Excerpt: ...e the portion of the 1st amended complaint wherein plaintiffs allege: “Defendants' acts and omissions, as described above, were oppressive, fraudulent, and/or malicious and plaintiffs are therefore entitled to an award of punitive damages in amounts to be proven at trial.” After hearing oral argument by the parties at the hearing on the anti‐SLAPP notion on August 28, 2020, the court took the matter under submission. On September 1, 2020, t...

Excerpt: ... brokering residential mortgage loans, placed mortgage loans with plaintiff as the lender. (FAC, ¶¶5‐6.) On one occasion, in March 2018, defendants contacted plaintiff with an opportunity for plaintiff to lend money at the annual rate of 16%, to be paid in advance at close of escrow. The note would be secured by deed of trust on a residential property in Santa Monica, California. Plaintiff agreed to loan the funds on these terms, and deposite...

Excerpt: ...dgment. The history and allegations of this dispute were recounted in detail in the Court's prior demurrer ruling and need not be repeated here. And indeed, the legal arguments raised here were largely disposed of in the prior ruling, and need not be repeated in full detail. The SAC at most adds a few bells and whistles to plaintiff's fatally defective theories. But they do not save the theories from their defects. First Cause of Action: Taxpayer...

Excerpt: ...efendant also states that inasmuch as plaintiff has agreed in meet and confer efforts that the claim for attorney fees be stricken, the court should direct that any amendment of the complaint should eliminate plaintiff's claim for attorney fees. Plaintiff opposes the demurrer on the following grounds: Section 7159 does not apply to the alleged contact as it is a new home construction contract; and the 2nd cause of action is not uncertain. Defenda...

Excerpt: ...iff County's attorney represented that all documents had been emailed to defendant. Defendant stated that he had already been arrested and saw no need for an injunction. The court granted the ex parte application and set the hearing on the OSC Re: Preliminary Injunction for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 16, 2020 in Department Nine. The court further issued an OSC directing defendant to show cause why he should not enjoined and restrained from comm...

Excerpt: ...17.1. Defendants request sanctions in the amount of $3,177.50. Defendants' Objection to Joint Responses As an initial matter, defendants object to plaintiffs' discovery responses on the basis that they served improper joint responses. Specifically, a set of discovery requests were separately served to Randy Baugh and Corbie Baugh, although the content of each set was identical. (Declaration of Benjamin Tagert in Support of Motion, ¶ 5 & Exs. A, ...

Excerpt: ...nuary 10, 2020 the court denied plaintiff's motion to reconsider that ruling. On January 24, 2020 plaintiff filed a 2nd amended complaint against defendants, including defendant MERS, asserting the following causes of action: cancellation of the MERS assignment of the deed of trust as MERS is not registered as a foreign corporation; cancellation of the assignment of the deed of trust, because MERS lacked standing or legal authority to assign the ...

Excerpt: ...ach of fiduciary duty, and (11) violations of Civil Codes. Pending is Wells Fargo's demurrer to the complaint. Standard of Review A demurrer is directed at the face of the complaint and to matters subject to judicial notice. (Code of Civ. Proc. § 430.30, subd. (a).) “It is not the ordinary function of a demurrer to test the truth of the plaintiff's allegations or the accuracy with which he describes the defendant's conduct. A demurrer tests on...

Excerpt: ...r to subject a defendant to a judgment in personam, if he be not present within the territory of the forum, he have certain minimum contacts with it such that the maintenance of the suit does not offend ‘traditional notions of fair play and substantial justice.' [Citations.]” (Int'l Shoe Co. v. Washington (1945) 326 U.S. 310, 316.) Personal jurisdiction may be founded on either general jurisdiction or specific jurisdiction. (Rano v. Sipa Pres...

Excerpt: ...y Martin's demurrer to the second cause of action for fraud. Defendant Martin demurs to the fraud cause of action on the following grounds: Martin was acting solely in his capacity as CEO of defendant Lifeprint Products, Inc., and the Consulting Agreement is clear as to the identity of the contracting parties; the alleged misrepresentations do not concern past or existing facts, but rather are opinions or speculation as to future events; the FAC ...

Excerpt: ...ounds: the breach of contract cause of action states it is against Tiffany Schneider (See Cross‐Complaint, page 5, line 2, Designation of Breach of Contract Cause of Action as being Against Tiffany Schneider and Roes 1‐ 10.) and then alleges the conduct that breached the contract was due to Tiana Schneider's refusal to pay invoices for cross‐complainant's design services in full in accordance with the agreement; there are no specific allega...

Excerpt: ...laim with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), the claim is attached as Exhibit 1, plaintiff paid the filing fee to the LWDA, and mailed notice to defendant by certified mail, return receipt requested. Plaintiff further alleges in paragraph 3 of the Complaint that defendant executed the return receipt, it is attached as Exhibit 2, and plaintiff did not receive any indication from the LWDA that it intended to investigate t...

Excerpt: ...tively. The Court Clerk entered defaults against them both on July 31, 2020 as requested by plaintiffs. Twenty days after entry of the defaults, the County of El Dorado filed a motion to set aside the defaults on the following grounds: the defaults are void as they were taken against departments of the County that do not individually have any capacity to sue or be sued; plaintiffs failed to properly serve a copy of the summons and complaint on th...

Excerpt: ...ued due to the public health crisis and was finally advanced and set to commence on May 29, 2020. The March 19, April 9, and April 22, 2020 ex parte minute orders continuing the hearing were emailed to the parties. The ex parte minute orders state that the address to which the minute orders were emailed to defense counsel was [email protected]. The hearing on the petition commenced on May 29, 2020. Defendant did not appear. Testimony was pr...

Excerpt: ...laint, defendant Luhrs instead filed a separate action against plaintiff Crawford on April 10, 2020. (Luhrs v. Crawford, Case Number PC‐ 20200192.) On July 20, 2020 defendant Luhrs filed a motion for leave to file a compulsory crosscomplaint in this action. Defendant argues that while there has been delay seeking relief to file the cross‐complaint, she has acted in good faith. Defendant also states she will voluntarily dismiss case number PC ...

Excerpt: ...on already asserted in the initial complaint. Defendant opposes the motion on the following grounds: the proposed 1st amended complaint fails to allege sufficient facts to state any cause of action against Gary Ross; the plaintiff only alleges that Mr. Ross is the spouse of Marilyn Ross, who is named as a defendant in this action; the proposal to add Gary Ross as a defendant is merely retaliatory in nature, because plaintiff's husband is a named ...

Excerpt: ...pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, § 664.6; and agreed that the matter may be dismissed pursuant to Section 664.6. It appears that the individual parties executed the agreement. On August 5, 2020 the court dismissed the action upon request of the plaintiff and upon request of the parties retained jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of Code of Civil Procedure, § 664.6 to enforce the stipulation for conditional entry of dismissal. The settl...

Excerpt: ... the alternative, summary adjudication of each of the three causes of action. Cross‐Complainants argue they are entitled to entry of summary judgment or summary adjudication on the following grounds: cross‐complainants are entitled to entry of declaratory relief, because it has been established as matter of law by the evidence presented that the subject grant deed is void, the clear and unambiguous provisions of the fully integrated option ag...

Excerpt: ...e parties in this action for equal shareholder interests in the subject corporation, the contract continues to the present day, and the action against defendant is not time‐barred. Plaintiffs filed an ex parte motion to appoint a receiver and for injunctive relief. The court set a noticed hearing date, rather that ruling on the matter ex parte. After being exhaustively briefed, hearing oral argument on January 31, 2020, and counsel for defendan...

Excerpt: ... a judicially supervised settlement under Section 664.6. The action against Gregory Schaefer was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice upon plaintiff's request on May 21, 2020. The request for dismissal did not include a statement that the court retained jurisdiction to enforce the settlement. Plaintiff seeks to vacate or modify the dismissal on the ground that due to mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect plaintiff's counsel failed to includ...

Excerpt: ...s entered against defendant in the amount of $21,719.37. Defendant moves to vacate and set aside the default pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, § 1788.61(a)(1) on the ground that he was never properly served with the summons and complaint. The proof of service in the court's file declares that notice of the hearing and a copy of the moving papers were served on plaintiff's counsel by mail on July 7, 2020. Plaintiff opposes the motion on the fo...

Excerpt: ...public property cause of action of the cross‐complaint without leave to amend, and sustained the demurrer to the breach of contract cause of action of the cross‐complaint with ten days leave to amend. The 1st amended cross‐complaint was filed. Cross‐Defendant People demurred to the 1st amended cross‐complaint. The demurrer was dropped upon request of the People after the 2nd Amended Cross‐Complaint was filed on January 29, 2020. The P...

Excerpt: .... Cross‐ Complainant Legacy Family Adventures – Rocklin (Legacy) file a cross‐complaint against the City of Rockling (City), Bonsai Design, LLC (Bonsai), and Adventure Operations, LLC (Adventure Operations) asserting various causes of action. Cross‐Defendants Bonsai and Adventure Operations demur to all causes of action pled against them. Cross‐Complainant Legacy opposes the demurrers. Cross‐Defendants replied to the opposition. Demur...

Excerpt: ...ivil Procedure, § 877.6 that the settlement is in good faith. The proof of service filed with the court declares that the parties were emailed notice of the hearing and copies of the moving papers on June 24, 2020. The motion is not opposed. Any party to an action in which it is alleged that two or more parties are joint tortfeasors is entitled to a court hearing on the issue of the good faith of a settlement between the plaintiff and one or mor...

Excerpt: ...fendant Marshall Medical Center did not breach the standard of care regarding plaintiff and defendant Marshall Medical Center did not cause plaintiff's alleged injuries for which he seeks damages. On July 6, 2020 plaintiff filed a statement of non‐opposition to the motion. Motion for Summary Judgment Principles “For purposes of motions for summary judgment and summary adjudication: ¶ * * * (2) A defendant or cross‐defendant has met his or ...

Excerpt: ...was not feasible to focus on preserving the oak woodland within the Highway 50 corridor. In the 137 page tentative ruling incorporated as Exhibit 1 of the judgment and order the court specifically rejected all grounds raised by the petitioner in its challenge to the EIR, except as to the portion of the FEIR/EIR related to the determination of where to focus mitigation of loss of oak woodlands – whether to focus on Highway 50 corridor land to ma...

Excerpt: ...ued due to the public health crisis and was finally advanced and set to commence on May 29, 2020. The March 19, April 9, and April 22, 2020 ex parte minute orders continuing the hearing were emailed to the parties. The ex parte minute orders state that the address to which the minute orders were emailed to defense counsel was [email protected]. The hearing on the petition commenced on May 29, 2020. Defendant did not appear. Testimony was pr...

Excerpt: ...Charlene Bosso's Further Responses to Special Interrogatories, Set One. Plaintiffs move to compel defendant Charlene Bosso to provide further responses to special interrogatories, set one, numbers 35‐41 on the grounds that the objections that the special interrogatories are vague, ambiguous, or unintelligible, they call for legal conclusions, the special interrogatories call for an expert opinion, and that the special interrogatories seek infor...

Excerpt: ...rted of 32 affirmative defenses. On May 28, 2020 plaintiffs filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings on defendants Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.'s, JP Morgan Chase Bank's, and MTC Financial, Inc.'s answer. Plaintiffs contend that judgment on the pleadings on the entire answer and each and every affirmative defense should be granted because the 32 boilerplate affirmative defenses fail to allege sufficient facts to establish such affirmative...

Excerpt: ...the court denied plaintiff's motion to reconsider that ruling. On January 24, 2020 plaintiff filed a 2nd amended complaint against defendants, including defendant MERS, asserting the following causes of action: cancellation of the MERS assignment of the deed of trust as MERS is not registered as a foreign corporation; cancellation of the assignment of the deed of trust, because MERS lacked standing or legal authority to assign the subject deed of...

Excerpt: ... defendant and accepted. Defendant contends: the Code of Civil Procedure, § 998 offer to compromise provides that no judgment shall be entered; the plaintiffs are seeking entry of judgment along with the petition to authorize the minor's compromise; the petition states that the minor suffered anxiety and depression, which was not alleged in the complaint; the petition falsely states that defendant Wentzel witnessed the incident, which was not al...

Excerpt: ...plaintiff in the amount of $60,000; defendant Mack executed a continuing guaranty of the loan; that there remains, due, owing and unpaid a principal balance in the amount of $30,534.15; and defendant Mack failed to cure defendant Senworth, Inc.'s default on the contract. On March 5 2020 the court dismissed the account stated and money lent causes of action upon plaintiff's request, leaving the breach of contract cause of action pending. Plaintiff...

Excerpt: ...lan for the association's future financial needs; breach of fiduciary duty by failure to conduct a reserve study, failure to fund reserves, selective enforcement of the C,C,&Rs, and failure to fund the reserves; violation of Civil Code, § 5100 by conducting elections without properly sending ballots, failure to properly retain inspectors of elections, and tainting the entire voting process; violation of Civil Code, § 5200 by failing and refusin...

Excerpt: ...aintiff Cain. Defendant Cheryl Mendonsa responded on July 16, 2018 by filing an answer and a crosscomplaint against plaintiff Cain for rescission of the agreement due to allegations asserting that defendant mistakenly executed the document, defendant was unduly influenced, and defendant Cheryl Mendonsa was the victim of financial elder abuse. The plaintiff's demurrers to the cross‐complaint and 1st amended cross‐complaint were sustained. The ...

Excerpt: ...isleading reports and statements, as well as recovery for unfair business practices that injured the membership of the club by allegedly suppressing non‐confidential financial information and defendants receiving ill‐gotten gains that rightfully belong to the club membership. Defendants move for an order requiring plaintiffs to post a bond n the amount of $50,000 in order for them to continue to pursue the derivative actions. Defendants argue...

Excerpt: ... failed to perform as stated and promised and the installation allegedly caused serious roof leaks that resulted in extensive damage to the interior of plaintiffs' home. Defendant demurs to the unfair business practices and financial elder abuse causes of action on the following grounds: these fraud based claims fail to meet the required specificity of pleading facts to support the elements of fraud based causes of action; and puffing and sales t...

Excerpt: ...e ground he walks on. Defendant demurs to all causes of action on various grounds and plaintiff opposes the demurrers on various grounds Demurrer Principles When any ground for objection to a complaint appears on its face, or from any matter of which the court is required to or may take judicial notice, the objection on that ground may be taken by demurrer to the pleading. (Code of Civil Procedure, § 430.30(a).) “‘A demurrer admits all mater...

Excerpt: ...r failure to pay rent, plaintiff filed this civil action and the instant ex parte application for a TRO and Preliminary Injunction directing that defendant and the property occupants vacate the property within five days of service of the TRO/Injunction; that plaintiff is to be placed in possession of the property; and that all personal property remaining on the property is to be sold or otherwise disposed of as provided in Code of Civil Procedure...

Excerpt: ...2020 defendant was served by posting on the residence door in accordance with the court's order and mailing those documents to the address of the subject residence on March 9, 2020. On April 2, 2020 default was entered against defendant and a judgment for possession entered by the clerk. The request for entry of default declares that the request was served by mail to defendant's address at the subject residence on March 21, 2020. The writ of poss...

Excerpt: ...d the formation of the contract; the plaintiffs failed to allege sufficiently clear and certain terms related to the date defendant's performance was due to repay the alleged loans; and plaintiffs failed to include an indispensable party, the plaintiffs' daughter, who was dating defendant at the time and received the benefits of the alleged contracts giving her a claim of a personal interest in the claims of plaintiffs that defendant must repay t...

Excerpt: ...elling the Bathylogger, BathyCat, BL 200, BL 230, and Bathynav; and to prohibit them from marketing, advertising, or selling any other product which competes with plaintiffs products. Defendant opposes the motion on the following grounds: there is no likelihood that plaintiff will be successful in proving trade secret misappropriation in this litigation; plaintiff's implication that defendants product line is similar to plaintiff's and that it es...

Excerpt: ...nt Conwell, and defendant Kelley. On June 5, 2019 plaintiffs Barbot filed the instant action against defendants Bonita Conwell, Thomas Conwell, and Kathleen Kelley for injuries defendant Robert Barbot allegedly sustained as a result of the motor vehicle accident on July 14, 2017 and for alleged damages for loss of consortium suffered by his spouse, plaintiff Courtney Barbot. Defendant Kelley moves to consolidate the two actions that involve claim...

Excerpt: ...rmal discovery order was not presented to the court until later and was entered on April 1, 2020. The proof of service of the notice of ruling filed on April 8 2020 declares that on April 7, 2020 notice of the ruling was served on plaintiff by mail to plaintiff's address of record. Arguing that the plaintiff has not complied with the court's discovery order, defendants move for an order imposing the terminating sanction of dismissal of plaintiff'...

Excerpt: ...0. Plaintiff's proposed order directs that defendant be compelled to produce all attorney‐client privileged documents regarding communications between the HOA and attorney Deon Stein as to all issues raised in the complaint without limitation to the enactment of the large livestock rule, which were requested in the subject deposition notices. Defendant HOA opposes the motion on the following grounds: the court can not compel further production ...

Excerpt: ...y sanctions in an unspecified amount. The proof of service declares that on January 6, 2020 the notice of hearing, the motion, and the declaration submitted in support of the motion were served by mail on plaintiff's counsel. The declaration in support of the motion was not executed. An executed supplemental declaration was filed on February 20, 2020, which explained the prior declaration was inadvertently not signed and that all statements in th...

Excerpt: ... February 24, 2020 the amended notice of the hearing was served by mail on plaintiff's counsel; and on February 3, 2020 the initial notice of hearing and moving papers were served by mail on plaintiff's counsel. Cross‐Defendant opposes the motion on the following grounds: the civil court has no jurisdiction to decide anything about the property owned by cross‐complainant and crossdefendant, because the Family Law Court had acquired prior juri...

Excerpt: ...ult prove up hearing was heard on April 16, 2018. On April 26, 2018 the formal written judgment was entered against defendant in the principal amount of $55,350.67 for HOA violation fines, $54,966.50 in attorney fees, and costs of $4,491.80, which amounts to $114,808.97. The court also issued a permanent injunction in the judgment directing defendant to do certain things. The judgment creditor moves for an order authorizing the sale of the judgme...

Excerpt: ...el Joel Cooper a.k.a. Dr. Daniel J. Copper, D.O. On April 11, 2018 plaintiff's action against Dr. Daniel J. Copper, D.O., Inc. was voluntarily dismissed with prejudice and plaintiff requested that the court enter a default judgment only against Daniel Joel Cooper a.k.a. Dr. Daniel J. Copper, D.O. On May 8, 2018 a default judgment was entered only against defendant Daniel Joel Cooper a.k.a. Dr. Daniel J. Copper, D.O. in the total sum of $71,555.36...

Excerpt: ...interrogatories, set 3, Nos. 96, 97, 103, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144. Petitioner alleges respondent's answers were objections and not responsive.1 Petitioner moves to compel further responses and requests an award of monetary sanctions in the amount of $3,000. The proof of service in the court's file declares that on February 14, 2020 notice of the hearing and copies of the moving papers were served by mail on respondent's attorney to compel di...

Excerpt: ...e causes of action on the following grounds: the 1 st amended cross‐complaint is uncertain and fails to allege sufficient facts to establish that cross‐ defendant has violated the no contest clause of the Trust instrument; the underlying breach of contract complaint does not attack the validity of the Trust and only seeks to enforce a contract signed by cross‐complainant to revoke the Trust and transfer real property to cross‐ defendant; ...