Excerpt: ...il 12, 2024. The C omplaint in this matter names two Defendants: “Adrienne Sherman, individually and dba When Pie Meets Bread” and “When Pie Meets Bread, LLC, a California limited liability company.” The Answer filed by Adrienne Sherman on April 3, 2023 lists “Adrienne Sher man dba When Pie Meets Bread LLC” and “When Pie Meets Bread LLC” as the two named defendants. Any response or evidence to the OSC was to be presented in writt...

Excerpt: ...ibing efforts to meet an d confer in good faith. Plaintiffs have provided sufficient evidence of a good faith attempt to meet and confer. Merits. The scope of discovery is broad. Any matter that is admissible evidence or appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence is relevant and subject to discovery. CCP § 2017.010. Any doubts as to the relevance should generally be resolved in favor of permitting discovery. Co...

Excerpt: ...case for $20 0,000. The breakdown of the settlement is: Total Settlement Amount Proposed Attorneys' Fees (35%) $200,000.00 Litigation Costs and Expenses -$66,666.67 -$15,096.58 Settlement Administration Costs PAGA Claim Settlement Allocation Payment to Labor and Work force Development Agency (LWDA) (75%) Payment to Settlement Class Members (25%) - $7,000.00 -$10,000.00 ($7,500.00) ($2,500.00) Proposed Class Representative Enhancement Settlement M...

Excerpt: ...March 18, 20 24. However, Plaintiff has filed a response to the OSC indicating her confusion regarding the status of this matter and apologizing to the Court for any inconvenience. Much of the Declaration addresses the Plaintiff's failure to appear at the Mandatory S ettlement Conference which took place on March 18, 2024. Although the Plaintiff's failure to be available for the Mandatory Settlement Conference is also disturbing, this is not why...

Excerpt: ...ed. Merits of Motion. A party has thirty days after service to respond to Form and Special Interrogatories. CCP § 2030.260(a). Not providing a timely response to propounded interrogatories results in a waiver of objections. CCP § 2030.290(a). If a party to who m a discovery request is directed fails to serve a timely response, the party propounding discovery may move for an order compelling a response. CCP § 2030.290(b). Unlike a motion to com...

Excerpt: ...formation and fail to 4 describe the documents sought with the required particularity. Merits of Motion: A party may move for an order quashing a subpoena in its entirety, modifying it or directing compliance. CCP § 1987.1(a). The Court may also make any other order as may be appropriate to protect the person from unreasonable or oppressive demands, including unreasonable violations of the right of privacy. Id. A party may obtain discovery relat...

Excerpt: ...s served with the Notice of Motion and Motion by mail on April 4, 2024. The Court notes that the party name listed on the proof of service is incorrect, however, both parties in this case have the same address. The Court finds that the motion was properly noticed. No O pposition has been filed. Unlike a motion to compel further responses, a motion to compel responses when no responses have been provided does not require the propounding party to...

Excerpt: ...t to CC P § 2023.030(b). Plaintiff also seeks sanctions of $1,350 pursuant to CCP § 2023.030(a) and 2030.290(c). The Motion is unopposed. On March 22, 2023, Plaintiff served Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, Requests for Production of Documents, and Requests for Admissions to Defendant Bonna Johnson. Her deadline to respond was April 26, 2023. She did not serve responses or request any extensions. On September 13, 2023, Plaintiff �...

Excerpt: ...sted judic ial notice of prior pleadings and rulings. The requests are granted. Defendant's Objections to Plaintiff's Evidence: Defendant's objections are overruled. Motion for Summary Judgment: 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 bu...

Excerpt: ...h the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement 2 can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” The Declaration of Monica Folsom along with HCS's Exhibit D show sufficient effo rts made by HCS to meet and confer with Maruti prior to filing the Demurrer Request for Judicial Notice. HCS requests that the Court take judicial notice of the Complai...

Excerpt: ...osition should hav e been filed and served on April 16, 2024. Plaintiffs object to the Court considering the late Opposition, however, Plaintiffs filed a substantive Reply and made no showing of how receiving the Opposition one day late caused any prejudice to Plaintiffs. The Court exercises its discretion to consider the Opposition and overrules any objection regarding a late Opposition. Meet and Confer. A motion brought under this section mus...

Excerpt: ...rty pro pounding interrogatories 1 may move for an order compelling response if the party to whom the interrogatories are directed fails to serve a timely response. Here, Plaintiff served Form Interrogatories – General, Set One on Heather Long on February 5, 2024. Responses to written interrogatories are due within 30 days after service. CCP § 2030.260(a). As of the filing of this Motion on March 29, 2024, no responses have been received by P...

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: ...ain.” CCP § 430. 10(f). A demurrer for uncertainty will be sustained only where the complaint is so bad that defendant cannot reasonably respond —i.e., he or she cannot reasonably determine what issues must be admitted or denied, or what counts or claims are directed again st him or her. Khoury v. Maly's of Calif., Inc. (1993) 14 Cal App.4th 612, 616). A demurrer can be used to challenge defects that appear on the face of the complaint o...

Excerpt: ...requested that judicial notice be taken in the footnotes. The first is in Footnote 1 on page 2 where Defendant requested the Court to take judicial notice that “the American Arbitration Association is one of the largest neutral arbitration services in the Unite d State.” Defendant did not specify under which section of the Evidence Code this request was being made. In Footnote 4 on page 9, Defendant requests the Court take judicial notice of...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpt: ... 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 ...