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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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...

Excerpt: ...ed below, the Court will overrule defendants' general demurrers to the fifth cause of action for sexual harassment in violation of Civil Code section 51.7, and sixth cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. For the reasons more fully articulated below, the Court will sustain defendants' general demurrer to the seventh cause of action for violation of the Ralph Act. For the reasons more fully articulated below, the Court w...

Excerpt: ...50, and 54 is granted. GM shall provide verified, code compliant, further responses to RFPs Nos. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 38, 41, 43, 50, and 54, without objections except as to privilege, no later than September 1, 2023. To the extent that documents are claimed to contain trade-secrets, they will be subject to the stipulated protective order. For any documents withheld on the grounds of privilege, plaintiff shall serve a privilege log identifying eac...

Excerpt: ... cause of action titled “Common Counts” against defendant Jennifer Lock (Lock). As alleged in the complaint, Lock became indebted to Capital One on an open book account and account stated in writing for money lent by Capital One to Lock at Lock's request. The amount of $8,054.97 is the reasonable value that is due from and unpaid by Lock. Defendant answered the complaint on December 3, 2021, denying based upon lack of knowledge sufficient to ...

Excerpt: ...eron W. Thomas, William A. Bossen Defendant Inzunza Trucking Corp (“Inzunza”) is represented by German A. Marcucci, Dominique Sicari, Cross Defendant Lowe's Home Centers, LLC [“Lowe's” and sometimes “Lowes”] is represented by Joan E. Cochran, Lisa Kralik Hansen, Deborah A. Smillie Issue Lowe's Motion for Summary Adjudication against Inzunza; specifically, Lowe's requests that the Court grant Summary Adjudication in its favor on the is...

Excerpt: ...serve her answer to Plaintiff's complaint on or before August 18, 2023. Background On March 14, 2023, Plaintiff Daniel Powell filed a complaint in this matter as Trustee of the Powell-Gorman Trust dated March 31, 1998, as amended and restated (the Trust), and on behalf of his parents Suedell Powell (Powell) and Thomas Gorman (Gorman), who are settlors of the Trust and who are deceased. As alleged in the complaint, in late 2021, Gorman and Powell,...

Excerpt: ...nt on Sister State Judgment, by plaintiff Gary Dachis. Pursuant to a judgment in the total amount of $6,695.00, entered in favor of Dachis and against defendant Kay Lemke on May 24, 2021, by the Conciliation Court, Fourth Judicial District, in the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, Case No. 27-CO-19-8203, Dachis sought entry of a California judgment. The California judgment was entered on that date in the amount of $6,695.00, plus accrued in...

Excerpt: ...s (2) Plaintiff's Motion To Compel Compliance And Request For Sanctions ATTORNEYS: For Plaintiff Yvonne Saldana: Elliot J. Siegel, Margaret R. Wright, Tiffany Nguyen, King & Siegel LLP For Defendants Brown & Brown Insurance Services of California, Inc., Brown & Brown, Inc., and John Esposito: Daniel B. Chammas, Jennifer S. McGeorge, Hilda Aguilar, Ford & Harrison LLP TENTATIVE RULING: (1) The court continues the hearing on plaintiff's motion to c...

Excerpt: ...: August 7, 2023 MATTER: (1) Defendant Heirloom Valley, LLC's Motion For Order Compelling Plaintiff To Answer First Set Of Special Interrogatories and For Monetary Sanctions (2) Defendant Heirloom Valley, LLC's Motion For Order Compelling Plaintiff To Answer First Set Of Demand For Production Of Documents and For Monetary Sanctions (3) Defendant Heirloom Valley, LLC's Motion For Order Compelling Plaintiff's Further Responses To Employment Form In...

Excerpt: ...ttorney fees are awarded in favor of plaintiffs Nicole Nagel and Esy Investments, LLC, and against all defendants, jointly and severally, in the total amount of $6,369,793.98. $3,515,775.50 payable to Barnes & Thornburg, LLP; $316,145.89 to Rincon Venture Law Group; $114,640.00 to Kathleen Bliss Law PLLC; and $2,423,232.59 to Valle Makoff LLP. (2) Costs in favor of Plaintiffs a. Costs in the amount of $3,559.00 are allowed for filing and motion f...

Excerpt: ..., and Diego Rodriguez Garcia filed their original complaint in this action against defendants R.J. Carroll & Sons, Inc. (RJ Carroll), and Stuart Carroll (collectively, defendants). On December 3, 2020, plaintiffs filed their operative pleading, the second amended complaint (SAC). The SAC asserts wages and hour, fraud, and health and safety claims against defendants. On January 12, 2021, defendants filed their answer to the SAC generally denying t...

Excerpt: ...ff located at 21 9th Avenue, New York, New York 10014. Stanley ordered and consumed a total of $21,020.42 worth of alcohol, consisting of $15,400 in beverages, and $5,620.42 in taxes, fees, and gratuity. When presented with the final invoice at 3:14 a.m. on October 16, 2021, defendant refused to pay any portion of the bill. The complaint states causes of action for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, fraud, common count (goods and services ren...

Excerpt: ...birth at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital (the hospital). Plaintiff Roe filed her original complaint in this matter on December 22, 2022, alleging five causes of action for violation of Civil Code section 52.1 (the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act or Bane Act), battery, sexual battery, medical battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress against Dr. Ramos and Dr. Susanne L. Ramos, M.D., Inc. (Ramos MD) (collectively, defendants.) After the Co...

Excerpt: ...I-J. Analysis The Complaint [filed 5/5/23]; 126-pages. Sets out three counts: 1. Judicial view restoration 2. Declaratory relief 3. Private nuisance Prays for 1. An order (a) requiring Defendants to restore Plaintiff's scenic views by the pruning, trimming, thinning, removal, and/or other maintenance of trees and other vegetation on Defendants' property that interfere with Plaintiff's views in a manner consistent with applicable laws; (b) enjoini...

Excerpt: ..., Melissa Rapp, Office of the City Attorney RULING (1) For all reasons discussed herein, the court grants defendants' motion for judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend. (2) For all reasons discussed herein, the court orders the motion to compel and first amended motion to compel filed by plaintiff on, respectively, July 10 and 13, 2023, off- calendar. (3) The trial set for 8/2/23 at 11:30am is off calendar and the case is dismissed prej...

Excerpt: ...tions, LLC: Catherine L. Deter and Briana J. Kutinsky For Defendant and Cross-Complainant Judith H. Wood: Thomas S. Gelini and Jennifer A. Kung Gelini For Defendant Wood Environmental Services, LLC: No appearance TENTATIVE RULING: The motion to strike is granted with leave to amend. Plaintiff shall file and serve her second amended complaint no later than August 21, 2023. Background: This action commenced on February 7, 2023, by the filing of the...

Excerpt: ... denied in part as follows: (1) The motion is granted as to Requests for Admissions Nos_ 4, 5, 11, 12, and 18. It will also be granted as to Special Interrogatories Nos. 13: 14: 15: 16: 17 1. The granting of the protective order with respect to these requests for admissions and special interrogatories is without prejudice should further discovery put plaintiff's physical health, mental health, or alcohol use at issue as it pertains to this action...

Excerpt: ...ve to amend. Judgment shall be entered in favor of plaintiff and against defendant in the amount of $6,164.34. Plaintiff is entitled to recover its prevailing party costs. Background: Plaintiff Capital One, N.A. (Capital One) filed its complaint in this action on April 10, 2023. The complaint alleges causes of action for common counts (open book account, money lent, money paid) against defendant Miraya M. Ramirez (Ramirez). The complaint sought d...

Excerpt: ...l and Mark Campbell: Marc S. Shapiro, Jonathan P. Cyr, Bridget K. Hockaday, Hanger, Steinberg, Shapiro & Ash TENTATIVE RULING: (1) The demurrer of defendants to the fifth cause of action alleged in plaintiff's second amended complaint is sustained with leave to amend. (2) Defendants' motion to strike portions of plaintiff's second amended complaint is granted, in part, with leave to amend. The allegations of paragraph 59 of the second amended com...

Excerpt: ...demurrer to the FAC is overruled as to the statute of limitations bar, and is sustained as to the failure to specifically allege facts constituting the breach of the policy, with leave to amend. The motion to strike the prayer for attorneys' fees is granted, with leave to amend, to permit plaintiff one further opportunity to allege a proper basis for the attorneys' fees claim. The prayer was stricken by this Court from plaintiff's original compla...

Excerpt: ...id Foundation of Santa Barbara County TENTATIVE RULING: For all reasons discussed herein, defendant's demurrer to plaintiff's complaint is sustained with leave to amend. Plaintiff shall file its second amended complaint, if any, on or before August 7, 2023. Background: Plaintiff Dario L. Pini dba DP Investments filed an original complaint for unlawful detainer on April 27, 2023. On May 10, 2023, defendant Amber Asher (Asher) filed a general demur...

Excerpt: ...Plaintiffs allege that defects and nonconformities to the warranty manifested within the express warranty period, including, but not limited to, transmission defects, that the defects substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle, and the value of the vehicle is therefore worthless or de minimis. While Ford had an affirmative duty to promptly offer to repurchase or replace the vehicle when it failed to conform the vehicle to the t...

Excerpt: ...Willis, and minors Enzo Willis and Mia Willis by and through their guardian ad litem. As alleged in the FAC, on May 1, 2018, plaintiffs were stopped in their vehicle on U.S. Highway 101 at the Nojoqui grade in the County of Santa Barbara when a vehicle driven by defendant Felipe Hernandez, who is an employee of defendant the California Highway Patrol (“CHP”), struck plaintiffs' vehicle. (FAC, ¶ 13.) The collision injured plaintiffs and cause...

Excerpt: ...ction. By this action, the City seeks to obtain the full fee interest of real property located at 2733 and 2735 De La Vina Street (the Property) in connection with the De La Vina Street Bridge Replacement Project (Project). (See Yanez decl., dated Mar. 28, 2023, ¶¶ 2-3.) The Project consists of the removal and replacement of the 100-year-old De La Vina Street bridge with a new bridge that meets current seismic, safety, and design standards. (Ya...

Excerpt: ...seeks to obtain the full fee interest of real property located at 2726 and 2728 De La Vina Street (the Property) in connection with the De La Vina Street Bridge Replacement Project (Project). (See Yanez decl., dated Mar. 28, 2023, ¶¶ 2-3.) The Project consists of the removal and replacement of the 100-year-old De La Vina Street bridge with a new bridge that meets current seismic, safety, and design standards. (Yanez decl., ¶ 3.) The Project al...

Excerpt: ... will order this matter transferred to North County to be reset for hearing upon transfer unless plaintiff shows good cause for why this matter should not be transferred. Any papers responding to the court's ruling herein shall be filed and served on or before August 4, 2023. Background: Plaintiff David Noriega's complaint filed on June 29, 2022, alleges two causes of action for premises liability and negligence against defendants Floriano's Mexi...