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Annamaria Incandela V. Fca Us Llc.

Case Last Refreshed: 4 weeks ago

Annamaria Incandela, filed a(n) Breach of Contract - Commercial case represented by Silverman, Robert M., against Fca Us Llc., in the jurisdiction of Queens County. This case was filed in Queens County Superior Courts Supreme.

Case Details for Annamaria Incandela v. Fca Us Llc.

Filing Date

July 03, 2024

Category

Commercial - Contract

Last Refreshed

July 05, 2024

Practice Area

Commercial

Filing Location

Queens County, NY

Matter Type

Breach of Contract

Filing Court House

Supreme

Parties for Annamaria Incandela v. Fca Us Llc.

Plaintiffs

Annamaria Incandela

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

Silverman, Robert M.

Defendants

Fca Us Llc.

Case Documents for Annamaria Incandela v. Fca Us Llc.

EXHIBIT(S)  - D

Date: July 03, 2024

EXHIBIT(S)  - C

Date: July 03, 2024

EXHIBIT(S)  - A

Date: July 03, 2024

EXHIBIT(S)  - B

Date: July 03, 2024

SUMMONS + COMPLAINT

Date: July 03, 2024

Case Events for Annamaria Incandela v. Fca Us Llc.

Type Description
Docket Event EXHIBIT(S) - D
Repair Order
Docket Event EXHIBIT(S) - C
Repair Order
Docket Event EXHIBIT(S) - A
Contracts
Docket Event EXHIBIT(S) - B
Repair Order
Docket Event SUMMONS + COMPLAINT
Complaint
See all events

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Ruling

2024PRDE019139
Jul 24, 2024 | Roger L. Lund | Hearing on Petition for Order Approving Settlement Agreement | 2024PRDE019139
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF VENTURA Probate Notes 2024PRDE019139: IN THE MATTER OF WILLIAM D RUSIN SR 07/24/2024 in Department J6 Hearing on Petition for Order Approving Settlement Agreement The court intends to approve the Settlement Agreement and retain jurisdiction under CCP section 664.6 to enforce the Settlement Agreement. _________________________ The Court uses Zoom exclusively for remote appearances in Department J6. For information on the Zoom procedures, and for general information regarding Judge Lund and his courtroom rules and procedures, please visit: http://www.judgerogerlund.com.

Ruling

FCS059237 - SUNDT CONSTRUCTION INC V N. CALIFORNIA OFFICE (DMS
Jul 27, 2024 | FCS059237
FCS059237 Motion to Compel Arbitration TENTATIVE RULING The Court (Department Seven) self recuses pursuant to CCP Section 170.1(b)(6)(iii). Pursuant to the direction of Judge Stephen Gizzi, Supervising Judge of the Civil Division, the matter is reassigned and continued to August 1, 2024 at 9:30 a.m., Department Three.

Ruling

FESSEHAYE vs SULLIVAN, et al.
Jul 25, 2024 | Civil Unlimited (Contract/Warranty Breach - Se...) | 23CV040419
23CV040419: FESSEHAYE vs SULLIVAN, et al. 07/25/2024 Hearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Judgment (CCP 473) filed by MICHAEL LAWRENCE MORRILL (Defendant) + in Department 24 Tentative Ruling - 07/22/2024 Rebekah Evenson The Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and / or Default Judgment filed by Ross Michael Sullivan, AHSLEY CORRINE CABLE, DANIEL INHO NAM, MICHAEL LAWRENCE MORRILL on 05/22/2024 is Granted in Part. The Court rules as follows on the "Motion by Defendants Ross Michael Sullivan, Michael Lawrence Morrill, Daniel Inho Nam, and Ashley Corrine Cable to Set Aside Defaults and Default Judgment, if Entered". Preliminarily, no default judgment has been entered in this case. The motion by Defendant Ross Michael Sullivan is DENIED. Sullivan’s attorney concedes that he was properly served with the summons and First Amended Complaint, on October 12, 2023. Sullivan’s default was entered on November 14, 2023. A motion for relief from default pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473(b), including under the providing requiring relief based on an attorney affidavit of fault, must be filed within six months of entry of default. Sullivan’s motion was filed on May 20, 2024, more than six months after entry of Sullivan’s default. In Sullivan’s supplemental briefing, he seeks equitable relief based on extrinsic mistake. (Rappleyea v. Campbell (1994) 8 Cal. 4th 975, 981). However, Sullivan fails to demonstrate any extrinsic mistake that led to entry of his default. Sullivan’s attorney states that when she attempted to e-file Sullivan’s Answer on November 17, 2023, Plaintiff’s request for entry of Sullivan’s default (filed on November 14, 2023) had not yet been processed by the clerk’s office. As a result, the clerk’s office (mistakenly) filed Sullivan’s Answer on November 20, 2023. The clerk’s office properly entered Sullivan’s default as of the day Plaintiff had requested entry of the default. The filing of Sullivan’s Answer on November 20, 2023 was a mistake, but no mistake by the clerk’s office caused Sullivan to first attempt to file his Answer three days after Plaintiff had timely requested entry of his default. Moreover, Sullivan fails to identify any action by the clerk’s office that caused his attorney to file an untimely motion to set aside his default. Sullivan’s attorney states that she became aware of the entry of Sullivan’s default in December 2022 when she reviewed the register of actions. (See Nancy Conway’s declaration dated June 27, 2024, at paragraph 6.) The attorney then waited “six months from the date of discovery and believed I had until late June to file with the six months for mandatory relief.” (Id. at paragraph 9.) The deadline to file a motion for relief from default pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473(b) is six months from the date of default, not six months from defendant’s discovery of the default. (The application for relief “shall be made within a reasonable time, in no case exceeding six months after the judgment, dismissal, order, or proceeding was taken.”) Sullivan does not demonstrate that his attorney’s failure to file this motion until more than six months SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 23CV040419: FESSEHAYE vs SULLIVAN, et al. 07/25/2024 Hearing on Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Judgment (CCP 473) filed by MICHAEL LAWRENCE MORRILL (Defendant) + in Department 24 after his default was entered was a result of any mistake or advice by the clerk’s office or Plaintiff’s counsel, nor does Sullivan demonstrate that it was reasonable for his attorney to wait five full months after the discovery of his default (and more than six months after entry of the default) to file a motion seeking to vacate the default. Delays of three months or more in seeking to set aside a default routinely result in denial of relief. (See Caldwell v. Methodist Hospital (1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 1521, 1525.( The Answer filed by Ross Michael Sullivan on November 20, 2023 is STRICKEN. The Cross-Complaint filed by Ross Michael Sullivan on November 16, 2023 is not stricken. The motion by Defendants Michael Lawrence Morrill, Daniel Inho Nam, and Ashley Corrine Cable is GRANTED. To the extent that the motion by Morrill, Nam, and Cable is based on Code of Civil Procedure section 473(d), the motion is granted. As indicated above, Morrill, Nam, and Cable filed declarations under penalty of perjury attesting that they had moved out of the premises at which they were purportedly served (via substitute service) no later than October 1, 2023. If the address at which they were purportedly served with the summons and complaint (via substitute service) was not their dwelling or usual place of abode as of October 12, 2023, then any purported substitute service was invalid (see Code of Civil Procedure section 415.20(b)), and any entry of default based on that purported service is void (see Code of Civil Procedure section 473(d).) The defaults entered against Michael Lawrence Morrill, Daniel Inho Nam, and Ashley Corrine Cable on December 22, 2024 are VACATED. Defendants Michael Lawrence Morrill, Daniel Inho Nam, and Ashley Corrine Cable shall file and serve their Answers to Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint by June 21, 2024. PLEASE NOTE that the proposed Answers submitted with the moving papers are NOT deemed filed or served on anyone. Plaintiff’s request for an order that defense counsel pay a penalty to Plaintiff or the State Bar is DENIED.

Ruling

HARRIS vs PREMIUM AUTO, INC.
Jul 27, 2024 | CVRI2400962
HARRIS vs PREMIUM AUTO, Motion to Compel Arbitration by CVRI2400962 INC. PREMIUM AUTO, INC. Tentative Ruling: Grant. Factual/Procedural Context This action involves the sale and purchase of a used automobile. On 9/21/2023, Plaintiff and Defendant entered into a Retail Installment Sale Contract (“RISC”) concerning Plaintiff’s purchase of a used 2016 Range Rover Sport. The RISC contains an arbitration clause, in which Plaintiff agreed to arbitrate “[a]ny claim or dispute, whether in contract, tort, statute or otherwise (including the interpretation and scope of this Arbitration Provision, and the arbitrability of the claim or dispute), between [Plaintiff] and [Defendant]” that arises out of Plaintiff’s purchase of the subject vehicle. (See Hazrat Decl. ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) On 2/21/2024, Plaintiff filed the operative Complaint against Defendant, alleging (1) intentional misrepresentation, (2) negligent misrepresentation, (3) violation of Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200, and (4) violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act (“CLRA”). *** Defendant brings the instant motion to compel arbitration on the basis of the RISC. Defendant argues that California Supreme Court’s decision in Sanchez v. Valencia Holding Co., LLC (2015) 61 Cal.4th 898 found that arbitration clauses in an automobile sales contract are not unconscionable. Defendant thus asks the Court to compel Plaintiff to arbitrate this action before the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and to stay this action pending completion of arbitration. In opposition, Plaintiff argues that the motion should be denied, because under McGill v. Citibank, N.A. (2017) 2 Cal.5th 945, his claim for “public injunctive relief” under the CLRA to enjoin Defendant’s illegal and deceptive practices is a matter of public policy not subject to arbitration. In reply, Defendant argues that all of Plaintiff’s claims are subject to arbitration, and that Plaintiff seeks “private” injunctive relief for the benefit of the public, not public injunctive relief. In the event the Court finds that such claim is not arbitrable, Defendant asks the Court to sever and stay Plaintiff’s claim for injunctive relief pending arbitration. Analysis Under the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), the moving party on a motion to compel arbitration must demonstrate the existence of an arbitration agreement between the parties that covers the controversy or claims at issue. (Roes v. SFBSC Mgmt., LLC (9th Cir. 2016) 656 F. App’x. 828, 829; Knutson v. Sirius XM Radio Inc. (9th Cir. 2014) 771 F.3d 559, 565.) In determining the validity or “the rights of parties to enforce an arbitration agreement within the FAA’s scope, courts apply state contract law while giving due regard to the federal policy favoring arbitration.” (Pinnacle Museum Tower Assn. v. Pinnacle Market Development, LLC (2012) 55 Cal.4th 223, 236.) “The party seeking arbitration bears the burden of proving the existence of an arbitration agreement, and the party opposing arbitration bears the burden of proving any defense, such as unconscionability.” (Id.) Plaintiff does not dispute that the FAA applies in this case, or that he entered into a written arbitration agreement that covers the instant dispute. (See Hazrat Decl. ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) Instead, Plaintiff opposes the instant motion solely on the basis that the arbitration agreement is invalid based on the California Supreme Court’s ruling in McGill v. Citibank, N.A. (2017) 2 Cal.5th 945 and Mejia v. DACM Inc. (2020) 54 Cal.App.5th 691. Plaintiff argues that he is seeking a public injunction under the CLRA to enjoin Defendant “from continuing to make false and misleading statements to consumers regarding the sale of motor vehicles.” (Compl. ¶ 71.) Plaintiff relies upon McGill and Mejia to argue that because California law prohibits arbitration of claims for public injunctive relief, the arbitration provision in this case is invalid and unenforceable. However, neither McGill nor Mejia stand for the proposition that an arbitration provision is invalid simply because it requires arbitration of claims for which a public injunction is a remedy or because it does not allow an arbitrator to issue a public injunction. Rather, the arbitration provision is invalid only if it precludes the parties from seeking a public injunction altogether, “in any forum.” (See McGill, supra, 2 Cal.5th at 961 [“Thus, insofar as the arbitration provision here purports to waive McGill’s right to request in any forum such public injunctive relief, it is invalid and unenforceable under California law.”] [emphasis added]; Mejia, supra, 54 Cal.App.5th at 704 [“We concur with the trial court’s interpretation of the arbitration clause as barring Mejia from seeking public injunctive relief ‘in any forum,’ thereby rendering the arbitration clause unenforceable under McGill.”] [emphasis added].) For instance, the McGill Court acknowledged that the parties had “elected in the Arbitration Agreement to exclude public injunctive relief requests from arbitration” but noted that the case could still go to arbitration on some of the claims asserted by the plaintiff. (McGill, supra, 2 Cal.5th at 966.) “Moreover, case law establishes that a stay of proceedings as to any inarbitrable claims is appropriate until arbitration of any arbitrable claims is concluded. [Citation]) Thus, arbitration of claims the parties have agreed to arbitrate may proceed pursuant to whatever procedures the arbitration agreement specifies, unaffected by any subsequent proceedings made necessary by invalidation of the waiver regarding the public injunctive relief claims the parties did not agree to arbitrate. According to the high court, “‘piecemeal’ litigation” of claims the parties have agreed to arbitrate and claims they have not agreed to arbitrate is consistent with the FAA.” (Id.) Thus, some of Plaintiff’s claims and requests for relief may be arbitrated and others may be tried in this Court after arbitration is completed. In Mejia, the trial court found that the arbitration agreement prevented plaintiff from seeking and obtaining a public injunction in arbitration and made arbitration the only forum available to the plaintiff. (Mejia, supra, 54 Cal.App.5th at 704.) The Court of Appeal noted that the trial court “might have ‘saved’ the arbitration clause by ‘sever[ing] the prohibition on public injunctive relief from the Arbitration Provision’” but could not do so due to a “poison pill” provision that restricted the right to sever.” (Id.) In this case, the arbitration agreement does not include any provision that prevents Plaintiff from seeking public injunctive relief in arbitration. (See Hazrat Decl. ¶ 2, Ex. 1.) The arbitration agreement simply states that “[a]ny award by the arbitrator shall be in writing and will be final and binding on all parties, subject to any limited right to appeal under the Federal Arbitration act.” (Id.) Moreover, the arbitration agreement prohibits claims, not brought on an individual basis, but as a “consolidated, representative, class, collective, injunctive or private attorney general action.” (Id.) It further states: Neither you nor we waive the right to arbitrate any related or unrelated claims by filing any action in small claims, court, or by using self-help remedies, such as repossession, or by filing an action to recover the vehicle, to recover a deficiency balance, or for individual or statutory public injunctive relief. (Id. [emphasis added].) Based on the above language, the arbitration agreement only seeks to limit the class action capacity in which an individual can bring a claim against Defendant. In other words, the only limitation as to a public injunctive relief claim is in a class representative capacity. This is important, because claims under the CLRA other consumer protection statutes may be asserted as individual claims seeking public injunctive relief. (McGill, supra, 2 Cal.5th at 959; Dicarlo v. Moneylion, Inc. (C.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2019) 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 228268, at *8 [provision that preserved the plaintiff’s right to obtain in arbitration “all remedies available in an individual lawsuit” did not bar public injunctive relief and was valid under McGill]; Gonzalez-Torres v. Zumper, Inc. (N.D. Cal. Dec. 2, 2019) 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 207390, at *24 [concluding that an arbitration agreement that empowered the arbitrator to “issue any and all remedies authorized by law” did not run afoul of McGill because “[a]lthough a plaintiff may not assert claims on behalf of a class in arbitration, the Agreement does not prohibit plaintiff from being awarded public injunctive relief as a remedy for his individually-asserted claims in arbitration”].) Thus, based on the above, Plaintiff has failed to demonstrate that the arbitration agreement at issue is unenforceable under McGill or Mejia. In any event, the issue of which claims or disputes should be arbitrated must be decided by the arbitrator and not this Court. In Aanderud v. Superior Court (2017) 13 Cal.App.5th 880, the arbitration agreement delegated “the determination of the scope or applicability of the arbitration provision” to the arbitrator. (Id. at 891.) Under those circumstances, the Court of Appeal concluded that “it is the arbitrator who will consider the conscionability of the agreement and the scope of the arbitration clause, including whether the class arbitration is available under the arbitration provision, and whether the provision purports to waive the Aanderuds’ right to seek public injunctive relief in all forum and, if so, what impact this has on the enforceability of the arbitration provision as a whole.” (Id. at 897; see also Henry Schein Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc. (2019) 139 S.Ct. 524, 530.) Here, the arbitration agreement delegates questions of arbitrability to the arbitrator. (Hazrat Decl. ¶ 2, Ex. 1 [“Any claim or dispute, whether in contract, tort, statute or otherwise (including the interpretation and scope of this Arbitration Provision . . . and the arbitrability of the claim or dispute) . . . shall, at your or our election, be resolved by neutral, binding arbitration and not by court action.”] [emphasis added].) Thus, Plaintiff has agreed to submit to arbitration questions of the interpretation and scope of the arbitration provision and the arbitrability of specific claims. Accordingly, the Court grants Defendant’s motion to compel arbitration to allow the arbitrator to determine the threshold question of which claims and disputes are to be arbitrated and then, to arbitrate any claims or disputes the arbitrator finds to be arbitrable. All proceedings in this action are stayed pending completion of the arbitration proceedings.

Ruling

FCS058678 - ALL BAY BUILDERS V WELTER, IAN, ET AL (DMS)
Jul 26, 2024 | FCS058678
FCS058678 Defendants/cross-complainants’ motions to deem matters admitted and for sanctions TENTATIVE RULING Defendants/Cross-Complainants Ian Welter and Jennifer Welter bring 3 motions to deem matters admitted as follows: 1) Motion to Deem Requests for Admission, Set One, Admitted as to Charles Littlefield individually and dba All Bay Builder [sic]; 2) Motion to Deem Requests for Admission, Set One, Admitted against Plaintiffs/Cross- Defendants All Bay Builders, Inc. and 3) Motion to Deem Requests for Admission, Set Two, Admitted against Plaintiffs/Cross- Defendants All Bay Builders, Inc. The Complaint in this matter was filed on August 22, 2022. On February 3, 2023, Defendants filed their Answer and Cross-Complaint. A Notice of Acknowledgment and Receipt was executed by Plaintiff Charles Littlefield individually and dba All Bay Builder counsel on March 27, 2023. No Proof of Service or Notice of Acknowledgment and Receipt is contained in the court file as to Plaintiff All Bay Builders, Inc. On May 8, 2023 a Substitution of Attorneys was filed as to plaintiff/cross-defendant “All Bay Builders”. Plaintiff’s counsel Elizabeth Lawley substituted out of the case and All Bay Builders was named the successor legal representative. No new attorney has substituted into the case on behalf of any of the plaintiffs/cross-defendants. One of the cross-defendants is a corporation and must be represented by an attorney. On June 21, 2023, counsel for Defendants/Cross-Complainants requested the entry of default as to All Bay Builders, Inc. and Charles Littlefield, individually and dba All Bay Builder [sic]. The defaults were entered as to Plaintiffs/Cross-Defendants. Page 2 of 3 On December 8, 2023 Defendants/Cross-Complainants served Requests for Admission, Set One on All Bay Builders, Inc. On February 6, 2024 Defendants/Cross- Complainants served Requests for Admission, Set Two on All Bay Builders, Inc. On February 6, 2024 Defendants/Cross-Complainants served Requests for Admission, Set One on Charles Littlefield individually and dba “All Bay Builder” on February 6, 2024. No responses have been received to any of the requests for admission. On June 12, 2024 the instant motions were filed. Counsel for the moving parties has not provided any authority upon which she relies for the principle that a defaulted party can be compelled to respond to discovery served more than 5 months after his or their defaults were taken. Once the clerk enters a default in the court record, that defendant is no longer able to file a response or otherwise participate in the case. It is unclear why discovery was not served on defendants while they were still represented or before their defaults were taken. It is equally unclear why defendants, after losing their rights to file pleadings or defend their position, should be forced to respond to discovery. All three motions are denied. Sanctions are denied. Page 3 of 3

Ruling

ARAUJO vs GENERAL MOTORS, LLC
Jul 24, 2024 | CVPS2305503
Demurrer on 1st Amended Complaint for ARAUJO vs GENERAL CVPS2305503 Breach of Contract/Warranty by GENERAL MOTORS, LLC MOTORS, LLC Tentative Ruling: Overruled Defendant to file their answer within 20 days of this order becoming final. Plaintiff to provide notice pursuant to CCP 1019.5. This is a lemon law case. On 3/27/2024, Plaintiffs filed their operative First Amended Complaint (“FAC”) against GM, alleging (1) violation of Civ. Code § 1793.2(d), (2) violation of Civ. Code § 1793.2(b), (3) violation of Civ. Code § 1793.2(a)(3), (4) breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, and (5) fraudulent inducement – concealment. GM now demurs to the fifth cause of action for fraudulent inducement – concealment on the grounds that it fails to state facts relevant to the elements of the claim and fails to allege a transactional relationship giving rise to a duty to disclose. It concurrently moves to strike the demand for punitive damages from the FAC. In opposition, Plaintiffs argue that their FAC contains all essential elements of fraudulent inducement – concealment cause of action, and that a “transactional relationship” is not required under California law for the manufacturer to have a duty to disclose. With respect to punitive damages, Plaintiffs argue that they have sufficiently alleged GM’s oppression, fraud, and malice to support punitive damages, which are available under the Song-Beverly Act. In reply, GM reemphasizes that it had no duty to disclose to Plaintiffs and that Plaintiffs’ allegations in the FAC fail to establish a fraud cause of action. With respect to punitive damages. GM argues that Plaintiffs have failed to state a viable cause of action for fraud because their fraud cause of action fails. Demurrer A general demurrer lies where the pleading does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. (CCP § 430.10(e).) In evaluating a demurrer, the court gives the pleading a reasonable interpretation by reading it as a whole and all of its parts in their context. (Moore v. Regents of Univ. of Cal. (1990) 51 Cal.3d 120, 125.) The court assumes the truth of all material facts which have been properly pleaded and of facts which may be inferred from those expressly pleaded. (Crowley v. Katleman (1994) 8 Cal.4th 666, 672.) A demurrer, however, does not admit contentions, deductions, or conclusions of fact or law. (Daar v. Yellow Cab Co. (1967) 67 Cal.2d 695, 713.) If the complaint fails to state a cause of action, the court must grant the plaintiff leave to amend if there is a reasonable possibility that the defects can be cured by amendment. (Blank v. Kirwan (1985) 39 Cal.3d 311, 318.) 5th Cause of Action – Fraudulent Inducement The elements of fraudulent concealment are: “(1) the defendant must have concealed or suppressed a material fact, (2) the defendant must have been under a duty to disclose the fact to the plaintiff, (3) the defendant must have intentionally concealed or suppressed the fact with the intent to defraud the plaintiff, (4) the plaintiff must have been unaware of the fact and would not have acted as he did if he had known of the concealed or suppressed fact, and (5) as a result of the concealment or suppression of the fact, the plaintiff must have sustained damage.” (Marketing West, Inc. v. Sanyo Fisher (USA) Corp. (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 603, 612–13.) As concealment is a species of fraud, it must also be pled with specificity. (Blickman Turkus, LP v. MF Downtown Sunnyvale, LLC (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 858, 878.) Less specificity is required where the defendant necessarily possesses the information. (Committee on Children’s Television, Inc. v. General Foods Corp. (1983) 35 Cal.3d 197, 216.) As noted by one court, it is not practical to allege facts showing how, when and by what means something did not happen. (Alfaro v. Community Housing Improvement Sys. Planning Assn. (2009) 171 Cal.App.4th 1356, 1384.) However, if the concealment is based on providing false or incomplete statements, the pleading must at least set forth the substance of the statements at issue. (Id.) In this case, Plaintiffs have sufficiently alleged all the elements of a fraudulent inducement – concealment cause of action in the FAC. The FAC alleges that Plaintiffs entered into a warranty contract with GM on 6/4/2021 (¶¶ 6–7); that GM knew of the defects posed by the subject vehicle prior to Plaintiffs’ purchase and withheld from Plaintiffs (¶¶ 63–64, 67–70, 72); that GM had exclusive/superior knowledge of the defects (¶¶ 65–70, 73a–73b); that the defects presented a safety hazard (¶¶ 25, 64); that Plaintiffs would not have purchased the subject vehicle had they known about the defects (¶¶ 66, 70, 75, 78); and that Plaintiffs suffered damages (¶ 78). These allegations are sufficient, at the pleading stage, to assert a cause of action for fraudulent inducement – concealment. GM nonetheless argues that Plaintiffs failed to allege a duty to disclose. This argument is not persuasive. A duty to disclose arises under four circumstances in which nondisclosure or concealment may constitute actionable fraud: “(1) when the defendant is in a fiduciary relationship with the plaintiff; (2) when the defendant had exclusive knowledge of material facts not known to the plaintiff; (3) when the defendant actively conceals a material fact from the plaintiff; and (4) when the defendant makes partial representations but also suppresses some material facts.” (Bigler-Engler v. Breg, Inc. (2017) 7 Cal.App.5th 276, 311 [citation & internal quotation marks omitted].) The last three require an evidence of some transaction, i.e. direct dealings between the plaintiff and the defendant. (Id. at 311–12.) Here, the allegations in the FAC are sufficient for pleading purposes to demonstrate that GM and its agents owed a duty to disclose known defects but that they purposely withheld such disclosures from consumers, including Plaintiffs. (See FAC ¶¶ 63–74.) Plaintiffs are not required at the pleading stage to prove the agency relationship between GM and its dealership, and there is no question that GM communicates to consumers, at least in part, through its authorized dealers. (See, e.g., Daniel v. Ford Motor Co. (9th Cir. 2015) 806 F.3d 1217, 1226–27.) Moreover, in Dhital v. Nissan North America, Inc. (2022) 84 Cal.App.5th 828 (review granted 2/1/2023, S277568), the court addressed the sufficiency for concealment for pleading purposes in fraud in a lemon law case. The Dhital court found that plaintiffs alleged a transmission defect in numerous vehicles, including the plaintiff’s, the defendant knew of the defect and the hazard they posed, defendant had exclusive knowledge of the defect and failed to disclose that information, defendant intended to deceive plaintiffs by concealing known defects, the plaintiffs would not have purchased the vehicle if they had known of the defects, and they suffered damages on the sum paid to purchase the vehicle. Here, Plaintiffs’ allegations largely mirror the allegations as discussed above. (See FAC ¶¶ 25, 63–70, 72, 75, 78.) Accordingly, the Court must overrule the demurrer on this ground.

Ruling

United Business Bank vs. Lynne Bui
Jul 22, 2024 | C23-02049
C23-02049 CASE NAME: UNITED BUSINESS BANK VS. LYNNE BUI *HEARING ON MOTION FOR DISCOVERY COMPELLING DEFTKHLORIS BIOSCIENCES TO PROVIDE FURTHER RESPONSE, PRODUCE ALL RESPONSIVE DOCS, PROVIDE PRIVILEGE LOG FILED BY PLAINTIFF FILED BY: *TENTATIVE RULING:* Pursuant to a prior notice of stay of proceedings filed by plaintiff, a stay was filed in this lawsuit on November 30, 2023. The court is aware of no further action concerning this stay. As a result, plaintiff’s motion is off calendar.

Ruling

ENRIQUEZ, HECTOR vs SPRUELL, JAMIKA
Jul 28, 2024 | CV-24-003735
CV-24-003735 – ENRIQUEZ, HECTOR vs SPRUELL, JAMIKA – Defendant’s Motion for leave to File-Cross-Complaint - GRANTED, and unopposed. The Court GRANTS Defendant’s unopposed motion for leave to file her cross-complaint. Defendant is ordered to file a copy of the proposed cross-complaint (attached as Exhibit 1 to the 6/27/24 Declaration of Megan D. Johnson) within five court days. The cross-complaint shall be served by August 30, 2024. Defendant is further ordered to submit a proposed order that comports with this ruling within five court days. Due to the interruption of telephone service as a result of an outage, any party requesting a hearing must make the request via email to the court clerk. If V-Court is not available and an in-person appearance is not possible, appearance must be via Zoom. Sign-up information for Zoom will be available on the court’s website.

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