Excerpt: ...t: The notice of motion for a motion to consolidate must be filed in all cases sought to be consolidated (CRC 3.350(a)(1)(B)) but the memorandum and evidence only need to be filed in the lowest case number. The notice of motion was not filed in the subrogation litigation (Case No. 193051). No objection has been raised to this defect. Despite the defect, it appears that all parties in both actions were served with the notice and motion. Without an...

Excerpt: ... that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Ashley Arnett, submitted in support of the Demurrer, shows sufficient efforts between the parties to meet and confer. Merits. The purpose of a demurrer is to test the legal sufficiency of a pleading. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 422.10, 589. A party may object by demurrer on the ground that “[t]he pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of acti...

Excerpt: ...arty may object by demurrer on the ground that “[t]he pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” CCP § 430.10(e). A meet and confer declaration has been provided, as required by CCP § 430.10. The Fifth Cause of Action alleges slander of title specifically caused by the 2015 Easement Deed. The elements of the tort of slander of title are (1) a publication, (2) without privilege or justification, (3) falsity, a...

Excerpt: ...erance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may order a separate trial of any cause of action, . . . or of any separate issue . . . , preserving the right of trial by jury required by the Constitution or a statute of this state or of the United States.” The Court has discretion to sever a statute of limitations defense raised in the answer, and try that defense first. Aerojet...

Excerpt: ...ness of documents specified in the requests admitted. CCP § 2033.280(b). Failure to respond also waives any objections to the discovery propounded. CCP § 2033.280(a). Defendant's moving papers sufficiently demonstrate that the plaintiff has failed to respond to Defendant's Request for Admissions within the required time frame. The Motion is GRANTED. CCP § 2033.280(c) requires that sanctions be imposed where a party fails to timely respond to a...

Excerpt: ... to the Judicial Council, by e‐mail or facsimile, a copy of the endorsed, filed caption page of the motion or opposition, a copy of any related notice of appeal or petition for a writ, and a conformed copy of any order issued pursuant to this section, including any order granting or denying a special motion to strike, discovery, or fees. While the parties may have done so, there is no evidence in the file that either party complied with this re...

Excerpt: ...ctions Defendants have asserted as to the Declaration of David Jackson. Some of the factual assertions are clearly contradicted by undisputed evidence offered in support of the motion and some of the opinions do indeed appear to be speculation and conjecture. However, adequate foundation is established to qualify this witness to opine concerning the standard of care associated with school administration, including the implementation and use of al...

Excerpt: ...) permits a party propounding discovery demands to “move for an order compelling further response to the demand if the demanding party deems that any of the following apply: (1) A statement of compliance with the demand is incomplete.” A motion brought under this section must include a declaration describing efforts to meet and confer in good faith. CCP § 2031.310(b)(2). CCP § 2031.310(h) provides that the court “shall impose a monetary s...

Excerpt: ...t or summary adjudication, or both, that facts essential to justify opposition may exist but cannot, for reasons stated, be presented, the court shall deny the motion, order a continuance to permit affidavits to be obtained or discovery to be had, or make any other order as may be just. The application to continue the motion to obtain necessary discovery may also be made by ex parte motion at any time on or before the date the opposition response...

Excerpt: ...o be done by a party.” Generally speaking, in the context of continuances, good cause includes a party's excused inability to obtain essential testimony, documents, or other material evidence despite diligent efforts. CRC Rule 3.1332(c)(6). Plaintiffs in this case have moved to continue on the basis of ongoing health problems, exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Both plaintiffs have surgeries that have been rescheduled for July and August, ...

Excerpt: ...0.41(a)(3). Defendant did not submit a meet and confer declaration in support of the present demurrer. Defense counsel is admonished for failing to comply with the meet and confer requirement. Typically the Court would continue a demurrer if the meet and confer requirement has not been satisfied; however, based on the papers, continuing the matter to meet and confer does not appear likely to result in a resolution and therefore the Court will iss...

Excerpt: ...itute a valid cause of action.” CCP § 430.10(e). A demurrer can also be brought on the grounds that the pleading is “uncertain.” CCP § 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, deduc...

Excerpt: ...plaintiff, and shall render judgment in the plaintiff's favor for that relief, not exceeding the amount stated in the complaint. Ibid. In hearing the evidence, the Court in its discretion may permit the use of affidavits in lieu of personal testimony. CCP § 585(d). However, the facts stated in the affidavit or affidavits are required to be within the personal knowledge of the affiant and must be set forth with particularity, showing affirmativel...

Excerpt: ...American Directions Research Group, Inc. et. al. (hereinafter Hender) now pending before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Plaintiff cites as authority California Code of Civil Procedure section 410.30 and Caifa Prof. Law Corp. v. State Farm fire & Cas. Co., 15 Cal. App. 4th 800, at 804. Both the present matter and the Hender action are proceeding on the same theories of liability for the same parties. The fact that ...

Excerpt: ...inst a health care provider based upon such person's alleged professional negligence.” The one‐year period runs from the date “the plaintiff discovers, or through the use of reasonable diligence should have discovered, the injury.” Ibid. The one year statute applies to other causes of action that arise out of the same facts as professional negligence. Larson v. UHS of Rancho Springs, Inc. (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 336, 347. In deciding wheth...

Excerpt: ...aintiff's emotional distress claims. It propounded discovery seeking information from January 2015 to the present. Plaintiff provides substantive responses but limited the timeframe. Defendant also seeks to compel Plaintiff to sign authorizations for the release of her medical records related to emotional distress for the same time period and for records with the EDD related to her prior disability claim for the period of November 2016 through th...

Excerpt: ...efore the depositions (previously noticed for May 25, 2020 in Sacramento, California) are outside the geographical limitations established by CCP § 2025.250(a). Pursuant to CCP § 2025.260, the Court may, in the interest of justice, order that a party's deposition be taken at a more distant location than that permitted under CCP § 2025.250(a). As to the specifics of this case, the Court also finds that there was no stipulation for either Defend...

Excerpt: ...roduce for inspection any document, electronically stored information, or tangible thing described in the deposition notice, the party giving the notice may move for an order compelling the deponent's attendance and testimony, and the production for inspection of any document, electronically stored information, or tangible thing described in the deposition notice. A motion brought under this section must be accompanied by a meet and confer declar...

Excerpt: ...der the Government Claims Act. That claim was denied. Plaintiff filed the present action on July 10, 2017. Motion for Summary Judgment Standard: CCP § 437c 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 meri...

Excerpt: ...28.75 pursuant to Civil Code § 1794(d) of the Song‐Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. The attorney's fees relate to the work of six attorneys for a total of $20,152.50. Plaintiff then requests a .5 lodestar enhancement making the total $30,228.75. Plaintiffs also requests costs in the amount of $7,144.65. Authority: The Song‐Beverly Act contains a cost‐shifting provision that specifically allows prevailing buyers to 5 recover their costs, incl...

Excerpt: ...nfer Efforts: The Court finds that the meet and confer efforts were minimal and ineffective; however, it appears that further meet and confer efforts would be unproductive. The Court will therefore proceed to issue a ruling on the merits. 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 § 430.10(e). A demurrer can also be brought on t...

Excerpt: ... conducted under Vehicle code section 13559 and CCP section 1094.5. Combs v. Pierce (1991) 1 Cal.App.4th 568, 575. The reviewing court must exercise its independent judgment in determining whether the weigh to the evidence supports the Respondent's findings. Berlinghieri v. DMV (1983) 33 Cal.3d 392, 394. Where the evidence is subject to conflicting inferences of a crucial issue, the trial court may draw its own inferences from the evidence in the...

Excerpt: ...e to appear for Plaintiff's deposition. The deposition was set to occur on February 28, 2020. Prior to the deposition date, Plaintiff's counsel stated that he would not allow the deposition to proceed unless Defendant provide further responses to discovery and other information related to documents in Defendant's possession. He also sought to limit the scope of the deposition. Defendant agreed to and in fact did provide further responses in the a...

Excerpt: ...to three of the causes of action on the ground they are preempted by the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“CUTSA”). Demurrer Standards: A demurrer should be sustained if the complaint fails to “state facts sufficient to constitute a valid cause of action.” CCP § 430.10(e). A demurrer can also be brought on the grounds that the pleading is “uncertain.” CCP § 430.10(f). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on t...

Excerpt: ...'s attendance and performance during his employment at Camping World. Neither party directly addresses the exact dates Plaintiff was employed at Camping World, other than his resignation date of April 5, 2019. CCP § 2017.010 provides that parties have the right to discover “any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action.” California Constitution Article I, § 1 expressly grants each individu...