Excerpt: ... s e n o . SCV - 273876 (“Rangal 1”) and Rangal v. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa , case no. 23CV00786 (“Rangal 2”). Th e m o t io n is D EN IED . 1. Rule of Concurrent Exclusive Jurisdiction The rule of concurrent exclusive jurisdiction provides that when two superior courts have concurrent jurisdiction over the subject matter and all parties in v o lv e d in lit ig a t io n , t h e f ir s t t o a s s u m e ju r is d ic ...

Excerpt: ...e Under Seal Plaintiffs Sharon Felker, Herman Grishaver, Edgar Cruz Soriano, and Jeanace Zetino (“Plaintiffs”) move to seal certain records in this action. The motion is made pursuant to Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 2.551 on the grounds that the records subject to the req uest contain trade secrets. Plaintiffs seek to file 35 exhibits under seal consisting of Exhibits 20 through 35. The exhibits are attached to P la in t if f s ' m o t io n f o ...

Excerpt: ... r d e ll”) (a ll t o g e t h e r “La n d lo r d ”). Th e de murrer is OVERRULED. In their FAC, Plaintiffs allege that Destein is part owner of real property located at 6500 Jamison Road in Santa Rosa consisting of 32.75 acres of property (“the Property”). Burdell owns a 6.5% tenant in common interest in the Property. P la in t iffs allege that on September 28, 1993, Tenant entered into a lease agreement for approximately 100 acres of l...

Excerpt: ...in t if f 's s ixt h c a u s e o f a c t io n alleges Fraudulent Inducement – Intentional Concealment; that HMA was under a dut y t o disclose to Plaintiff the defective nature of the Subject Vehicle and its Nu engine. To succeed on a fraudulent concealment cause of action, Plaintiff must establish that: (1) HMA concealed a material fact; (2) HMA was under a duty to disclose the fact to Plaintiff; (3) HMA intentionally concealed or suppressed t...

Excerpt: ...ss - Complainants' Amended Requests for Admissions, Amended Form Interrogatories, Amended Special Interrogatories, and Amended Reque st for Production. The motion is GRANTED as to Cross -Complainants' Amended Requests for Admissions, Amended Form Interrogatories, Amended Special Interrogatories directed at Aimaq and SPH; and Amended Requests for Production, Numbers 1 through 34 directed at SPH. The motion is DENIED as to Cro s s -Complainants' Am...

Excerpt: ... monetary sanctions is DENIED . Plaintiff filed its complaint on February 2, 2023, alleging causes of action for breach of contract, open book account, accounted stated, and reasonable value. Plaintiff alleges it is the assignee of amounts due under a workers compensation ins urance fund. Plaintiff alleges that Defendant owes $70,549.68, plus interest, on the policy . On May 19, 2023, Defendant filed a general denial . After failing to provide re...

Excerpt: ...l Haddad, Individually and dba Cee Vees Liquor (“Defendant”) on July 3, 2023. Mr. McPherson's original motion for fees was filed on December 4, 2023, and heard on January 24, 2024. That motion was denied. The court's ruling stated: “C o u r t-appointed receiver Landon McPherson moves for an order approving his fees and costs. Mr. McPherson spent 15.5 hours on this case. His rate is $300 per hour. He incurred costs in the amount of $375. The...

Excerpt: ...misconduct with students attending Sonoma Academy (“SA”), SA retained the New York law firm, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (“Debevoise”) t o in v e s t ig a t e a lle g a t io n s o f s e xu a l m is c o n d u c t b y a d u lt s e m p lo y e d at SA. On November 28, 2021, Debevoise released its final report revealing decades of inappropriate sexual misconduct toward students by SA employees, including Defendant Morrone, as well as the sexual a...

Excerpt: ... court against Defendant Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa (“Defendant”), titled Kimberlee Keller v. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa , Sonoma County Case No. 23CV00371. Intervenor argues that Defendant has opted to mediate only with the plaintiff in this case, plaintiff Lourdes Rangal (“Plaintiff Rangal”). Intervenor argues that she must be permitted to intervene as any settlement reach ed between Plaintiff R...

Excerpt: ...Lazaro Ortiz (“Plaintiffs”). Defendants request monetary sanctions in the amount of $5,185. The motion is DENIED as to special interrogatories numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 21, 24, and 26; and is GRANTED as to 1, 4, 7, 10, 15, 16, 19, 20, 22, and 23. Sanctions are denied. This is a wage and hour action. Plaintiffs allege they worked for Defendant as truck drivers delivering construction materials. Plaintiffs allege that De...

Excerpt: ...n 6 6 4 .6 (a ) p r o v id e s : “If p a r t ie s t o p e n d in g lit ig a t io n s t ip u la t e , in a writing signed by the parties outside of the presence of the court or orally before the court, for settlement of the case, or part thereof, the court, 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 perfor...

Excerpt: ... they own property located at 121 Olive Street in Petaluma (“121 Olive”) which they purchased on September 18, 2003 from Creed W. Wood and Andree L. Wood (“Trustees”), Trustees under the Creed W. Wood and Andree L . Wood 1991 Trust. A condition of the purchase was that Plaintiffs were granted an access easement over the Trustees' property. Plaintiffs allege that over three months prior to closing escrow for the sale of 121 Olive, Trustees...

Excerpt: ...ffs”). The demurre r is SUSTAINED without leave to amend. Plaintiffs' FAC alleges that on August 20, 2020, defendant Vanessa Ann Bardella (“Vanessa”) left her home and crossed the street to where Decedent was residing in her recreational vehicle. Vanessa shot Decedent in the face which caused severe i njuries resulting in her death. Plaintiffs allege that Barbara, Vanessa's mother, and Vanessa's brother, Matthew Bardella, knew that Vanessa ...

Excerpt: ...c o n sidered for, coordination.” Section 404.5 contemplates a stay of proceedings when the coordination of two actions is being considered. No such action is being considered for c o o r d in a t io n w it h t h is c a s e . Th e r e f o r e , s e c t io n 4 0 4 .5 is in a p p lic a b le . Re g a r d le s s , as pre vio usly d etermined by this court, and as acknowledged in defendant's moving papers, Dorothy Langley transferred the subject rea...

Excerpt: ...an amended cross -c o m p la in t is GRAN TED . This motion is based upon Cross -Co m p la in a n t s ' r e c e ip t o f d is c o ve r y responses that indicate that Plaintiff Dorian Guerrero was not an employee of Craft Contract ing dba Craft Ge ne ral Const ruct ion (“Craft ”). It is Cross - Complainants' position that Craft cannot therefore avail itself of the protections of Labor Code section 3864, which formed the basis of this court's r...

Excerpt: ...least March 24, 2010. As of the date of the motion, $54,733.82 has been incurred in costs, fees, and penalties. Th e m o t io n is D EN IED . The court hereby sets this matter for a default pro ve -up hearing for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., in Department 16. Counsel, the parties, and the witnesses are required to appear in person. On August 4, 2023, County filed a Complaint to Abate Public Nuisance; to Enforce Septic and Zoning Code Vi...

Excerpt: ...second amended complaint. West of Temperance is a winery. John King (“King”) and Brian Ojalvo (“Ojalvo”) are managers and/ or members of Plaintiff. King mainly manages the finances and Ojalvo mainly operates the winemaking process. Plaintiffs allege that they purchased wine corks from Defendant which contained “cork taint,” a fungus which can be present in natural cork that ruins the wine. The FAC alleges causes of action for breach o...

Excerpt: ...'s fees for this motion. As e xp la in e d b e lo w , because Plaintiff is entitled to attorney's fees for this motion pursuant to the Stipulation, and because Plaintiff clearly requested them in the moving papers, the court wi ll award such fees to Plaintiff absent an objection or explanation persuading the court why it should not do so. However, because Plaintiff has failed to provide any evidence whatsoever for the much larger amount claimed, ...

Excerpt: ...nst DOE defendants. The complaint alleges causes of action for general negligence and strict liability pursuant to Civil Code section 3342(a). The complaint alleges that on September 11, 2019, Garretson was employed at PetSmart, Inc. as a pet groomer. Garretson alleges that she was bitten by a dog owned by DOE defendants. On August 24, 2021, Garretson substituted Murillo as DOE 1. Murillo owns a Husky named Ta h o e . 1. Assumption of the Risk Se...

Excerpt: ...quently repossessed by defendant. The complaint alleges that defendant w r o n g f u lly r e p o s sessed the vehicle and failed to comply with vehicle repossession la w s . The complaint further alleges that defendant has unlawfully refused to release the vehicle back to plaintiff. The complaint requests a preliminary injunction ordering defendant to: (1) not engage in any further attempts to repossess the vehicle; (2) release the vehicle to pla...

Excerpt: ...tember 30, 2022. She alleges that David caused the accident b y in t e n t io n a lly and knowingly operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and crossing over a double yellow line into oncoming traffic and into the path of Plaintiff's vehicle. She further alleges that David was at the time acting within the scope of hi s employment with, and as agent of, Defendants D a v e S o ila n d C o m p a n y (“D S C ”) a n d N o r c...

Excerpt: ...“Defendant”) request for judicial notice is GRAN TED , per Evidence Code section 452(d). FACTS & P RO CED URE Plaintiff claims discrimination, retaliation, and violations by Defendant under the Fa ir Em p lo y m e n t a n d H o u s in g Ac t (“FEH A”) in t h e c o m p la in t . D u r in g P la in t if f 's deposition, Plaintiff's counsel noticed the word “age” was inadvertently left out of the complaint regarding the cause of action f...

Excerpt: ...cted with malice, fraud, or oppression. I. P la in t if f 's r e q u e s t s f o r ju d ic ia l n o t ic e Plaintiff's request for judicial notice of the IRS “Ministers' Compensation & Housing Allowance” web page is granted pursuant to Evid. Code § 452(c). Plaintiff's request for judicial notice of the transcript of John Bucher's interview on January 9, 2020 (mistakenly designated “January 9, 2022”) is denied. P la in t if f 's statement...

Excerpt: ...3. Judgment was entered that day. Plaintiff argues that he agreed to the stipulated judgment without having be en given correct information from the Defendant. Defendant's owner, Jorge Fernandez (“Fernandez”), disclosed that he had a $500,000 insurance policy with Mercury and stated that he did not know of any other in s u r a n c e p o lic y t h a t m ig h t p o t e n t ia lly c o v e r t h e incident in this case. However, Defendant actuall...

Excerpt: ...idually and as Trustee of the 1998 Trust. The amendment would also add and delete various parag r a p h s , in c lu d in g a lle g a t io n s that Collision Center is an alter ego and successor in interest to defendant Auto Bo d y. The motion is GRANTED as to Fischers Collision Center, LLC and the new causes of action against it, and is DENIED as to Gertrude Reynaud and Simone Reynaud. Plaintiff seeks to include the landlord in this action due to...

Excerpt: ...t, and another and different judgment entered, for e it h e r o f t h e f o llo w in g c a u s e s , m a t e r ia lly a f f e c t in g t h e s u b s t a n t ia l r ig h t s o f t h e party and entitling the party to a different judgment: “1. Incorrect or erroneous legal basis for the decision, not consistent with or not supported by the facts; and in such case when the judgment is set aside, the statement of decision shall be amended and correc...

Excerpt: ...15 days of this order and to pay sanctions in the amount of $3,500 within 30 days of this order. 1. Form Interrogatory 17.1 and Requests for Admissions Plaintiff seeks to compel further responses to FROG No. 17.1 as to RFA Nos. 2 -5 , 9, 11 -12, 14, 17- 18, 26, 29-35, 46, 51, 53- 54, 62-65, 72, 74 -75, 77, 79 -81, 89 - 90, 94- 100, and 102 -104, and to Special Interrogatory Nos. 3, 6 -7, and 65. Th is m o t io n is b a s e d la r g e ly o n P la ...

Excerpt: ...ges in the Petition that he owns a timber harvest site in Sonoma County that burned in the Walbridge Fire. (Memorandum of Points and Au t h o r it ie s [“M P A”], 3 :2-5.) Bareilles filed a notice of Emergency Timber O p e r a t io n s w it h t h e Ca lif o r n ia D e p a rtment of Forestry and Fire Protection (“CAL FIRE”) and got approved to harvest timber in accordance with the “Categorical Waiver” and water control plan of the regi...

Excerpt: ...rs and its customers' backpacks made it so that Razzak N a ji could not avoid the curb cut -out, which caused him to fall when he attempted to enter his legally parked vehicle in the parking lot of defendants' premises. The complaint alleges one cause of action for negligence and one cause o f a c t io n f o r p r e m is e s lia b ilit y . Plaintiff Razzak Naji passed away since the inception of this lawsuit. His widow, Maria Naji, is now the Pla...

Excerpt: ...already h a v e t it le and their common title is divided among them. Partition does not create or convey new or additional interests. However, it does result in the common interest becoming separate individual rights of exclusive possession of some portion of the property or sal es proceeds. Partition is a matter of absolute right and in the absence of waiver or estoppel or other equitable defenses, each co -tenant in ownership has the right to ...

Excerpt: ...terrogatory Number 87 is DENIED. The City's motion as to Special Interrogatory Numbers 88 and 89 are GRANTED. Sanctions are denied. The City's motion to compel further responses to its Request for Production of Documents, Set Two, Request Numbers 44 through 46, and 48 through 50 is DENIED. Sanctions are granted against the City in the amount of $1,000. 1. Sp e c ia l In t e r r o g a t o r ie s On May 9, 2023, Defendant served its Form Interrogat...

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

Excerpt: ...of action. Th e m o t io n is GRAN TED . 1. Co m p la in t P la in t if f 's c o m p la in t a lle g e s it is t h e o w n e r o f r e a l p r o p e r t y lo c a t e d a t 2 3 2 5 0 Maffei Road in Sonoma (“the Property”). On February 1, 2021, Plaintiff entered into a Commercial Property Purchase Agreement with Edward Benedetti to purchase the Property alon g with turkey rendering equipment (“the Equipment”) from Benedetti Farms, Inc. Escr...

Excerpt: ...'s Medi -Ca l P r o v id e r Ag r e e m e n t (M P A), in c lu d in g amounts owed in accordance with applicable federal and California statutes and regulations, and rules and policies of DHCS governing the California Public Hospital Redesign and Incentives in Medi -Ca l (P RIM E) P r o g r a m . Th e m o t io n is GRAN TED . In this action, DHCS challenges Defendants' receipt of federal PRIME Program funds for Demonstration Mid -Year 14 (January...

Excerpt: ...Plaintiff Jim Shelton (“Plaintiff”) on October 14, 2021, alleging unlawful detainer of property located at 935 C McConnell Avenue in Santa Rosa. On March 22, 2022, Long filed a demurrer to the complaint. The hearing on the demurrer was continued from April 5, 2022, to April 12, 2022, to a llo w P la in t if f 's t h e n -counsel to obtain a copy of the demurrer. However, on April 7 , 2 0 2 2 , P la in t if f f ile d a f ir s t a m e n d e d c...

Excerpt: ...een subjected to. Plaintiff objected to these requests based upon CCP section 2017.220. CCP section 2017.220(a) provides: “In any civil action alleging conduct that constitutes sexual harassment, sexual assault, or sexual battery, any party seeking discovery concerning the plaintiff's sexual conduct with individuals other than the alleged perpetrator shall establish specific facts showing that there is good cause for t hat dis covery, and t...

Excerpt: ...n. Th e m o t io n is D EN IED . 1. Co m p la in t Plaintiff's complaint alleges it is the owner of real property located at 23250 Maffei Road in Sonoma (“the Property”). On February 1, 2021, Plaintiff entered into a Commercial Property Purchase Agreement with Edward Benedetti to purchase the Prope rty alon g with turkey rendering equipment (“the Equipment”) from Benedetti Farms, Inc. Escrow closed on March 31, 2021. On May 7, 2021, Arthu...

Excerpt: ...class representative; appointing Matern Law Group, PC as Class Counsel; appointing Phoenix Class Ac t io n Ad m in is t r a t io n So lu t io n s a s t h e settlement administrator; directing Defendants to furnish certain information about proposed class members; and scheduling the final approval hearing. Th e hearing is CONTINUED to May 8, 2024, at 3:00 p.m., in Department 16, to allow Plaintiff to address the issues raised below. “A trial cou...

Excerpt: ..., LLC (“CES LLC”) and the Oregon Corp. The cross- complaint alleges that CES LLC and Shimadzu entered into agreements wherein Shimadzu agreed to sell CES LLC certain scientific equipment. Shimadzu alleges that CES LLC has failed to pay all invoices. In addition, Shimadzu alleges that CES LLC transferred its personal property to the Oregon Corp., including the scientific equipment that is the subject of this case without receiving the reasonab...

Excerpt: ...lowing Smashmallow to conduct limited discovery to determine whether VADO has the minimum contacts with California necessary for this court to have jurisdiction over it. VADO opposes the motion arguing that Smashmallow's discovery is not limited to the issue of jurisdiction. Smashmallow served a Notice of Deposition of Defendant VADO Beheer B.V. by and through Person or Persons Most Knowledgeable Pursuant to CCP § 2025.230. (“Depo Notice”) (...

Excerpt: ... any time determines that there has been a change of law that warrants it to reconsider a prior order it entered, it may do so on its own motion and enter a different order.” Plaintiff argues that Defendant's motion to compel arbitration was granted based upon the ruling in Felisilda v. FCA US LLC (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 486 compelling arbitration based upon principles of equitable estoppel. Plaintiff argues that the Third District Court of Appea...

Excerpt: ... Nathaniel Engquist is OVERRULED. The motion to strike is MOOT. 1. Note regarding combined motions The County has filed three motions as one. The County should note that it is the practice in this court for demurrers and motions to strike to be filed as separate motions. 2. Complaint This action involves property owned by the Howard Jay Engquist 2010 Revocable Trust. On March 24, 2010, Howard recorded a deed granting real property located at 250 ...

Excerpt: ...mnity. The 1XC incorporates the allegations of the complaint which allege that defendants PG&E, Mountain, and Moreno Consulting Group, Inc. (“Moreno”) in 2020 owned, possessed, supervised, operated, maintained, leased, occupied, and/or otherwise controlled a worksite in Santa Rosa near 6101 Cleland Road in Santa Rosa. (Complaint ¶10.) On October 12, 2020, while Plaintiff was at the property, Defendants' alleged negligence caused a tree to fa...

Excerpt: ...Dave Leuschner and James Leuschner. As for the subpoena served on the LLP, this court directs the LLP to submit responsive documents to Department 16's chambers within 15 days of this order for in camera review. On November 15, 2023, Defendants issued deposition subpoenas for business records to Dave Leuschner; James Leuschner; and Plaintiffs' attorneys, the law firm Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller, & Moskowitz, LLP. (O'Rourke decl., 94, Exhibit...

Excerpt: ....050, Defendant requests monetary sanctions in the amount of $2,700 and the amount of attorney fees and costs incurred to bring this motion. As Plaintiff has now provided a signed authorization to release the footage, the discovery issue is MOOT. Sanctions are granted in the amount of $1,435 for Cloverdale having to bring this motion. Plaintiff's complaint alleges that she was injured due to a dangerous condition of public property located near M...

Excerpt: ... costs be stricken. The motion is GRANTED as to expert fees and attorney fees. The motion is otherwise DENIED. 1. Lee is a prevailing party pursuant to CCP section 1032 A "Prevailing party" includes the party with a net monetary recovery, a defendant in whose favor a dismissal is entered, a defendant where neither plaintiff nor defendant obtains any relief, and a defendant as against those plaintiffs who do not recover any relief against that def...

Excerpt: ...pports recovery for a stale mechanics lien claim under a nuisance cause of action. The demurrer based upon standing and the economic loss rule is OVERRULED. The demurrer to the second cause of action for nuisance is SUSTAINED. On September 18, 2023, Plaintiff filed his complaint against Defendants alleging that they failed to use a professional level of skill when they performed certain land surveying services. Plaintiff alleges that in depositio...

Excerpt: ...ay do so on its own moton and enter a different order." Plaintiff argues that Defendant's moton to compel arbitration was granted based upon the ruling in Felisilda v. FCA US LLC (2020) 53 Cal.App.5th 486 compelling arbitration based upon principles of equitable estoppel. Plaintiff argues that the Third District Court of Appeal has recently determined that Felisilda does not apply to the issue of whether a manufacturer can compel arbitration via ...

Excerpt: ...etaluma ("the Property"). Prior to the parties taking title to the Property, it had been held in the Peter Dana Smith Revocable Living Trust. Peter D. Smith passed away on or about March 17, 2020. On April 11, 2023, this Court issued an Interlocutory Judgment for Partition of Real Property and Appointment of Referee. The order appointed Ethan A. Glaubiger as the partition referee with the discretion to hire real estate agent Kristi Taylor to sell...

Excerpt: ...l LLC") and the Oregon Corp. The cross-complaint alleges that Cal LLC and Shimadzu entered into agreements wherein Shimadzu agreed to sell Cal LLC certain scientific equipment. Shimadzu alleges that Cal LLC has failed to pay all invoices. In addition, Shimadzu alleges that Cal LLC transferred personal property to the Oregon Corp. without receiving the reasonable value of the assets. Shimadzu alleges that the Oregon Corp. now carries on the former...