Excerpt: ...d (2) “there is a reasonable possibility that the moving defendant will obtain judgment in the action”. Plaintiff (CTRG) concedes that it is a foreign corporation; however, Defendants have failed to demonstrate a “reasonable possibility” of prevailing on the core claims that form the gravamen of Plaintiff's complaint: that Defendants have breached the Operating Agreement for CAC by failing to pay CTRG “fixed annual” Class B Membership...

Excerpt: ...has met that burden, the burden shifts to the cross‐defendant to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists as to the cause of action or a defense thereto. There is a triable issue of material fact if, and only if, the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the party opposing the motion in accordance with the applicable standard of proof…If there is a single such issue, the ...

Excerpt: ...ted and diverted the natural flow of water, and controlled the design of the drainage system at issue. Procedural challenge A motion for summary adjudication must show that the material facts are undisputed. The pleadings serve as the “outer measure of materiality” on a motion for summary adjudication, and the motion may not be granted or denied on issues not raised by the pleadings. Weil and Brown, California Procedure Before Trial, TRG, §1...

Excerpt: ...to enforce an independent right or to impose greater liability upon the defendant. In such cases, the amended complaint does not relate back to the filing of the original”. (CA Practice Guide (Weil & Brown 2020) Civil Procedure Before Trial § 6:755) Because the policy is to liberally permit amendments and to resolve all disputed matters between the parties in the same lawsuit, the motion for leave to file a SAC is granted. ...

Excerpt: ... the court must consider the relative merits of the positions of the respective parties and make a determination of the probable outcome of the litigation. (Loeb & Loeb v. Beverly Glen Music (1985) 166 Cal.App.3d 1110, 1120.) Except where matters are specifically permitted to be shown upon information and belief, each affidavit or declaration must show that the affiant or declarant, if sworn as a witness, can testify competently to the facts stat...

Excerpt: ...ned an acknowledgment of receipt of employee handbook on 12/29/17 in which he acknowledged and agreed that the arbitration agreement is a term and condition of his employment with Scudder and that by his continued employment, he agreed to arbitration.” (Ex. A to Dec. P. Scudder filed 10/5/20) Also, unlike Esparza v. Sand & Sea, Inc. (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 781, 787, Plaintiff states that he agrees to abide by the arbitration agreement within the h...

Excerpt: ...civil actions sharing a common issue of fact or law is appropriate under CCP §404.1 where it will “promote the ends of justice”, considering: LAW AND MOTION TENTATIVE RULINGS DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2020 TIME: 8:30 A.M. 2 • Whether the common issue of fact or law is predominating and significant to the litigation of each included action; • The convenience of the parties, witnesses and counsel; • The relative development of the actions and the...

Excerpt: ...ota Chapter on 3/12/19 dissolved the Chapter, making it a nonentity incapable of suing or being sued. (Defendants' Motion p.5:23, 6:26) However, Holt was decided prior to the enactment of Cal Corp Code § 18410 (effective 1/1/2006). That section provides: An unincorporated association may be dissolved by any of the following methods: (a) If the association's governing documents provide a method for dissolution, by that method. (b) If the associat...

Excerpt: ...ourt in its discretion shall regulate the order of proof]. However, Plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating that bifurcation of the equitable causes of action for quiet title and accounting would result in judicial economy, promote justice, be more convenient to witnesses, or avoid prejudice. Plaintiff's quiet title claim is based in part on the same set of facts, and on the same legal theory (a violation of §2943 by the failure...

Excerpt: ...the Second Lien DOT; and these claims are time barred. Plaintiff's 4th, 5th and 6th causes of action for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and fraudulent concealment are based on the general allegation that “Defendants” misrepresented that the 2011 Loan Modification included all loans associated with the subject property. Plaintiff does not plead a specific misrepresentation by SPS; the Modification Agreement states in all caps on pa...

Excerpt: ...y or the payment of money, whether consisting of a special fund or not, and whether payable by the appellant or another party to the action. The Court in Dowling v. Zimmerman (2001) 85 Cal.App.4th 1400 stated, “[W]e interpret section CCP § 917.1(d) as requiring an appeal bond or undertaking to stay enforcement of a judgment for reasonable attorney fees and costs awarded to a prevailing SLAPP defendant under subdivision (c) of section 425.16. I...

Excerpt: ...tract) and third (quiet title) causes of action in cross-complainant Gisela Neumann's second amended cross-complaint with leave to amend. The court overrules the demurrer to the second (elder abuse) cause of action. This ruling does permit amendment of the second cause of action in a manner consistent with this ruling. Background: This is an action to partition by sale real property located at 6175 Manzanillo Drive in Goleta. Plaintiff Andre Neum...

Excerpt: ...ights and duties. (Pacific Gas & E. Co. v. G. W. Thomas Drayage etc. Co. (1968) 69 Cal.2d 33, 38) However a court "is required to give 'great weight' to the conduct of the parties in interpreting the instrument before any controversy arose". (Kennecott Corp. v. Union Oil Co. (1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 1179, 1189‐1190)) A reasonable trier of fact could find that the all of the Defendants committed to make the payments to Plaintiffs called for in the ...

Excerpt: ...es the motion of defendants Rushmyfile, Inc., FMC Lending, Inc., and Andrew Dioli to seal court records. Background: On May 17, 2019, a jury returned a verdict in this case, finding in favor of plaintiffs Merle Taylor and Marilyn Taylor and against defendants Robert Houston and Linda Lukas on claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and abuse of an elder. The jury awarded economic damages of $455,827 and non-economic damages of $100,000. As to...

Excerpt: ...blishes new law on the issue of tiering. However, Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods merely summarizes existing law under Pub. Resources Code §§21094 and 21166 on when an agency may tier the environmental review of a later project from the program EIR, and when a change in the original project requires a subsequent or supplemental EIR. It relies on long established case law for its analysis of the issue. See, Sierra Club v. County of Sonoma (1992) 6...

Excerpt: ...allege create a duty on the part of BRP to protect Plaintiffs' property from the illegal improvements and encroachments by neighboring BRP members. Defendants have not contested this authority; and Plaintiffs have therefore stated a cause of action. The dispute between the parties as to the operable bylaws does not render the FAC uncertain, as Defendant asserts that the FAC clearly relies on the By ‐ Laws recorded in 1950, based on their own Re...

Excerpt: ... material facts exists as to the cause of action or a defense thereto. The plaintiff shall not rely upon the allegations or denials of its pleadings to show that a triable issue of material fact exists but, instead, shall set forth the specific facts showing that a triable issue of material fact exists as to the cause of action or a defense thereto. In a declaratory relief action, the defendant's burden is to establish the plaintiff is not entitl...

Excerpt: ...iled in defeating Plaintiff's attempt to obtain rescission and damages, this was not a collection action for failure to pay the Note when due. The contractual fee provision therefore does not apply. ...

Excerpt: ...by extending an existing woodpile. This paragraph provides that Defendants have the right to maintain and landscape a certain portion of the 40 ft right of way in front of their house , as long as it does not interfere with or impede the convenient use of the right of way; and that certain landscaping, including fences, is prohibited “with the exception of the area currently occupied by the ‘concrete fence' and ‘concrete footing for fence',...

Excerpt: ...me the presumption, the motion for final approval of class action settlement, award of class representative payment, class counsel fees and costs, administration fees, and PAGA payment is granted, conditioned on Class Counsel filing prior to or at the hearing a further declaration attaching a copy of any agreement that has been entered into with respect to the payment of attorney's fees. (Cal Rules of Court, Rule 3.769(b)). With respect to the cy...

Excerpt: ...Law (2019) 361 F. Supp.3d 956,973) As to finality of the interim suspension decision or order, the interim suspension was not a final administrative decision or order. Petitioner still may have been found to not be responsible for the underlying issue that led to the interim suspension during the process of the permanent suspension. (AR 025). Even if the interim suspension were a final administrative decision or order, the interim suspension proc...

Excerpt: ...ds as follows: 1. The filing fees on the Answer to the Gill complaint and on the motion for summary judgment are attributable to the Gill Plaintiffs. The motion to tax is denied as to these costs. 2. 50% of the deposition of Stephen Whitmire dealt with Mr. Whitmire's personal injuries, was not relevant to the defense of the Gill action, and is attributed to the Whitmire Plaintiffs. The remaining 50% of the Whitmire deposition was equally relevant...

Excerpt: ...Brady to be named as an additional insured on all policies of liability insurance.(UMF's 34, 36, Hutchison Dec. Ex. B.) Virginia Surety (“Virginia”) issued insurance policies to Lee's. In those policies, Virginia agreed that who is an insured included as additional insureds the persons or organizations with respect to liability arising out of Lee's work or for property damage caused in whole or in part by Lee's acts or omissions. (see the ins...

Excerpt: ...nt has met that burden, the burden shifts to the plaintiff or crosscomplainant to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists as to the cause of action or a defense thereto. (Cal Code Civ Proc § 437c(p)(2)) Cross‐complainants have failed to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists. As to UMF's 7,9, & 11, the references to the Newman declaration do not create triable issues of material fact. (There is a ...

Excerpt: ... that is protected by the anti‐SLAPP statute. (see Opposition fn. 1) If the court finds that such a showing has been made, it must then determine whether the plaintiff has demonstrated a probability of prevailing on the claim. (Navellier v. Sletten (2002) 29 Cal.4th 82, 88 .) Only a cause of action that lacks “even minimal merit” constitutes a SLAPP. (Overstock.com, Inc. v. Gradient Analytics, Inc. (2007) 151 Cal.App.4th 688, 700) Regarding...