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...

Excerpt: ...ntiff's meet and confer efforts. Request for Judicial Notice. Pursuant to Evid. Code SS 452(d) and 453, the Court takes judicial notice of the Court's Order dated June 28, 2023 from Plaintiff's Motion for Order That Matters in Request for Admissions of Truth of Facts Be Admitted. Merits. CCP S 438(c)(1)(A) provides that a plaintiff may move for judgment on the pleadings if the complaint states sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action and ...

Excerpt: ...ability on behalf of Defendant. Standard on Demurrer: 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 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 subj...

Excerpt: ...show that there is no triable issue of material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Summary adjudication is appropriate if there is no merit to particular cause of action, affirmative defense, claim for damages or issue of duty. CCP S 437c(f)(1). "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, eve...

Excerpt: ... 3.769. Defendant has filed a Statement of Non-opposition to the Motion. This matter was heard on July 24, 2023, and continued to allow Plaintiff to supplement the Motion. Plaintiff has filed supplemental briefing and declarations which address the concerns raised by the Court in its July 24, 2023 tentative ruling. The class is defined as "all current and former non-exempt employees employed by California Mentor Family Home Agency, LLC in Califor...

Excerpt: ...l file and serve with the motion for judgment on the pleadings a 3 declaration stating" the attempts made to meet and confer. CCP S The Declaration of William Bliss provides sufficient evidence of Plaintiff's meet and confer efforts. Merits of Motion: CCP S 438(c)(1)(A) provides that a plaintiff may move for judgment on the pleadings if the complaint states suffcient facts to constitute a cause of action and the answer does not state facts suffic...

Excerpt: ...equest is 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 recover their costs, including attorney's fees. Civ. C. S 1794(d). The attorney's ...

Excerpt: ...1W5(b) requires sixteen court days' notice. The Proof of Services prov-des that Plaintiff was served by mail on August 7, 2023. Because the 6 Demurrer was served by mail, five days are added to the notce period. CCP S IW5(b). Therefore, the Demurrer was filed and noticed late. However, a party who contests a motion on the merits without objecting to a defect or irregularity in the notice of motion, including the failure to serve a notice of motio...

Excerpt: ...o "state facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action." CCP S 430.10(e). A demurrer also lies when 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 ma...

Excerpt: ...f Motion: The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 ("PAGA") is codified in Lab. Code SS 2698, et seq. In bringing a PAGA action, an aggrieved employee acts as the proxy or agent of state labor law enforcement agencies, representing the same legal right and interest as those agencies, in a proceeding that is designed to protect the public, not to benefit private parties. Villacres v. ABM Industries Inc. (2010) 189 Cal. App. 4th 562. The purpose o...

Excerpt: ...uest for Judicial Notice: GRANTED. Plaintiffs' Objections to Evidence: Plaintiffs have provided 8 objections. The objections are OVERRULED. Moton for Summary Judgment/Adjudication: 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. Summary adjudication is appropriate there is no me...

Excerpt: ...eglect was excusable, the "court inquires whether 'a reasonably prudent person under the same or similar circumstances might have made the same error." Garcia v. Hejmadi (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 674, 682. The burden is on the moving party to show that the neglect was excusable: i.e., that the default could not have been avoided through the exercise of ordinary care. Jackson v. Bank of America (1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 55, 58. The moving party has the bu...

Excerpt: ...tion was untimely. The Court will exercise its' discretion and consider the late opposition. Merits of Motion: CCP S 428.50(b) provides the court with authority to grant leave to file a crosscomplaint in the interests of justice. The proposed cross-complaint for indemnity relates to the same parties and relates to the same issue arising from the slip and fall incident. The Court finds that allowing the filing of the cross-complaint would be in th...

Excerpt: ...f $4,222.50. Merits of Motion: A Notce of Pendency of Action also known as a lis pendens can be recorded against real property that is subject to litigation. The lis pendens can be expunged (removed) during the pendency of the action if the pleading on which the notice is based does not contain a real property claim. CRC S 405.31. A real property claim in the context of lis pendens is defined as "the cause or causes of action in a pleading which ...

Excerpt: ... arbitration of Plaintiff's individual labor code and PAGA claims, to dismiss her class claims, and to stay her representative PAGA claim. The parties agree that Plaintiff signed a Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate on March 14, 2014 ("the Agreement"). Plaintiff contends the Agreement is superseded by Plaintiff's rejection of a subsequent arbitration agreement that was presented to her some time in 2018. Plaintiff also argues the Agreement is unconsci...

Excerpt: ...Real Party in Interest Robert J. Frank Construction, lnc ("RJF"). Plaintiff was the next lowest bidder and alleges that the RJF bid was nonresponsive due to what Plaintiff alleges is a material deviation between the Subcontractor List and the Certified DV8E Summary. Evidentiary Objections. Defendant's evidentiary objections are overruled. Merits of Motion. The standard for a preliminary injunction is set forth in CCP S 525 et seq. To obtain a pre...

Excerpt: ...a MyDung Quang, M.D., and Christine Bui, D.O: Defendants David Valencia, D.O., Alicia Cherice Ruth Daisley, M.D„ Angela My-Dung Quang M.D., and Christine aui, D.O. demur to the Second Amended Complaint pursuant to CCP SS 430.10(e) and (f). Plaintiff, Richard Morey, by and through his Successor-In Interest, Denise Morey opposes the Demurrer. Meet and confer. CCP S 430.41 requires the demurring party to "meet and confer in person or by telephone ...

Excerpt: ...r Judicial Notice. Pursuant to Evid. Code S 452(c), Defendant requests the Court take judicial notice of ten rulings from various state courts. The Court takes judicial notce pursuant to Evid. Code SS 452(d) and 453. Merits. As a preliminary matter, Defendant asserts that the Federal Arbitration Act applies. Plaintiff does challenge this assertion. Defendant has presented evidence of Defendant's participation in interstate commerce. The agreement...

Excerpt: ...ses 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 objections to be raised in the demurrer." The Declaration of Mark A. Muro, filed in support of the Demurrer, shows sufficient efforts made by Defendants to meet and confer...

Excerpt: ...hirty days after service to respond to a Request for Production, Request for Admissions, Form Interrogatories, or Special Interrogatories. See CCP SS 2031.250(a), 2033.250(a), and 6 2030.260(a). Not provding a timely response to propounded discovery results in a waiver of objections. CCP SS 2031.300(a). 2033.280(a), and 2030.290(a). If a party to whom a discovery request is directed fails to serve a timely response, the party propounding discover...

Excerpt: ...ses 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 objections to be raised in the demurrer." The Declaration of Mark A. Muro, filed in support of the Demurrer, shows sufficient efforts made by Defendants to meet and confer...

Excerpt: ...ty due to his or her mistake, surprise, inadvertence or excusable neglect. The application for relief must be brought within a reasonable time not to exceed six months after the challenged order. CCP S 473(b). CCP S 473(b) is to be liberally construed to further the policy of adjudicating legal controversies on the merits. Younessi v. Woolf (2016) 244 Cal.App.4th 1137, 1146. As for the discretionary relief sought by Defendants, it is incomplete. ...

Excerpt: ...rsuing wrongful death or survivor actions against the various defendants. On May 1, 2023, the Court denied a motion to compel arbitration that would have required the Plaintiffs associated with 4 of the 15 elderly decedents to proceed solely in arbitration. Defendants appealed that order which resulted in a stay of this proceeding as to the claims associated with the 4 out of the 15 elderly decedents. Based on the overlapping issues between the t...

Excerpt: ...3 U.S. Currency v. Randall Keith Laskowsky and Transpart Warehouse, Inc., Case No. 20 MSE 0002, after hearing on June 15, 2020, pursuant to Penal Code SS 1539 and 1540. The June 2020 Order directed the return of monies seized pursuant to Shasta County Search warrant #2020-149, from a Chase Account 2991, and a Tri-Counties Account 4399. The Court issued a second Order, on October 1, 2021 in the consolidated asset forfeiture acton Case Nos. 195245/...

Excerpt: ... each request for a continuance must be considered on its own merits. The court may grant a continuance only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring the continuance." CRC 3.1332(c). "A party's excused inability to obtain essential testimony, documents, or other material evidence despite diligent efforts" is a circumstance that may constitute good cause. CRC 3.1332(c)(6). There are several factors that the Court must consider including: ...

Excerpt: ... 3.769. Defendant has filed a Statement of Non-oppositon tothe Motion. The proposed class is defined as "all current and former non-exempt employees employed by California Mentor Family Home Agency, LLC in California at any time from May 5, 2017 through December 20, 2022, except during the time period(s) in which they held the positions of Mentor Recruiter, Mentor Recruiter, CA, or Mentor Recruiter, CA or Mentor Recruitment Specialist." The PAGA ...

Excerpt: ...1194), failure to prov-de legally compliance rest and meal breaks (Labor Code SS 225.6, 226.7 & 512), failure to issue accurately itemized wage statements (Labor Code SS 226(a) and 225.3), failure to pay wages (Labor Code S 2802) and failure to reimburse all necessary business expenses (Labor Code S 2802). The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 ("PAGA") is codified in Lab. Code SS 2698, et seq. In bringing a PAGA action, an aggrieved employee ...

Excerpt: ...Court finds that regardless of the meet and confer requirements, Defendant provided evidence of sufficient meet and confer efforts. Merits. The motion is made pursuant to CCP S 2023.010, et seq and is characterized as Plaintiff's misuse of the discovery process. Misuses of the discovery process include, but are not limited to, the following: (b) using a discovery method in a manner that does not comply with its specified pruedures. (c) Employing ...

Excerpt: ...hich 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 material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions or conclusions of fact or law." Hood v. Hacienda La Puente Unified School...

Excerpt: ...o the discovery requests conditional upon the execution of a protective order. Thus the Court addresses herein only those matters on which the parties could not agree. Tentatve Ruling on Moton to Compel Further Responses to Special Interrogatories and Requests for Documents: Plaintiffs mcwe for an order compelling further responses to Special Interrogatories, Set One Nos. 2, 3, 20-23, 30 and 34. Merits of Motion: A party propounding interrogatori...

Excerpt: ...ings if the complaint states sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action and the answer does not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense to the complaint. The grounds for the motion shall appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from any other matter of which the court may take judicial notice. CCP S 438(d). The Court may take judicial notice of responses to discovery records pursuant to Evidence Code SS 452(d) and 453. Arce v...

Excerpt: ...by a declaration stating either that the parties met and conferred or that they were unable to meet and confer. CCP S 430.41(a)(3). Defendant General Motors LLC's Declaration Regarding Meet and Confer Efforts filed on June 26, 2023 satisfies the meet and confer requirement. Standards of Demurrer: A generally 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 de...

Excerpt: ..., setting a briefing schedule and today's hearing date. Plaintiff seeks a preliminary injunction preventing Defendant from dissipating funds and assets. Plaintiff argues that injunctive relief is needed to maintain the status quo while this matter proceeds to trial. Defendant opposes the preliminary injunction, arguing that it would impede his ability to make a living, and would violate his due process rights. Merits of Mohon. Although an OSC dir...

Excerpt: ...016.040; which went unanswered until after the instant Motion was served. The Court notes Plaintiff has failed to file a Separate Statement as required by CRC Rule 3.1345. The Court will nonetheless reach the merits of this motion. However, Plaintiff is directed to comply with the California Rules of Court in the future. Merits. This is an action brought under the Song-Beverly Act. Civil Code S 1790 et seq. To succeed on a claim, a plaintiff the ...

Excerpt: ...94), failure to prov-de legally compliance rest and meal breaks (Labor Code SS 225.6, 226.7 & 512), failure to issue accurately itemized wage statements (Labor Code SS 226(a) and 225.3), failure to pay wages (Labor Code S 2802) and failure to reimburse all necessary business expenses (Labor Code S 2802). The Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 ("PAGA") is codified in Lab. Code SS 2698, et seq. In bringing a PAGA action, an aggrieved employee ac...

Excerpt: ...mand for inspection is directed fails to serve a timely response, the party making the 4 demand may move for an order compelling a response. CCP S 2031.300 (b). The party to whom the demand was directed waives any objection to the demand by not responding. CCP S 2031.300(a). Unlike a motion to compel further responses, a moton to compel responses when no responses have been provided does not require the propounding party to demonstrate good cause...

Excerpt: ...oinder to the motion on June 1, 2023. Plaintiff opposed the motion, which was originally set for hearing on April 3, 2023. The hearing was continued to allow time for further briefing should ongoing discovery warrant further briefing. The Court notes that no further briefing has been filed by any party. Defendants argue that the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA") applies. The declarations of A.C. Saechao and Roxanne Bullock do not provide any eviden...

Excerpt: ...March 3, 2022 and codified in 9 U.S.C. SS 401-402. The Act reads that "no predispute arbitration agreement or predispute joint-action waiver shall be valid or enforceable with respect to a case which is filed under Federal, Tribal, or State law and relates to the sexual assault dispute or the sexual harassment dispute." 9 U.S.C. S 402(a). Because Plaintiff is a "person alleging conduct constituting a sexual harassment dispute or sexual assault di...

Excerpt: ...S 2033.300(a). The Court may permit the withdrawal upon a showing that the admission was the result of a mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect and that the party who obtained the admission will not be substantially prejudiced by the withdrawal. CCP S 2033.300(b). In the present situation, Plaintiff, in response to a Request for Admission propounded by Defendant Sunset Oaks Townhomes Homeowners Association (hereinafter "Sunset"), admitted tha...

Excerpt: ...r order appealed from or upon the matters embraced therein or affected thereby, including enforcement of the judgment or order, but the trial court may proceed upon any other matter embraced in the action and not affected by the judgment or order. CCP S 916(a). 9 As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that Defendant has filed Appellant's Opening Brief. Decl. Michael L Ricks, 4. As there has been no challenge to whether the ap#al has been #rfect...

Excerpt: ...e moving party to show that the neglect was excusable: i.e., that the default could not have been avoided through the exercise of ordinary care. Jackson v. Bank of America (1983) 141 Cal.App.3d 55, 58. "[T]he acts which brought about the default must have been the acts of a reasonably prudent person under the same circumstances." ld. The moving party has the burden of proof to establish one of these conditions by a preponderance of the evidence. ...

Excerpt: ...ction 214 of the Family Code or any other provision of law, the sittings of every court shall be public." CCP S 124. Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open to the public. California Rules of Court (CRC), Rule 2.550(c). "The public has a First Amendment right of access to civil litigation documents filed in court and used at trial or submitted as a basis for adjudication. [Citation.] Substantive courtroom ...

Excerpt: ...t Plaintiff Jennifer Bryant. Defendants have filed the exact same three motions separately against Plaintiff A. Adam Crolius. Factual Background: Defendants propounded: Special Interrogatories, Set Two and Request for Production, Set Three on Plaintiffs on February 10, 2023. Response were originally due on March 14, 2023 but extensions were provided until April 3, 2023. Responses were not provided prior to the April 3, 2023 deadline. Responses to...

Excerpt: ... briefs. CCP S 473 prov-des that the court may "in furtherance of justice...allow, upon any terms as may be just, 7 an amendment to any pleading or proceeding in other particulars." CCP S 473(a)(1). The court's discretion is usually exercised liberally to permit amendment of the pleadings "at any stage of the proceedings, up to and including trial," absent prejudice to the adverse party. Atkinson v. Elk Corp. (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 739, 751, 135 ...

Excerpt: ...endant Karen Freitas. Defendant filed her Answer on December 20, 2022. On February 17, 2023, Plaintiff filed a motion to deem matters admitted. Defendant did not oppose the motion to deem matters admitted, and the Court granted the moton on April 3, 2023. Meet and Confer: "The moving party shall file and serve with the motion for judgment on the pleadings a declaration stating" the attempts made to meet and confer. CCP S The Declaration of Brian ...

Excerpt: ...10(e) & (f). Plaintiffs-in- Intervention have submitted an objection to Defendants' reply. The objection is based on apparent new arguments or issues raised in the reply that were not raised in the moving papers. Out of an abundance of caution and to prevent prejudice to Plaintiffs-in-Intervention's due process rights, the Court continues this matter to Monday, June 26, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 3. Plaintiffs-in-Interventon may submit a br...

Excerpt: ...America Structured Securites Acquisition Trust 2019-HBI ("Wilmington"). On November 22, 2022, Plaintiff dismissed the Second and Third causes of action. On January 17, 2023 this court sustained Defendants' Demurrer, as to all remaining causes of action, and with leave to amend on causes of action 8-10. Plaintiff filed his Second Amended Complaint ("SAC") on March 30, 2023. The SAC alleges three causes of action against FAR and Wilmington: 3) viol...

Excerpt: ...her motions or requests." CCP S 128.7(c)(1) states, "A motion for sanctions under this section shall be made separately from other motions or requests and shall describe the specific conduct alleged to violate subdivision (b)." By combining a CCP S 128.5 motion and a CCP S 128.7 motion, Plaintiff has failed to comply with the requirement that the respective motions be brought separately. The Court finds that the motion is procedurally defective a...

Excerpt: ...Interrogatories, Set One and Special Interrogatories, Set No. One on November 10, 2021. Defendant provided extensions to respond making the discovery responses due on or before January 23, 2023. Plaintiff provided unverified responses on February 22, 203. A party propounding interrogatories may move for further responses if the responses are evasive/-ncomplete or contain unmeritorious objections. CCP S 2030.300(a)(1) & (3). A failure to provide t...

Excerpt: ...ng County to release the records sought. County now requests that the Court set aside and vacate that Ruling pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure S 653. Alternatively, the County requests a new trial alleging insufficiency of evidence to justify the ruling, pursuant to CCP S 557(6), and for alleging errors in law, pursuant to CCP S 557(7). Request for Judicial Notice. County requests judicial notice, pursuant to CRC 3.1113(1) and Evid. Code 452, o...

Excerpt: ...n the complaint was in bad faith or frivolous. Merits of Motion: A defendant may bring a motion to quash on the grounds that the Court lacks jurisdiction cwer him or her. CCP S 418.10. A plaintiff has the burden of "establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that minimum contacts exist between the defendant and the forum state to justify imposition of personal jurisdiction." See Greenwell v. Auto-owners Ins. Co. (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 783, 7...

Excerpt: ...ng 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 complete defense to the cause of action. Once the defendant has met that burden, the burden shifts to the plaintiff to show that a triable issue of one or more ma...

Excerpt: ...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 Mark A. Muro, filed in support of the Demurrer, shows sufficient efforts made by Defendants to meet and confer with Plaintiff. Request for Judicial Notce. Defendants' request for judicial notice is granted. Merits. A demurr...

Excerpt: ...s of Mohon: A prevailing party in any action or proceeding is entitled to recover costs of suit, except as otherwise provided by statute. See CCP S 1032(b); Santsas v. Goodin (1998) 17 Cal.4th 599, 606. The award of costs pursuant to secton 1032 is discretionary, and the costs recoverable are restricted to only those costs that are both reasonable in amount and reasonably necessary to the conduct of the litigation. CCP S 1033.5(c)(2)(3). The Cour...

Excerpt: ...otion is unopposed. As a preliminary matter, the Court grants leave to file a brief in excess of the allowable pages. Final Approval of the Settlement. The parties agreed to settle the case for $225mom. The breakdown of the settlement is as follows: Total Settlement Amount $225,0CLOO Attorneys' Fees - Litigation Costs and Ex#nses -$12,934.57 Settlement Administration Costs -$7 ,cm.rw 2 PAGA Payment to LWDA -$11,250.00 Incentive Award -$10,CM.lN N...

Excerpt: ...ction Pending Federal Court Decisions: Defendants Brius Management Co., Brius, LLC, Schlomo Rechnitz, Windsor Redding Care Center, LLC Lee Samson and S&F Management move for a stay of this action. This matter was previously removed to federal court but ordered to be remanded back to the Shasta County Superior court. Defendants a stay until their appeals of the remand order are concluded. Merits of Motion: "[A1 court ordinarily has inherent power,...

Excerpt: ...a County Su#rior Court, naming Shasta County, Shasta County Sheriff's Department, and 25 as Defendants. Defendant Shasta County filed an Answer on February 18, 2020, and removed the action to Federal District Court on February 21, 2020. On November 2, 2022, the Federal District Court granted summary judgment and dismissal of Plaintiff's federal claims, and declined jurisdiction over the remaining state law claims. On January 24, 2023, the case wa...

Excerpt: ...Defendant El Rio Estates' disposal of a mobile home, 19964 Riverside Ave., #19, Anderson, CA 96001 ("mobile home"), after it was rendered uninhabitable by fire in October 2020, and then abandoned by Plaintiff. El Rio Estates sought a Judgment of Abandonment by Default in El Rio Estates LLCv. Hampton & Edmonds (Shasta County Case No. 21CV0433) pursuant to Civ. Code S 798.61. Judgment of Abandonment by Default was entered for El Rio Estates on Dece...

Excerpt: ...(e). 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 unlikely, a plai...

Excerpt: ...es are evasive/incomplete or contain unmeritorious objections. CCP S 2030.300(a)(1) & (3). Likewise, a party propounding a request for production may move for further responses if the response is evasive/inadequate or contain unmeritorious objections. CCP S 2031.310(a)(2)-(3). A respondng party has the burden to justify any objection or failure to fully answer an interrogatory. Coy v. Superior Court (1962) 58 Cal.2d 201, 220-21. In this instance,...

Excerpt: ...(General Insurance) have filed written responses to the OSC. As to SPS, the Court notes that SPS has obtained a dismissal with prejudice from the federal action. SPS is no longer a party to that action, and therefore is not priw,' to its status. The Court agrees that it is reasonable to relieve SPS from the obligaton to ap#ar at future status review hearings regarding status of removal for that reason. However, the Court will decline to remove SP...

Excerpt: ...0,947.23 U.S. Currency v. Randall Keith Laskowsky and Transpart Warehouse, Inc., Case No. 20 MSE 0002, after hearing on June 16, 2020, pursuant to Penal Code SS 1539 and 1540. The June 2020 Order directed the return of monies seized pursuant to Shasta County Search warrant #2020-149, from a Chase Account 2991, and a Tri-Counties Account 4399. Claimant alleges a portion of the monies have been returned ($113,013.26), but a balance of $11,278.69 pl...

Excerpt: ... in the subpoena are grossly overbroad and far more injurious to Plaintiff's privacy interest than any possible probative value Defendant would obtain from it. Plaintiff contends the subpoena only serves the purpose of harassing Plaintiff and invading her privacy. Plaintiff also contends the information sought can be obtained by other means less intrusive. Plaintiff also contends the information sought is irrelevant. As discussed below, the Court...

Excerpt: ... pleading, or any part thereof, including single words or phrases. Stearns Ranchos v. Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railway (1981) 19 Cal.App.3d 24. It is proper for the Court to strike any irrelevant, false or improper matter. CCP S 436(a). The Court can also strike any part of a pleading that is not drawn or filed in conformity with California law. CCP S 436(b). The proper procedure for testing the adequacy of punitive damages is a motion to strik...

Excerpt: ...n showing good faith efforts to meet and confer prior to filing the motion. CCP SS and 2031.310(b). The moton was supported by a declaration which provides the 4 alleged good faith meet and confer efforts. Defendant vehemently disputes that Plaintiff met and conferred in good faith. A review of the evidence provided by both parties shows that substantial meet and confer efforts did take place but that ultimately they were unsuccessful. It appears...

Excerpt: ...rance 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. 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. Here, neither party has addr...

Excerpt: ...motion. CRC 3.1345. This did not occur. Without service on Ms. Whipple, the Court is without jurisdiction to enter the order. Since Ms. 5 Whipple is a former employee of Defendant, the Court cannot compel it to produce her for deposition. The motion is DENIED. A proposed order was with the Court which will be modified to conform to the Court's final ruling. Tentative Ruling on Motion to Compel Deposition of Defendant Shlomo Rechnitz: Plaintiffs m...

Excerpt: ...(f). 3 Merits of Motion: A party may object to the complaint by filing a demurrer. CCP S 430.10. 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 can also be brought on the grounds that the pleading is "uncertain." CCP S 430.10(f). A complaint, or causes of action therein, are subject to demurrer for uncertainty if it is so uncertain that a...

Excerpt: ...ime, no response to the OSC has been filed, however, Plaintiff has sent several letters to the Court. Although the 2 correspondence was not in an appropriate format for filing, and some appeared to be ex parte communications, as Plaintiff is the only party to have made an appearance in this case, in the interest of justice, the Court chose to consider the correspondence. The Court starts this analysis with the principle of providing in propria pe...

Excerpt: ... CCP S 564.5 prov-des 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 cwer the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the terms of the settlement. ld. In this action, the parties entered into a Conditional Stipulated Settlement. Defendant executed the...

Excerpt: ...ature and was not filed by fax. The Court further notes that an Opposition to this matter was due to be filed no later than March 7, 2023. Filing on March 13, 2023 would have been untimely. The Court has the discretion to not consider late filed papers. CRC 3.1300(d); Rancho Mirage Country Club Homeowners Assn. v. Haselbaker (2016) 2 Cal. App. 5th 252. However, due to the attempt to file an Opposition, the Court will entertain an oral opposition ...

Excerpt: ... compelling further responses if: 1) the response to a request for production is incomplete; 2) a representation of inability to comply is inadequate, incomplete, or evasive; or 3) an objection to the request is without merit or too general. CCP S 2031.310(a). A motion to compel further responses for production must show "good cause" for the request. CCP S 2031.310(b)(1). "Good cause" can be established by showing the request was made in good fai...

Excerpt: ...rce the terms of the settlement agreement, if continued jurisdiction is agreed to by the parties. The agreement of the parties alone is insufficient; a request must be made to the Court. See Mesa RHF Partners, LP. v. City of Los Angeles (2019) 33 Cal. App.5th 913, 918. If the case is voluntarily dismissed without the request, the Court does not retain jurisdiction under CCP S 664.6. ld. Here, no such request was made to this Court and the achon w...

Excerpt: ...on over him or her. CCP S 418.10. A plaintiff has the burden of "establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that minimum contacts exist between the defendant and the forum state to justify imposition of personal jurisdiction." See Greenwell v. Auto-owners Ins. Co. (2015) 233 Cal.App.4th 783, 789. In order for California to exercise personal jurisdiction over a foreign defendant, a plaintiff must establish that the court has either general or...

Excerpt: ...Superior Court, naming Shasta County, Shasta County Sheriff's Department, and Doesl- 25 as Defendants. The matter arises out of an incident in April of 2019, wherein Plaintiff and her husband were arrested and placed into custody at the Shasta County Jail for an alleged verbal dispute. Plaintiff alleges she was subjected to excessive force when a deputy shoved her into a concrete wall, threw her on the ground, and got on top of her. (Complaint p....

Excerpt: ...ithin the time allowed by the Court after Defendant's Demurrer was sustained with leave to amend. Merits. CCP § 581(f)(2) provides that “the court may dismiss the complaint as to that defendant when: (2) Except where Section 597 applies, after a demurrer to the complaint is sustained with leave to amend, the plaintiff fails to amend it within the time allowed by the court and either party moves for dismissal.” Section 597 relates to the tria...

Excerpt: ...rther responses if the responses are evasive/incomplete. CCP § 2030.300(a)(1). Plaintiff moves for a further response to Special Interrogatory No. 14. That interrogatory sought the names and addresses of Defendant's employees. Defendant's response was that the information would be provided in a separate document. Despite this response, no separate document was ever provided. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Defendant's response to Sp...

Excerpt: ...eement, express or implied, of the parties; but parties to actions or proceedings are entitled to their costs, as hereinafter provided.” CCP § 1021. Allowable costs include “Attorney's fees, when authorized by any of the following: (A) Contract. (B) Statute. (C) Law.” CCP § 1033.5(a)(10). (a) In any action on a contract, where the contract specifically provides that attorney's fees and costs, which are incurred to enforce that contract, s...

Excerpt: ...ant move pursuant to CCP § 473(b) to set aside his default taken on September 13, 2022. CCP § 473(b) provides in pertinent part: “The court may, upon any terms as may be just, relieve a party or his or her legal representative from a judgment, dismissal, order, or other proceeding taken against him or her through his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. Application for this relief shall be accompanied by a copy of the...

Excerpt: ...ive from a judgment, dismissal, order, or other proceeding taken against him or her through his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. This relief is typically discretionary relief; however, the relief is mandatory when the motion is accompanied by an attorney's sworn affidavit attesting to his or her mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or neglect under Section 473(b). Plaintiff's counsel has submitted evidence that dismissal ...

Excerpt: ... §§ 2030.290(b) and 2031.300(b). Plaintiffs propounded the supplemental discovery on August 30, 2022 and no responses have ever been received. Plaintiffs are entitled to an order compelling responses to the form interrogatories and the request for production. The imposition of sanctions is mandatory unless the party subject to sanctions acted with substantial justification or the imposition of sanctions would be unjust. CCP § 2030.290(c) and 2...

Excerpt: ...oday. The Court notes that both the Opposition and Reply were untimely. In the reply, Plaintiff did not move for a continuance. The Court finds that Plaintiff's Reply is substantive. The Court reviewed both the late filed Opposition and late filed Reply as if they had been timely filed. This matter was tried before a jury and the jury returned a verdict for Defendants on their claim alleging Negligence, awarding Defendants $15,416.65 in damages. ...

Excerpt: ...ends to hear both matters today. The Court notes that both the Opposition and Reply were untimely. In the reply, Plaintiff did not move for a continuance. The Court finds that Plaintiff's Reply is substantive. The Court reviewed both the late filed Opposition and late filed Reply as if they had been timely filed. This matter was tried before a jury and the jury returned a verdict in favor of Defendants/Cross Complainants on their Cross-Complaint ...

Excerpt: ...ent 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 terms of the settlement. Id. In this action, the parties entered into a Conditional Stipulated Settlement. Defendant executed the agreement on August 25, 2016 while Plaintiff executed the agreement on Sep...

Excerpt: ...d 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 Dennis McPherson, filed in support of the Demurrer, shows sufficient efforts made by Defendant to meet and confer with Plaintiff. Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice. Defendant's request for judicial notice is granted. Defendant's Objections to Plain...

Excerpt: ... be sustained if the complaint fails to “state facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action.” CCP § 430.10(e). 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...

Excerpt: ...nt request judicial notice of prior pleadings in this action and prior pleadings filed in Cossuto v. Estate of Michael Garrett et. al. (Shasta County Case No. 196776). No objections have been raised to the request. The request for judicial notice is GRANTED. Merits of Motion: A party may object to the complaint by filing a demurrer. CCP § 430.10. A demurrer lies if the court has no jurisdiction over the subject cause of action. CCP § 430.10(a)....

Excerpt: ...ant first appeared on 4/15/21 (21 months ago). The interrogatories which are the subject of this motion were served on 12/2/22. The discovery cut‐off is the same day as the hearing of this motion, 1/30/23 (now extended by stipulation to 2/6/23). Despite what the Court considers extensive meet and confer efforts, responses to form interrogatories 16.3 through 16.6 remain incomplete. The Court finds the response to interrogatory 16.1 is adequate....

Excerpt: ...9, 2023. The motion is unopposed. Final Approval of the Settlement. The parties agreed to settle the case for $180,000.00. The number of workweeks were higher than the estimated 1,350 workweeks, which resulted in an increase to the total settlement. Based on the calculation provide by Kevin Lee from Phoenix Settlement Administrators, the gross settlement would be $214,632.00. However, Class Counsel has listed the gross settlement amount as $215,0...

Excerpt: ...mplaint. Merits of Motion: Plaintiff has alleged a common count causes of action to collect on a debt. “The only essential allegations of a common count are ‘(1) the statement of indebtedness in a certain sum, (2) the consideration, i.e., goods sold, work done, etc., and (3) nonpayment.'” Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Zerin (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 445, 460. The complaint contains a statement of the indebtedness, that money was loaned, that the the...

Excerpt: ...challenge jurisdiction in California courts by filing a motion to quash for lack of jurisdiction. CCP § 418.10(a)(1). California courts “may exercise jurisdiction on any basis not inconsistent with the Constitution of the state or of the United States.” CCP § 410.10. When a defendant moves to quash service of process on jurisdictional grounds, the plaintiff has the initial burden of demonstrating facts justifying the exercise of jurisdictio...

Excerpt: ...nadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect. This relief is typically referred to as discretionary relief under Section 473(b). 3 This relief can be based on counsel's conduct but it still requires that any neglect be excusable before relief can be granted. Tackett v. City of Huntington Beach (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 60, 65. To determine whether a mistake was excusable, the court will inquire whether the same error might have been made by a reasonab...

Excerpt: ...s been submitted solely to aid the Court in evaluating the Minor's Compromise Petition. Merits: Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open to the public. California Rules of Court (CRC), Rule 2.550(c). CRC 2.551 prohibits the court from permitting a record to be filed under seal except by motion or application. The moving party bears the burden to provide “facts sufficient to justify the sealing.” CRC 2.5...

Excerpt: ...g that the lodged records be filed under seal. “Except as provided in Section 214 of the Family Code or any other provision of law, the sittings of every court shall be public.” CCP § 124. Unless confidentiality is required by law, court records are presumed to be open to the public. CRC 2.550(c). CRC 2.551 prohibits the court from permitting a record to be filed under seal except by motion or application. The moving party bears the burden t...

Excerpt: ...2: OVERRULED Objection No. 3: OVERRULED Objection No. 4: OVERRULED Objection No. 5: OVERRULED Objection No. 6: OVERRULED Objection No. 7: OVERRULED Objection No. 8: OVERRULED Objection No. 9: OVERRULED Objection No. 10: OVERRULED Objection No. 11: OVERRULED Objection No. 12: OVERRULED Objection No. 13: OVERRULED Objection No. 14: OVERRULED Objection No. 15: OVERRULED Objection No. 16: OVERRULED Objection No. 17: OVERRULED Motion for Summary Judgm...

Excerpt: ...has not yet appeared, personal service is required. CCP § 512.030(b). A proof of service by mail for Defendant Dennis Conrad has been filed. Dennis Conrad has not yet appeared and therefore personal service was required. No proof of service has been filed for Defendant Jane Doe Conrad. The Court finds that neither Defendant has been properly served with the Writ. The writ is denied due to lack of proper service. Additionally, the application is ...

Excerpt: ...einafter the “1959 Judgment”), the California Department of Transportation (hereinafter, “CA DOT”) established ownership of property in Shasta County referred to in the Judgment as parcels A, B, and C. The 1959 Judgment also set forth conditions and obligations with respect to water rights in Little Boulder Creek and Campbell Creek, among CA DOT and additional parties including Bonville and Funk, and their successors in interest. Obligati...

Excerpt: ...vides sufficient evidence of meet and confer efforts. Request for Judicial Notice. Defendant's request for judicial notice is granted. 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 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 th...