Excerpt: ...olicy in fav or of enforcing arbitration agreements. 9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq. The FAA applies to any written arbitration agreement in a contract evidencing a transaction involving interstate commerce. AlliedBruce Terminix Companies, Inc. v. Dobson (1995) 513 U.S. 25, 277 . A party seeking to enforce an arbitration agreement has the burden of showing FAA preemption. (Woolls v. Superior Court (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 197, 211.) For example, a petitioner...

Excerpt: ...oader (Serial No. 1FF2454DAB0240050);  Pierce PM -3348 Delimber (Serial No. 15918). Merits of Motion: CCP § 512.060 provides that in order to obtain a writ of possession plaintiff must: 1) demonstrate the probable validity of the claim, meaning that it is more probable than not that it will u ltimately obtain a judgment for possession of the personal property; and 2) satisfy the undertaking requirements of Section 515.010. Plaintiff has suffi...

Excerpt: ...ught the lo an and deed of trust in August 2016, and currently owns the mortgage note and deed of trust. The Cadle Company services the loan for BBR Investments LLC. The Cadle Company moves for summary judgment or in the alternative summary adjudication. The motion is unopposed. Merits: The party moving for summary judgment bears the initial burden to make a prima facie showing that there are no triable issues of material fact. Aguilar v. Atlanti...

Excerpt: ...d Confer: CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of John Kenny states sufficient facts to meet this requirement. Merits: A demurrer should be sustained if the complaint fails to “...

Excerpt: ...tter will be continued to permit Petitioner to address these defects. Merits: Currency that is “furnished or intended to be furnished by any person in exchange for a controlled substance” or used or intended to be used to facilitate particular provisions of the Health and Safety Code are subject to seizure and forfeiture. Health and Safety Code § 11470. The judicial and/or administrative procedure for forfeiture is laid out generally in Heal...

Excerpt: ... of Californ ia (1992) 3 Cal. 4th 273, 277- 281 (superseded by statute on other grounds). However, courts cannot automatically and instantly approve a proposed settlement or dismiss a class action suit, even if the representative plaintiff and defendant have agreed on the terms of such settlement or dismissal. In a class action, the trial court has a duty to adequately protect the members of the class. Bingham v. Obledo (1983) 147 Cal. App. 3d 40...

Excerpt: ...ment neglig ent misrepresentation, and 5) add a cause of action for violation of Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. Defendant General Motors LLC opposes the motion. Merits: CCP § 473(a)(1) permits any pleading to be amended in furtherance of justice and on any terms as may be proper, after notice to the adverse party. The Court's discretion in this regard will usually be exercised liberally to permit amendment. Nestle v. Santa Monica (1972) 6 Cal. 3d 9...

Excerpt: ...ement does n ot state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action pursuant to CCP § 430.10(e). Meet and Confer: CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demu rrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Peter Witherington i...

Excerpt: ...wing that t here are no triable issues of material fact. Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 850. There is a genuine issue of material fact only if the evidence would allow a reasonable trier of fact to find the underlying fact in favor of the p arty opposing the motion in accordance with the applicable standard of proof. Id. at 845. A defendant has met his or her burden of showing that a cause of action has no merit if the...

Excerpt: ...udgment on Dec ember 29, 2023. Defendant has filed an opposition. Procedural Issues. Oppositions to motions for summary judgment are due 14 days before the hearing date. CCP § 437c(b)(2). Defendant filed his opposition on April 2, 2024, just 6 days prior to the hea ring date. The Court finds that the opposition is untimely; however, out of an abundance of caution will exercise its discretion to consider the opposition. The Court notes that th...

Excerpt: ...e provi ded by statute or by rule of court adopted pursuant to statute, the policy favoring the right of parties to make stipulations in their own interests and the policy favoring trial or other disposition of an action on the merits are generally to be preferred over the policy that requires dismissal for failure to proceed with reasonable diligence in the prosecution of an action in construing the provisions of this chapter. CCP § 583.130. (a...

Excerpt: ... but denied without prejudice by the Court due to procedural defects; specifically, a failure to provide proper notice. The Court did not issue a ruling on the merits of the prior motion and therefore finds the present motion is not one for reconsideration. The Cour t will issue a ruling on the merits. Merits of Motion: CCP § 473(b) permits the Court to set aside a default or order entered against an aggrieved party due to mistake, surprise, i...

Excerpt: ...e of action pursuant to CCP 430.10(e), and is uncertain pursuant to CCP 430.10(f). Houseboating has concurrently filed a Motion to Strike, which argues that if the Court sustains the demurrer on the third cause of action, punitive damages must be struck from the FAC . The analysis and outcome on Houseboating's Demurrer and Motion to Strike is the same as for the Silverthorn Demurrer and Motion to Strike, which was made on substantially similar g...

Excerpt: ... access to cou rt proceedings. Dep't of Fair Emp. & Hous. v. Superior Ct. of Santa Clara Cnty. (2022) 82 Cal. App. 5th 105, 108 (“DFEH”). Because of the inherently sensitive nature of some proceedings, statutes specifically allow for keeping certain parties' identities confidential. (See, for example, Civ. Code, § 1708.85, subd. (f)(1) [plaintiff in action for nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit materials may proceed un...

Excerpt: ...nts to pr oduce the PMQ within 15 days. The PMQ was deposed on November 29, 2023, pursuant to the parties' agreement. Plaintiff established that the PMQ testified as to categories 1 -2, and 9 -13 only. Plaintiffs thereafter moved for issue and evidence sanctions an d to compel further deposition of a PMQ on the remaining categories, which the Court granted in part on January 4, 2024 (the hearing on the motion held January 2, 2024, and the Court ...

Excerpt: ...rial or as a basis of adjudication and a presumption of openness of substantive court proceedings in ordinary cases, our Supreme Court in NBC Subsidiary (KNBC –TV), Inc. v. Superior Court (1999) 20 Cal.4th 1178, (NBC Subsidiary ) set forth the findings that both the t rial and appellate courts must expressly make to seal a record. (Id. at pp. 1200, 1208 –1209, fn. 25.) Courts must find that (1) there is an overriding interest supporting sea...

Excerpt: ...iff filed a First Amended Representative Complaint for a Violation of Labor Code § 2698, et seq. on February 13, 2024. There is no longer a class action allegation. In the original moving papers, Defendant moved for a stay or dismissal of the action. In Defendant' s Supplemental Briefing on Petition to Compel Arbitration filed on March 14, 2024, Defendant only requested a stay pending arbitration. Plaintiff does not oppose arbitration but doe...

Excerpt: ...al Notice: The requests for judicial notice are unopposed. The Court grants the requests for judicial notice. Objections to Evidence: Defendant's Objections Nos. 1 -3, 6 and 7 are SUSTAINED. Defendant's Objections Nos. 4, 5 and 8 - 15 are OVERRULED. Defendant 's Objection to Mr. Obagi's 3 declaration filed in support of the reply is SUSTAINED. Entitlement to Attorney's Fees: Plaintiff's operative Second Amended Complaint alleged a single cause o...

Excerpt: ...res the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demur rer.” The Declaration of Reuben B. Jacobson provides sufficient evidence of meet and confer efforts. Merits. A demurrer should be sustained if the complaint fails to “state facts s...

Excerpt: ... filed Decemb er 7, 2023. This request is granted pursuant to Evid. Code §§ 452(d) and 453. Meet and Confer. CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for t he purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Katharine McCallum provide...

Excerpt: ...e objections to be raised in the demurrer.” Defendant provided no evidence of this and did not file a declaration addressing meet and confer efforts as required by CCP § 430.41(a)(3). However, Plaintiff did not raise an issue regarding meet and confer efforts and De fendant alleged in the Notice of Motion that counsel wrote a meet and confer letter to Plaintiff's counsel. “A determination by the court that the meet and confer process was in...

Excerpt: ...erica (Saf eco) is Plaintiff's alleged insurer. Safeco demurs to the Second Cause of Action of Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint (FAC), on the grounds that it fails to state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against Safeco pursuant to CCP 430.10(e). Meet and Confer: CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the ...

Excerpt: ... state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action pursuant to CCP § 430.10(e). Meet and Confer: CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Peter Witherington indicates complia...

Excerpt: ...nly known a s a Pitchess motion. See Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531. Pitchess motions have been codified in Evid. Code § 1043 which requires a written motion in both civil and criminal actions. Evid. Code § 1043(a). The motion shall include: “1) identification of the proceeding in which discovery or disclosure is sought, the party seeking discovery or disclosure, the peace or custodial officer whose records are sought, the ...

Excerpt: ... Commission now moves to change venue pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 394. Plaintiffs oppose the motion. The parties agree that Shasta County is an appropriate initial venue for filing. They disagree as to whether section 394, a removal statute, app lies in this case. Code of Civil Procedure section 394 provides, in pertinent part: [A]ny action or proceeding brought by a county, city and county, city, or local agency within a certain...

Excerpt: ...Reques t for Judicial Notice. The Court further notes that the Declaration of Andrew S. Pletcher provides evidence establishing how each of the documents in Requests 2 -8 (Ex. A -G) were obtained. Plaintiffs' Requests for Judicial Notice are granted pursuant to Ev id. Code §§ 452(h) and 453. Post jurisdictional discovery, Plaintiffs also requested the Court take judicial notice of three maps from Google Maps pursuant to Evid. Code §§ 452 and ...

Excerpt: ...or, managi ng agent, employee, or agent most qualified in the following categories: 1. Research and Development of any and all stanchions built on Defendant Sierra Pacific Industries' Property. 2. Safety measures/concerns/or considerations taken into account in the d esign of all stanchions built on Defendant Sierra Pacific Industries' Property. 3. Any and all differences between the subject stanchion involved in Plaintiff's injury and the new...

Excerpt: ...d with the Second Amended Notice of Taking Deposition of Witness Jonathan Martin and Request for Production of Documents on September 15, 2023. The Second Amended Notice noticed a Deposition of Jonathan Martin on October 18, 2023. Defendant also provided a Depo sition Subpoena compelling Jonathan Martin to appear on October 18, 2023, with an attached Proof of Service indicating that Jonathan Martin was personally served with the Deposition Subpoe...

Excerpt: ...the Third Amended Complaint. The Cross- Complaint filed on January 12, 2022 contains nine separate causes of action. The Answer filed on March 25, 2022 alleges twenty affirmative defenses to the Cross -Complaint. Plaintiff does not state in the Notice of Motion whether Plaintiff is proceeding with a motion for summary judgment on the Complaint, the CrossComplaint, or both. Instead, the Notice states that Plaintiff prays “That the Court issue ...

Excerpt: ...73. Plaint iffs allege Kacalek suddenly and unexpectedly lost consciousness while en route to an emergency call, causing the Subject Vehicle to go off the road and overturn. Plaintiffs Ryan and Charity Kacalek allege Strict Product Liability and Negligence [Product Liability] against Defendants Faurecia USA Holdings, Inc. and Faurecia Emissions Control Technologies USA, LLC (“Defendants,” for purposes of this Motion). Plaintiffs allege design...

Excerpt: ... discovery law provides for a broad range of sanctions for conduct that amounts to abuses of the discovery process including evidentiary and issue sanctions. Cedars -Sinai Medical Center v. Superior Court (1998) 18 Cal.4th 1, 12. The spoilation of evidence can be a n abuse of discovery. Id. Spoilation of evidence is defined as “the destruction or alteration of relevant information or the failure to preserve evidence for another party's use in ...

Excerpt: ...ovides t hat “In any action on a contract, where the contract specifically provides that attorney's fees and costs, which are incurred to enforce that contract, shall be awarded either to one of the parties or to the prevailing party, then the party who is determined to be the party prevailing on the contract, whether he or she is the party specified in the contract or not, shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees in addition to other ...

Excerpt: ...that i t is uncertain and fails to state sufficient facts for a cause of action. Plaintiffs oppose the demurrer. Meet and Confer: CCP § 430.41 requires the demurring party to “meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Ian Schar...

Excerpt: ...tatemen t of Non-Opposition to the Motion. Merits: The law favors the settlement of lawsuits, particularly in complex litigation, where they save time and resources. Neary v. Regents of the University of California (1992) 3 Cal. 4th 273, 277 -281 (superseded by statute on other grounds). However, courts cannot automatically and instantly approve a proposed settlement or dismiss a class action suit, even if the representative plaintiff and defenda...

Excerpt: ... 5, 2024 for a Final Approval Hearing. No oral objections were made on February 5, 2024. The Final Approval Hearing was continued to today's date because a declaration was not filed and additional information was necessary. This information has been provided. F inal Approval of the Settlement. The parties agreed to settle the case for $675,000.00. The breakdown of the settlement is as follows: Total Settlement Amount 675,000.00 Proposed Attorney...

Excerpt: ...otion for Summa ry Judgment and other related matters.” As this motion is included in the limited scope representation, Melvin S. Hodges may appear on behalf of Plaintiff for the limited purpose of this motion. Merits. “To ensure the prompt disposition of civil cas es, the dates assigned for a trial are firm. All parties and their counsel must regard the date set for trial as certain.” CRC 3.1332(a). “Although continuances of trials are ...

Excerpt: ...f America (Safeco) is Plaintiff's insurer. Safeco moves for an order severing Plaintiff's claims against Safeco from Plaintiff's claims against Defendants Simao, Rayfifield, and Reservoir Lane, LLC, pursuant to CCP § 598 and § 1048(b), Evid. Code § 1155, and the Court's inherent powers. These code sections do not directly support a motion to sever related to claims at the outset of litigation. “Although judges and lawyers commonly use the ...

Excerpt: ... or impro per matter inserted in any pleading;” or 2) “strike out all or any part of any pleading not drawn in conformity with the laws of this state.” CCP § 436(a) & (b). A motion to strike is the proper method to challenge an improper request for punitive damage s. Caliber Bodyworks, Inc. v Superior Court (2005) 134 Cal.App.4th 365, 385. In order to seek punitive damages, a plaintiff must plead that the defendant was guilty of oppression...

Excerpt: ...is uncertain and fails to state su
¯icient facts for a cause of action. Plainti
¯s oppose the demurrer. Defendant Chapman has Þled a Notice of Hearing directed to all parties and their attorneys of record, however there is no proof of service on Þle. Additionally, no Declaration has been Þled 2 regarding compliance with meet and confer requirements of CCP § 430.41. Proof of service must be Þled no later than Þve court days before the time...

Excerpt: ...Agreement Þled with the Court on September 16, 2022. This request is granted pursuant to Evid. Code §§ 452(d) and 453. Merits. CCP § 664.6 provides the Court with authority, upon motion, to enter judgment pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement entered into in writing, or orally before the Court. If requested by the parties, the Court also retains jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the...

Excerpt: ...ling a motion to strike. No evidence of meet and confer e
¯orts has been provided. However, a determination by the Court that meet and confer e
¯orts were insu
¯icient is not a ground upon which a motion to strike can be granted or denied, therefore, the Court will issue a ruling on the merits. Merits. The court may, upon a motion made pursuant to Section 435, or at any time in its discretion, and upon terms it deems proper: (a) Strike out any...

Excerpt: ...vil Procedure Section 1021.5. Respondent opposes the motion. Background: On April 10, 2023, this Court issued a Ruling on Writ of Mandate ordering County to release the records sought. In that Ruling, the Court found the Petitioner was the prevailing 3 party entitled to reasonable attorneys fees and costs according to proof. On April 28, 2023, County Þled a M oti on to Vacate th e R ul i n g or i n th e A ltern ati ve fo r a N ew Tri al , a n d ...

Excerpt: ...he Vilchez Declaration are OVERRULED. Song-Beverly: The Song- Beverly Act contains a cost-shifting provision that speciÞcally allows prevailing buyers to recover their costs, including attorney's fees. Civ. C. § 1794(d). The attorney's fee award is limited to the amount the court determines was reasonably incurred by the buyer in commencing and prosecuting the action, based on actual time expended. The prevailing buyer has the burden of proving...

Excerpt: ...material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. CCP § 437c(c). A plainti
¯ has met his burden of showing that there is no defense to a cause of action if that party has proved each element of the cause of action entitling the party to judgment on the cause of action. Once the plainti
¯ has met that burden, the burden shifts to the defendant to show that a triable issue of one or more material facts exists ...

Excerpt: ... the Decedents. Plainti
¯s have Þled competing motions to compel the inspection of the same records pursuant to CCP §§ 2017.010, 2031.010, 2031.310 and 2031.320. Both sides have requested sanctions. The crux of the present dispute is the scope of access to be provided to the Plainti
¯s. The parties appear to agree that the Decedent's medical records are discoverable and can be obtained through an inspection. Plainti
¯s request access to Def...

Excerpt: ...Knollcrest (“Ingersoll Defendants”) have Þled a separate demurrer, on the same grounds. Plainti
¯ Devinne Goodale 2 opposes the motions. Plainti
¯ presented to Defendants' oral surgery center, Riverside Oral Surgery (“Riverside”), on June 29, 2022 for a tooth extraction. Plainti
¯ alleges that she chose Riverside based upon representations on its website, speciÞcally a link to Yelp reviews of the practice, and the compassion and prof...

Excerpt: ...at is contained within the motion reflects service by electronic service and mail service on Plaintiff on December 19, 2023. "A party seeking dismissal of a case under Code of Civil Procedure sections 583.410- 583.430 must serve and file a notice of motion at least 45 days before the date set for hearing of the motion." CRC 3.1342(a). The notce provided to Plaintiff does not comply with CRC 3.1342(a). Defendant alternatively moves for terminating...

Excerpt: ...on of Stewart Altemus in which counsel provides evidence of custom and practice for construction projects. This objection is sustained on the grounds that counsel is not an expert. Plaintiff also objects to what are framed as misstatements of the evidence and statements not supported by evidence. These objections are overruled. 80th parties object to spreadsheets provided. These objections are overruled. Defendant objects to Plaintiff's counsel p...

Excerpt: ... ex rel. Strathmann v. Acacia Rsch. Corp. (2012) 210 Cal. App. 4th 487, 505—06 (internal citations omitted). The moton is dropped from calendar as moot. Tentative Ruling on Motion to Sever: This suit arises out of fire damage to real property owned by Plaintiff Alexander Family Trust. Plaintiff alleges the fire was caused by sunlight refraction from a glass bulb negligently left outside at an adjoining property owned by Defendant 2584 Reservoir...

Excerpt: ...al notice. Objections to Evidence: Defendant's Objections Nos. 1-3, 6 and 7 are SUSTAINED. Defendant's Objections Nos. 4, 5 and 8- 15 are OVERRULED. Defendant's Objection to Mr. Obagi's declaration filed in support of the reply is SUSTAINED. Entitlement to Attorney's Fees: Plaintiff's operative Second Amended Complaint alleged a single cause of action under Labor Code S 1102.5 for retaliation. Plaintiff prevailed on that cause of action at trial ...

Excerpt: ...nter judgment pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement entered into in writing, or orally before the Court. At a mandatory settlement conference on July 19, 2023, Plaintiffs and Defendants Dustin Mitchell and Sierra Severson (hereinafter "Defendants") entered into an oral settlement on the record before the Court. Defendants agreed to pay Plaintiffs the sum of $20,000. The parties agreed the settlement would be made pursuant to CCP S 564.4...

Excerpt: ...s of the Health and Safety Code are subject to seizure and forfeiture. Health and Safety Code S 11470. The judicial and/or administrative procedure for forfeiture is laid out generally in Health and Safety Code SS 11488.4 and 11488.5. For a judicial forfeiture the District Attorney's Office (or other agency) is required to file a Petiton for Forfeiture. Health and Safety Code S 11488.4(a). The Petition for Forfeiture must be served on the individ...

Excerpt: ...hat on any action on a contract where the contract prov-des for attorney's fees, the prevailing party on the contract shall be entitled to attorney's fees in addition to other costs. A prevailing party is defined as the party with a net recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant when neither side obtained any relief and a defendant as against a plaintiff who do not reccwery any relief against defendant. CCP S 1032. I...

Excerpt: ...on of Eric J. Jun provides sufficient evidence of meet and confer efforts. Merits. The court may, upon a moton made pursuant to Section 435, or at any time in its discretion, and upon terms it deems proper: (a) Strike out any irrelevant, false, or improper matter inserted in any pleading. (b) Strike out all or any part of any pleading not drawn or filed in conformity with the laws of this state, a court rule, or an order of the court. CCP S 436 A...

Excerpt: ...g contract. "Except as attorney's fees are specifically provided for by statute, the measure and mode of compensation of attorneys and counselors at law is left to the agreement, express or implied, of the parties; but parties to actions or proceedings are entitled to their costs, as hereinafter provided." CCP S 1021. Allowable costs include "Attorney's fees, when authorized by any of the following: (A) Contract. (B) Statute. (C) Law." CCP S 1033...

Excerpt: ...r a trial are firm. All parties and their counsel must regard the date set for trial as certain. (c) Grounds for contnuance Although continuances of trials are disfavored, each request for a continuance must be considered on fts own merits. The court may grant a continuance only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring the continuance. Circumstances that may indicate good cause include: (1) The unavailability of an essential lay or exper...

Excerpt: ...d Plaintiffs' Motion to Compel Depositions of four GM employees. The minutes state: "Defendant GM is ordered to produce the employees for deposition no later than 15 days after the entry of the Court's Order on this Motion. Plaintiffs shall prepare a new order consistent with today's ruling." The minutes also indicate the Court stated on the record that Plaintiffs shall prepare and submit the Order consistent with the Court's ruling regarding the...

Excerpt: ... Proof of Service for the Amended Petition, the Judgement by Default filed on December 10, 2021, and the Inventory filed on January 18, 2022, all of which are from Shasta County Case No. 21CV0433. Defendants also request the Court take judicial notice of the Order Compelling Responses to Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Request for Admissions, and Request for Production filed on January 18, 2023, in this matter (Shasta County Case N...

Excerpt: ...ce Statement on December 21, 2023 that notes that the parties are in agreement with the Motion for Preliminary Approval being heard today. Therefore, the Court will proceed on the merits. The settlement in this matter is a nan-reversionary settlement that consists of both a $200,000 payment by Defendant and changes to certain policies and practices that Defendant has agreed to keep in place for five years following judgment in this matter. The pr...

Excerpt: ...The PMQ was deposed on November 29, 2023 pursuant to the parties agreement. Plaintiff alleges that the PMQ testified as to categories 1-2, and 9-13 only, and refused to testify as to the remaining categories. GM argues that the PMQ provided full and complete testimony on all categories. Plaintiff's Reply 2 includes excerpts from the deposition, which establish the PMQ was offered for testimony on categories 1-2 and 9-13 only (Oaks Deposition 8:15...

Excerpt: ...rer: A general demurrer should be sustained if the complaint fails to "state facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action." CCP S 430.10(e). A demurrer also lies whether the party does not have legal capacity to sue or there is a misjoinder of parties. CCP S 430.10(b) & (d). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the complaint or from matters that may be subject to judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) ...

Excerpt: ...ith the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer. If an amended complaint, cross-complaint, or answer is filed, the responding party shall meet and confer again with the party who filed the amended pleading before filing a demurrer to the amended pleading." Here, the demurring party admittedly has not m...

Excerpt: ...ocess by failing to respond to the discovery requests that are subject to the Court's Order dated August 7, 2023. The discovery requests at issue in the previous Motion to Compel are Plaintiffs' Request for Production, Set One, Request for Admissions, Set One, Form Interrogatories, Set One, and Special Interrogatories, Set One. The Court ordered that Defendant provide responses within fifteen days of the Notice of Entry of Order. Notice of Entry ...

Excerpt: ...2022, Counsel stipulated to substituting Claudia Hostetter as Administrator of the Estate of Harold Engel as Plaintiff. Defendants now move to disqualify Attorney Thomas Andrews from representing Claudia Hostetter, Mary Collum, and Jennifer Rech. Only Claudia Hostetter, in her capacity as Special Administrator, is a party to this action. Plaintiff opposes the Motion, arguing the Motion is unsupported by admissible evidence. Merits: "A trial court...

Excerpt: ...ovide verifications to the unverified responses served on October 20, 2023, for further responses to the respective discovery and for sanctions. Verifications: California law requires all discovery responses to be executed under oath. See CCP SS 2030.250(a), 2031.250(a) and 2033.240(a). An unverified response is tantamount to no response at all. Melendrez v. Superior Court (2013) 215 Cal.App.4th 1343, 1348. It is undisputed that Defendant's Octob...

Excerpt: ...service on those defendants must be filed with the court within 50 days after the filing of the complaint." CRC 3.110(b). A Proof of Service of Summons is on file for Defendant David Caleb Willis indicating service of the Complaint on November 29, 2021. A Proof of Service of Summons is on file for Defendant Andrea Johnson indicating service of the Complaint on November 29, 2021. Responsive pleadings should have been on file within 30 days of serv...

Excerpt: ...ling, this was corrected to Department 8. Because Defendant was served prior to filing, the clerk stamped the Notice with the following: "NOTICE Time and/or dept. have been changed. Moving party shall give notce of change to all parties." Nothing has been filed indicating that Defendant was provided notice of the correct department. Request for Judicial Notice. Plaintiff requests the Court take judicial notce of the Stipulation Agreement filed wi...

Excerpt: ... are seven specific objections that the Court lists sequentially starting with the first. 1. Overruled as to each objection with the exception of the sentence starting with "As evidence of his assertion" for which the Evid. Code S 1152 objection is sustained. That sentence is stricken. 2. Overruled as to each objection. 3. Overruled as to each objection. 4. Overruled. 5. Overruled as to each objection. 6. Overruled as to each objection. 7. Overru...

Excerpt: ...facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action." CCP S 430.10(e). A demurrer also lies whether 4 the pleading is uncertain which includes ambiguous or unintelligible causes of action. CCP S 430.10(f). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the complaint or from matters that may be subject to judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 311, 318. The court "treat(s) the demurrer as admitting all materi...

Excerpt: ...er 15, 2023, that has been opposed by Defendant. Procedural Issues. Motions for Summary Judgment have certain procedural requirements that differ from other motions. CCP S 437c(b)(1) reads: The motion shall be supported by affidavits, declarations, admissions, answers to interrogatories, depositons, and matters of which judicial notice shall or may be taken. The supporting papers shall include a separate statement setting forth plainly and concis...

Excerpt: ...S 1005(b). The Court interprets this pleading as Plaintiff agreeing that the Demurrer should be sustained but seeking leave to amend. Meet and confer. CCP S 430.41 requires the demurring party to "meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer." The Declarati...

Excerpt: ...ion: Trial dates are firm. CRC 3.1332(a). A party seeking a continuance of the date set for trial, whether contested or uncontested or stipulated to by the parties, must make the request for a continuance by a noticed motion or an ex parte application under the rules in chapter 4 of this division, with supporting declarations. The party must make the motion or application as soon as reasonably practical once the necessity for the continuance is d...

Excerpt: ...aintiff argues the responses were untimely. Plaintiff had granted Defendant a 30-day extension to respond. Plaintiff argues that the 30-day extension ran from the day Plaintiff granted the extension (August 2, 2023) rather than from the original due date (August 9, 2023). The parties' email correspondence does not specify what they intended. A logical reading of "30-day extension" means 30 days past the original due date, not 30 days past the dat...

Excerpt: ...ed liberally to permit amendment. Nestle v. Santa Monica (1972) 5 Cal. 3d 920, 939. "If the motion to amend is timely made and the granting of the motion will not prejudice the opposing party, it is error to refuse permission to amend and where the refusal also results in a party being deprived of the right to assert a meritorious cause of action or a meritorious defense, it is not only error but an abuse of discretion." Morgan v. Sup.Ct. (1959) ...

Excerpt: ...Vilchez Declaration are OVERRULED. Song-Beverly: The Song-Beverly Act contains a cost-shifting provision that specifically allows prevailing buyers to recover their costs, including attorney's fees. Civ. C. S 1794(d). The attorney's fee award is limited to the amount the court determines was reasonably incurred by the buyer in commencing and prosecuting the action, based on actual time expended. The prevailing buyer has the burden of proving the ...

Excerpt: ...Notice. The Court notes that no objections were made to Plaintiffs' Request for Judicial Notice. The Court further notes that the Declaration of Andrew S. Pletcher provides evidence establishing how each of the documents in Requests 2-8 (Ex. A-GI were obtained. Plaintiffs' Requests for Judicial Notice are granted pursuant to Evid. Code SS 452(h) and 453. Merits. A defendant can challenge jurisdiction in California courts by filing a motion to qua...

Excerpt: ...ny affidavit in support thereof. Where the defendant has not yet appeared in this action, all of those documents must be served in the same manner as a complaint and summons. CCP S 512.030(b). Defendant was subserved after multiple attempts to personally serve. CCP S 415.20(b). Service is therefore proper. Merits: CCP 5512.060 provides that in order to obtain a claim and delivery writ of possession plaintiff must: 1) demonstrate the probable vali...

Excerpt: ...ate facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action." CCP S 430.10(e). A demurrer also lies whether the pleading is uncertain which includes ambiguous or unintelligible causes of action. CCP S 430.10(f). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the complaint or from matters that may be subject to judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 311, 318. The court "treat[sl the demurrer as admitting all mate...

Excerpt: ...of Documents, Set One. After Mosely granted Abdulghani several extensions to respond, Abdulghani served unverified objections on August 25, 2023. Mosely filed the instant Motion on October 9, 2023. On October 19, 2023, Abdulghani served substantive responses, which Mosely has indicated are adequate. (Reply at 2.) Mosely maintains the request for sanctions, because of the time and expense required to bring this motion. Merits of Motion: When a par...

Excerpt: ...for an order compelling responses. CCP SS 2030.290(b). On March 22, 2023, Plaintiff propounded Form Interrogatories, Set One on Defendant Bonna Johnson. To date, Defendant has not provided any responses. Plaintiff has established proper service of the discovery, that the time to respond has lapsed and that no responses have been received. The Court will issue an order compelling Defendant to provide responses. As for sanctions, they are mandatory...

Excerpt: ...v. Santa Monica (1972) 6 Cal. 3d 920, 939. Leave to amend should be liberally granted so long as there is no statute of limitations issue or prejudice to the opposing party. Harris v. City of Santa Monica (2013) 56 Cal.4th 203, 240. Plaintiffs allege it was recently discovered that the breach of contract code section cited in the First Amended Complaint was erroneous. California Civil Code Section 1719(a)(2) was cited, but the correct citation is...

Excerpt: ...mplied-in-fact contract causes of action on the grounds that they are barred by the statute of frauds defense. Request for Judicial Notice: 80th parties have requested judicial notice ofvarious documents. No objections have been raised. The requests are GRANTED. Standard on Demurrer: A general demurrer should sustained if the complaint fails to "state facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action." CCP S 430.10(e). A demurrer can be used...

Excerpt: ... was stricken as being filed without leave of Court on May 18, 2023. As a preliminary matter, despite being properly noticed, Plaintiffs did not file an Opposition to the Demurrer. Meet and Confer. CCP S 430.41 requires the demurring party to "meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objectio...

Excerpt: ...udicial Notice: Pursuant to Evid. Code S 452 the Court GRANTS Defendant's request for judicial notice of the Complaint. Meet and Confer: CCP S 430.41 requires the demurring party to "meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer." The Declaration of Peter Fi...

Excerpt: ...int tortfeasors or co-obligors on a contract debt shall be entitled to a hearing on the issue of the faith of a settlement entered into by the plaintiff or other claimant and one or more alleged tortfeasors or co- obligors, upon giving notice in the manner provided in subdivision (b) of Section 1005. Section 877.6(b) provides, "The issue of the good faith of a settlement may be determined by the court on the basis of affidavits served with the no...

Excerpt: ...ronics, and destruction of any information already obtained. Plaintiffs further seek an order prohibiting Defendants from using any information obtained in any legal proceeding. Defendants Demur to the FAC pursuant to CCP S 430.10(e). Meet and Confer: CCP S 430.41 requires the demurring party to "meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an ag...

Excerpt: ...s GRANTED; however, the Court notes that the rulings are not binding on this court and their persuasive value is extremely limited as the rulings pertain to hourly rates of other legal communities. Objections: Defendants' objections are OVERRULED. Authority: The Song-Beverly Act contains a cost-shifting provision that specifically allows prevailing buyers to ræover their costs, including attorney's fees. Civ. C. S 1794(d). The attorney's fee awa...

Excerpt: ...n- reversionary gross settlement amount is Defendants North State Grocery, Inc. do not object to the Motion. Plaintiff Mary Napoles has filed a Notice of Joinder to the instant Motion in Naples v. North State Grc„cery, Inc. No. 22CV-02[n995 (consolidated with Case No. 22CV-02CG96). Allocation of the proposed settlement is as follows: Total Settlement Amount Proposed Attorneys' Fees (33%) 1,041,667 Litigation Costs and Expenses (up to) Settlemen...

Excerpt: ...object to the Court preliminarily approving the settlement. This matter is post class certification. The Court has already certified the class, appointed the named Plaintiffs as class representatives, and appointed Kesluck, Silverstein, Jacob, & Morrison, P.C. and the Law Office of Edward Antonino P.C. as class counsel. The proposed settlement is as follows: Total Settlement Amount $250,000 Proposed Attorneys' Fees (33 %) $82,500 Litigation Costs...

Excerpt: ...vice listing the document titled Plaintiff's Evidence in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment or in the Alternative Summary Adjudication. Accordingly, Plaintiff's Evidence in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment or in the Alternative Summary Adjudication was not considered by the Court. Request for Judicial Notice. Pursuant to Evid. Code SS 452(a) and 453, the Court takes judicial notice of 15 USC Section 1665 and 12 CFR Section 202.12. Merit...

Excerpt: ...ivil Code S 1511. Motion for Summary Judgment: CCP S 437c(c) states a motion for summary judgment shall be granted if all the papers submitted show that there is no triable issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. "A defendant...has met his or her burden of showing that a cause of achon has no merit if the party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action, even if not separately p...

Excerpt: ...7c(c) states a motion for summary judgment shall be granted if all the papers submitted show that there is no triable issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. "A defendant...has met his or her burden of showing that a cause of action has no merit if the party has shown that one or more elements of the cause of action, even if not separately pleaded, cannot be established, or that there is a comp...

Excerpt: ...2022. CCP S 473(a)(1) permits any pleading to be amended in further of justice and on any terms as may be proper, after notice to the adverse party. The Court's discretion in this regard will usually be exercised liberally to permit amendment. Nestle v. Santa Monica (1972) 6 Cal. 3d 920, 939. "Ifthe motion to amend is timely made and the granting of the motion will not prejudice the opposing party, it is error to refuse permission to amend and wh...

Excerpt: ...CCP S 430.10(f). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the complaint or from matters that may be subject to judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal. 3d 311, 318. The court "treat(s) the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law." Hood v. Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (1998) 65 Cal.App.4th 435, 438. No matter how unli...

Excerpt: .... When a party fails to respond to a Request for Admissions, the propounding party may move for an order deeming the truth of matters and the genuineness of documents specified in the requests admitted. CCP S 2033.280(b). Failure to also waives any objections to the discovery propounded. CCP S 2033.280(a). Plaintiff's moving papers sufficiently demonstrate that Defendant has failed to respond to the Request for Admissions within the required time...

Excerpt: ...fendant Bonna Johnson, Plaintiff's Motion to Compel Responses to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories by Defendant Bonna Johnson, and Plaintiff's Moton for Order Deeming Facts Admitted, all of which were filed on August 17, 2023. Attached to each motion is a proof of service indicating that Defendant Johnson was served by mail on August 16, 2023. The moving papers were mailed from California to Virginia. unless otherwise ordered or specifically provi...

Excerpt: ...tive Summary Adjudication of Plaintiff's claims alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other causes of action in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA"), Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, and Labor Code. The Court's employment with the Attorney General was as a criminal prosecutor in the Sacramento office of the Special Prosecutions Section. This section is distinct in its duties and responsibilities from...

Excerpt: ...object to the Court preliminarily approving the settlement. This matter is post class certification. The Court has already certified the class, appointed the named Plaintiffs as class representatives, and appointed Kesluck, Silverstein, Jacob, & Morrison, P.C. and the Law Office of Edward Antonino P.C. as class counsel. The proposed settlement is as follows: Total Settlement Amount $250,000 Proposed Attorneys' Fees (33 %) $82,500 Litigation Costs...

Excerpt: ...rrer: Respondent City of Redding demurs to Petitioner Blake Simpson's Notice of Appeal on the grounds that it fails to state sufficient facts. The Court does not believe that Ms. Kafel-Hanna had any involvement in the investigation or adjudication of this case, but does disclose the relationship between the named party and the Court's first degree relative as required by the California Code of Judicial Ethics, Canon 3E(2). Merits of Motion: A gen...

Excerpt: ...r to the hearing on a noticed motion. CCP S 1005(b). This motion is set for hearing on September 11, 2023. Plaintiff's Opposition was therefore due to be filed and served no later than August 28, 2023. Plaintiffs' Opposition to Defendant's Motions was filed September 1, 2023 (the due date for Defendant's Reply), and had been served on Defendant on August 31.2023. Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.1300(d) provides that a trial court has discretion to re...