Related Content
in Fort Bend County
Ruling
Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC vs. Combest
Jul 23, 2024 |
23CVG-01320
PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES, LLC VS. COMBEST
Case Number: 23CVG-01320
Tentative Ruling on Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings: The present motion is unopposed.
This collection case was filed on December 18, 2023. Plaintiff is a debt buyer and sole assignee
of an agreement entered into by Defendant on a credit card account with Plaintiff’s predecessor
Synchrony Bank. The Complaint alleged causes of action for Account Stated and Open Book
Account, with a prayer for $2,523.69 against Defendant Jennifer Combest. Defendant filed her
Answer on January 26, 2024. On April 11, 2024, Plaintiff filed a motion to deem matters admitted.
Defendant did not oppose the motion to deem matters admitted, and the Court granted the motion
on May 13, 2024.
Meet and Confer: “The moving party shall file and serve with the motion for judgment on the
pleadings a declaration stating” the attempts made to meet and confer. CCP § 439(a)(3). The
Declaration of Gregory Parks provides sufficient evidence of Plaintiff’s meet and confer efforts.
Request for Judicial Notice: The Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s request for judicial notice of the
Court’s May 13, 2024 Order that Matters in Request for Admission be Admitted, pursuant to Evid.
Code § 452(d) and 453.
Merits of Motion: CCP § 438(c)(1)(A) provides a plaintiff may move for judgment on the
pleadings if the complaint states sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action and the answer does
not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense to the complaint. The grounds for the motion shall
appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from any other matter of which the court may take
judicial notice. CCP § 438(d). The Court may take judicial notice of responses to discovery
records pursuant to Evidence Code §§ 452(d) and 453. Arce v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan,
Inc. (2010) 181 Cal.App.4th 471, 485.
The essential elements of an account stated are: (1) previous transactions between the parties
establishing the relationship of debtor and creditor; (2) an agreement between the parties, express
or implied, on the amount due from the debtor to the creditor; (3) a promise by the debtor, express
or implied, to pay the amount due. Leighton v. Forster (2017) 8 Cal. App. 5th 467, 491. “A ‘book
account’ is ‘a detailed statement which constitutes the principal record of one or more transactions
between a debtor and a creditor arising out of a contract or some fiduciary relation, and shows the
debits and credits in connection therewith ....’ ” [Citations.] The creditor must keep these records
in the regular course of its business and “in a reasonably permanent form,” such as a book or card
file. (Code Civ. Proc., § 337a.) “A book account is ‘open’ where a balance remains due on the
account.” [Citation.] Pro. Collection Consultants v. Lujan (2018) 23 Cal. App. 5th 685, 690–91.
This Court’s Order, entered May 13, 2024, deemed admitted Plaintiff’s requested admissions 1-9.
The admissions establish that: 1) Defendant had a credit account ending in 8363, 2) the credit
account was issued by Synchrony Bank, 3) Defendant received periodic statements regarding the
account, 4) as of December 18, 2023, the balance owed on the account was $2,523.69, 5)
Defendant has not made any payments on the account since December 18, 2023, 6) Defendant
submitted a payment toward the outstanding debt on the account within 4 years immediately prior
to December 18, 2023, 7) Plaintiff was assigned the debt, 8) Plaintiff is the current owner of the
debt, and 9) Defendant received through the US mail a pre-legal notification from Plaintiff
regarding the account.
Defendant’s admissions establish the required elements of each cause of action. Plaintiff’s Motion
for Judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED. The admissions establish that a principal sum of
$2,523.69 is due and owing. That sum is awarded. Plaintiffs have also submitted a memorandum
of costs for $369.50, comprising the filing and service of this motion. The amount appears
reasonable and is awarded. A proposed order and judgment have been lodged with the Court and
will be executed.
Ruling
Creditors Adjustment Bureau, Inc., vs. Castro
Jul 24, 2024 |
23CVG-00362
CREDITORS ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, INC., VS. CASTRO
Case Number: 23CVG-00362
Tentative Ruling on Motion for Terminating Sanctions: Plaintiff Creditors Adjustment Bureau, Inc. moves
for terminating sanctions by striking Defendant Vincent Castro’s answer. Plaintiff also requests sanctions in the
amount of $1,572.75 for each motion.
Procedural Defect: As a procedural matter, this motion was served both via mail and email on May 9, 2024, and
set for a hearing date of June 7, 2024. CCP § 1005(b) requires all moving papers be served 16 court days before
the hearing. This notice period is extended by five calendar days if the motion is served by mail. Id. For service
by email, the notice period is extended by two court days. CCP § 1010.6(a)(3). This timeframe is calculated by
counting backwards from the hearing date but excluding the hearing date. CCP § 12c.
Starting with the June 7, 2024, hearing date and counting backwards 16 court days (excluding the Court holiday
of May 27, 2024) then five calendar days for out of state mailing this matter should have been served by mail no
later than, May 4, 2024. For email the last day to serve the motion was April 24, 2024. The motion was served
on May 7, 2024, and was untimely under either calculation. Based on insufficient statutory notice, the motion is
denied.
Merits of Motion: Even if the motion had been timely noticed, terminating sanctions are not warranted.
Terminating sanctions are a “drastic penalty and should be used sparingly.” Lopez v. Watchtower Bible & Tract
Society of New York, Inc. (2016) 246 Cal.App.4th 566, 604. A terminating sanction should not generally be
imposed by the court until less severe sanctions have been attempted and were unsuccessful. Id. No justification
has been provided as to why terminating sanctions are appropriate in this context instead of lesser evidentiary or
issue sanctions. Without additional evidence, terminating sanctions would be premature.
The motion is DENIED. A proposed order was lodged with the Court which will be modified to reflect the
denial.
Review Hearing: This matter is also on calendar for review regarding trial re-setting. The Court designates this
matter as a Plan II case and intends on setting it for trial no later than October 15, 2024. An appearance is
necessary on today’s calendar to discuss available trial dates.
Ruling
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. vs. MELISSA LYNN PLUMMER
Jul 24, 2024 |
24CV13523
Parties, or counsel if represented, are ordered to appear personally or remotely to discuss the status of the case and to set trial dates in Dept. 2. You must notify the court and all other parties that you intend to appear remotely using form RA-010. In addition to providing notice, a Zoom link must be requested no later than one (1) court day before the hearing and shall be submitted to the Court through the Court’s website at https://www.amadorcourt.org/gi-zoomRequestForm.aspx.
Ruling
Capital One N.A. vs Sergio Alvarado
Jul 25, 2024 |
23CV-04296
23CV-04296 Capital One N.A v.Sergio Alvarado
Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Appearance required. Parties who wish to appear remotely must contact the clerk of the
court at (209) 725-4111 to seek permission and arrange for a remote appearance.
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF MERCED
Restraining Orders
Hon. Jennifer O. Trimble
Courtroom 12
1159 G Street, Los Banos
Thursday, July 25, 2024
11:00 a.m.
The following tentative rulings shall become the ruling of the court unless a party gives
notice of intention to appear as follows:
1. You must call (209) 725-4111 to notify the court of your intent to appear.
2. You must give notice to all other parties before 4:00 p.m. of your intent to appear.
Per California Rules of Court, rule 3.1308(a)(1), failure to do both items 1 and 2 will
result in no oral argument. Note: Notifying Court Call (the court’s telephonic appearance
provider) of your intent to appear does not satisfy the requirement of notifying the court.
IMPORTANT: Court Reporters will NOT be provided; parties wanting a hearing
transcript must make their own arrangements.
Case No. Title / Description
Ruling
Discover Bank vs Elzy Richmond
Jul 24, 2024 |
23CV-03831
23CV-03831 Discover Bank v. Elzy Richmond
Court Trial
Appearance required. Parties who wish to appear remotely must contact the clerk of the
court at (209) 725-4111 to seek permission and arrange for a remote appearance.
Ruling
Sierra Central Credit Union vs. Goodwin
Jul 25, 2024 |
23CVG-00253
SIERRA CENTRAL CREDIT UNION VS. GOODWIN
Case Number: 23CVG-00253
This matter is on calendar for review regarding status of bankruptcy. Plaintiff filed a Case Management Statement
informing the Court that the stay is still in effect. The matter is continued to Tuesday, January 23, 2025 at 9:00
a.m. in Department 63 for status of bankruptcy. No appearance is necessary on today’s calendar.
Ruling
CITIBANK, N.A. vs CERVANTES
Jul 27, 2024 |
Frank Anthony Moschetti |
CVCO2302079
MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL
CVCO2302079 CITIBANK VS CERVANTES
FOR CAROL T CERVANTES
Tentative Ruling: No tentative ruling will be issued.
Ruling
Synchrony Bank vs Dianna Rodriguez
Jul 24, 2024 |
23CV-03604
23CV-03604 Synchrony Bank v. Dianna Rodriguez
Motion for Order that Requests for Admission be deemed admitted
Appearance required. Parties who wish to appear remotely must contact the clerk of the
court at (209) 725-4111 to seek permission and arrange for a remote appearance.