Excerpt: ..."A party may 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, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damages . . . , or th...

Excerpt: ...ties suffers from an illness or condition raising substantial medical doubt of survival of that party beyond six months, and that satisfies the court that the interests of justice will be served by granting the preference." (CCP § 36(d).) "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may in its discretion grant a motion for preference that is supported by a showing that satisfies the court that the interests of justice will be served by...

Excerpt: ...� 437c(a)(1).) "A party may 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, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damage...

Excerpt: ...pp. 5th 989, 996.) The Court must determine "whether the complaint alleges facts sufficient to state a cause of action or discloses a complete defense." (Id.) The court assumes "the truth of the properly pleaded factual allegations, facts that reasonably can be inferred from those expressly pleaded and matters of which judicial notice has been taken." (Id.) "As a general rule in testing a pleading against a demurrer the facts alleged in the plead...

Excerpt: ...grant if the court makes both of the following findings: (1) [t]he party has a substantial interest in the action as a whole[;] [and] (2) [t]he health of the party is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing the party's interest in the litigation." (CCP § 36(a).) "In its discretion, the court may [] grant a motion for preference that is accompanied by clear and convincing medical documentation that concludes that one of the par...

Excerpt: ...if the court makes both of the following findings: (1) [t]he party has a substantial interest in the action as a whole[;] [and] (2) [t]he health of the party is such that a preference is necessary to prevent prejudicing the party's interest in the litigation." (CCP § 36(a).) "In its discretion, the court may [] grant a motion for preference that is accompanied by clear and convincing medical documentation that concludes that one of the parties s...

Excerpt: ...e Third Cause of Action of the FAC pleads four distinct fraud-based causes of action: intentional misrepresentation; fraudulent concealment; conspiracy to commit intentional misrepresentation; and conspiracy to commit fraudulent concealment. Defendant Avon demurs to this cause of action arguing that the FAC conclusory allegations are insufficient to state a cause of action for fraud. "A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the factual allegati...

Excerpt: ... one or more affirmative defenses, one or more claims for damages, or one or more issues of duty, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damages . . . , or that one or more defendants either owed or did not owe a duty to the plaintiff or plaintiffs." (C...

Excerpt: ...rding whether Richard O'Farrell ("Mr. O'Farrell") was exposed to Defendant's asbestos-containing joint compound in 1976. If any party wishes to contest the tentative ruling, no later than 4:00 PM ONE on Thursday, July 15, 2021, contesting party must email [email protected] and provide notice to all counsel via File&ServeXpress of the intent to contest the tentative order. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will be conducted via Co...

Excerpt: ...dication 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, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damages . . . , or that one or more defendants either o...

Excerpt: ...RDS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT/SUMMARY ADJUDICATION "A party may move for summary judgment in an action or proceeding if it is contended that the action has no merit or that there is no defense to the action or proceeding." (CCP § 437c(a)(1).) "[T]he party moving for summary judgment bears the burden of persuasion that there is no triable issue of material fact and that he is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." (Aguilar v. Atl. Richfield Co. (20...

Excerpt: ...more claims for damages, or one or more issues of duty, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damages . . . , or that one or more defendants either owed or did not owe a duty to the plaintiff or plaintiffs." (CCP § 437c(f)(1).) "A motion for summary a...

Excerpt: ...cretion finds that it would not be in the interests of justice to grant a preference in trial setting absent some evidentiary showing that there is substantial medical doubt of Mrs. Boccio's survival beyond six months or that her interests will be prejudiced if trial is not set to commence in 120 days. (See CCP § 36(d).) However, the Court would be inclined to set a non-preferential trial date in this action for a date prior to the end of 2021, ...

Excerpt: ... OVERRULED. Legal Standard for Demurrer A general demurrer tests the sufficiency of the complaint, i.e., whether it states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action upon which relief may be based. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10, subd. (e); Aragon-Haas v. Family Security Ins. Services, Inc. (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 232, 238. ) The complaint must be "liberally construed, with a view to substantial justice between the parties." (Code Civ. Proc. § ...

Excerpt: ...y to amend any pleading[.]" (CCP § 473(a)(1).) "[T]rial courts are to liberally permit such amendments, at any stage of the proceeding[.]" (Hirsa v. Superior Court (1981) 118 Cal. App. 3d 486, 488-89.) A court's discretion is usually exercised liberally to permit amendment of the pleadings, and it is a rare case in which denial of leave to amend can be justified. (See, e.g., Howard v. County of San Diego (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1422, 1428.) "[I]t...

Excerpt: ...y shifts the burden of production of evidence to Plaintiffs William Cook ("Mr. Cook") and Laurel Cook ("Plaintiffs"), the Court finds that Plaintiffs have submitted sufficient evidence in opposition to identify a triable issue of material fact regarding threshold exposure. Defendant's Motion for Summary Adjudication is GRANTED as to Plaintiffs' punitive damages claim. Plaintiffs "waive" the punitive damages claim in footnote 1 of Plaintiffs' brie...

Excerpt: ...0.) However, because NAPA has not timely sought a protective order pursuant to CCP § 2025.420, Plaintiffs' counsel may physically attend the PMQ deposition at an appropriate location pursuant to CCP § 2025.310(b). If any party wishes to contest this Tentative Ruling, no later than 4:00 PM on Thursday, May 28, 2021, contesting party must email [email protected] and provide notice to all counsel via File&ServeXpress of the intent to co...

Excerpt: ...of action within an action, one or more affirmative defenses, one or more claims for damages, or one or more issues of duty, if the party contends that the cause of action has no merit, that there is no affirmative defense to the cause of action, that there is no merit to an affirmative defense as to any cause of action, that there is no merit to a claim for damages . . . , or that one or more defendants either owed or did not owe a duty to the p...

Excerpt: ...ons based on lack of personal jurisdiction. Having reviewed Plaintiffs' 423 page Responsive Separate Statement of Disputed Written Discovery Requests and Responses, the Court finds that large portions of Plaintiffs' discovery impermissibly go beyond the limited discovery allowed by the Court and comes close to a misuse of the discovery process within the meaning of CCP §§ 2023.010(a), (c) and (i), as described more fully below. To begin, Plaint...

Excerpt: ...278") to bring suit against a dissolved Delaware Corporation. (Del. Rules of Court, Rule 15(c); Resource Ventures, Inc. v. Resource Management Internat., Inc. (Del. D.C. 1999) 42 F.Supp.2d 423, 428.) The Demurrer was originally set for hearing on 4/2/2021. By Order of that date, the Court continued the hearing on the Demurrer so that the parties could submit supplemental briefing regarding the legal effect under Delaware law where a lawsuit filed...

Excerpt: ...heard on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. via ZOOM, which may be accessed through the links set forth below. The Court requests counsel attending please log on 30 minutes prior to the start of the hearing so that all appearances are noted and this matter can be timely called at 9 a.m. Note: this is not a telephonic appearance so your device should be equipped with a video camera. The following is the link and other information regarding the ZOO...

Excerpt: ...ANDARD OF LAW "A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the factual allegations in a complaint." (Redfearn v. Trader Joe's Co. (2018) 20 Cal. App. 5th 989, 996.) The Court must determine "whether the complaint alleges facts sufficient to state a cause of action or discloses a complete defense." (Id.) The Court assumes "the truth of the properly pleaded factual allegations, facts that reasonably can be inferred from those expressly pleaded and ma...

Excerpt: ...curity Ins. Services, Inc. (1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 232, 238.) The complaint must be "liberally construed, with a view to substantial justice between the parties." (Code Civ. Proc. § 452.) The court gives the complaint a reasonable interpretation, and treats the demurrer as admitting all material facts properly pleaded. (Aubry v. Tri-City Hosp. Dist. (1992) 2 Cal.4th 962, 966-67; Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) The court may consider al...

Excerpt: ...ial setting. "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the court may in its discretion grant a motion for preference that is supported by a showing that satisfies the court that the interests of justice will be served by granting this preference." (CCP § 36(e).) Plaintiffs ask that the current August 16, 2021 trial date be designated as a preferential trial date. Mr. Malnar is 64 years old, and was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in April...

Excerpt: ...anuary 25, 2021, Plaintiffs served a notice of deposition with a request for production of documents for the deposition of Carquest's person-most-qualified ("PMQ") and custodian of records ("COR") to commence on February 4, 2021. Carquest served objections on February 1, 2021. The parties dispute whether a dissolved corporation must provide a witness to sit for deposition in defending lawsuits. Carquest objected in part because it is a dissolved ...