Excerpt: ...for a hearing on the issue of whether a settlement has been made in good faith. A good faith determination bars any other joint tortfeasors or coobligors from any further claims for indemnity, comparative fault or equitable contribution. CCP § 877.6(c). The settlement must be within the reasonable range of the settling tortfeasors' share of liability taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case. Tech‐Bilt, Inc. v. Woodward...

Excerpt: ...477. The demurrer to the original complaint is therefore OVERRULED as moot. ...

Excerpt: ...Defendant alleges it fails to state sufficient facts to constitute a claim under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Standards of Demurrer: 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 be used to challenge defects that appear on the fact of the complaint or from matters that may be subject to judicial notice. Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal...

Excerpt: ... summons was also granted on June 11, 2018, permitting service of summons on Small Equity Initiative, LLC and ISG Illumination Systems, LLC, by delivery to the Secretary of State. In light of the current service efforts of plaintiffs and counsel, the Court declines issuing sanctions at this time. However, in order to make certain that the case is brought to issue in the near future, hearing on today's Order to Show Cause re Monetary Sanctions is ...

Excerpt: ...s response, and declines from issuing sanctions. The Court notes that defendant Shree Shiva, LLC's default has been taken, and that defendants Bhupendrasinh Thakor and Sudhaben Thakor have only just recently been named in the action. As such, this case does not appear to be at issue. The trial date of July 10, 2018 is hereby VACATED and the matter set for review regarding status of service and trial re‐ setting on Monday, July 23, 2018, at 9:00...

Excerpt: ...d. Neither party informed the Court of the federal dismissal. Plaintiff did not dismiss this action. For these reasons, the Court required an appearance at the May 14, 2018 review hearing. In the future, counsel are advised to keep the Court apprised of the status of the federal action to avoid wasting judicial resources in issuing an OSC when the 3 federal action has been dismissed. No sanctions will be imposed. The clerk is instructed to admini...

Excerpt: ... property held in a trust. The Court determined that the matter was improperly filed as an unlimited civil action. The matter was set for review on May 14, 2018, to determine whether the matter could be transferred to the probate court. Plaintiff failed to provide any authority that would permit for such a transfer, and the instant Order to Show Cause re Dismissal (“OSC”) issued for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. No response to the OSC ...

Excerpt: ... faith pursuant to CCP § 877.6. The motions are nearly identical and will be addressed together in one ruling. Richardson seeks to settle this matter for their policy limit of $1,000,000. Brown seeks to settle this matter for their policy limit of $100,000. CCP § 877.6(a)(1) provides that a party may move by noticed motion for a hearing on the issue of whether a settlement has been made in good faith. A good faith determination bars any other j...

Excerpt: ...nd 2031.300(b). The Court will order Plaintiff to provide responses to the above discovery without objection. Defendant has also requested sanctions in the amount of 8.5 hours at the rate of $185 for Plaintiff's failure to timely respond. Given that this motion is unopposed and availability of CourtCall, the requested hours are reduced from 8.5 to 3. Sanctions will be awarded in the amount of $555. The motion is GRANTED. Plaintiff shall have 30 d...

Excerpt: ...le income is automatically exempt (i.e. the maximum that can be withheld is 25% of disposable income). 15 USC § 1673(a). Section 1672(b) of Title 15 of the United States Code defines “disposable earnings” as “that part of the earnings of any individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of any amounts required by law to be withheld.” CCP section 706.011 provides an almost identical definition. Under California law, even mo...