Excerpt: ...a need and good reason to extend the discovery cut‐off with respect to certain discovery in this case, and that doing so will not result in any delay of trial or prejudice to SEENO CONSTRUCTION or ASPEN INSURANCE. DGC has established a need to extend the discovery cut‐off so that DGC may file motions to compel with respect to the verified discovery responses that were recently provided by SEENO, to the extent such motions are permitted under ...

Excerpt: ...izes a party to move for summary adjudication “as to one or more causes of action within an action, one or more affirmative defenses, one or more claims for damages, or one or more issues of duty”, which can be granted “only if it completely disposes of a cause of action, an affirmative defense, a claim for damages, or an issue of duty”. Here, BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A. (“BMO”) seeks summary adjudication of 2 different types of breach of c...

Excerpt: ...defendants. The sole allegation against Defendant Lofas is that he is a resident of Vallejo. (SAC, ¶ 5.) The sole allegation against Defendant Estate of Jean Lofas is that it is domiciled in Vallejo. (SAC, ¶ 6.) Plaintiff has not made any factual allegations concerning Defendant Rentschler. Defendants' demurrer against the first cause of action for elder abuse, second cause of action for assault, third cause of action for battery, fourth cause ...

Excerpt: ... an appeal on behalf of a corporation. Further, the amounts due from Luv Care, Inc. were not properly posted as security to perfect a timely appeal. Judgment shall be entered on behalf of Respondent against Luv Care, Inc. pursuant to the Labor Commissioner's decision. Respondent's unopposed motion to dismiss the individual appeal of Shobha Kothapalli is denied. While it appears that Ms. Kothapalli may have attempted to represent the interests of ...

Excerpt: ...AVID ALLEN should defendant KELSA GENTRY terminate the contract, as she did. The parties agreed to payment based on the time spent multiplied by the hourly rate of every person who worked on the case, and no more. (See Defendants' Compendium of Exhibits, Exhibit 7). Therefore, the court may find, as a matter of law, that plaintiff is entitled to this amount only. Although plaintiff suggests that its retainer agreement with GENTRY is void because ...

Excerpt: ...s overruled as to the second cause of action for interference with prospective economic advantage, third cause of action for interference with contract, fifth cause of action for unjust enrichment, and sixth cause of action for violation of the Unfair Competition Law. Plaintiffs have adequately alleged facts supporting the material elements of these causes of action. Defendants' demurrer to the eighth cause of action for violation of the Rosentha...

Excerpt: ...upon motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the terms of the settlement. To be enforceable under C.C.P. §664.6, a written settlement agreement be signed by the “parties”. Edmon & Karnow (Weil & Brown), Civil Procedure Before Trial, §12:953, p. 12(II)‐122. It must be signed by t...

Excerpt: ...est for Production, Set One On August 12, 2019, defendant VERO FOODS, LLC, served supplemental responses to Request for Production, Set One. These supplemental responses render moot the motion to compel, which was based on VERO FOOD'S original responses. If plaintiff found the supplemental responses to be inadequate, she should have filed a new motion based on the supplemental responses, or at least filed a new Separate Statement of Discovery Ite...

Excerpt: ...r a corporate employer, “the advance knowledge and conscious disregard, authorization, ratification or act of oppression, fraud, or malice must be on the part of an officer, director, or managing agent of the corporation. (Ibid.) A managing agent is not merely a supervisor with the ability to hire and fire employees, but must be in a position to “exercise substantial discretionary authority over decisions that ultimately determine corporate p...

Excerpt: ...ay is not a defense to a claim of indebtedness. (See, Ab Group v. Wertin (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1022, 1028 [a borrower is legally obligated to repay her loans].) Furthermore, Plaintiff has no duty to exercise reasonable forbearance in enforcing its legal remedies against a debtor. (Price v. Wells Fargo Bank (1989) 213 Cal.App.3d 465, 479.) Judgment shall be entered for Plaintiff and against Defendant for the principal balance of $2,030.93. Prejudg...

Excerpt: ... is not a defense to a claim of indebtedness. (See, Ab Group v. Wertin (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1022, 1028 [a borrower is legally obligated to repay her loans].) Judgment shall be entered for Plaintiff and against Defendant for the principal balance of $843.99. Prejudgment costs must be claimed and contested in accordance with the rules adopted by the Judicial Council. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1034(a); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1700.) ...

Excerpt: ...ns. Co. (1972) 7 Cal.3d 988 were similar to the facts presented in this case, Orpustan was decided “based upon the language of the insurance policy” and was therefore “fully consistent with the antecedent decisions which required the parties to arbitrate those controversies which they had agreed to arbitrate.” (Freeman v. State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. (1975) 14 Cal.3d 473, 482.) The arbitration agreement in the instant case is expressly ...

Excerpt: ...on information provided in good faith by the beneficiary regarding the nature and the amount of default under the deed of trust. (Civ. Code § 2924(b).) In addition, the trustee's acts of mailing, publication, and delivery of notices required by law and in performing the procedures set forth by law are privileged. (Civ. Code § 2924(d).) Although the privilege can be defeated by a showing of actual malice, Plaintiff has not alleged any facts supp...

Excerpt: ...2‐553; Pioneer Elecs. (USA), Inc. v. Superior Court (2007) 40 Cal.4th 360, 370‐371.) Plaintiff raises the countervailing interest of facilitating the ascertainment of truth in legal proceedings (Britt v. Superior Court (1978) 20 Cal.3d 844, 857; Bd. of Trustees v. Superior Court (1981) 119 Cal.App.3d 516, 525) and establishes that records relating Defendant's driving ability and history are directly relevant to her negligent hiring and entrus...

Excerpt: ...Mandri v. Judkins (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 326, 336 [nondisclosure or concealment may constitute actionable fraud “when the defendant had exclusive knowledge of material facts not known to the plaintiff”].) A general demurrer may not be sustained if the facts alleged state a cause of action on any theory. (Young v. Gannon (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 209, 220; Brousseau v. Jarrett (1977) 73 Cal.App.3d 864, 870‐871.) Parties to appear to discuss the a...

Excerpt: ...ges that the lender or mortgage servicer denied an application for a loan modification on the false claim that the borrower failed to provide all required documentation. (Majd v. Bank of Am. (2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 1293, 1304, 1306‐1307.) Plaintiffs allege a substantially similar situation in which Defendant Chase demanded, in violation of HAMP rules, documents that were impossible to produce and refused to evaluate their application for a loan ...

Excerpt: ...Mandri v. Judkins (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th 326, 336 [nondisclosure or concealment may constitute actionable fraud “when the defendant had exclusive knowledge of material facts not known to the plaintiff”].) A general demurrer may not be sustained if the facts alleged state a cause of action on any theory. (Young v. Gannon (2002) 97 Cal.App.4th 209, 220; Brousseau v. Jarrett (1977) 73 Cal.App.3d 864, 870‐871.) Parties to appear to discuss the a...

Excerpt: ...ce as the court did in Fowler v. Howell (1996) 42 Cal.App.4th 1746, 1752‐1753. The court thus takes judicial notice of the certification of Alexandra Gottlieb indicating that no government claim filed by plaintiff regarding the alleged incident is contained in the records of the Government Claims Program. The court also takes judicial notice of the complaints plaintiff filed in his property action, which include the government claim plaintiff f...

Excerpt: ...ny, Plaintiff did not admit that the baling string did not break nor did he admit that he had no evidence regarding Defendants' actual or constructive notice regarding the alleged defect in the string. Plaintiff explicitly testified that his hay hook was “definitely on the string” because he had “tension” while he pulled for “[p]robably half a minute” and the only way he could have fallen the way he did is if the string broke. (Depo. ...

Excerpt: ... 29 Cal.App.5th 1241 and other cases cited by U.S. Fire, which involved the actual insurer of the defaulting defendant. The motion is denied without prejudice to a subsequent motion to set aside should U.S. Fire determine that it did, in fact, issue an insurance policy to Associated Insulation during the period of plaintiff's alleged asbestos exposure. The court notes that while U.S. Fire may not bring this motion to set aside without evidence th...

Excerpt: ... motion had already been filed. (Decl. of Rivero, Exh. 15.) In addition, the discovery sought will not be relevant to any outstanding disputed issue between the parties in light of Defendant's offer to file the proposed amended answer fully admitting liability for civil penalties awardable under the Page 3 of 3 Song‐Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. (Civ. Code § 1794.) Defendant sought a stipulation to permit Defendant to file a proposed amended ...

Excerpt: ...for summary adjudication of the second cause of action for medical professional negligence and sixth cause of action for wrongful death based on the same alleged negligent treatment is denied. Plaintiffs have established that there exists a triable issue of fact concerning whether Defendant's treatment of Decedent fell below the applicable standard of care by presenting the declaration of an expert contradicting Defendant's expert. (See, Decl. of...

Excerpt: ...action. (Guzman v. County of Monterey (2009) 46 Cal.4th 887, 898.) An enactment does not create a mandatory duty if it merely recites legislative goals or policies that must be implemented through a public agency's exercise of discretion. (County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court (2002) 102 Cal.App.4th 627, 639; Wilson v. County of San Diego (2001) 91 Cal.App.4th 974, 980.) Plaintiff alleges three enactments impose a mandatory duty breached by the...

Excerpt: ... the Solano County Sheriff's Office and the subpoena to Humane Animal Services. The court grants the motion to quash these two subpoenas. FIELDING did not provide an affidavit for the subpoenas, as required by CCP Section 1985(b). Nor did she provide the information that would have been contained in such an affidavit in her opposition. She did not show good cause for production of the records, specify the exact matters or things to be produced, s...

Excerpt: ...§ 437c(p)(2).) Defendants improperly relied on their own responses to Plaintiff's form interrogatories and requests for admissions in attempting to show that they did not have any actual knowledge of the existence of dogs on the leased property. (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.410, 2033.410; Great Am. Ins. Cos. v. Gordon Trucking, Inc. (2008) 165 Cal.App.4th 445, 450; Victaulic Co. v. Am. Home Assurance Co. (2018) 20 Cal.App.5th 948, 973; Gonsalves v...

Excerpt: ...and the filing of her cause of action, Defendant has established as a matter of law that the action as to Defendant ZHU is time‐barred. Under CCP §437c(p), the burden of proof shifts to plaintiff to establish there remains a triable issue of material fact. Plaintiff has not met this burden. Plaintiff contends that under the doctrine of equitable estoppel, defendant may not assert the one‐year statute of limitations defense of CCP §340.5 bec...

Excerpt: ...mmon counts.” (Farmers Ins. Exch. v. Zerin (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 445, 460.) The essential elements to properly plead a common count are: 1) the statement of indebtedness in a certain sum, 2) consideration such as “goods sold” or “work done,” and 3) nonpayment. (Ibid.) Plaintiffs have adequately alleged an indebtedness in a sum certain, consideration based on “money lent”, and nonpayment. (Complaint, ¶¶ 4‐8.) No basis to find som...

Excerpt: ...v. Proc. § 437c(p)(2); Lyle v. Warner Bros. Television Prods. (2006) 38 Cal.4th 264, 274.) Defendants present the uncontested testimony of Defendant Wagner establishing that Plaintiff ran into the crosswalk and in front of Defendant's vehicle against a red light and that Defendant did not have time to stop but was forced to swerve in an unsuccessful effort to avoid a collision with Plaintiff. (Amended Decl. of Wagner, ¶¶ 4, 6‐9.) Plaintiff i...

Excerpt: ...ve the joint venture, the court could not summarily adjudicate the second cause of action for money owed or the third cause of action for dissolution. Therefore, the court cannot grant summary judgment. As to the first cause of action for specific performance, the undisputed facts are that this oral agreement was not a joint venture agreement to share profits in a real estate transaction that may avoid the statute of frauds. Rather, it was an agr...

Excerpt: ...e any facts or legal theories on which Defendant's liability might be based. Plaintiff has not met his or her burden of showing that it is reasonably possible to cure the complaint by amendment. (Blatty v. New York Times Co. (1986) 42 Cal.3d 1033, 1040‐1041.) Plaintiff has not demonstrated in what manner he or she can amend the complaint or how those amendments will change the legal effect of the pleading. (Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 3...

Excerpt: ...clude a separate or separately identified notice of motion or memorandum of points and authorities. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1112, subds. (a), (c).) Nothing in the “motion” contains “a concise statement of the law” or a “discussion of the statutes, cases, and textbooks cited in support of the position advanced.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113(b).) The absence of a proper memorandum of points and authorities can be construed by ...

Excerpt: ...solidated complaint is granted in part and denied in part. Defendants' motion is granted as to Plaintiffs' allegations of sick leave notice requirements. PAGA specifically prohibits an action “for any violation of a posting, notice, agency reporting, or filing requirement of this code, except where the filing or reporting requirement involves mandatory payroll or workplace injury reporting.” (Lab. Code § 2699(g)(2); Titus v. McLane Foodservi...

Excerpt: ...oreclosure to be wrongful. The nonjudicial foreclosure statutes do not require a foreclosing party to be a have a beneficial interest in the note, to have possession of the note, to provide the power of attorney to the borrower, or to have certain allonges and endorsements for the note. The allegations that the MERS representative did not have authority to sign the Assignment of the Deed of Trust are also not sufficient. In failing to state a cau...

Excerpt: ...tained from Defendant Acceptance was adequate to cover Plaintiff's losses. Plaintiff's cause of action for negligence is based on the theory that Defendant Sharma “failed to procure insurance coverage with sufficient limits to cover the value of Plaintiff's investment” as requested by Plaintiff. Neither theory of liability supports a determination that a need to sue or defend against Defendant Acceptance resulted from Defendant Sharma's torti...

Excerpt: .... (Complaint, ¶ BC‐2.) But, a public employee “is not liable for an injury caused by his misrepresentation, whether or not such misrepresentation be negligent or intentional” (Gov. Code § 822.2) and a public entity “is not liable for an injury resulting from an act or omission of an employee … where the employee is immune from liability” (Gov. Code § 815.2(b)). Plaintiff has not met his burden of showing that it is reasonably possi...

Excerpt: ...sed it in their home in California on a regular basis, and that this resulted in DOUGLAS STROBEL being exposed to the ingredients of the powder, allegedly to his detriment. Thus, plaintiffs have established that there is a sufficient connection between plaintiffs' claims and California for this court to find specific jurisdiction over COLGATE‐PALMOLIVE in this case. Evidence that the talcum powder contained asbestos is not necessary for determi...

Excerpt: ...records and radiology records are to be limited in scope to only those records relating to plaintiff's claimed injuries and conditions arising from the incident. According to plaintiff's interrogatory responses, these are injuries to plaintiff's cervical spine, which have resulted in neck pain and nerve pain, and which affects plaintiff's neck and spine, right arm, triceps, right hand and fingers, right shoulder blade, upper back, and right eye; ...

Excerpt: ...records and radiology records are to be limited in scope to only those records relating to plaintiff's claimed injuries and conditions arising from the incident. According to plaintiff's interrogatory responses, these are injuries to plaintiff's cervical spine, which have resulted in neck pain and nerve pain, and which affects plaintiff's neck and spine, right arm, triceps, right hand and fingers, right shoulder blade, upper back, and right eye; ...

Excerpt: ...d. The information set forth in the application for preliminary injunction is stale given these representations in open court. At that same hearing, the court expressed that Plaintiff's submissions were sufficient for a TRO but inadequate for a preliminary injunction due to the lack of supporting and corroborating evidence related to Plaintiff's claims. A restraining order to prohibit a non‐judicial foreclosure from proceeding is highly disfavo...

Excerpt: ...urt time and resources). As to Request No. 1, counsel are to meet and confer regarding production of additional agendas and meeting minutes that refer to those topics set out on p. 4‐ 5 of plaintiffs' memorandum of points and authorities from October, 2014, to the present. As to Request Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12, defendant may respond using the term “removal from the competitive team” in place of the term “termination” used in each of...

Excerpt: ... the continued co‐ownership, management or operation of … Pacific Palisades” to a special master, who was authorized to “decide the disputed matter and direct the implementation of his decision.” (Decl. of Strauss, Exh. A, ¶ 1.11.)1 Somewhat in contradiction, the parties also agreed that a trustor could immediately apply to the family law court to seek removal of Ed Biggs as manager of the properties in trust upon a showing of “good ...

Excerpt: ...lege sufficient facts indicating how LIBERTY MUTUAL entered into an oral agreement with plaintiff and the terms of the alleged oral agreement are uncertain. Conclusory terms such as “scope of work,” “cost estimate,” and “not to exceed $450,000.00” are not sufficient. (For example, no scope of work allegedly prepared by LIBERTY MUTUAL is incorporated as an exhibit into the complaint.) The complaint also does not allege facts indicating...

Excerpt: ... these representations in open court. A restraining order to prohibit a non‐judicial foreclosure from proceeding is highly disfavored, especially when the property is a commercial or investment property as in this case. (See, Jessen v. Keystone Sav & Loan Assn. (1983) 142 Cal.App.3d 454, 457‐458.) Evidence supports a finding that Plaintiff has defaulted on payments to her mortgage lender for the commercial properties in a manner that is not w...

Excerpt: ...cording”, was a brief exchange she had with Defendant in the hallway of the company legal department, while Defendant was in route to a meeting in the office of another company attorney, in which she handed him something and said “[unintelligible] this from Ed. He wanted to make sure you got this”. The other, VOICE025.WAV (the “Meeting Recording”), involved a meeting with other corporate officers, in which substantive legal matters such...

Excerpt: ...fault in violation of Civil Code section 2923.5 (FAC, ¶¶ 24, 26‐28, 40, 42), Plaintiffs admit that Defendants accepted, considered, and approved three applications for loan modification and Plaintiffs had numerous telephone conversations with Defendants' agents regarding the applications. (FAC, ¶¶ 15, 17‐20, 22‐23, 29, 31‐32.) There is no material violation of Civil Code section 2923.5 when a borrower has “multiple telephone convers...

Excerpt: ...iability might be based. Page 6 of 6 Plaintiff has not met his burden of showing that it is reasonably possible to cure his complaint by amendment. (Blatty v. New York Times Co. (1986) 42 Cal.3d 1033, 1040‐1041.) Plaintiff has not demonstrated in what manner he can amend the complaint or how those amendments will change the legal effect of the pleading. (Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 335, 349; Cooper v. Equity Gen. Ins. (1990) 219 Cal.App...

Excerpt: ...itration award for inclusion of costs under C.C.P. §998 is denied. Any error of law made by the arbitrator in the course of binding arbitration concerning a C.C.P. §998 costs claim is not subject to correction by the court. (Heimlich v. Shivji (2019) 7 Cal.5th 350.) MERITAGE's motion for sanctions under CCP §128.7 is granted, as the court has been able to now confirm that this motion was timely served on Plaintiff's counsel consistent with the...

Excerpt: ... Enterprises (“BME”) originally set on June 11 and continued on the court's own motion to July 23; 2) Cross‐Defendant BME's motion for attorneys' fees set July 12; 3) Cross‐complainants Owen and Silvermark's motion (and amended motion) to strike and tax costs claimed by Cross‐defendant BME set July 23; 4) Plaintiff BME's motion to strike or tax costs of Defendants Owen and Silvermark set July 23; 5) Defendant Owen's motion for contractu...

Excerpt: ...y explaining why the objections are not meritorious or how the discovery request could be modified such that it is acceptable. The court reserves jurisdiction over sanctions to both parties due to the failure to meet and confer. Further, Plaintiff fails to separately state the motions which should be filed and scheduled separately rather than as an omnibus motion. In the future, the court may strike a combined discovery motion. Plaintiff's motion...

Excerpt: ...on is untimely in that it was filed more than five years after the Notice of Decision was issued and delivered to petitioner, which is well over the 60‐day time period set out in Government Code §13960(a)(1). The VICTIM COMPENSATION AND GOVERNMENT CLAIMS BOARD also filed the demurrer on the ground that the petitioner has not lodged the administrative record with the court. Although this may be a ground for a judgment against petitioner for fai...

Excerpt: ...which were set out in Rappleyea v. Campbell (1994) 8 Cal.4th 975. First, ARROWPOINT has established that it has a meritorious defense in that if STANDARD is defended, the $832,750.00 judgment, which includes $750,000.00 in general damages, will most likely be reduced. Second, ARROWPOINT has established a satisfactory excuse for not defending the action in that it never had notice of the action until April, 2018. Third, ARROWPOINT has established ...

Excerpt: .... Grosvenor Airport Assocs. (2005) 2005 Cal.App.Unpub.LEXIS 2239. While this court is not bound by those unpublished decisions, it does find in the absence of any binding authority that the absence of a MC‐011 worksheet is not a proper basis for striking all costs. Nevertheless, when costs claimed in a Judicial Council Optional Form MC‐010 summary are challenged by motion, and a worksheet is then provided with the opposition, the moving party...

Excerpt: ...distress or acted with reckless disregard in causing plaintiff emotional distress. Finally, the complaint does not allege facts indicating that plaintiff experienced severe emotional distress as a result of the cutting of the tree. (See CACI 1600, 1602, 1603, and 1604). Plaintiff offers no new facts that could be alleged that would cure the defects in the complaint with respect to this cause of action. Therefore, the demurrer is sustained without...

Excerpt: ...t was brought. The complaint is uncertain, and fails to state facts sufficient to constitute any of the causes of action alleged. The court also grants the motion to strike on all of the grounds upon which it was brought. The references in the complaint to causes of action that are not alleged are improper, and the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a claim for punitive damages. Had plaintiff not already filed an amended comp...

Excerpt: ...ting.” (Duran v. U.S. Bank (2014) 59 Cal.4th 1, 29; Payton v. CSI Elec. Contractors, Inc. (2018) 27 Cal.App.5th 832, 842; Cruz v. Sun World Int'l, LLC (2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 367, 384; Dailey v. Sears, Roebuck & Co. (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 974, 989.) Even when there is a uniform policy, certification may be denied if the evidence shows that the manner in which the policy was implemented as to each individual employee varied depending on multiple ...

Excerpt: ...tion with other causes of action is generally prohibited. (Mobil Oil Corp. v. Superior Court (1978) 79 Cal.App.3d 486, 493; Childs v. Eltinge (1973) 29 Cal.App.3d 843, 853.) Plaintiff has not demonstrated that an exception should be made in her case. (See, Knowles v. Robinson (1963) 60 Cal.2d 620, 625‐626 [exceptions to the rule are primarily grounded on some circumstance removing the need of timely possession of the premises, such as voluntary...

Excerpt: ...ng stricken if an objection to it is raised. Page 2 of 6 C.C.P. §437c(d) states: Supporting and opposing affidavits or declarations shall be made by a person on personal knowledge, shall set forth admissible evidence, and shall show affirmatively that the affiant is competent to testify to the matters stated in the affidavits or declarations. An objection based on the failure to comply with the requirements of this subdivision, if not made at th...

Excerpt: ...ed Defendant's agent, Anna Chavez, that Defendant's policy of limiting staff contact was causing Decedent “physical and mental suffering”, but Defendant nonetheless took no action to avoid the harm. (FAC, ¶ 21.) This allegation establishes not just the absence of care, but an affirmative disregard of the known risk of harm caused by conduct. (Doe v. U.S. Youth Soccer Ass'n, Inc. (2017) 8 Cal.App.5th 1118, 1140.) It also sufficiently describe...

Excerpt: ...1) 192 Cal.App.4th 1149, 1155; see, Yvanova v. New Century Mortgage Corp. (2016) 62 Cal.4th 919, 924 [“We do not hold or suggest that a borrower may attempt to preempt a threatened nonjudicial foreclosure by a suit questioning the foreclosing party's right to proceed”].) Plaintiff's second cause of action to quiet title and fourth cause of action for violation of the Unfair Competition Law against Defendant Wells Fargo are barred by the a...

Excerpt: ...ntment of a referee is also denied. The court does not find a basis for the appointment of a referee under CCP Section 639. The court notes, however, that the conduct of both plaintiff's counsel and defense counsel has been somewhat unreasonable and unprofessional in this matter. As to plaintiff's counsel, she did assert a number of meritless objections. Irrelevancy is not a proper objection in discovery. Defense counsel is entitled to seek all c...

Excerpt: ... motion itself or a memorandum of points and authorities. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1112(a).) The failure to include a memorandum is deemed by this Court as an admission that the motion is not meritorious and cause for its denial. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113(a).) The motion does not state what allegations are sought to be deleted or added. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1324, subds. (a)(2)‐ (a)(3).) The motion is not accompanied by a sep...

Excerpt: ... engaged in assigned work at the time of his injury. (Complaint, p. “6”, ¶ GN‐1; Exh. C, p. “23”.) Inmates are entitled to workers' compensation benefits for injuries arising out of and in the course of assigned work and those benefits constitute the exclusive remedy for injuries sustained. (Lab. Code § 3370(a).) “Where the complaint affirmatively alleges facts indicating coverage by the workers' compensation laws, if it fails t...

Excerpt: ...crimination, the complaint does not allege sufficient facts indicating that plaintiff suffered from a disability or disorder, as that term is defined in Government Code §12926(j), or that she was discriminated against as a result of this disability. As to the first cause of action for retaliation in violation of the FEHA, the demurrer is sustained for failure to plead sufficient facts. The complaint does not allege facts indicating what conduct ...

Excerpt: ...ep't of Transp. (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 104.) It is undisputed that Defendant Fancher was recruited and hired to provide nursing services at a hospital in Martinez. Page 2 of 2 (Plaintiffs' Response to UMF, 1.) It is undisputed that Defendant Fancher's shift at the hospital had ended two hours prior to the accident, that Defendant Fancher went out to have dinner by herself after her shift, and that the accident occurred while Defendant Fancher was...

Excerpt: ... of examinations and release of medical records as this matter proceeds to trial. Defendants' motion for severance was previously denied on January 22, 2019. Defendants have failed to show any new or different facts, circumstances, or law warranting reconsideration. (Code Civ. Proc. § 1008(a); Baldwin v. Home Sav. Of Am. (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1192, 1199; Garcia v. Hejmadi (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 674, 689‐690.) ...

Excerpt: ...ss the provisions are so clearly in favor of the employer they should not be enforced. AT&T Mobility LLC v. Concepcion [“Concepcion”) (2011) 562 U.S. 333; Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC (2014) 59 Cal.4th 348; Armendariz v. Foundation Health Psychcare Services, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 83. Armendariz identified 5 requirements for a valid arbitration of employment dispute agreement. Such an agreement "(1) provides for neutral...

Excerpt: ... objection nor does the objection substantively have merit. (Brooks v. American Broadcasting Co. (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 500, 509; Laabs v. City of Victorville (2008) 163 Cal.App.4th 1242, 1276). The “substantial importance” argument is only relevant to a later claim for recovery of fees and costs associated with proving true a RFA after its denial. The court finds that the most requests are not vague and ambiguous with the exception of RFAs 15...

Excerpt: ..., ¶ 19; see, Decl. of Mikhov, ¶¶ 17, 25 [admitting that the case settled for the sum of $41,000, the same amount offered on May 23, 2017].) Section 998 applies to Song‐Beverly Act claims. (Duale v. Mercedes‐Benz USA, LLC (2007) 148 Page 2 of 2 Cal.App.4th 718, 728.) Consequently, Plaintiff is limited to recovery of only preoffer fees and costs. In addition, even without considering the validity of Defendant's 998 offer, Plaintiff has faile...

Excerpt: ....4th 771, 790 [citing “the general rule that statutory causes of action must be pleaded with particularity”]; Lopez v. Southern Cal. Rapid Transit Dist. (1985) 40 Cal.3d 780, 795 [the same]. Plaintiff's HBOR‐based and unfair business practices causes of action are premised upon her status as a successor in interest, residing on the subject property for more than 6 months prior to the death of her mother (her last surviving parent), entitled...

Excerpt: ...ent of the CEQA process”]; 15202(a) [“CEQA does not require formal hearings at any stage of the environmental review process. Public comments may be restricted to written communications”]; El Morro Community Assn. v California Dept. of Parks & Recreation (2004) 122 Cal.App.4th 1341, 1348, n.4 [“Although public hearings are encouraged, CEQA does not require them on environmental documents or in connection with project approval”]. An agen...

Excerpt: ...benefits, records related to workers compensation claims and medical records. Given the nature of the scope of damages, it is appropriate for Defendants to seek records directly from Plaintiff's employer related to his physical capacity to perform his job. Defendants have adequately established good cause for in camera review of Plaintiff's personnel records to the extent that they might contain information relevant to his claim of personal injur...

Excerpt: ...8.5. Motion for Attorney's Fees Plaintiff's motion for attorney's fees, costs and expenses is granted in part. Plaintiff's billed hours generally appear reasonable and do not appear to be contested on a task‐based basis by Defendant. The court reduces the hours billed which includes 2 hours for the motion for sanctions. The hourly rates for Mr. Mikhov exceed typical rates for Solano County and are reduced to $500 per hour, which is consistent w...

Excerpt: ...ff, other than the attachment of the deed of trust, notice of default, notice of trustee's sale and trustee's deed. (FAC, Exhs. A‐D.) A complaint must allege “ultimate facts,” not merely conclusions. With respect to the first cause of action, the First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) fails to allege sufficient facts to state a violation of Civil Code §2923.5. Plaintiff's declaration recorded with the Notice of Default establishes compliance ...

Excerpt: ...by filing a UCC financing statement claiming a security interest in Plaintiff GMP Process Piping. But, as already explained in Page 2 of 3 this Court's ruling on Defendants' demurrer to Plaintiffs' prior cause of action for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing based on the same two claims, the parties' agreement contained no provision regarding the need for or referral regarding any accountants and specifically granted De...

Excerpt: ...ed to stop at the accident scene and provide his contact information. This allegation, without more, is not sufficient to indicate malice or conscious disregard on the part of defendant. As the courts indicated in Taylor v. Superior Court (1979) 24 Cal.3d 890 and Dawes v. Superior Court (1980) 111 Cal.App.3d 82, although alleged intoxicated driving may give rise to a punitive damages claim, such an allegation, without any alleged facts regarding ...

Excerpt: ... the implied warranty of merchantability. The core test of merchantability is fitness for the ordinary purpose for which such goods are used, and the warranty may be breached if a vehicle is not in a safe condition. (Brand v. Hyundai Motor Am. (2014) 226 Cal.App.4th 1538, 1546‐1547; Isip v. Mercedes‐Benz USA, LLC (2007) 155 Cal.App.4th 19, 26‐27.) Plaintiff has adequately alleged facts from which it can be concluded that the vehicle was not...

Excerpt: ...s appreciated value. Unlike an agreement for an interest in property, such an agreement is not required to be in writing. (Dutton v. Interstate Investment Corporation (1941) 19 Cal.2d 65). The first amended complaint also states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action for imposition of a constructive trust and a cause of action for imposition of a resulting trust in that it alleges facts indicating an underlying wrong upon which a constr...

Excerpt: ... to this court that a default judgment had previously been submitted to the court. At the subsequent dismissal hearing, no appearance was made by Plaintiff and the matter was thereafter dismissed without prejudice due to failure to prosecute. Unfortunately, while the court appreciates that counsel has a large collections practice, counsel and his law firm are inappropriately shifting the burden of managing their legal practice to this court. This...

Excerpt: ...he award of reasonably incurred costs and expenses even if they might be barred under Code of Civil Procedure section 1033.5. (Jensen v. BMW of N. Am., Inc. (1995) 35 Cal.App.4th 112, 138.) As already determined by this Court in ruling upon Plaintiff's motion for attorneys' fees, it was not reasonable for Plaintiff to continue to prosecute the action after Page 2 of 2 Defendant offered to settle the action for $34,000 on or about January 3, 2017....

Excerpt: ... have common worksites, similar occupations, similar times of exposure, or similar types of diseases. In addition, although three of the plaintiffs are living, one is deceased and another is seeking preference in trial setting due to his health. Finally, the status of the discovery in each case appears to be different. Therefore, the court finds that there is insufficient commonality for the four cases to be consolidated. ...

Excerpt: ... motion itself or a memorandum of points and authorities. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1112(a).) The failure to include a memorandum is deemed by this Court as an admission that the motion is not meritorious and cause for its denial. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1113(a).) The motion does not state what allegations are sought to be deleted or added. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1324, subds. (a)(2)‐ (a)(3).) The motion is not accompanied by a sep...

Excerpt: ... explore options to avoid foreclosure (FAC, ¶¶ 18, 28, 38), no actual contact is required by the statute and Plaintiff fails to allege specific facts demonstrating that Defendant failed to exercise due diligence in its attempts to contact Plaintiff. (Civ. Code § 2923.5(e); Rossberg v. Bank of Am. (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1481, 1494.) Although Plaintiff does state that Defendant did not attempt to contact him, he provides no factual support for h...

Excerpt: ...INTAGE CONTRACTORS or of the facts rendering VINTAGE CONTRACTORS liable. Therefore, it is not clear from the complaint that the “relation back” doctrine would not apply or that the action would be barred by the two‐year statute of limitations of CCP Section 335.1, as Defendant contends. Allegations that Defendant PAZ had a load in his truck at the time of the collision are not sufficient in this regard. Nor are the standard boilerplate alle...

Excerpt: ... and recording of the three lis pendens. Defendant is an incorporated business engaged in the purchase and sale of real property. (Complaint, ¶ 3.) Plaintiff is an officer and director for the corporation. (Complaint, ¶ 1.) Plaintiff's lawsuit was filed December 4, 2018, and the lis pendens were filed and recorded December 5, 2018. At the time the complaint was filed, Defendant was in escrow for the sale of one of the properties which was the s...

Excerpt: ... of the PMK at PAKSN, INC., and the notice of the deposition of the PMK at SAGAR, INC., which are almost identical, are somewhat overbroad, and not all of the topics and requests are reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. According to the report of CMS dated March 24, 2017, CMS found several deficiencies at the La Mariposa Care and Rehabilitation Center at that time. (Declaration of Hooshie Broomand, Exhibit C). Ho...

Excerpt: ... 274.) Because Defendant has not met its burden, Plaintiff need not produce any evidence nor disprove anything. (Guz v. Bechtel Nat'l, Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 317, 356; Y.K.A. Indus., Inc. v. Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Jose (2009) 174 Cal.App.4th 339, 353; United Cmty. Church v. Garcin (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 327, 338.) Defendant seeks summary judgment on essentially three grounds: 1) there is a complete defense to Plaintiff's complaint...

Excerpt: ...oner here filed a request for hearing on September 12, within 90 days after filing the petition on June 18. Real party in interest SOLANO COUNTY WATER AGENCY (“SCWA”) did not contest the timeliness of the filing of this request, but argued that it was a hollow request if the administrative record was not ready, or soon to be ready. Public Resources Code §21167.6(a) requires the petitioner to request the respondent public agency prepare the r...

Excerpt: ...HE. The second amended complaint alleges sufficient facts to indicate that FORSYTHE was on duty as a security officer in the area in front of the Six Flags park at the time of the incident, and his alleged conduct was incident to his duties or could have been reasonably foreseen by defendants. (Martinez v. Hagopian (1986) 182 Cal.3d 1223, 1228). The demurrer to the third cause of action for conversion is sustained to the extent it is based on the...

Excerpt: ...he “lower” portion of St. John's Mine Road from Columbus Parkway which runs adjacent to parcels APN 182‐020‐070, 182‐020‐ 060 and 182‐020‐130 to the line of parcel 182‐010‐060 (i.e. from the first cattle guard to the second cattle guard) is a public roadway. (UMF No. 5.) The parties agree that the “lower” portion of St. John's Mine Road was made a public roadway by virtue of a 1938 express offer to dedicate a public roadwa...

Excerpt: ...le issue of material fact as to whether the medical treatment and advice provided to plaintiff ESTELLA PETERMAN by Defendant MOJADDIDI was below the standard of care for a health care provider and whether any such breach of the standard of care by MOJADDIDI was a substantial factor in causing ESTELLA PETERMAN injury. With regard to breach of the standard of care, Defendant submitted the declaration of his expert, Dr. Martin Bronk, in which Bronk ...

Excerpt: ...b Group v. Wertin (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1022, 1028 [a borrower is legally obligated to repay her loans].) Judgment shall be entered for Plaintiff and against Defendant for the principal balance of $3,109.65 and costs of $374.50 for a total of $3,484.15. ...

Excerpt: ...21.) A duty to take affirmative action to control the wrongful acts of third parties is imposed only if there is a “high degree of foreseeability” requiring “prior similar incidents of violent crime on the landowner's premises.” (Ann m. v. Pac. Plaza Shopping Ctr. (1993) 6 Cal.4th 666, 676, 679; Delgado v. Trax Bar & Grill (2005) 36 Cal.4th 224, 240.) In determining whether the “extraordinarily high degree of foreseeability” has been ...

Excerpt: ...tion to the McDonnell‐Douglas burdenshifting test. Guz v. Bechtel Nat. Inc. (2000) 24 Cal.4th 317, 354 [discrimination and retaliation claims subject to McDonnell‐Douglas]; Greer v. Lockheed Martin Corp. (N.D.Cal. 2012) 855 F.Supp.2d 979, 988‐989 and Sillah v. Command Int'l Sec. Servs. (N.D.Cal. 2015) 154 F.Supp.3d 891, 916 [“Claims for wrongful termination in violation of public policy and for violation of California Labor Code § 11...

Excerpt: ...prevent her from participating in trial if it is set beyond the next 120 days. Under CCP Section 36.5, a declaration regarding plaintiff's medical condition may be signed by an attorney. However, the records attached to the declaration of attorney Thomas Mitchell do not clearly support the statements he made in his declaration. The emergency room report attached to the declaration does not indicate that plaintiff suffered a traumatic brain injury...

Excerpt: ...of privilege are inapplicable, the interrogatories are not duplicative of previous interrogatories and plaintiff's answers were unresponsive. Plaintiff has placed the existence of her disability in dispute by filing this suit and Defendant is entitled to engage in directed discovery related to her claim. Further, Defendant is entitled to discovery as to whether Plaintiff has mitigated her damages or whether she has been prevented from doing so du...

Excerpt: ...LFIN and MHHHS); and 3. Fraud (against SANTOS, TS GLOBAL, and MHHHS). Defendant DELFIN's demurrer to the first cause of action for breach of contract is sustained with leave to amend. Defendant DELFIN and MHHHS's demurrer to the second cause of action for common counts is denied. Defendant MHHHS's demurrer to the third cause of action for fraud is granted without leave to amend. Page 3 of 4 Breach of Contract The function of a demurrer is to eval...

Excerpt: ...inds that the settlement agreement is enforceable under CCP Section 664.6 because: (1) the terms of the agreement indicate that it is enforceable; (2) the agreement contains all of the material terms to which the parties agreed; and (3) the agreement does not require performance by a third party (such as KTS Professional Services, Inc.), as defendants contend. The court finds, however, that the amount of the stipulated judgment, $240,000.00, bear...

Excerpt: ...) and recorded on August 25, 2014 as void because Defendant Chase had assigned its interest in the note and deed of trust to Defendant Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) in 1999. But, there is nothing facially void about the substitution. Plaintiffs admit that Defendant Chase was the original lender, beneficiary, and holder of the note. (SAC, ¶ 2.) Plaintiffs further admit that the substitution of trustee was recorded on Au...

Excerpt: ... service by mail on Defendants' counsel on that same date. Plaintiff's motion, also bearing the name and address of this new counsel of record, was served by mail on Defendants' counsel, again on January 22. Defendants' opposition, filed one month later, attached a proof of service by mail, listing only Plaintiff, and not her new counsel, as being served. The court therefore could not consider the arguments raised in those improperly served oppos...

Excerpt: ...he demurrer to the first cause of action for breach of contract and the second cause of action for fraud, which plaintiff states in his opposition are not directed to defendant SLACK, is sustained WITHOUT leave to amend. The demurrer to the fourth cause of action for unjust enrichment is also sustained WITHOUT leave to amend. The first amended complaint does not allege any facts to suggest that defendant SLACK may be liable for unjust enrichment....