investments, Inc., is o...

Excerpt: ...ct). On July 3, 2017, Evenson and Ploutz Construction entered into a written Subcontract Agreement in the amount of $176,000.00 in which Evenson agreed to perform work for the Project. The scope of the work was subsequently modified and the contract amount reduced to $156,617.61. Ploutz Construction paid $35,000 to Evenson, and failed to pay the balance. On April 9, 2019, Evenson filed an amended complaint against Jeff Ploutz Construction, Inc., ...

Excerpt: ...rmitting all discovery motions to be heard on shortened time. The stipulation and order (filed October 18, 2019) provides for a December 6 deadline for fact witness depositions and any motion practice regarding fact discovery. The timing of filing papers for the motion is that the opposing party files its opposing brief within seven calendar days of the moving party's opening brief and a hearing as soon as practicable thereafter. (This arrangemen...

Excerpt: ...t Living Vehicle, Inc. (“LV”), is the dealer that sold the subject vehicle to plaintiff Nha L. Baze, and the manufacturer that manufactured and distributed it for sale. Baze filed her complaint on September 13, 2019, asserting causes of action for 1) violation of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civil Code §§ 1790 et seq.); 2) violation of California Consumers Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA” – Civil Code §§ 1770 et seq.); 3) decei...

Excerpt: ...f contract and common counts, seeking damages of $133,503.53 against defendants, plus interest. Attorneys' fees are sought for the common counts cause of action, but not within the breach of written contract cause of action. Plaintiff seeks interest in both causes of action. The complaint alleges that on June 20, 2018, plaintiff and defendants entered into an agreement, a promissory note payable in full on December 15, 2018. The promissory note (...

Excerpt: ... forth herein. BACKGROUND: Plaintiff Sheila Gianelli filed this legal malpractice action against defendants Mark Schwartz and Eric Woosley following their representation of her in an employment discrimination case against The Home Depot. The trial court in that action granted The Home Depot's motion for summary judgment and the judgment of dismissal was affirmed on appeal. On May 5, 2017, plaintiff filed her complaint against defendants for legal...

Excerpt: ...f the City Attorney RULING: For the reasons set forth herein, the motion of defendant City of Santa Barbara for summary judgment, or alternatively for summary adjudication, is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted to summarily adjudicate plaintiff Santa Barbara Inland & Coastal Property Rights Association's seventh cause of action in favor of defendant City. The motion is in all other respects denied. Background In this action...

Excerpt: ... Reiker, Pfau, Pyle & McRoy LLP for defendant TENTATIVE RULING: Both motions are granted in their entirety. Discussion: Defendant Signature Parking, LLC (Signature), is a company which provides parking lot attendant services throughout California. Plaintiff was employed by Signature between February 2015 and August 2018, at various locations within Santa Barbara County, as an hourly, non-exempt parking lot attendant. He is an “aggrieved employe...

Excerpt: ...fendants in Intervention: Jared M. Katz (Mullen & Henzell); Jeffrey L. Oakes (New Orleans) For Intervenor HCB: James A. Anton (Irvine) Tentative Ruling: 1. The court grants defendants Lee K. McPherson, Canndescent JV, L.L.C., MSLTD, L.L.C., and Christopher Beary's motion to stay the entire proceeding until a date 30 days after the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi rules on intervenor HCB Financial Corp.'s motio...

Excerpt: ...ion (Set One) and for Sanctions B. Motion to Compel Defendant Universal North America Insurance Company's Further Responses to Special Interrogatories (Set One) and for Sanctions against Counsel Attorneys: For Plaintiffs: Christopher M. Cotter (Snyder Burnett Egerer – Santa Barbara) For Defendant Universal N. America Ins. Co.: Jeffrey C. Lynn (Sylvester, Oppenheim & Linde – Encino) Tentative Ruling: A. The court grants, in part, the motion of...

Excerpt: ...ion: LTK moves for summary judgment on the ground that Rodriguez was not acting within the scope of her employment at the time of the collision. Carmean opposes the motion. LTK's lodgment of evidence does not comply with CRC 3.1110(f)(4), which provides: “[E]lectronic 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 th...

Excerpt: ...ady included in the proposed order.) Background: This action arises out of an automobile-motorcycle collision on December 22, 2017. Plaintiff Sean Carmean alleges that defendant Martha Rodriguez caused the collision. LTK Home Care, Inc., was Rodriguez's employer at the time of the collision. Trial is set for January 10, 2020. Motion: LTK applies for an order compelling a mental examination of plaintiff by psychologist Dr. Kyle Boone, Ph.D. Carmea...

Excerpt: ...ecause Edie Sedgwick was not a “deceased personality” as defined in that statute. On August 26, 2019, the court entered judgment after a court trial in favor of plaintiff. The court specifically ordered and decreed that plaintiff was the prevailing party entitled to costs of suit. On October 8, plaintiff served by mail a notice of entry of judgment and a memorandum of costs in the amount of $12,312.30 plus attorney fees in an amount to be det...

Excerpt: ... 7, 2019, alleging causes of action for promissory fraud, bad faith retention of security deposit, conversion, and common counts. The complaint alleges that Windrich and defendants entered into a written term lease or rental agreement for premises located at 821 Cliff Drive, No. 101, in Santa Barbara, under which Windrich agreed to pay monthly rent of $800.00, commencing June 15, 2015. Windrich deposited with defendants $1,600 as security for his...

Excerpt: ...port cardiovascular surgeons by managing the heart-lung machine during open heart surgery. On October 7, 2015, non-party Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (“Cottage”) executed an agreement with Allied for cardiovascular perfusion services. The agreement provided that Allied would furnish perfusion personnel and perform perfusion services for Cottage for a period of five years as an independent contractor. The fees for such services were set fort...

Excerpt: ...ond cause of action (interference with contract), and is overruled as to the third cause of action (negligence). Plaintiff Trader Joe's Company, Inc., shall file and serve its first amended complaint on or before December 9, 2019. (2) As set forth herein, the motion of defendant Sequoia Insurance Company to strike portions of the complaint is denied in its entirety, including its request to stay proceedings. Background: This insurance dispute ari...

Excerpt: ...y products to Triple J's, in return for Triple J's payment therefor. As an inducement to plaintiff to enter into the Agreement, defendant Jose Orozco (“Orozco”) signed a written Personal Guaranty, agreeing to personally guarantee all of Triple J's obligations under the Agreement. Plaintiff would not have entered into the Agreement and provided products to Triple J's if Orozco had not provided the Personal Guaranty. Beginning in June 2017, Tri...

Excerpt: ..., and Century Indemnity Company for an order staying all proceedings in this action to allow the related federal case to conclude. Background: This action arises out of environmental contamination of real property located at 220 W. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, California. The contaminant is perchlorethylene, a solvent that has been used in the dry cleaning business and is identified as a hazardous substance under both federal and state law. P...

Excerpt: ...KGROUND: In this malpractice action, plaintiff Sheila Gianelli has sued her former attorneys, defendants Mark Schwartz (“Schwartz”), a Pennsylvania attorney, and Eric Woosley (“Woosley”), a Santa Barbara attorney, in connection with their representation of plaintiff in an underlying employment discrimination case against plaintiff's former employer, the Home Depot. The trial court in the underlying action granted Home Depot's motion for s...

Excerpt: ...hter as a result of the incident. Plaintiffs filed suit not only against Forgione, but also against Foley Estates Vineyard and Winery, LLC and Foley Food and Wine Society, contending that Forgione, a celebrity chef, was employed by the Foley entities, and acting in the course and scope of that employment, at the time of the accident. Plaintiffs served discovery upon both Forgione and the Foley entities in order to obtain evidence in support of th...

Excerpt: ...tion to Confirm Arbitration Award. Since the proposed judgment is an exhibit to a pleading, petitioner shall submit a separate judgment for entry. Background Petitioner Hope Village Maintenance Corporation and respondents John Pearley Huffman and Dana Huffman arbitrated disputes regarding compliance with Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (“CC&Rs”) applicable to respondents' residence in a common interest development. On July 25, 2019, the ...

Excerpt: ...Garvin, et al. – Pasadena) Ruling: The Court approves the class action settlement that plaintiff Leonard Ignacio and defendant Certified Freight Logistics, Inc. have reached. The Court approves an award of attorney fees to the firm of Mathew & George in the amount of $175,000; a claims administration fee award of $23,500 to ILYM Group, Inc.; and the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) payment of $5,000. The Court will take up the amou...

Excerpt: ...Sharon Kennedy to the complaint of plaintiff Pickford Real Estate, Inc., is overruled. Defendant shall file and serve her answer to the complaint on or before December 4, 2019. Background John Alexander was the previous trustee of the Alexander Trust dated May 4, 2007 (Trust). (Complaint, ¶ 2.) Alexander died on May 11, 2018. (Complaint, ¶ 12.) (Note: Insofar as the date of Alexander's death is alleged in the complaint as the same date appearin...

Excerpt: ...e to amend as to this issue only, should plaintiff choose to do so, on or before November 15, 2019. The motion to strike is denied in all other respects. (c) In large part, the Court has deemed its August 9 order regarding the identical discovery devices and motions to be applicable to defendant Sierra Property Group's four motions to compel further responses to form interrogatories, special interrogatories, demands for production, and requests f...

Excerpt: ...nto a written lease and addendum to lease for commercial premises located at 427 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101. Because defendant was starting a new business, the lease payments for the first six months were at a reduced rate. Once the initial six-month trial period had elapsed, and if defendant elected to continue his tenancy, the monthly rent was increased to $6,000.00 per month, starting August 2019. Defendant continued his ten...

Excerpt: ...al Fire & Marine Insurance Company is sustained, with leave to amend, as to the third (fraud) cause of action, and the demurrer of all demurring parties is sustained, with leave to amend, as to the seventh (negligent misrepresentation) cause of action. Plaintiff Start, Inc., shall file and serve its second amended complaint on or before November 25, 2019. Background: Plaintiff Start, Inc. (Start), owned and operated a commercial cannabis nursery ...

Excerpt: ...aterials and data are not required to be disclosed by Dr. Stenquist to counsel. Background: This is an action arising from an automobile versus pedestrian accident in which, among other things, plaintiff Michael Hines claims damages from a traumatic brain injury. Philip K. Stenquist, Ph.D., ABCN, a psychologist, was retained by counsel for defendant Nancy Hoolahan to review records and to examine Michael Hines. (Stenquist decl., ¶ 3.) On May 21,...

Excerpt: ...ibution center in Lathrop, California from December 15, 2008, until she was fired on November 23, 2010. Home Depot maintains that plaintiff was fired for poor performance, but plaintiff claims that she was subject to a hostile work environment and terminated when she complained about discriminatory conduct by management and other workers. On January 31, 2011, plaintiff hired defendant Mark Schwartz (“Schwartz”), a Pennsylvania attorney, to re...

Excerpt: ...tion. Background: This action involves an Irrevocable Offer to Dedicate Easement (Coastal Access)” (hereinafter “OTD”) dated June 27, 1990. Pursuant to the OTD, Frank Serena Construction and Development, Inc. (“Serena”), the predecessor in interest of plaintiff Casa Blanca Beach Estate Owners' Association (“Casa Blanca”) offered to dedicate to defendant County of Santa Barbara (“County”) a lateral access easement five feet in wi...

Excerpt: ...by failing to make the payments due on the account. On October 13, 2006, NDS filed its complaint for breach of credit card agreement, money lent, and account stated. On February 26, 2007, a default judgment in the amount of $21,058.94 was entered in favor NDS and against Cruz. The judgment was renewed on July 26, 2012, in the amount of $32,473.15, including post-judgment interest. On January 15, 2015, NDS assigned all of its rights, title, and in...

Excerpt: ...xclude disclosure of policy limits or for a protective order is denied without prejudice to the making of an appropriate motion, objection, or other request to the arbitrator in the arbitration proceeding. Background This is the Superior Court companion case to an uninsured/ underinsured motorist arbitration proceeding pursuant to Insurance Code section 11580.2, subdivision (f). (Fenton decl., ¶¶ 1-5.) By this petition, claimant David Flores se...

Excerpt: ... there are triable issues of fact as to whether defendant complied with the standard of care and/or whether defendant's conduct caused or contributed to any damages alleged by plaintiff. BACKGROUND: This is an action for alleged medical negligence. On August 17, 2017, plaintiff Norma Vences underwent a surgical procedure known as a bilateral tubal ligation at the Surgical Arts Center in Santa Barbara, California. The procedure was performed by de...

Excerpt: ...a, Law Offices of Berglund & Johnson For Defendant National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak): Michael E. Murphy, Brock Christensen, Sims Law Firm, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of defendant Amtrak to compel discovery is granted in part and denied in part. The motion is granted to require a further verified written response, without objection and in a form complying with the Code of Civil Procedure, to request No. 56 of defendant Amtrak'...

Excerpt: ...nd Patricia Dark, and specially appearing for Joseph Lockhart: Michael C. Ghizzoni, Michael M. Youngdahl, Christopher E. Dawood, Office of the County Counsel TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of defendant Joseph J. Lockhart to quash the “Doe 1” amendment to the first amended complaint is granted and the amendment filed September 18, 2019, is ordered stricken. Background: On September 4, 2015, plaintiff Stacy McCrory filed her action against defend...