Excerpt: ...laint is overruled. Defendants' time to file their answer to plaintiff's complaint shall be extended until five days after service upon defendants of written notice of entry of the Court's order overruling the demurrer, exclusive of any extended time periods provided in Code of Civil Procedure section 1013. Background: This is an unlawful detainer action filed on September 12, 2023, by plaintiff Carp Property LLC, against defendants Claudia Ramos...

Excerpt: .... Harrison, Marianne Gordon, Tyson & Mendes RULING (1) For all reasons discussed herein, the clerk shall file in the public record the Notice Of Lodgment Of Exhibit(s) Filed Under Seal Pursuant To Protective Order which was conditionally under seal by Defendant the Santa Barbara Unified School District on June 15, 2023. (2) For all reasons discussed herein, the motion of Defendant the Santa Barbara Unified School District for summary judgment, or...

Excerpt: ... with additional information, as set forth below, no later than October 31, 2023. Background Plaintiff Cristina Calzada-Guido filed her complaint on March 18, 2021. The complaint alleges causes of action for: (1) unpaid overtime, (2) unpaid meal period premiums, (3) unpaid rest period premiums, (4) unpaid minimum wages, (5) final wages not timely paid, (6) wages not timely paid during employment, (7) non-compliant wage statements, (8) failure to ...

Excerpt: ...he motion of Defendant Mullen & Henzell L.L. P. for summary judgment is denied. Background On October 6, 2022, Plaintiffs Susan Smyth (Smyth), Pedro Baltadano (Baltadano), Martin Engriser (Engriser), and Don McIntyre (McIntyre) (collectively, Plaintiffs) filed their original complaint in this achon asserting one cause of action for intentional interference with expected inheritance (IIEI claim). On January 11, 2023, Plaintiffs filed their operati...

Excerpt: ...chel Van Mullem, Julian Abanise, Santa Barbara County Counsel TENTATIVE RULING: For the reasons set forth herein, the motion of defendant County of Santa Barbara for summary judgment and/or summary adjudication is denied. Background: Plaintiff Rebecca Fraser was injured when she tripped and fell while walking on Channel Drive in Montecito on the evening of November 17, 2020. Ms. Fraser contends that an asphalt lump in the road caused her to trip ...

Excerpt: ...of the Janice Bilotti Revocable Trust Dated May 19, 2005: Self Represented TENTATIVE RULING: Plaintiff's motion for issue sanctions is denied without prejudice. Plaintiff's motion for monetary sanctions is granted in the amount of $2,550.00 against defendant and in favor of plaintiff, to be paid no later than November 1, 2023. Plaintiff is to comply with the court order of July 10, 2023, by serving complete, code compliant, responses no later tha...

Excerpt: ...causes of action related to an underlying transaction in which defendant Rick Tarnutzer (Rick) induced Fleury to purchase a run-down property and hire him and his wife, Vonna Carol Tarnutzer (Vonna), to perform design and construction work to remodel the property. [Note: In order to avoid any confusion, the Court will refer to the Tarnutzer defendants by their first names; no is intended.] The complaint alleged that in reliance on various represe...

Excerpt: ...ottage Health Inc. (Cottage). Griggs' FAC sets forth a cause of action for professional negligence (medical malpractice). Griggs claims that on July 9, 2019, among other things, that she suffered an internal cystic rupture and received negligent care at Saint Ynez Cottage Hospital. (FAC, p. 4, II. 12-22.) Griggs states that she then went to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and again received negligent medical care. (FAC, p. 5, II. 9-18.) Griggs the...

Excerpt: ...dant Colosi to dismiss is denied. (3) The motions by defendants Guier and Hutcheson for immediate release of funds is denied, without prejudice to their continued pursuit of their claims at the court trial of this action. (4) The motons to quash filed by various parties failed to provide sufficient notice to defendant Colosi; nonetheless, they raised issues regarding court proceedings which must be addressed by the Court. No appearances or docume...

Excerpt: ...relieving counsel shall be delayed until proofs of electronic and mail service of a copy of each signed order on Jacqueline Rubasky and on Fountain Group, LLC, have been filed with the Court. (4) Counsel for Jacqueline Rubasky and Fountain Group, LLC, shall, in accordance with this ruling, serve a copy of the Court's ruling on each defendant by electronic and regular mail, and file appropriate proofs evidencing such service. (5) For all reasons d...

Excerpt: ...g Zeb Albert and Caroline Neufeld as Defendants is GRANTED: (1) the Amended Complaint is to be filed by 10/17/23; (2) the two new Defendants are to be personally served by 10/31/23. (Do not raise the issue of who pays for cost of personal service; Plaintiff or Plaintiff's counsel pays for it now; Plaintiff may seek reimbursement in a cost bill if he prevails.) 2. The Court designates this case as complex litigation because of the unusual backgrou...

Excerpt: ...ase no. 22CV01055) and John Doe 3 (related case no. 22CV01608) ("Plaintiffs") move for an Order Consolidating the Related Cases for Trial pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure 91048(0) on the following grounds: 1. Plaintiffs' cases have been deemed related and consolidated for purposes of discovery. Through discovery it has become apparent that judicial economy and efficiency will be served by consolidating the three cases for trial. 2. ...

Excerpt: ...O'Melveny & Meyers LLP For Defendants Mahan Ranch, LLC, et al.: Jim McDermott, Neal P. Maguire, Jessica M. Wan, Shane M. Maguire, Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLC RULING For the reasons set forth herein, the motion of Defendants Mahan Ranch, LLC, et al., is granted to strike (1) the memorandum of costs filed on August 2, 2023, by the Las Posas Farming Group, and (2) the memorandum of costs filed on August 3, 2023, and supplemented on August 7, 2023...

Excerpt: ...aw Firm, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of defendant Tesla, Inc. to seal portions of the case doc:ket and filings is denied. Background: This action relates to the purchase of a new 2015 Tesla Model S which allegedly developed numerous problems with its automaton system that substantially impaired the use, value, and safety of the subject vehicle. Plaintiffs Alexandro Filippini and laian Filippini filed their original complaint for damages agai...

Excerpt: ...alcolm S. Schryer and Diane M. Schryer (Deceased): Erin O. Hallissy, David R. Lang, Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: Plaintiffs' motion for an order that this matter proceed pursuant to a HIPPA qualified stipulated medical record protective order is denied without prejudice. Plaintiffs may properly bring a motion for protective order, if allowed by statute or other legal authority, as to specific requests or subp...

Excerpt: ...shall serve further responses to requests for production Nos. 1 and 2 without objection and consistent with this ruling. UWCD shall concurrently produce all documents responsive to such requests as set forth herein. Documents produced in response to this order shall be used and disclosed only in connection with this action. In all other respects, the motion is denied without prejudice. (2) Until further order of the court, and except for initial ...

Excerpt: ...rdan A. Liebman, Foley Bezek Behle & Curtis, LLP For Defendants Jeff Pescatello, John Williams, and Ron Donaire: Robert B. Forouzandeh, Andrew Hazlett, Reicker, Pfau, Pyle & McRoy LLP For Defendant (as nominal Defendant) and Cross-complainant DelPlaya Media, Inc.: John J. Thyne Ill, Thyne Taylor Fox Howard, LLP RULING For the reasons set forth herein: The motion for summary judgment is granted. Background On March 23, 2022, Plaintiff Todd Wooten ...

Excerpt: ...ricia Wollum and Susan Reynolds: Gabriella L Sternfeld, David A. Napper, Gregory K. Sabo For Defendant Patrick Leahy: Self-Represented RULING For the reasons set forth herein: The motion for leave to file a second amended complaint is granted to allow Plaintiffs to add against Honor Home Care Services Califomia, Inc. as a Defendant. Background On December 11, 2020, Plaintiff Mark Sellars ("Sellars") filed his original complaint against Defendant ...

Excerpt: ...General of the State of California with leave to amend. Petitioner shall file a first amended pleading on or before October 13, 2023. Background On August 3, 2023, John De Herrera (Petitioner) filed a verified document titled "extraordinary writ of execution and ejection and sequestration" (the petition) against Resopondent the Attorney General of the State of California (the Attorney General). Petitioner is a professional artist and educator who...

Excerpt: ...rney General of California TENTATIVE RULING: The parties are ordered to appear at the hearing and be prepared to discuss the matters described herein. Background: On June 2, 2023, petitioner Richard Morse filed a verified petition for writ of mandate directed to respondent Nancy Farias who is alleged to be the Director of the California Employment Development Department, State Disability Insurance Division (respondent), and a notice of hearing fo...

Excerpt: ...Law Office of Matthew Olufs TENTATIVE RULING: The motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, summary adjudication of defendants Mikki Reilly and Fitness Transform, LLC, is denied. Background: The second amended complaint for damages and injunctive relief (the SAC) filed by plaintiff Ann Fristoe, M.D. (Fristoe) on February 6, 2023, is the operative pleading in this matter. As alleged in the SAC, on January 10, 2020, Fristoe hired Mikki Re...

Excerpt: ...Issues as Respects Second Cause of Acton and Punitive Damages ATTORNEYS: Lloyd For Plaintiffs Passport 420, LLC; Spring Creek Research, LLC; and William Parrish.: A. Barry Cappello, Lawrence J. Conlan, and Richard For Defendant Starr Indemnity & Liability Co.: Ralph S. LaMontagne, Jr., Eric Amador, Michael J. Terhar, and Don Swaim TENTATIVE RULING: Starr Indemnity & Liability Company's motion for summary adjudication of issues as respects second ...

Excerpt: ...fly (based on allegations in the operative pleading), on September 1, 2022, plaintiffs purchased a 2023 Hyundai Kona (hereafter, the vehicle). In connection with the purchase of the Vehicle, Plaintiffs received an express written warranty in which defendant undertook to preserve or maintain the utility of performance of the Vehicle or to prov-de compensation if there is a failure in utility or performance for a specified period of time. The warra...

Excerpt: ...er, Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc. For Defendants Silver Star Transportation and Gleb Stenin: Rosemarie S. Lewis, Edward J. Morales, Bradford A.M. Smith, Borton Petrini, LLP TENTATIVE RULING: For all reasons discussed herein, the motion of defendants Silver Star Transportation and Gleb Stenin to strike all claims for punitive damages in plaintiff's first amended complaint is granted with leave to amend. The following matters shall be strick...

Excerpt: ...n of Plaintiff's second amended complaint. The demurrer of Defendant City of Santa Barbara is overruled as to the fifth cause of action of Plaintiff's second amended complaint. Defendant shall file and serve its answer to Plaintiff's second amended complaint on or before October 3, 2023. Background On January 9, 2023, Plaintiff Eduviges Estrada (Estrada) filed her original complaint in this action asserting three causes of action against Defendan...

Excerpt: ...rial dates after the case was designated complex litigation; another case has already been given some of the dates requested here for 120 days out [i.e. Cobb vs Superior Court of California for the County of Ventura.] It may settle; you are double set, in part; if that case does not settle you will start as soon as it finishes within the following time frame. You must save all these dates. 2. The Trial Date of 11/1/23 is continued to 3/6/23 at 11...

Excerpt: ...out objection, on or before October 11, 2023. With respect to the motion for deemed admissions, if Plaintiff provides verified responses to the requests for admission before the time of the hearing on this motion, the motion will be denied. If Plaintiff fails to provide verified responses to the requests for admission before the time of the hearing on this motion, the motion will be granted, and the Court will order the matters set forth in the r...

Excerpt: ...is supplemented with a notice of hearing and memorandum of points and authorities; a declaration from attorney Paul Berkowitz; a copy of the arbitration agreement (indicating among other things that arbitration is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA)); the first amended complaint filed with the arbitrator; and the written arbitration award. Briefly, respondent advanced six causes of action predicated on violations of the Fair Employment ...

Excerpt: ... D. Estes to confirm contractual arbitration award is ordered off-calendar. Background: On July 21, 2023, Ronald D. Estes (Estes) filed a petition to confirm a contractual arbitration award (the petition) against respondent Elmer Guevara Chacon (Chacon). As alleged or effectively alleged in the petition, Estes and Chacon entered into a written agreement (the agreement) on February 19, 2023, pursuant to which Estes hired Chacon to remove an old fe...

Excerpt: ... reasons set forth herein: Defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's complaint is sustained in part and overruled in part as follows: 2. 3. 4. 5. Defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's first cause of action for Violation of the California Constitution, art. l, sections 1 and 7, is overruled. Defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's second cause of action for Violation of the Unruh Civil Rights Act, is overruled Defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's third cause o...

Excerpt: ...he rights and safety of others" only); and prayer for relief paragraph 4 in its entirety. Any first amended complaint that may be filed by plaintiff must be filed and served on or before September 25, 2023. Background: This action arises from a vehicle collision that occurred on June 16, 2021, on southbound U.S. Highway 101 (the highway). As alleged in the complaint filed in this action on June 14, 2023, plaintiff Maesyn Rose Fitzgibbons was driv...

Excerpt: ...regarding the continued deposition. Counsel is ordered to appear at the hearing on this matter, either in person or remotely, to discuss selection of the discovery referee. Plaintiff will pay one-half of the discovery referee's fees and defendants will pay one-half of the fees. The court retains jurisdiction to reallocate the fees at the time of trial or further order. Background: Plaintiff Montecito Country Club, LLC ("MCC") filed its original c...

Excerpt: ...ulting from the Thomas Fire and a subsequent rainstorm and ensuing mudslides that occurred on January 9, 2018, the alleged wrongful and bad faith handling and denial of insurance benefits by defendant National Fire & Marine Insurance Company (National Fire), and the alleged professional negligence of defendant Brown & Brown Insurance Services of California, Inc. (Brown & Brown), in allegedly failing to procure adequate insurance coverage for the ...

Excerpt: ...ff Nina Johnson (Johnson) was employed by defendant the City of Santa Barbara (the City) in the City Administrator's Office from December 1998 until her resignation in 2022. (Complaint, 1, 17, 40.) As alleged in the complaint, during Johnson's employment with the City, she was for high visibility, high-level, and complex assignments on behalf of the City Administrator and City Council which involved directing interdepartmental teams, serving as t...

Excerpt: ...olina Pizarro in the amount of $14,579. CL (2) Counsel are ordered to appear at the hearing on this motion and are to be prepared to discuss whether, and to what extent, other relief may be appropriate pending disposition of the pending petition. Background: On December 7, 2022, petitioner Carolina Pizarro filed her petition for letters of administration and authorization to administer under the Independent Administration of Estates Act the estat...

Excerpt: ...Knecht, Tom R. Shapiro, Office of the City Attorney RULING For all reasons discussed herein, the motion of Plaintiff David Matthew Kilrain to set aside and vacate final ruling and to reinstate case and grant leave to amend complaint is denied. Background On March 30, 2022, self-represented Plaintiff David Matthew Kilrain filed his original complaint in this action against Defendants City of Santa Barbara (the City) and Lisa Ann O'Niahll (O' Niahl...

Excerpt: ...sented, and the record in this matter, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law: 1. As a signatory to the Phase 3 Settlement, Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency ("FCGMA") agreed, inter alia, to serve as Watermaster, (SPTX-0045 S 1.1.2); that it would "perform the tasks assigned to it by the Judgment consistent with the Judgment's terms and the Watermaster Rules and Regulations," (id.); that it would "implement t...

Excerpt: ...MD.[X] Adriana Velazquez was injured in a car accident on July 9, 2018 and was admitted to Marian Medical Center. Defendant Dr. Daniel Oh was the admitting doctor and prepared the History and Physical for Adrianna Velazquez. Adrianna Velazquez became unresponsive in the morning hours of July 10, 2018. A CT angiography (CTA) was #rformed which caused the doctors to be concerned for cerebrovascular dissection/occlusion. Due to the concern of dissec...

Excerpt: ...arinello TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is granted. Background: Plaintiff Shelley Marinello filed her complaint on August 14, 2019, naming as defendants Walnut Park Associates, Elaine Spath, and Rita Marinello. The complaint alleged causes of action for negligence, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of the implied warranty of habitability, breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment, and private nuisance. The operative pleading, her...

Excerpt: ...'s cross-complaint ATTORNEYS: David M. Grokenberger / Jason W. Wansor / R. Scott Mullen of Rogers, Sheffield & Campbell, LLP for plaintiffs and cross-defendants Jeffrey Nugent, Carla Gervasio-Nugent, and Patrik Nugent, a minor, by and through his guardian ad litem, Jeffrey Nugent John O'Meara / Caitlin M. Salata of Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara LLP for defendants and cross- complainants Michael R. Turner and Lynn J. Turner Jana S. Johnston / Andre...

Excerpt: ...Pacific Palms Condominium Association to enforce judgment is denied. Background: This action commenced on March 8, 2018, by the filing of the complaint by plaintiff Pacific Palms Condominium Association ("PPCA") against defendant Phillip S. Woyak for: (1) Breach of Covenants; and (2) Nuisance. As alleged in the complaint: Woyak owns property that is subject to Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions ("CC&R's") of PPCA. (Complaint, 2, 5, 7.) Almos...

Excerpt: ...troller's Offce ATTORNEYS: For Plaintiff California State Lands Commission: Rob Bonta, Brian D. Wesley, Michael T. Zarro, Robert R. Willis, Matthew C. Heyn, Offce of the California Attorney General For Plaintiff Aspen American Insurance Company: David C. Veis, Laura P. Nash, Clyde & Co For Defendants Plains Pipeline, L P, Plains All American Pipeline, L. P, Plains GP Holdings, L.P., Plains APP, LP., Plains A1/ American GP LLP, and PA GP LLC: Henr...

Excerpt: ...ENTATIVE RULING: For the reasons more fully articulated below, the Court will grant the motion. The Court finds that Randy Quaid and Evgenia Quaid are, in fact, vexatious litigants, pursuant to the terms of Code of Civil Procedure section 391(b)(1) and (b)(2). The Court will issue a prefiling order prohibiting either Randy Quaid or Evgenia Quaid from filing any new litigation in the courts of this state in propria persona without first obtaining ...

Excerpt: ...on the demurrer of the cross-defendants to the first amended cross-complaint is continued to October 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Background: On June 18, 2021, plaintiffs and petitioners Central Coast Water Authority (CCWA), and plaintiffs and petitioners Carpinteria Valley Water District, theCity of Buellton, the City of Guadalupe, the City of Santa Barbara, the City of Santa Maria, theGoleta Water District, the Montecito Water District, and the Sant...

Excerpt: ...ontinued to October 13, 2023.m (3) For all reasons discussed herein, defendants' motion to consolidate and stay the unlawful detainer action is ordered off-calendar, subject to re-filing in accordance with this ruling. (4) To the extent a substitution of counsel for either defendant Jacqueline Rubasky or defendant The Fountain Group, LLC, is not filed and served in this matter by September 11, 2023, counsel shall file and serve an amended motion ...

Excerpt: ...aint by plaintiff The Armand Hammer Foundation, Inc. (“AHF”), against defendants Rex K. Alexander, Misty Hammer, Mark L. Alfano, and Bull Canyon, Inc. As neither Alfano nor Bull Canyon have made appearances in this action, Alexander and Hammer will be collectively referred to as “defendants.” As alleged in the complaint: Prior to November 20, 2022, AHF had six members of its board of directors including defendants. (Complaint, ¶ 11.) Fol...

Excerpt: ...is granted in part and denied in part as follows: 1. Defendants' motion to compel further responses, from R.H. to requests Nos. 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 40 is granted. R.H. shall provide verified, code compliant, further responses, without objections except as to privilege, no later than September 8, 2023. For any documents withheld on the grounds of privilege, R.H. shall serve a privilege log identifying each responsive document withh...

Excerpt: ...ified School District: Harry W. Harrison, Marianne Gordon, Tyson & Mendes RULING (1) For all reasons discussed herein, the Court continues the motion of Defendant Santa Barbara Unified School District for summary judgment or, in the alternative, summary adjudication, to October 18, 2023. (2) For all reasons discussed herein, any motion to seal a record that has been conditionally lodged in support of or in opposition to Defendant's motion for sum...

Excerpt: ...& Company: Wendy M. Thomas, Betty T. Huynh, Tadjedin Thomas & Engbloom Law Group LLP RULING (1) For the reasons and to the extent set forth herein, the motion of Defendants Michael Corrigan and Corrigan & Company for summary adjudication of issues pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 437c, subdivision (t) is granted. The Court determines that Plaintiffs' claims for damages for alleged unrealized benefits under the Plan, as explained herein...

Excerpt: ...mpany, Jaeseong NA, Dong Ha Lee, and Kim Sung Hwan: Anne Singer For Defendants Galaxy Venture Capital, LLC and Adam Lewis: Jordan D. Hankey TENTATIVE RULING: The motion of plaintiff Nathan Joon-Seok Rim for entry of judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6 is granted. Judgment shall enter in favor of plaintiff and against defendants, jointly and severally, in the amount of $162,038.05 plus 10% interest from July 5, 2023. Plainti...