Excerpt: ...r Respo nses to Special Interrogatories, and 3) Motion to Compel Further Responses to Requests for Production. Defendant opposes the Motions. Plaintiff propounded discovery on October 2, 2023, consisting of 19 Requests for Production of Documents, 19 Special Inte rrogatories, and Form Interrogatories – General series 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 15.1. After a brief extension, Defendant timely served objections to each of the three sets of discovery on No...

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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ..., 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...(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: ... 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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ... 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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...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: ...ntical terms. Merits of Motion: 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). A trial court must approve a class 2 action settlement agreement and may do so only after determining it is fair, adequate, and reasonable. It is vested with broad discretion in m...

Excerpt: ...eadowview Drive, #500 in Redding, CA. Provision 26 of the Lease provides that in any action…the prevailing party will be entitled to reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and costs. Following a two day trial on February 23‐24, 2022, this Court ruled the lease was legally terminated, effective June 1, 2020 following proper service of a 24 month notice of termination on Defendant per the terms of the Lease. The Court further declared P...

Excerpt: ...ther the costs are appropriate. 2 The Song‐Beverly Act contains a cost‐shifting provision that specifically allows prevailing buyers to recover their costs, including attorney's fees. Civ. C. § 1794(d). The Consumers Legal Remedies Act also contains a mandatory fee provision for a prevailing plaintiff. Civ. C. § 1780(e). An attorney's fee award is limited to the amount the court determines was reasonably incurred by the buyer in commencing ...

Excerpt: ...ive demands, including unreasonable violations of the right of privacy. Id. A party may obtain discovery related to any matter, if the matter itself is admissible or reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. CCP § 2017.010. However; privileged information is not discoverable. CCP § 2017.010. The subpoena challenged by this motion was issued by Plaintiffs to Defendants' insurance company CSAA. CSAA is providing a def...

Excerpt: ...ext day. (UMF 6, 8.) At the time of the loss, the total limits of coverage under the Policy were $685,372.50. (UMF 7.) Pursuant to Plaintiff's claim and subsequent mediation, Defendant has now paid all amounts possibly due under the Policy. (UMF 44‐46.) Plaintiff contends that Mid‐Century incorrectly estimated the dwelling limit, and as a result Plaintiff was substantially underinsured. (Plaintiff's Additional Material Facts “AMF” 41.) 6 ...