Excerpt: ...ministrative remedies regarding this cause of action by not filing an administrative complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) that included a charge of sexual harassment, or conduct corresponding thereto, within one year of the date the alleged unlawful practice occurred. (Former Gov. Code, § 12960, subd. (d), amended by stats. 2019, c. 709 (A.B.9), § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; Wills v. Superior Court (2011) 195 Cal....

Excerpt: ...or judgment on the pleadings is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438.) The Court finds that plaintiff Manzar Qayyum's allegation in the complaint that a partnership existed is a question of fact that cannot be determined upon motion for judgment on the pleadings. (Billups v. Tiernan (1970) 11 Cal.App.3d 372, 379; see Spier v. Lang (1935) 4 Cal.2d 711, 716; Compl., ¶ 10.) Defendants' motion to bifurcate is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 598, 1048, su...

Excerpt: ... second amended complaint (“SAC”) is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c)(1)(B).) Defendant has failed to establish that plaintiffs' SAC does not state facts sufficient to constitute causes of action against defendant. (Ibid.) The first cause of action is not mooted by Casey Boosalis' removal as a director of Capay Valley Floriculture because plaintiffs also seek a determination as to whether defendant was properly removed as director....

Excerpt: ...ture of the misconduct (which must be deliberate and egregious, but may or may not violate a prior court order), the strong preference for adjudicating claims on the merits, the integrity of the court as an institution of justice, the effect of the misconduct on a fair resolution of the case, and the availability of other sanctions to cure the harm. (Slesinger, supra, at p. 764, citing Aoude v. Mobile Oil Corp. (1989) 892 F.2d 1115, 1118.) The al...

Excerpt: ...that all categories within the subject subpoena are confidential; however, defendant has met its burden of showing that documents pertaining to plaintiff's wage and hour complaints made to prior employers are relevant to the present matter. (Cal. Const., Art. I, § 1; Hill v. National Collegiate Athletic Assn. (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1, 35, 37 – 40; Williams v. Superior Court (2017) 3 Cal.5th 531, 552; Valley Bank of Nevada v. Superior Court (1975) 15...

Excerpt: ...City of Alhambra v. Superior Court (1980) 110 Cal.App.3d 513, 520; O'Connor v. McDonald's Restaurants (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 25, 30; Felix v. Asai (1987) 192 Cal.App.3d 926, 932–933.) Plaintiff's motion to compel defendant's further responses to request for admissions, set one, is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2033.290.) The Court finds that defendant's responses to requests 18, 22 and 23 comply with the requirements of the Code of Civil Procedur...

Excerpt: ...5.) On balance, the Court concludes that non‐party Rebecca Kozlowski's (“Kozlowski”) privacy interest in her financial documents is outweighed by the sought documents' direct relevance and unavailability through less intrusive means. (SCC Acquisitions, Inc. v. Superior Court (2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 741, 754‐755; Barrett decl., ¶¶ 11, Exhibit 9.) However, the Court finds the requests overbroad as to time. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 2017.010...

Excerpt: ...e overruled. A landlord is not liable for injuries resulting from third party conduct over which he has no control. (Uccello v. Laudenslayer (1975) 44 Cal.App.3d 504, 512.) In determining whether a duty exists, the court analyzes multiple factors, including: social utility of the activity; risks of the activity; workability of a rule of care; persons involved and their relationship; financial considerations; moral considerations; prophylactic eff...

Excerpt: ... Court (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1431, 1438; Clement v. Allegre (2009) 177 Cal.App.4th 1277, 1294; Obregon v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 424, 431.) The Court also finds that defendant's separate statement fails to comply with the California Rules of Court. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1345; Mills v. U.S. Bank (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 871, 893.) The Court finds defendant failed to: (1) provide the text of plaintiff's original responses; (2) pr...

Excerpt: ...sanctions of dismissing the action or entering default judgment are justified. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd. (d); Deyo v. Kilbourne (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 771, 796; Lopez v. Watchtower Bible & Tract Soc. of New York, Inc. (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 566, 604 [discovery statutes evince an incremental approach, starting with monetary sanctions and ending with ultimate terminating sanction].) Defendant's request for evidentiary sanctions is GRANTED....

Excerpt: ...ITHOUT PREJUDICE. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 473, 576.) Defendant has not stated what allegations are proposed to be added and/or deleted and where, by paragraph and line number. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1324(a).) Further, defendant has failed to file a supporting declaration stating: (1) the effect of the amendment; (2) why the amendment is necessary and proper; (3) when the facts giving rise to the amended allegations were discovered; and (4) t...

Excerpt: ...1) when the facts giving rise to the amended allegations were discovered; and (2) the reasons why the request for amendment was not made earlier. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1324(b).) Further, plaintiff has failed to show justification for the long, unexcused delay in seeking amendment, and the proposed amendments would require the parties to conduct additional discovery. (Rainer v. Buena Community Memorial Hosp. (1971) 18 Cal.App.3d 240, 258 [�...

Excerpt: ...rt to determine “the validity of any election or appointment of any director” and therefore, plaintiffs cannot obtain relief under Corporations Code section 709. (Morrical v. Rogers (2013) 220 Cal.App.4th 438, 452, 457; FAC, ¶¶ 32‐44.) While the FAC also cites to other sections of Corporations Code, these statutes do not provide a basis for plaintiffs to obtain the requested relief. (Corp. Code, §§ 12360, 12362; FAC, ¶¶ 42‐44.) As t...

Excerpt: ...arch 9, 2020 is GRANTED IN PART. Plaintiff's request for issue sanctions is DENIED. A court may impose an issue sanction on a party who violates an order compelling discovery. However, the court's discretion must be exercised in a manner consistent with the basic purposes of such sanctions: to compel disclosure of discoverable information. Discovery sanctions cannot be imposed to punish the offending party 3 of 3 or to bestow an unwarranted “wi...

Excerpt: ...f action in defendant Thomas Rutaganira's (“Rutaganira”) cross‐complaint or (b) that Rutaganira's cross‐complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute causes of action against plaintiff. (Ibid.) The stipulation, by its terms, does not bar the present action. (Plaintiff's RJN, Exhibit 2.) Moreover, the cross‐complaint asserts different causes of action than the unlawful detainer case and seeks to resolve different issues than re...

Excerpt: ...8 to the Brazier declaration is OVERRULED. 3 of 4 • Objections nos. 1‐6 to the Teixeira declaration are OVERRULED. • Objections nos. 7‐13 to the Teixeira declaration are SUSTAINED. The Court does not reach Andersen's other evidentiary objections as the evidence objected to is not germane to the disposition of the instant motion. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (q).) Andersen's motion for summary adjudication is GRANTED. (Code Civ. Proc.,...

Excerpt: ...Proc., §§ 2023.010, 2023.020, 2030.290, 2031.300, 2033.280.) The Court finds that plaintiff did not misuse the discovery process, acted with substantial justification, and other circumstances make the imposition of the sanction unjust. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2023.010, 2023.020, 2030.290, subd. (c), 2031.300, subd. (c); DeSantis Decl., ¶¶ 2 – 4.) The Court also finds that plaintiff served a response in substantial compliance with Code of Civ...

Excerpt: ...008) 166 Cal.App.4th 871, 893.) Further, on balance, the Court concludes that non‐party Rebecca Kozlowski's privacy interest in her financial documents is outweighed by the sought documents' direct relevance and unavailability through less intrusive means. (SCC Acquisitions, Inc. v. Superior Court (2015) 243 Cal.App.4th 741, 754‐755; Barrett decl., ¶¶ 9‐12, Exhibits 8‐12.) However, the Court finds the requests overbroad as to time. (See...

Excerpt: ...WFB. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c)(1)(B); Drum v. San Fernando Valley Bar Ass'n (2010) 182 Cal.App.4th 247, 256‐ 257; Camacho v. Automobile Club of Southern California (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 1394, 1399‐1403; Cel‐ Tech Commc'ns, Inc. v. L.A. Cellular Tel. Co. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 163, 180‐185; see also Le Francois v. Goel (2005) 35 Cal.4th 1094, 1108‐ 1109; TAC, ¶¶ 18‐40, 194.) Defendant Specialized Loan Servicing LLC's Motion in ...

Excerpt: ...te statement fails to: (1) provide the text of each response, answer, or objection; (2) provide a statement of the factual and legal reasons for compelling further responses, answers, or production as to each matter in dispute; (3) provide the text of all definitions, instructions, and other matters required to understand each discovery request and the responses to it; and, (4) set forth the text of other responses where the reasons a further res...

Excerpt: ...l resolution” of the discovery disputes prior to filing the instant motions. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2016.040, 2031.310, subd. (b)(2); Townsend v. Superior Court (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1431, 1438; Clement v. Allegre (2009) 177 Cal.App.4th 1277, 1294; Obregon v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 424, 431.) Plaintiff's request for sanctions is DENIED. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2023.010, 2030.300, 2031.310.) Plaintiff was not successful in bringing ...

Excerpt: ...y of default when such a motion is brought within the time to file a responsive pleading or motion. (See Code Civ. Proc., §§ 412.20, subd. (a)(3), 585, 425.16; Kunysz v. Sandler (2007) 146 Cal.App.4th 1540, 1543 [noting that “the purpose of the anti‐SLAPP statute is to dismiss meritless lawsuits designed to chill the defendant's free speech rights at the earliest stage of the case.”]; see also Weitz v. Yankosky (1966) 63 Cal.2d 849, 854�...

Excerpt: ...13) 220 Cal.App.4th 217, 230‐231.) Plaintiff has failed to allege facts showing how, when, where, to whom, and by what means the representations were made. (West v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 780, 793.) The demurrer is sustained with leave to amend as there is a reasonable possibility plaintiff could cure the defect by amendment. (Aubry v. Tri‐City Hospital Dist. (1992) 2 Cal.4th 962, 967.) Defendants' demurrer to plain...

Excerpt: ...v. Proc., § 1048.) The Court finds that Case Nos. CV‐2018‐243 and CV‐2018‐1444 involve common questions of law and fact. (Ibid.) Specifically, in Case No. CV‐2018‐243, plaintiffs Capay Valley Floriculture, Casey Boosalis, Mara Getz, and Eric Parise's first amended complaint seeks relief for conversion of the same property identified in plaintiff First Centaur's conversion cause of action for Case No. CV‐2018‐1444. (Compare defend...

Excerpt: ...nded Complaint. The Supreme Court has extended absolute immunity to certain persons who perform functions closely associated with the judicial process. (See Cleavinger v. Saxner (1985) 474 U.S. 193, 200.) Judges (and by analogy, court personnel performing tasks integral to a judicial function) will not be deprived of immunity for conduct that was “was in error, was done maliciously, or was in excess of…authority,” but will only be deprived ...

Excerpt: ...009) 171 Cal.App.4th 1356, 1384; SAC, ¶¶ 51‐53, 77‐85.) Further, plaintiff has adequately stated facts alleging “safety concerns posed by the vehicle.” (Daugherty v. American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 824, 836; SAC, ¶¶ 16‐17, 36.) However, plaintiff's third cause of action is barred by the economic loss rule because plaintiff has failed to plead facts “demonstrat[ing] harm above and beyond a broken contractual p...

Excerpt: ...tes an order compelling discovery. However, the court's discretion must be exercised in a manner consistent with the basic purposes of such sanctions: to compel disclosure of discoverable information. Discovery sanctions cannot be imposed to punish the offending party or to bestow an unwarranted “windfall” on the adversary. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd. (b); Deyo v. Kilbourne (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 771, 793; Motown Record Corp. v. Superi...

Excerpt: ...ndation Health Plan v. Superior Court (2012) 203 Cal.App.4th 696, 704; citing Thurman v. Turning Point of Central Cal. (2010) 191 Cal.App.4th 53, 63.) Even “nonintentional torts” may form the basis for punitive damages when the conduct constitutes a conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others (SKF Farms v. Superior Court (1984) 153 Cal.App.3d 902; citing Peterson v. Superior Court (1982) 31 Cal.3d 147, 158.) “Nonintentional conduc...

Excerpt: ....) Plaintiff's motion to certify the subclass of non‐exempt employees of DD's Pizza who worked one or more work periods in excess of three and a half (3 ½) hours without receiving a paid ten (10) minute rest break during which the class member was relieved of all duties is GRANTED. (Code Civ. Proc., § 382.) Plaintiff has established the existence of an ascertainable and sufficiently numerous class, a well‐defined community of interest, and ...

Excerpt: ...168 Cal.App.3d 399, 404‐405; Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (c); see, e.g., Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. (2001) 25 Cal.4th 826, 843 [“In ruling on the motion, the court must consider all of the evidence and all of the inferences reasonably drawn therefrom…and must view such evidence and such inferences…in the light most favorable to the opposing party.”]; UMFs 5‐12, 14‐15.) Defendant's motion for summary adjudication as to the...

Excerpt: ... acceptance of such offers to defendants. (Code Civ. Proc., § 998, subd. (a); Drouin v. Fleetwood Enterprises (1985) 163 Cal.App.3d 486, 491; State v. Agostini (1956) 139 Cal.App.2d 909, 915; Koehler decl., ¶¶ 3‐4, Exhibit 2.) Plaintiffs have failed to establish that entry of judgment should be entered nunc pro tunc to February 3, 2020. However, the Court enters judgment nunc pro tunc to October 6, 2020, as the accepted 998 offers were filed...

Excerpt: ...ns, LLC's articles of organization filed by the California Secretary of State is GRANTED. (Evid. Code, §§ 452, subds. (c), (h); 453.) Motions for summary judgment A moving defendant may obtain summary judgment by showing that an essential element of plaintiff's claim cannot be established. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subd. (p).) A defendant does so by presenting evidence that plaintiff does not possess and cannot reasonably obtain needed evidenc...

Excerpt: ... (Nordstorm decl., ¶¶ 4, 16, Exhibit B, § 22.17.) Leisureville never agreed to a lower rental amount for rent due after the expiration of the 90‐day period. (Ibid.; see also Krogh decl., ¶¶ 7‐9.) Therefore, the Court orders plaintiff to pay the outstanding amount of $1,310.00 to Leisureville by no later than June 14, 2021. Based on plaintiff's declaration stating that he “will have fully vacated the property no later than the end of da...

Excerpt: ...ery obligations as well as this Court's order that she comply with her discovery obligations and pay monetary sanctions. (Mileikowsky v. Tenet Healthsystem, supra, at pp. 279‐280.) No lesser sanction such as striking pleadings or staying proceedings would be effective to obtain her compliance with her discovery obligations. It has become clear that Castellanos has no intention of answering discovery, filing papers, or complying with this Court'...

Excerpt: ...and as guardian ad litem for her natural child Logan Weishaar, and Micah Weishaar, or plaintiffs' counsel have violated. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 2.30(c)(1).) Defendants have not established that plaintiffs violated this Court's order of November 12, 2020 which adopted the Tentative Ruling dated September 17, 2020 but inadvertently omitted an updated date by which plaintiffs were to pay sanctions to defendants. (Code Civ. Proc., § 177.5.) In a...

Excerpt: ...cial notice of exhibits 2‐88, as these documents are irrelevant to the Court's determination of the instant motion. (People v. Rowland (1992) 4 Cal.4th 238, 268 fn. 6.) Plaintiff ‘s demurrer as to defendants' first, seventh, ninth, and tenth is SUSTAINED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.20, subd. (a).) As to the first affirmative defense (estoppel), defendants do not allege facts establishing the elements of equitable estoppel...

Excerpt: ...failed to state why the Court is permitted to take judicial notice of this document. (See, e.g., Evid. Code, § 452.) Defendant Alan Wei, an individual and dba Agri‐Analysis, LLC's request for judicial notice is GRANTED. (Evid. Code, § 451.) Defendant Alan Wei, an individual and dba Agri‐Analysis, LLC's special motion to strike plaintiff's entire complaint and all causes of action under Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16 is DENIED. (Code...

Excerpt: ...n, expense, or intrusiveness of that discovery clearly outweighs the likelihood that the information sought will lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2017.020, subd. (a); see also Code Civ. Proc., § 2019.030.) Additionally, plaintiff has shown good cause justifying the production of the documents sought. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.450, subd. (b)(1).) The Court notes that the notice of deposition incorrectly refere...

Excerpt: ...lication[ ] for the same order” as defendant's previous motion, defendant failed to submit an accompanying affidavit stating what application was made before, when and to what judge, and what order or decisions were made. (Graham v. Hansen (1982) 128 Cal.App.3d 965, 970; Code Civ. Proc., § 1008, subd. (b).) Further, defendant failed to file and serve the instant motion within two years after entry of a default judgment against him. (Code Civ. ...

Excerpt: ...compel further responses to form interrogatories, set one, and demand for inspection and production of documents and things, set one: Plaintiff's motion to compel further response to FROG 4.1 is GRANTED. Defendant has failed to set forth the efforts he made to obtain the information requested. (Devo v. Kilbourne (1978) 84 Cal.App.3d 771, 782‐783, superseded by statute on a different point.) Defendant has not explained why he would need to subpo...

Excerpt: ...) 15 Cal.4th 51, 64– 65.) However, plaintiff has failed to establish that the damages awarded were “certain, or capable of being made certain by calculation.” (Civ. Code, § 3287, subd. (a); Watson Bowman Acme Corp. v. RGW Construction, Inc. (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 279, 293‐294.) Specifically, the issues of liability and damages were significantly intertwined, requiring the Court to make a judicial determination on amount of damages awarded ...

Excerpt: ...scribed in subdivision (e) of Section 1985.3, or by the consumer's written authorization to release personal records described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 1985.3.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2020.510, subd. (c).) Second, plaintiff has not submitted proof that the following documents were served on defendant Presort Center of Fresno, LLC, Beekoz Direct Marketing, Integrated Voting Solutions, and Integrated Voting Systems as the cons...

Excerpt: ...quitable claims and try their unfair competition law claim first is GRANTED. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 598, 1048.) “Generally, in mixed actions, the equitable issues should be tried first by the court.” (Darbun Enterprises, Inc. v. San Fernando Community Hospital (2015) 239 Cal.App.4th 399, 408–409 [“Darbun”]; Dills v. Delira Corp. (1956) 145 Cal.App.2d 124, 128– 129.) Indeed, California courts have found “that the better practice is f...

Excerpt: ... party. [Citations.] (Frio v. Superior Court, supra, 203 Cal.App.3d at p. 1498, 250 Cal.Rptr. 819.) Where, as here, there is no allegation of counsel's bad faith, a claim of inadequate verification is without merit. (Ibid.)” (League of Women Voters v. Fong (1992) 7 Cal.App.4th 649, 656.) In this case, plaintiff does not allege any bad faith on the part of defendant's counsel in verifying his client's answer. The Court finds that the ends of jus...

Excerpt: ...damages, issue of duty, or affirmative defense that is the subject of the motion. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1350(d), emphasis added.) Moving defendants Good2Go Health, Daniel Genovese, and David Genovese in their separate statement have identified five issues for adjudication, but their supporting UMFs are not tailored with respect to their identified issues. Moving defendant American Redstone dba LUX in its separate statement identifies four ...

Excerpt: ...urden, expense, or intrusiveness of that discovery clearly outweighs the likelihood that the information sought will lead to the discovery of admissible evidence.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2017.020, subd. (a); see also Code Civ. Proc., § 2019.030.) Plaintiff has shown good cause justifying the production of the documents sought. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.450, subd. (b)(1).) The deposition, on all categories set forth in plaintiff's notice of depos...

Excerpt: ... of the University of California's motion for summary adjudication as to the first cause of action for violation of the California Disabled Persons Act is GRANTED. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437c, subds. (f)(1), (p)(2).) Defendant has shown that plaintiff cannot establish an essential element of her first cause of action: that she was disabled. (Civ. Code, § 54, subd. (a), 54.6; Gov. Code, § 12926; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 11065, subds., (d)(8), (...

Excerpt: ...1) 231 Cal.App.3d 457, 468–469; Evans v. California Trailer Court, Inc. (1994) 28 Cal.App.4th 540, 549 [33 Cal.Rptr.2d 646, 650] disapproved on other grounds by Black Sky Capital, LLC v. Cobb (2019) 7 Cal.5th 156.) Plaintiff Cavalry SPV I, LLC's unopposed motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED on the grounds that the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute plaintiff's first and second causes of action against the defendants and...

Excerpt: ...�Clyde & Associates (1985) 38 Cal.3d 488, 499.) Given the conflicting declarations of Mr. Melcher and Mr. Braun, Granite has failed to make an evidentiary showing that the proposed settlement is within the “ballpark” of Granite's proportionate liability. (Mattco Forge, Inc. v. Arthur Young & Co. (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1337, 1350‐1352 [“Mattco”]; Krenzin decl., ¶ 13, Exhibit I; Swadley decl., ¶ 8, Exhibit 6.) While Granite does not need...

Excerpt: ...aintiff's evidentiary objections to unnumbered paragraphs 2 and 3 of defendant Alan Wei's declaration. The grounds for a motion to strike must appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from matter of which the court is required to take judicial notice. (Code Civ. Proc., § 437, subd. (a).) The challenged paragraphs do not constitute a valid basis for this Court to grant defendant's motion to strike. Defendant Alan Wei's motion to strike pl...