Excerpt: ...r before April 22, 2021. The deadlines for filing and service of opposition and reply to the motion are as set forth in Code of Civil Procedure section 1005, subdivision (b) based upon the May 14 hearing date. Background: On December 30, 2013, plaintiff Alek Haimovici filed his original complaint for breach of contract and conversion of security deposit in this limited civil case. Haimovici's counsel of record is attorney Stuart J. Zajic, whose p...

Excerpt: ...obert Stiglmier's first amended complaint (FAC): On October 20, 2019, Stiglmier was the subject of a traffic stop that took place on the sidewalk at 5710 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, at 11:45 p.m. (FAC, ¶ 15.) Stiglmier was stopped for allegedly riding a bicycle on the sidewalk, having no light devices on the bicycle at night, and misappropriation of lost property, i.e., the bicycle Stiglmier was riding. (FAC, ¶ 16.) Stiglmier cooperated with defe...

Excerpt: ...te McWeeney was employed by Mr. Gelb as property manager of the properties and was responsible for overseeing maintenance and repair requests, showing rental units to prospective tenants, and collecting rent from existing tenants, among other tasks. When plaintiff purchased the properties, it hired defendant to continue her pre- existing duties as property manager. On June 23, 2018, plaintiff terminated defendant after she was observed removing c...

Excerpt: ...cted the amount due, owing, and unpaid as $5,254.58. The parties settled the action in September 2019, through execution of a Stipulation for Conditional Entry of Judgment. Pursuant to the settlement agreement, plaintiff would accept payments from defendant totaling $3,600, consisting of the $5,254.58 in total principal at the time of suit, $283.13 in court costs, and settlement forgiveness totaling ($1,937.71). Defendant would make monthly payme...

Excerpt: ...April 23, 2021. The hearing on this matter is continued to April 30, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Background: As alleged in plaintiffs' first amended complaint (FAC): Defendants Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and Plains Pipeline, L.P. (collectively, Plains) own and operate a 10-mile long, 24-inch wide oil pipeline known as Line 901. (FAC, ¶¶ 2, 140.) Line 901, with its connecting Line 903 (together, the Pipeline), constitute the only permissible ro...

Excerpt: ...vide the requisite 45 days' notice. BACKGROUND: Plaintiff La Casa De La Raza (“La Casa”) is a nonprofit corporation and the owner of real property located at 601 E. Montecito Street, Santa Barbara, California 93013 (the “Property”). Defendant Tomas Castelo (“Castelo”) is one of the original founders of La Casa and the owner of defendant MLG Leasing, Inc. (“MLG”). In 2015, La Casa obtained a loan in the amount of $440,000.00 from F...

Excerpt: ...supplemental information on or before March 29, 2021. Plaintiff shall provide defendant with notice of the contents of this ruling, and of the continued hearing date, forthwith. Background: This is a collections action, which was settled between the parties on September 14, 2018. The parties entered into a Settlement Agreement, in which defendant Angela Lopez stipulated that she owed plaintiff the sum of $3,291.87, agreed to make payments of $100...

Excerpt: ...redit card agreement. Defendant used the credit card to purchase goods, services, and/or for cash advances. In exchange for use of the credit card, defendant agreed to repay the principal along with interest and other charges. On August 12, 2019, defendant breached the credit card agreement by failing to remit any further payments on the account. There is currently due and owing to plaintiff the sum of $19,235.50, plus interest and attorney's fee...

Excerpt: ...ction Company, Inc. is a general building contractor. Defendant Donald Stanley Tenpenny is the Chief Executive Officer and President of Tenpenny Construction. On December 19, 2016, plaintiff entered into a written agreement with Tenpenny Construction for construction of a custom-built home located at 1425 Mission Ridge Road, Santa Barbara, California 93103. Plaintiff alleges that Tenpenny Construction breached agreement by, among other things, fa...

Excerpt: ...er to the date of payment, December 16, 2020, in the amount of $59,343.87. The court will award plaintiffs Erikka Skinner and Ann Kenney $106,110 in attorney fees for appellate counsel's work on the appeal, $16,975 in attorney fees for the motion, and costs of $2,129.59. The parties may address this portion of the ruling at the March 5 hearing. The court continues the hearing to March 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., solely for consideration of the amoun...

Excerpt: ...amend, to the third amended complaint and to each cause of action therein against this defendant. (3) Based upon the sustaining of the demurrer of defendant Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc., to each cause of action, the motion of that defendant to strike portions of the complaint is ordered off calendar as moot. Background: (1) Allegations of Third Amended Complaint Plaintiff Max Hennard and defendant Dana Cook are parties to a family law ...

Excerpt: ...ortions of property located at 6663 Del Playa Drive (owned by plaintiffs), and 6653 Del Playa Drive, in the Isla Vista area of Goleta, failed and collapsed onto the beach below. On January 13, 2020, plaintiffs filed this action, alleging causes of action for trespass, negligence, private nuisance, and public nuisance. As against demurring defendant Ed St. George, the complaint alleged that he formerly was an owner of the property at 6653 Del Play...

Excerpt: ...tember 14, 2019 on State Route 154. Plaintiff was a passenger in a vehicle operated by Enrique Calderon-Mendez. Defendant Javier Jonathan Antunez was the operator of a vehicle owned by defendant Esther Emiko Trejo-Takembaiyee and in which Trejo-Takembaiyee was a passenger. The accident occurred when the Antunez vehicle crossed over the double yellow line and collided with the Calderon-Mendez vehicle in which plaintiff was a passenger. A third veh...

Excerpt: ... Plaintiff alleges that she is disabled and that she was harassed, discriminated against, and constructively terminated by defendants because of her disabilities. On June 27, 2019, plaintiff filed her complaint, alleging eighteen causes of action, including claims for actual and perceived disability harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in violation of Government Code Section 12940 et seq., failure to accommodate, intentional infliction of ...

Excerpt: ... as to privilege and in a form complying with the Code of Civil Procedure, to special interrogatories Nos. 40 through 46, subject to the court's protective order. In all other respects, including all requests for sanctions, the motion is denied. (2) As set forth herein, the motion of plaintiff to compel further responses to special interrogatories from defendant Donald Stanley Tenpenny is granted in part and denied in part. On or before March 15,...

Excerpt: ...of defendant Avco Corporation to quash service of summons as to plaintiff Turner Conrad is continued to April 30, 2021. The court will not resolve the motion at that time, but will set a further date at that hearing. (3) As set forth herein, the court grants the motion of defendant Avco Corporation to file under seal the documents now lodged with the court conditionally under seal on February 4, 2021, consisting of exhibits 5, 6, and 7 to the dec...

Excerpt: ... against defendants Rok Solid Exploration & Recovery, LLC, and Johnathan Kendrick. Plaintiff alleges: Rok Solid entered into a written contract with Aqueous to perform subsea services in connection with Rok Solid's venture to recover gold from a sunken ship off the California coast near Oceanside. Aqueos perfomed those services and the unpaid balance of the amounts charged is $185,449. Aqueous alleges that Rok Solid is the alter ego of Kendrick. ...

Excerpt: ... responses to requests for production and to produce documents (set two) and motion to compel both defendants to provide further responses to special interrogatories, which are actually four motions, to February 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. On or before February 11, 2021, plaintiff shall pay two additional filing fees to have the motions heard or shall withdraw one of the motions, which is actually two motions. Plaintiff shall file a notice with the c...

Excerpt: ...Code of Civil Procedure section 877 and 877.6. The Clerk of the Court is ordered to permanently delete the Declaration of Andrew Waugh lodged provisionally under seal with the court on January 21, 2021, from the court's electronic record as provided by California Rules of Court, rule 2.551(b)(6)(2). Background: On November 4, 2019, plaintiffs Jenny Belforte and Todd Belforte, individually and as guardians ad litem for John Doe and James Doe, file...

Excerpt: ...related material for defendant Greg Smorodinsky pursuant to Evid. Code §§ 1043 and 1045. Defendant Regents of the University of California shall, on or before February 19, 2021, produce to the court, for in camera review pursuant to Evid. Code § 1045(b) and (c), information in the personnel file of Greg Smorodinsky and other records that include all complaints and disciplinary documents from 2015 to present relating to complaints against Smoro...

Excerpt: ...nt at real property located at 6606-6608 Del Playa, Isla Vista, California (the “Property”). The Property is owned by defendant Ronald L. Wolfe and Associates Incorporated. Plaintiff's tenancy at the Property was pursuant to a written lease. Plaintiff alleges that he was served with a termination notice that did not contain the required information under Civil Code Section 1950.5 relating to abandoned personal property. Plaintiff left persona...

Excerpt: ...age on May 23, 2014, in Isla Vista, California, perpetrated by Elliot Rodger, who killed six people and injured fourteen others before committing suicide. Three of Rodger's victims were killed inside the Capri Apartments located at 6598 Seville Road in Isla Vista. On November 20, 2015, the heirs of the three victims killed inside the Capri Apartments filed a wrongful death action entitled Junan Chen, et al. v. Hi Desert Mobile Home Park, L.P., et...

Excerpt: ...orsche 911 Carrera S. Cabriolet from defendant Desert European Motorcars, Ltd (“DEM”) in 2013. Defendants Wayne Bernstein, Shad Scheussler, and Larry Py all worked for DEM as salespersons or managers at the time of the sale. Defendant AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (“AmTrust”) is the parent company of the surety that issued a performance bond to DEM. Plaintiff alleges that DEM conspired with defendant Porsche Cars North America (“PCNA...

Excerpt: ...ent, 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 width as shown on the lateral access easement exhibit map dated May 23, 1990. The OTD was a condition of approval of the Casa Blanca Final Development Plan permitting the construction of eight residences and a common area lot...

Excerpt: ...Family Trust. B. The court overrules defendant Skylar L. Gauss's demurrer to plaintiffs' second amended complaint. C. The court grants, in part, defendant Skylar L. Gauss's motion to strike portions of plaintiffs' second amended complaint. The court grants the motion to strike from the SAC the words “an exclusive” from ¶77; and the words “had exclusive possession and use of all water flowing to Subject Spring” in ¶111, without leave to ...

Excerpt: ...interrogatories, form interrogatories, requests for production of documents, and requests for admission. The motion is in all other respects denied. The denial of monetary sanctions in each motion is without prejudice to asserting a claim for monetary sanctions in a subsequent motion arising out of the same discovery at issue in these motions, which claim includes attorney fees and costs sought in these motions. Background: On February 14, 2019, ...

Excerpt: ...nt Royal & Sun Alliance Ins. PLC (Royal & Sun) to cover the mother plants at the facility. It obtained commercial property, business personal property, and business income insurance from defendant National Fire & Marine Ins. Co. (National Fire) As it described the business in the two actions, Start operated a large-scale cannabis nursery which grew mother plants, clones, and teens. Fresh tips from mother plan branches were nurtured for up to 30 d...

Excerpt: ...nically) file or lodge provisionally under seal the confidential non-monetary terms of the settlement for the court's review on or before January 29, 2021. Background: On November 4, 2019, plaintiffs Jenny Belforte and Todd Belforte, individually and as guardians ad litem for John Doe and James Doe, filed their original complaint in this action against defendants The Regents of the University of California (Regents), Kesem, Andrew Waugh, Courtney...

Excerpt: ...sts for Production ## 4, 6-10, 28, and 29, with employee identification and contact information redacted. The court orders defendant to provide a further response to Request for Production #5, on or before March 15, 2021, with names and contact information for Covered Employees who did not opt out after the procedure set forth in this ruling. Background: Plaintiff Jack Chavez brings this putative wage and hour class action against defendant Anaca...

Excerpt: ...ondominium—4700 Sandyland, Unit 24, in Carpinteria. The lease was for a six-month term and monthly rent was $1,500. The lease provided that, if defendant held over after expiration of the lease term, a month-to-month tenancy would be created at a monthly rent of $3,500 per month. Plaintiff alleges: The tenancy is not subject to the Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (Civil Code § 1946.2) (“TPA”). On October 7, 2020, plaintiff served defendant w...

Excerpt: ...inated because of her alleged disabilities. Plaintiff worked for NuSil Technology for about two years as an Analytical Technician. Plaintiff's complaint alleges eighteen causes of action, including claims for disability discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and constructive wrongful termination. Defendants deny the allegations. The complaint was filed on June 27, 2019. The t...

Excerpt: ...ress and defamation. The complaint identifies Channe G. Coles of the Law Office of Channe G. Coles as counsel for plaintiff Foschini. On April 24, 2019, without any response having been filed, Foschini filed his first amended complaint (FAC) alleging the same causes of action. Both the original complaint and the FAC assert claims arising out of allegations of conduct by Foschini towards Ananda communicated in social media and Ananda's conduct tow...

Excerpt: ...hen his vehicle crossed over the center line and collided head-on with the vehicle driven by plaintiff James Lechuga, and in which Jennifer Lechuga and minors Jeffrey and Joey Lechuga were passengers. The Luchuga family members each sustained personal injuries in the collision. The action has now settled for a total payment to the Lechugas of $100,000, consisting of funds both from defendant Cortes Perez and the Estate of Martha Quintana, and fro...

Excerpt: ...rve her answer to the complaint on or before January 22, 2021. BACKGROUND: This is a landlord/tenant dispute involving real property located at 1034 Neil Park Avenue, Santa Barbara, California 93103 (the “Property”). Plaintiffs Bruno Lopez and Griselda Lopez are tenants of the Property. Defendant Tricia Rush is the owner and manager of the Property. Plaintiffs took possession of the Property on January 1, 2017 pursuant to a written rental agr...

Excerpt: ...ourt at this time, and will be resolved, if necessary, in any future motion by plaintiff to compel compliance with the production demand. BACKGROUND: In this action, plaintiff Chelsea Herzog has sued her former employer, defendant NuSil Technology, LLC, and her former supervisor, defendant Michal Wadsworth, claiming that she was harassed, discriminated against, and constructively terminated because of her alleged disabilities. Plaintiff worked fo...

Excerpt: ...ted in Carpinteria, California. Cate School is a customer of defendant TriNet HRIII-A, Inc. and its affiliated company defendant TriNet Group, Inc. (together, “TriNet”). Panadero worked as a Spanish-language teacher for Cate School from 2003 until she was terminated at the end of the 2018/2019 academic year. On January 10, 2020, Panadero filed her complaint, alleging various Labor Code and Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”) causes o...

Excerpt: ...leadings as to Defendant Porsche Cars North America, Inc.'s Five Affirmative Defenses to Plaintiff's Second Amended Verified Complaint as follows: the court grants the motion for judgment on the pleadings as to defendant Porsche Cars North America, Inc.'s first affirmative defense without leave to amend; and the court denies the motion in all other respects. Background: In his second amended verified complaint (SAC), plaintiff Roy E. Stephenson a...

Excerpt: ...ff Shante Chappell's first amended complaint, with leave to amend, and overrules the demurrer to the second cause of action. 2. The court denies defendants Thomas Miles Phillips and The Phillips Firm's motion to strike portions of plaintiff Shante Chappell's first amended complaint. Background: On November 12, 2019, plaintiff Shante Chappell filed a complaint against defendants Thomas Miles Phillips (Phillips) and The Phillips Firm in the Ventura...

Excerpt: ...mer employees the notice described in this ruling. Background: This is a putative class action wage and hour lawsuit brought by plaintiff Jorge Delgado, individually and on behalf of others similarly situated, against his former employer, defendant SBBC Brewhouse, LLC. Defendant employed plaintiff from 2003 to December 2018 doing cleaning, dishwashing, stocking, and food preparation. Plaintiff alleges that he was paid overtime wages only when he ...

Excerpt: ... sustained with respect to the cause of action for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The demurrer with respect to all claims, as they are currently alleged against individual defendant Ty Warner, are sustained. The special demurrer for uncertainty is overruled. Plaintiff has not opposed the motion to strike, as it relates to the request for attorneys' fees, and the motion is therefore granted as to such fees. With respect to the motio...

Excerpt: ...lifornia, Inc., the original lender and creditor. Defendant Susan M. Schwartz is the borrower and debtor. Plaintiff alleges that defendant breached the loan agreement by failing to pay the sum of $11,579.05 when due and owing. On November 24, 2009, plaintiff filed its complaint against defendant for breach of contract and common counts. On December 30, 2009, defendant was served by substituted service. Defendant failed to file a response to the c...

Excerpt: ...ff alleges that defendant was negligent and that he was driving under the influence at the time of the collision. On August 27, 2020, plaintiff filed his complaint, alleging a single cause of action for motor vehicle liability. Plaintiff seeks general damages, special damages, and punitive damages. Defendant moves to strike the punitive damages claim. ANALYSIS: Request for Judicial Notice Defendant requests that the court take judicial notice of ...

Excerpt: ...ing by replacing references to “aggrieved employees” with “all other similarly situated employees,” (4) strike the seventh cause of action for penalties under Labor Code § 558 and all related allegations, and (5) add applicable references to IWC Order No. 4- 2001 and No. 16-001. Defense counsel originally declined to stipulate to the amendment until he received a date for plaintiff's deposition. After plaintiff determined that additional...

Excerpt: ... Vanessa Bley, wife of plaintiff Max Gleason, and in which the couple's two minor children (Lucienne, age 2, and Desmond, age 4 months) were passengers, was apparently struck head-on by a vehicle operated by defendant John Dungan and owned by both John Dungan and defendant Michael Dungan, and allegedly entrusted by Michael Dungan. A felony criminal complaint is currently pending against defendant John Dungan arising from the accident. At the time...

Excerpt: ...Associates (St. George) for judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 631.8. On February 6, 2020, the court filed its statement of decision. On February 20, 2020, the court filed its judgment. The judgment includes: “Defendant is the prevailing party in this matter and is entitled to recover its attorney's fees pursuant to Cal. Code of Civil Procedure § 1717, and its costs from Plaintiff[] subject to a noticed motion.” (Judgment, ...

Excerpt: ...el Hernandez, and Diego Rodriguez Garcia. The operative First Amended Complaint (FAC) filed by plaintiffs on September 10, 2020, seeks both individual damages and PAGA penalties (brought only by defendants Armenta, Garcia, and Hernandez), alleging causes of action for (1) failure to pay wages, (2) failure to provide compliant meal, rest, and recovery periods, (3) untimely payment of wages, (4) failure to keep accurate records of hours worked, (5)...

Excerpt: ...is Armstrong and Associates, LLC (LAA). Plaintiff/cross-defendant Robert S. Shumake Living Trust 1994 (Shumake) and defendants Jason Q. Wilson Trust Dated October 18, 2007; G Boys, LLC; Michael DeSalvo; and 2017 Lonestar Properties, Inc., are members of LAA. LAA holds a lease and purchase agreement for improved real property in Carpinteria. LAA's business is to cultivate medicinal and adult-use cannabis. On January 17, 2019, Shumake filed its com...

Excerpt: .... Plaintiff alleges: Defendant had entered into a written lease for premises at 315 W. Carrillo Street, #105, in Santa Barbara. The lease agreement, including its addenda, was prepared in accordance with the requirements of federal law, and related implementing regulations as determined by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). [Complaint ¶¶5, 6] Emergency orders of the Governor, County of Santa Barbara Health Officer, S...

Excerpt: ...ate Attorney General, filed his complaint against defendants Channel Auto Services LP (erroneously named by its fictitious name “Price Management”; hereinafter Channel); Coast Village, Inc. (CVC); and Mesa 76 LP (Mesa). The causes of action are: 1) missed meal breaks; 2) missed rest breaks; 3) failure to pay reporting time wages; 4) violation of Labor Code § 226; 5) violation of Labor Code § 203; 6) violation of Labor Code § 1102.5; 7) wro...

Excerpt: ...16, 2020. Defendants are awarded monetary sanctions against plaintiff in the amount of $3,180.00. BACKGROUND: In this action, plaintiff Chelsea Herzog has sued her former employer, defendant NuSil Technology, LLC, and her former supervisor, defendant Michal Wadsworth, claiming that she was harassed, discriminated against, and constructively terminated because of her alleged disabilities. Plaintiff worked for NuSil Technology for about two years a...