Excerpt: ... and 2923.7 in initiating the foreclosure proceedings. Plaintiffs also allege other causes of action derivative of these allegations, such as unfair business practices and declaratory relief. Analysis: The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to maintain the status quo and prevent irreparable harm until the matter can be heard on the merits. (See Dodge, Warren & Peters Ins. Services, Inc. v. Riley (2003) 105 Cal.App.4th 1414, 1418; Weil & Brown...

Excerpt: ...for vacating the order. There is no legal basis for doing so. To the extent Plaintiff is requesting that the Court reconsider its order sustaining the demurrer without leave to amend, Plaintiff has not established a basis for doing Pursuant to CCP S 1008, "No application to reconsider any order or for the renewal of a previous moton may be considered by any judge or court unless made according to this section." (CCP S 1008(e).) A motion for recon...

Excerpt: ... inspired grocery stores and bakeries. Plaintiff, a native Spanish speaker, worked for Defendant from approximately August 2019 to May 2022, first as a cashier and then as a manager. Plaintiff alleges that, starting in January 2021, store manager Martin Perez started harassing her. Plaintiff alleges that, after Perez made comments to her, she complained to management multiple times. Plaintiff also alleges a pattern of retaliation after she first ...

Excerpt: ...fendants. She was hired in January 2021 and worked for Defendants for 11 weeks prior to her termination. (undisputed Material Fact "UMF," 2, 17.) upon being hired, Plaintiff signed an Offer Letter which contained an at-will employment provision. (Defendants undisputed Material Facts "DUMF," 1.) During this II-week period, Plaintiff was diagnosed with thyroid cancer which required her to undergo a medical procedure which would cause her to miss a ...

Excerpt: ...onoma's Mohon for Summary Judgment is GRANTED. Defendant's request for judicial notice is DENIED as to request numbers 8 and 9 and GRANTED as to the rest. Plaintiffs' objections to Defendant's evidence are OVERRULED. Defendant's objections to Plaintiff's evidence are OVERRULED. Counsel for Defendant shall prepare a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Underlying Facts: Plaintiffs Gina Pomeroy, Re...

Excerpt: ...enced this achon to cover damages on behalf of an adult, who is using a fictitious name to protect his privacy and was a victim of childhood sexual assault per Code of Civil Procedure ("C.C.P.") section 340.1. (See generally, Complaint.) As alleged in the Complaint, DOE 3, an individual, sexually assaulted or abused by Plaintiff on multiple occasions in Sonoma County around 1970 to 1971 when Plaintiff was then seven or eight years old and was a p...

Excerpt: ...website by the name of www.meridianuniversitvabuse.org which contains defamatory and false statements regarding the university and its faculty and which is open to the public for viewing. The allegedly defamatory and false statements implicate the Plaintiffs' reputations, community standing and business. Plaintiffs assert that the statements made on the website are verifiably false and have resulted in millions of dollars of damages to the univer...

Excerpt: ...are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, stevens v. superior court (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the suffciency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fact or law, or the construction of instruments pleaded, or facts impossible in law. (Rakestraw v. California Physicians' Service (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 39, 43...

Excerpt: ... N.Y., Inc. (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 566, 590-591.) Specifically, the Code of Civil Procedure provides that "any party may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter involved in the pending action or to the determination of any moton made in that action, if the matter either is itself admissible in evidence or appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence." (CCP S 20...

Excerpt: ...website by the name of www.meridianuniversitvabuse.org which contains defamatory and false statements regarding the university and its faculty and which is open to the public for viewing. The allegedly defamatory and false statements implicate the Plaintiffs' reputations, community standing and business. Plaintiffs assert that the statements made on the website are verifiably false and have resulted in millions of dollars of damages to the univer...

Excerpt: ...ed Agreement") between Plaintiff Uponor, Inc. and Defendants Frederick and Linda Hecht to resolve certain claims in an underlying action. In the underlying action, Defendants brought claims against Plaintiff, a general contractor, and a plumbing subcontractor for property damage allegedly caused by Plaintiff's improperly manufactured tubing, which was subsequently improperly installed by the subcontractor. Defendants asserted various causes of ac...

Excerpt: ...which job she became a member of the California Public Employees' Retrement System ("CalPERS"). (Petition, Exhibit A, pg. 2, 1.) At the time, Decedent's registered domestic partner was a real party in interest, Donna Starr ("Starr"). (ld. at Exhibit A, pg. 2, '1 2.) Decedent listed Starr as a beneficiary when she retired in 2015 and started receiving a monthly retirement benefit of $4,884.63. (ibid.) Decedent separated from Starr in 2017 and marr...

Excerpt: ...principal amount lent plus applicable interest and finance charges for charges he made to the credit card for goods, services, or cash advances. (ld. at "14-5.) Adams' current balance on the credit card is $13,373.78, for which no payments have been made since November 29, 2022, but regarding which there have been no payment disputes claimed. (ld. at 5-13.) We Is Fargo brought this action against Adams alleging causes of achon for: (1) breach of ...

Excerpt: ...is SUSTAINED. (See People v. Ferguson (1982) 129 Cal.App.3d 1014, 1024; People v. McVey (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 405, 415.) Plaintiff's objection number 2 to County's supplemental memorandum is SUSTAINED the supplemental memorandum violates the 75-day rule of ccp S As to the moton for summary judgment of Plaintiff's claims, Plaintiff's counsel shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. As t...

Excerpt: ...ng the putative Class for settlement purposes; 5. Approving the Class Notice and plan for distribution of the Class Notice to Class Members; and 6. Scheduling a Final Approval Hearing. Preliminary approval is GRANTED. The Final Fairness Hearing is hereby set for November 15, 2023, at 3:00 p.m., in Department 18. BACKGROUND Redwood Oil Company, Inc. ("Defendant") employed Plaintiffs and approximately 1,231 Class Members. Plaintiffs claimed Defenda...

Excerpt: ...p.4th 995, 999; Sykora v. State Dept. of State Hospitals (2014) 25 Cal.App.4th 1530, 1534.) Defendant Jennifer Vertz' counsel shall submita written order that is consistent with this ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Analysis: As alleged in Plaintiff's First Amended Complaint, Plaintiff and Jennifer Vertz entered into a domestic relationship in 2012. In or around October 2013, Plaintiff and Jennifer Vertz jointly purchased a single- fami...

Excerpt: ...ease agreement. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants Patrick King and David Samson planned to surreptitiously transfer the lease for the property originally executed on December 19, 2017 by Jammie King, Patrick King, and Ann Hathaway (as lessors) to Defendant Seed 2 Soul by talking Plaintiff into signing a sublease under false pretenses on November 5, 2018. Plaintiffs allege: A. The sublease was a ploy to remove Plaintiff King from the original leas...

Excerpt: ...for ejectment, partition, quiet title, injunctive relief and unjust enrichment, for holding over without a lease, refusing to vacate from the premises, and withholding the real property located at 312 Broadmoor Street, Santa Rosa, California ("Subject Property), in which property White Tornado 312 LLC has a 99% undivided interest. (Complaint, 1-8.) Ramirez cross-complained against Cross-Defendants and other named individuals alleging causes of ac...

Excerpt: ...'s previous analysis. While such statement of non-oppositon alone would be sufficient basis on which to sustain the demurrer, the Court has still analyzed the sufficiency of the facts newly alleged in the Second Amended Complaint and finds that they do not adequately plead this matter outside of the Worker's Compensation Exclusivity Rule. The Court notes that Plaintiff did not file any opposition to the first orthe second demurrer. Defendant's co...

Excerpt: ...r "the City"), Plaintiff was required to bring a Government Tort Claim within six months of the accrual of her causes of action. (Gov. Code, S 911.2.) Plaintiff concedes that she did not do so, but states that her reasoning for failing to do so is that she is not a resident of California, thus was not aware of the requirement. However, ignorance of California law is not a basis for excusable neglect. Furthermore, The law neither expects nor requi...

Excerpt: ...r "the City"), Plaintiff was required to bring a Government Tort Claim within six months of the accrual of her causes of action. (Gov. Code, S 911.2.) Plaintiff concedes that she did not do so, but states that her reasoning for failing to do so is that she is not a resident of California, thus was not aware of the requirement. However, ignorance of California law is not a basis for excusable neglect. Furthermore, The law neither expects nor requi...

Excerpt: ...Court 3.1312. Procedural History This action arises from a landlord-tenant relationship established through a written residential lease entered into by Plaintiffs and Defendants. (Motion to Strike ["MTS"I, 4:3-10.) Plaintiffs brought a complaint alleging two causes of action against Defendants for breach of contract and breach of the covenants of good faith and fair dealing, and later filed the FAC adding a third cause of action for intentional i...

Excerpt: ... the Court must approve contracts with third parties before the partition referee enters them, pursuant to CCP S 873.110. This is inaccurate. The statute says that the Court may authorize or approve contracts of the referee with third parties. It is not required. Rather, the "referee may perform any acts necessary to exercise the authority conferred by this title or by order of the court." (CCP S 873.060.) The Court sees no compelling reason to r...

Excerpt: ...ation agreement. (Goldman v. Sunbridge Healthcare, LLC (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 1160, 1169.) "There are circumstances in which nonsignatories to an agreement containing an arbitration clause can be compelled to arbitrate under that agreement." (Suh v. Superior Ct. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 1504, 1513.) "As one authority has stated, there are six theories by which a nonsignatory may be bound to arbitrate: '(a) incorporation by reference; (b) assumption...

Excerpt: ...lleges that his predecessor in interest as owner of the Property, the George and Rita Lillis Family Trust (the "Lillis Trust") entered into the Agreement with Defendant Katherine who, in return for payment, agreed to manage the Property and perform certain tasks such as conducting inspections, performing maintenance, making reasonably necessary alterations and repairs. "Defendant" continued to be obligated and regularly paid under the Agreement u...

Excerpt: ...are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, Stevens v. superior court (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the suffciency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fact or law, or the construction of instruments pleaded, or facts impossible in law. (Rakestrawv. California Physicians' Service (2000) 81 Cal.App.4th 39, 43;...

Excerpt: ...sts whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of acton. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, Stevens v. superior court (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the suffciency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions, or conclus...

Excerpt: ...ed grocery stores and bakeries. Plaintiff, a native Spanish speaker, worked for Defendant from approximately August 2019 to May 2022, first as a cashier and then as a manager. Plaintiff alleges eight causes of action against all Defendants in this case: Whistleblower Retaliation; Gender Discrimination; Gender Harassment; Retaliation; Failure to Take Steps Necessary to Prevent Gender Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation; Negligent Hiring, Su...

Excerpt: ...issions is GRANTED. Plaintiff's request for sanctions is GRANTED but reduced to the amount of $1,500 total for costs and fees incurred in bringing both motions. The Court finds that $1,500 is reasonable compensation for the motions and reasonable deterrence for future discovery violations. Procedural History This action involves a breach of warranty claim pursuant to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act involving Plaintiffs vehicle. (Motion to ...

Excerpt: ...23. On November 23, 2022, Quantum Mechanical served its Document Requests, Set Two to Plaintiff. Plaintiff requested an extension of time to respond, to which Quantum Mechanical agreed, and Plaintiff provided responses on January 4, 2023. Plaintiff's responses to the items at issue in this motion stated that Plaintiff would produce responsive documents which were not privileged or protected. On January 11, 2023, after the cut-off for discovery pr...

Excerpt: ...ice of motion states that Plaintiff seeks to appoint Michael Brewer as the receiver; however, the memorandum and declarations filed in support of the motion make clear that Plaintiff seeks to appoint Landon McPherson as the receiver. Appointment of a receiver is generally controlled by CCP SS 564, et seq. A judgment debtor's interest in an alcoholic beverage license is not subject to execution (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code ("CCP") S 699.720(a)(1)), and t...

Excerpt: ...e doctrine of laches. Cross-Defendants also demur to the second cause of action on the basis that it fails to state a cause of action. The Court notes that Cross-Defendants did not file a reply to Cross-complainants' opposition to this moton. Legal Standard A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of action. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberall...

Excerpt: ...acts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. The Court previously sustained a demurrer by FATC to this same cause of action, with leave to amend. Plaintiffs subsequently filed an amendment to the original complaint which alleges facts to support the cause of action against FATC The complaint was originally devoid of any factual allegations to support the negligence cause of action against FATC. Plaintiffs have now alleged that FATC breached i...

Excerpt: .... Sunbridge Healthcare, LLC (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 1160, 1169.) "There are circumstances in which nonsignatories to an agreement containing an arbitration clause can be compelled to arbitrate under that agreement." (Suh v. Superior Ct. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 1504, 1513.) "As one authority has stated, there are six theories by which a nonsignatory may be bound to arbitrate: '(a) incorporation by reference; (b) assumption; (c) agency; (d) veil-pier...

Excerpt: ... (Malcom v. Sup.Ct. (Green) (1981) 29 Cal.3d 518, 523.) It is a remedy which must be narrowly applied. (ld. at 524.) Therefore, the modern policy is to restrict lis pendens. (See Hilberg v. Sup.Ct. (Mendrin) (1989) 215 cal.App.3d 539, 542.) Only a "real property claim" can support a lis pendens. (CCP S 405.1.) A lis pendens "claimant" is "a party to an action who asserts a real property claim and records a notice of the pendency of the action." (...

Excerpt: ...rial date of February 16, 2024 is vacated. The Court will sign the proposed orders lodged with the moving papers. This matter arises out of a contract for the sale of a vehicle by Defendant Hansel Ford to Plaintiff. Defendant Ford Motor Company manufactured the vehicle. Plaintiff alleges several causes of action including, violations of Civil Code S 1793.2, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, and negligence per se. Defendants move ...

Excerpt: ...c facts show-ng 'good cause' justifying the discovery sought by the demand." (CCP Absent a claim of privilege or attorney work product, the party who seeks to compel production has met his burden of show-ng 'good cause' simply by showing that the requested documents are relevant to the case, i.e., that it is itself admissible in evidence or appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence under CCP S 2017.010. (See al...

Excerpt: ...e parties dispute the suffciency of the meet and confer efforts regarding this motion. "A determination by the court that the meet and confer process was insufficient shall not be grounds to overrule or sustain a demurrer." (CCP S 430.41; Dumas v. Los Angeles County Bd. Of Supervisors (2020) 45 Cal.App.5th 348, 355.) Accordingly, the Court does not sustain the demurrer on this basis. Procedural History: This matter involves a long and complicated...

Excerpt: ..., the demurrer facilitator notes the parties did not provide the facilitator with the briefs and Defendant did not appear at the initial teleconference and then failed to provide an excuse for the nonappearance. Sonoma County Local Rule 4.17 addresses the demurrer facilitator program. 80th parties had an opportunity to refuse to participate in the program but never filed a notce of intent to opt out of the program. Despite this unfortunate inform...

Excerpt: ...The County of Sonoma for the County to rent Plaintiff's "Villa Building" for the County to house Covid-19 positive individuals who required isolation. According to the "Occupancy Agreement" entered into by the parties, in exchange for the possession and control if the building, the County was required to pay rent and, when it was ready to leave, to repair and clean the premises pursuant to the requirement of the Occupancy Agreement. Plaintiff all...

Excerpt: ...d an order granting Defendants Acrisure of California, LLC, Michael Holzman, and Lynne Wallace's motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff had alleged the following causes of action against these defendants: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) Age Discrimination in Violation of FEHA (Acrisure only) Race Discrimination in Violation of FEHA (Acrisure only) Failure to Prevent Discrimination (Acrisure only) Unjust Enrichment Resulting from Unlawful Discriminatory C...

Excerpt: ... (Complaint, 25-50.) Among other prayers for relief, Plaintiff prays for exemplary damages to be assessed against only Defendant. (ld. at 9:2.) Defendant's counsel met and conferred with Plaintiff's previous counsel over telephone and by email correspondence regarding the exemplary damages prayed for in the complaint along with other language, but the parties were not able to reach a resolution. (Memorandum of Points and Authorities in support of...

Excerpt: ...nalysis: l. Standards on Demurrer A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of acton. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, Stevens v. superior court (1999) 75 cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the suffciency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly plead...

Excerpt: ... memorandums to 10 pages without leave of Court. Defendant did not seek leave of Court to submit an oversized brief. Accordingly, in fairness to Plaintiff, the Court will not consider the last two pages of Defendant's reply memorandum. Furthermore, Defendant submitted a notice of errata with its reply papers which submits the 2011 and 2012 editions of its constitution and membership requirements. Plaintiff has not had the opportunity to respond t...

Excerpt: ... already passed. Accordingly, this request is moot. Plaintiff has requested the Court contact the prison where he is housed and inform them of all future scheduled court hearings as well as make arrangements for him to be able to appear at the hearings for this matter via telephone. Plaintiff is responsible for keeping himself apprised of the scheduled hearings in this matter. Furthermore, as outlined in the Court's tentative rulings webpage, all...

Excerpt: ...pposition does not comply with the California Rules of Court. Pursuant to the Rules of Court, memorandums in opposition may not exceed 15 pages without permission of the Court and if the memorandum exceeds 10 pages, it must be accompanied by a table to contents and table of authorities. (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.1113(d) & (f).) "A memorandum that exceeds the page limits of these rules must be filed and considered in the same manner as a late-f...

Excerpt: ...ng and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. The Court thanks the appointed demurrer facilitator for his detailed and informative report. Analysis: l. Standards on Demurrer A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of acton. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 cal.3d 311, 318; see also, Stevens v. superiorcourt ...

Excerpt: ...other requests for summary adjudication are DENIED. Defendant's objections numbers 2, 5, 9-16 to Plaintiff's evidence are SUSTAINED. All other objections are OVERRULED. Counsel for Defendant Richard Cardiff shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Analysis: l. Underlying Facts In 1994, Defendant Cardiff began running youth group tennis classes or tennis camps at Ragle Park during the s...

Excerpt: ... this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule of Court 3.1312(a) and (b). l. Facts and Procedure This action arises from the employment of Plaintiff Roberto Caballero (hereinafter "Plaintiff) with Defendant Jackson Family Wines, Inc. (hereinafter "Defendant") during the period of August 28, 2017, to June 1, 2020, as a non-exempt, hourly-paid General Winery Worker at Defendant's Skylane location in Sonoma County. (Declaration of Virginia Laws...

Excerpt: ...dication is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. Summary adjudication of Plaintiff's Second Cause of Action for Breach of Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing and Fourth Cause of Action for Negligent Misrepresentation is GRANTED in favor of Defendants. Summary adjudication is denied as to all other causes of action. Defendants' request for judicial notce is GRANTED. The following objections raised by Defendants are sustained: objection to SSLJF...

Excerpt: ...r is OVERRULED. Cross-Defendant Pepper Shack's motion to strike is MOOT due to the sustaining of the demurrer to the Fourth Cause of Acton as to this cross- defendant. Cross-Defendants The Design Build Company, LLC, Robert Auger, and Jon Currier have not filed a joinder to the motion to strike nor their own motion to strike. Counsel for Cross-Defendant Pepper Shack Consulting, LLC shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling...

Excerpt: ...granting Defendants Acrisure of California, LLC, Michael Holzman, and Lynne Wallace's motion for summary judgment. Plaintiff had alleged the following causes of action against these defendants: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Age Discriminaton in Violation of FEHA (Acrisure only) Race Discrimination in Violation of FEHA (Acrisure only) Failure to Prevent Discrimination (Acrisure only) Unjust Enrichment Resulting from unlawful Discriminatory Conduct (Acrisur...

Excerpt: ...quest, Defendant has waived all objections to it. (CCP S 2031.300) Defendant is ordered to respond to these special interrogatories, without objections, within 30 days of notice of entry of an order on this motion. Plaintiff has requested sanctions in the amount of $7,250.50 for this motion alone. This is based on Plaintiff's counsel's declaration that counsel spent 17.9 hours on the motion and on attempts to meet and confer with Defendant. Plain...

Excerpt: ...einafter “Defendant”) during the period of August 28, 2017, to June 1, 2020, as a non-exempt, hourly-paid General Winery Worker at Defendant's Skylane location in Sonoma County. (Declaration of Virginia Lawson in Support of Defendant's Amended Motion to Compel Arbitration and Dismiss Non-Individual PAGA Claims [“Lawson Decl.”], ¶ 3.) As part of the hiring process, Plaintiff signed an Arbitration Agreement (the “Agreement”), that was ...

Excerpt: ...referred to as “Defendants”). The Prior Action involved 97 plaintiffs and 28 defendants. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants negligently mishandled the litigation which resulted in Plaintiff's award being diminished, allowed defendant Zuckerman to obtain bankruptcy protection shielding him from the judgment, miscalculated how much of the award Plaintiff was entitled to, failed to allocate any of the award for fees and costs to Plaintiff, and ha...

Excerpt: ...e opposition. The Court does exercise its discretion to do so and has considered Plaintiff's opposition. This matter was recently before the Court on a motion filed by Plaintiff for which Plaintiff failed to follow the Rules of Court and the Court warned Plaintiff of the necessity to do so. The Court reiterates that admonition now and informs Plaintiff that any future filings that do not comply with the Rules of Court will not be considered by th...

Excerpt: ... reply on motions for summary judgment may not exceed 10 pages. Accordingly, the Court will consider only the first 10 pages of the memorandum. Objections: Plaintiffs' objection to Defendants' evidence is OVERRULED. The following objections made by Defendants are SUSTAINED: objection numbers 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Plaintiffs' additional undisputed material facts numbers 41 and 73. The remaining objections made by Defendants are OV...

Excerpt: ...tiffs filed an opposition. On December 20, 2022, Plaintiff filed a request for dismissal as to Defendants Yeng Brooks, Tina Rivera and Christina Cramer, and for the cause of action of fraud as to Defendant County. Accordingly, only the causes of action for violations of Civil Code §56.20 against Defendant County of Sonoma (“Defendant County”) remain at issue in this demurrer. Plaintiff is a former employee of Defendant County who complains t...

Excerpt: ...l Further Responses to Requests for Production, Set One, a Motion to Compel Further Responses to Form Interrogatories – General, Set One, and a Request for Judicial Notice. Plaintiff provides the declaration of attorney Megan Clark and attached exhibits in support of the motions. Defendants assert that on June 30, 2022, they served a Request for Production of Documents, Set One and Form Interrogatories – General, Set One on Plaintiff (“Disc...

Excerpt: ...t McKissock and Defendant Healy were employees of Defendant SVH working in human resources. On August 8, 2022, Plaintiff filed the now operative first amended complaint (“FAC”) adding Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation (“Defendant Foundation”) as a defendant and alleging three causes of action for (1) violation of Civil Code §56.20(b); (2) violation of Civil Code §56.20(c) [1]; and (3) fraud. [2] The above-mentioned defendants are collec...

Excerpt: ..., the Complaint was dismissed as to Michael Lateef, as an individual. On October 12, 2022, Defendant Hanson Bridgett, LLP (“Defendant Law Firm”) filed this motion to compel arbitration and stay this action. Plaintiffs filed an opposition. Defendant Law Firm filed a reply. Relevant Facts Defendant Law Firm and Plaintiff Paul Bigham entered into an attorney-client relationship for Defendants to provide legal services regarding the sale of Plain...

Excerpt: ...omplaint is GRANTED in part. Defendant's motion to strike the portions of Plaintiff's opposition and portions of Plaintiff's counsel's declaration in support of the opposition is DENIED. Defendant's counsel shall submit a written ruling consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. I. Applicable Standards A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of action. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.A...

Excerpt: ...yment. “Under the respondeat superior doctrine, an employer is liable for the torts of its employees committed within the scope of employment.” (Crouch v. Trinity Christian Ctr. of Santa Ana, Inc. (2019) 39 Cal.App.5th 995, 1011.) “An employee's willful, malicious, and even criminal torts may fall within the scope of his or her employment, even though the employer did not authorize the employee to commit crimes or intentional torts.” (Id....

Excerpt: ...d by authority. Furthermore, Defendant's motion is not frivolous. Plaintiff's counsel shall submit a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Analysis: 1. Legal Standard on Demurrer A demurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of action. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan...

Excerpt: ...it a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Defendant's Request for Judicial Notice: Defendant requests the Court take judicial notice of the following: 1. Defendant's assertion that Consuelo Enriquez never agreed to the written agreement alleged and attached as Exhibit A to Plaintiff's SAC as to any property. 2. Defendant's assertion that Consuelo Enriquez never agreed to any oral agreement with P...

Excerpt: ...Procedure section 1032, which provides, in subdivision (b), that ‘[e]xcept as otherwise expressly provided by statute, a prevailing party is entitled as a matter of right to recover costs in any action or proceeding.'” (Santisas v. Goodin (1998) 17 Cal.4th 599, 606 (“Santisas”).) “For the purpose of determining entitlement to recover costs, Code of Civil Procedure section 1032 defines ‘prevailing party' as including, among others, ‘...

Excerpt: ...hat there is no triable issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. (CCP § 437c(c).) A party moving for summary adjudication of a cause of action must prove that the cause of action has no merit and summary adjudication may only be granted if it completely disposes of the cause of action. (CCP § 437c(f)(1).) “A defendant or cross-defendant has met his or her burden of showing that a cause o...

Excerpt: ...eil (“Weil”), Matthew Zdanek (“Zdanek”), Robert J. Sunderland (“Sunderland”), Dale Davis (“Davis”), Jim Nord (“Nord”)(Nord, Davis, Duval, Hing, Fung, Poeng, and Zdanek hereinafter referred to as “Represented Doe Defendants”), and Sunderland McCutchan, Inc. (“SMI”) (SMI, SMP, McCutchan and Sunderland jointly referred to as “Attorney Defendants”) (all defendants together referred to as “Defendants”). The Prior Ac...

Excerpt: ...o believe Plaintiff was subject to the childhood sexual abuse alleged in the Complaint. The Court reviews the certificates of merit in camera to determine if there is a “reasonable and meritorious cause for the filing of the action” against each particular defendant, and if such finding is made, the duty to serve that defendant arises. (CCP § 340.1(i).) The fact that the certificates of merit are reviewed in camera before the complaint may b...

Excerpt: ...dication of each of Plaintiff's three causes of action alleged against them. In her opposition, Plaintiff has agreed to withdraw her First Cause of Action for Premises Liability on the theory of dangerous condition of public property and her Second Cause of Action for General Negligence. Plaintiff is only pursuing her Third Cause of Action for Breach of Mandatory Duty. Therefore, the motion for summary adjudication of the First and Second Causes ...

Excerpt: ... distress, menace (extortion), and conspiracy (the “Complaint”). Defendant filed an Anti‐SLAPP motion pursuant to Code Civil Procedure (“CCP”) § 425.16. The Anti‐ SLAPP motion was a granted by this Court on April 13, 2022, (“Order”) and is presently on appeal. This matter is on calendar for Defendant's Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Costs. Judicial Notice Defendant requests the Court take judicial notice of the Complaint filed by...

Excerpt: ... compel arbitration of the Cross‐Complaint pursuant to Cal. Code Civ. Proc. (“CCP”) § 1281.2. Plaintiff's petition to compel arbitration and stay proceedings as to the Cross‐Complaint is GRANTED in part. 1. Facts and Procedure The Complaint in this matter arises out of a credit line extended to Defendant by Plaintiff. Plaintiff and Defendant had other business dealings which included a partnership agreement for the Kozy Kar. See Plaintif...

Excerpt: ...o. 19 and SSUF No. 20. All other objections are overruled. Counsel for Defendant Jennifer Vertz shall prepare a written order consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule 3.1312. Underlying Facts (all facts are derived from the parties' separate statements of material fact and the supporting evidence): Plaintiff, Jeffrey White, (hereafter “Jeffrey” or “Plaintiff”) was involved in a romantic relationship with Defendant...

Excerpt: ...raph refers to the employee of Bremer Whyte Brown & O'Meara, LLP who are purported to have worked on Defendants' case. The Court addresses the objection to Exhibit 5 below. All other evidentiary objections are OVERRULED. Plaintiffs' motion to strike/tax Bluestone's costs is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The request to strike the memorandum of costs is denied. However, the request to tax defendant's costs is granted. Defendant Bluestone's co...

Excerpt: ...or the sale of real property to Plaintiffs Elia and Miguel Murillo by Defendant/Cross‐Complainant Thuy Machica. Defendant Juan Nieto, as an agent of Defendant Coldwell Banker, represented Plaintiffs in the transaction. Defendant/Cross‐Defendant Angelica Reynosa, as an agent of Defendant/Cross‐Defendant Homesmart, represented Cross‐Complainant Machica in the transaction. Cross‐Defendant Judith Browning is also an agent of Homesmart. Defe...

Excerpt: ...emurrer tests whether the complaint sufficiently states a valid cause of action. (Hahn v. Merda (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 740, 747.) Complaints are read as a whole, in context and are liberally construed. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318; see also, Stevens v. Superior Court (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 594, 601.) In reviewing the sufficiency of a complaint, courts accept as true all material facts properly pleaded, but not contentions, deductions...