Excerpt: ...GA settlement, attorneys' fees, costs, enhancement award, LWDA payment and class certification for settlement purposes came on for hearing on March 17, 2022. On October 22, 2021, the settlement administrator, Phoenix Settlement Administrators, received a data file containing 117 potential class members from Defendant's counsel with names, contact information, social security numbers and relevant employment information. On December 15, 2021, the a...

Excerpt: ...s Motion is Defendants' request to conduct a second medical examination after Plaintiff underwent “spinal cord simulator trial” surgery after the initial medical examination. Plaintiff alleges the injury occurred June 15, 2019. Plaintiff filed this matter April 24, 2020. Plaintiff has been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), and as a result allegedly suffers from daily and constant pain throughout her body, specifically on h...

Excerpt: ...section of Inyo and South “E” Street in Tulare County involving disputed liability over which driver ran the red light. At issue presently is the inadvertent failure of Defendant's counsel to file Defendant's cross‐complaint with Defendant's answer. Defendant is represented through her insurance carrier in defense of this lawsuit and separate counsel on her proposed cross‐complaint. Plaintiff filed this lawsuit on August 18, 2021. Defenda...

Excerpt: ...ass action and PAGA settlement, attorneys' fees, costs, enhancement award, LWDA payment and class certification for settlement purposes came on for hearing on March 10, 2022. Between July 26, 2021 and August 17, 2021, the settlement administrator, Phoenix Settlement Administrators received a mailing list of 417 potential class members from Defendant's counsel with names, contact information, social security numbers and relevant employment informa...

Excerpt: .... Plaintiff was referred to Needham by her psychiatrist. Plaintiff has sued Needham and a number of entities related to Kaweah Delta (“Kaweah Defendants.”) for professional negligence (first cause of action), intentional infliction of emotional distress (second cause of action), battery (third cause of action), sexual battery (fourth cause of action), sexual conduct by a therapist (fifth cause of action), breach of fiduciary duty (sixth cause...

Excerpt: ...ement, the parties had some issue regarding the transfer that resulted in Plaintiff suing Defendant for quiet title, financial elder abuse, breach of contract, declaratory relief, fraud and unjust enrichment. The parties attended mediation and settled their dispute the first time in or around March 2020. The basic terms of this settlement at mediation required Defendant to pay Plaintiff $16,000 within 120 days. After receipt of payment, Plaintiff...

Excerpt: ... C. Johnson at Defendant's request. Plaintiff alleged damages in the amount of $7,250.38. Defendant answered the complaint on November 4, 2020. On March 11, 2021, Plaintiff moved this Court to deem admitted requests for admissions, set one, numbers 1 through 5. On May 13, 2021, the Court adopted its tentative ruling, deeming admitted the truth of each matter specified in requests for admissions numbers 1 through 5. These requests, now admitted, a...

Excerpt: ...ecember 30, 2021, defendant/cross‐complainant Ihssan Alqudah (Alqudah) filed a first amended cross‐complaint in this action alleging fraud and misrepresentation against plaintiff/cross‐defendant SPAS Center Outparcel, LLC (SPAS) after this court sustained a demurrer to that cause of action by SPAS. The sole other cause of action from the initial complaint, a breach of contract claim, was previously stricken by this court on motion by SPAS. ...

Excerpt: ...ar days before the conference. Defendant filed a notice of settlement of entire case on October 1, 2021. On December 7, 2021, plaintiff moved to “vacate” the notice of settlement, maintaining plaintiff had not accepted defendant's settlement proposal, which apparently precipitated filing of the settlement notice. On January 18, 2022, defendant submitted a declaration by a paralegal employed by its counsel averring the settlement notice was fi...

Excerpt: ...ndar. Hearing on Final approval is set for July 14, 2022; 8:30 am; D1. This motion for preliminary approval of class action settlement returns for hearing following a prior continuance to allow filing of supplemental declarations as to the proposed class‐enhancement payment to plaintiff, plaintiff's cost reimbursement request, and the proposed cy pres recipient. Plaintiff submits a supplemental declaration, including an estimate of the amount o...

Excerpt: ...at email correspondence between Plaintiff's counsel and Defendant's counsel appears to indicate Defendant's counsel no longer represents Defendant. However, the Court has not received a substitution of attorney or motion to withdraw from Defendant's counsel. Plaintiff Francisca Cuevas (“Francisca”), based on the Settlement Agreement attached as Exhibit A and filed with the Court August 19, 2020, alleges that Defendant Mary Correa (“Mary”)...

Excerpt: ... 2021. Here, SPAS seeks $7,620.00 in attorneys' fees representing chiefly 38 hours at $195 per hour spent “researching case law, reviewing case files, drafting moving papers, preparing exhibits, reviewing the tentative ruling, preparing for the hearing, attending the hearing, reviewing time diaries, reviewing cost diaries, drafting a demand letter, and drafting this motion and accompanying papers.” SPAS has not submitted an itemized or detail...

Excerpt: ...00.00. Plaintiffs estimate approximately 105 members of the “Independent Contractor Class” with an average payment of approximately $5,244.76 and 139 members of the “Company Driver Class” with an average payment of approximately $990.47. The Independent Contractor Class in this action consists of persons who directly signed a contract with Defendant and performed services for Defendant within the State of California, but were classified a...

Excerpt: ...viously been continued to January 13, 2022 from the initial hearing date of December 23, 2021 for the parties to meet and confer to address disputes concerning the content of the class notice. At the December 23, 2021 hearing, the court adopted its tentative ruling in which this court: (a) held that class notice is appropriate (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.766); (b) directed the parties to meet and confer regarding disputes over the content of the...

Excerpt: ...7 bankruptcy protection in 2018. In 2019, Defendant filed for personal bankruptcy protection under Chapter 13, but did not list Plaintiff as a creditor. On January 8, 2021, Plaintiff successfully obtained relief from the automatic stay to enforce the personal guarantee against Defendant. On May 26, 2021, Plaintiff filed this action for breach of the guaranty. Defendant was served on June 15, 2021. Defendant failed to file a responsive pleading. T...

Excerpt: ...rn and northern portion of the Subject Property containing equestrian facilities. (“Life Estate Property.”) Since 2012, Defendant has operated Sequoia Hills Stables on the Life Estate Property. The life estate notes Defendant “shall have the exclusive use and enjoyment” of the Life Estate Property. At issue here is access via a driveway (“Subject Driveway”) on the northern edge of the Subject Property and located within what appears t...

Excerpt: ...notice. To impose sanctions totaling $2,450 for all three motions against Defendant. Facts Common to All Discovery Motions This matter involves a subdivision agreement between the Plaintiff City of Tulare and Defendants Del Lago Place. Plaintiff filed its complaint for breach of contract, promissory fraud, breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, enforcement of its performance bond and breach of utility contract. Plaintiff alleg...

Excerpt: ...ach of contract and conversion of intellectual property. As to conversion, Plaintiff seeks punitive damages on the basis of purposeful and malicious conversion. A comparison of the Complaint and First Amended Complaint reveals the same general set of facts. On January 15, 2021, the parties entered into a written contract whereby Plaintiff would pay Defendant $5,000 per month and Defendant was obligated to live stream 2‐3 times per week for a fe...

Excerpt: ...lissa Castro and Christopher Castro. Defendants Aurelia and Ernest were served but did not file a responsive pleading. Defendants Aurelia and Ernest, however, did personally appear at the case management conference on November 2, 2021 and the Court's minutes reflect Aurelia and Ernest had not filed an answer. Entry of default was entered against them on November 8, 2021. On November 12, 2021, Aurelia and Ernest retained counsel. Plaintiffs now se...

Excerpt: ...sure sale under section 1161a(b)(3). As an affirmative defense, Defendant alleges that Plaintiff's predecessor in interest had no authority to transfer the Premises to Plaintiff pursuant to the Trustee's Deed After Sale alleged in the Complaint. (Defendant's Answer ¶ 3.v.) Request for Judicial Notice Evidence Code section 452(c) and (h), respectively, permit a court, in its discretion, to take judicial notice of the existence and recordation of ...

Excerpt: ...ent for the purchase and sale of commercial real property in the city of Visalia. Disputes arose when buyers decided they no longer wish to move forward with purchase of the property. Chicago Title has specifically interpleaded as to buyers and sellers competing claims to buyers' initial earnest money deposit. Following Chicago Title's complaint, buyers cross‐complained against sellers and their brokers seeking damages for breach of contract ag...

Excerpt: ...ment consisting of a right of way over a 20‐ foot‐wide strip of land (the “Easement Area.”) Half of the Easement Area, 10 feet, is located on the southside of the Blankenship Property. The remaining 10 feet of the Easement Area is located on the northside of the property located at 14200 Avenue 328 #A in Visalia owned by Defendants and Cross‐Complainants Richard and Jana Creegan (“Creegans.”) The Blankenships move for a preliminary ...

Excerpt: ...clarations that are already on file with the Court. Accordingly, the motion to approve the settlement pursuant to the Private Attorney General Act of 2004 is preliminarily denied without prejudice. The hearing on this matter is continued to March 3, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.in Department 1 of this court. Case management conference is likewise continued to March 3, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1. 1. Sufficiency of Amount of Settlement (Net Estimated: $...

Excerpt: ...ngs: To deny Defendant's Motions (1) Requests for Admissions Set No 2, Nos. 43‐71; (2) Special Interrogatories Set No. 2 Nos 1‐79; (3) Production of Documents. To deny any award of sanctions. The remaining motions are off‐calendar. Facts Pursuant to the Court's Minute Order dated December 20, 2022, discovery motion hearing dates reserved for January 27, 2022 were modified to be reserved January 13, 2022. Defendant Calderon filed “Motion t...

Excerpt: ...y distress and resulting in an early delivery on June 30, 2020. Plaintiff suffered these injuries after her mother's exposure to COVID‐19. Plaintiff alleges that her mother was exposed to and contracted COVID‐19 while in the course and scope of her employment. Plaintiff alleges that Defendants were negligent and engaged in negligent hiring, training and supervision which proximately caused her damages. Plaintiff seeks economic and non‐econo...