Preview
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
EXHIBIT 6
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
Crane drops huge air
conditioning unit
down 30 stories in Midtown, damaging
building and injuring 10 people
BY KELDY ORTIZ , CAITLIN NOLAN ,GREG B. SMITH , STEPHEN REX BROWN
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Pub sh unda a 31, , 2015, 11:34 AM
3rane Collapses in Midtown, Load Bei Carried Plummets 30 Stories
A crane hauling an air conditioner to the top floor of a 30-story building in Midtown
dropped the heavy load Sunday morning, smashing parts of the building and injuring
10 people.
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
Workers were loading the shipping-container-sized machine into a mechanical room at
261 Madison Ave. when a rigging strap broke, a city official familiar with the ongoing
investigation told the Daily News.
The conditioner bashed a hole near the roof, then sheared off chunks of the building as
it fell at 10:43 a.m. Debris rained down on Madison Ave. near E. 38th St.
Mayor de Blasio said 10 people were hurt — two of them construction workers — but
the injuries were not serious, and they were treated at Bellevue Hospital and NYU
Langone Medical Center.
Seemingly everyone on the scene was astonished the accident had not ended in
tragedy.
“Thank God this occurs at this hour, on a weekend, when there were not many people
around,” de Blasio said at the scene, promising a full investigation of the “serious
incident.”
FDNY Assistant Chief Ronald Spadafora agreed.
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
. ODD MAISEUNEW YORK DAHJ NEWS
The massive air conditioning unit, seen here, smashed into the building several times during its way down
before finally hitting the street.
this,"
"We lucked out on he said.
Perhaps no one was luckier than Gregory Welch, 51, and his wife, Priscilla, 49, who
were driving through the one lane of traffic open alongside the crane when the air
conditioner landed about 20 yards from their car.
good,"
"God is Gregory Welch said.
Workers and other passersby were also counting their blessings.
One construction worker said he and several co-workers saw the crane lose its footing
when the rig snapped loose.
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
“We heard a loud explosion. It was like a movie. It’s a miracle none of us got seriously
hurt,” said the worker, who did not give his name.
Ibrahim Schovic, 20, was on his shift as a security guard in the building across the
street when he heard the thunderous crash.
“A piece of concrete hit me in the back of the head,” he said, touching his injury.
Schovic and another bystander made a run for it through the back of the building.
“He looked really scared. He kept yelling ‘Help! Help!’ ” Schovic recalled. “It’s the
scariest day of my life.”
Holly Moore, 51, said she and her friend were riding bikes on Madison Ave. when the
debris fell.
“Stuff from the building was falling from the sky. People were screaming,” she said.
Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler said the crane was in “good working order.”
Investigators were trying to determine whether the accident was caused by operator
error or a mechanical flaw.
On May 4, the Buildings Department approved a permit for Skylift Contractor to
operate a 375-foot crane at the site to lift a chiller to the top floors of the building,
records show.
The permit said the device was to be placed on the 29th or 30th floor.
The building had no open violations relating to safety on file with the city.
Skylift owner Brad Allecia could not be reached for comment.
The trendy Japanese restaurant Zuma is on the ground floor of the building, and was
closed at the time of the accident.
Other tenants are Signature Bank, advertising firm PriMedia and AFTRA insurance,
according to a website for the Sapir Organization, which owns the building.
Meredith Kelly, 50, said that when the machinery hit the ground she had only one
thing on her mind: run.
“Your first thought was you want to be as far as you can,” she said. “It was really
intense. Lots of smoke. We’re grateful to be alive.”
Police blocked traffic between 34th and 42nd Sts. and Park and Fifth Aves. De Blasio
said authorities hoped to have the area completely open to traffic by the Monday rush.
Last year, city Controller Scott Stringer issued a report that found the city had only
implemented eight of 65 safety reforms to prevent other crane disasters.
FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015
NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018
The call for new measures came in 2008, when two separate crane collapses killed
nine people.
“With so much construction going on in our city, today’s event makes it clear that
more has to be done, and that safety must be our top priority,” a Stringer spokesman
said.
“New Yorkers need to be able to walk the streets without fear.”
That message resonated with Christina Collins, 35, who lives a block away from the
accident.
“I walk by here all the time,” she said.
“It’s really scary to live in the neighborhood when things like this happen.”
A visitor from Austin, Texas, remarked on the New York-minute aspect of the
incident.
“New York is upgrading and, wow, you can walk down the street and not know what
hit you,” said Susan Post, 68.
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K. QUILLIN VS. NOELLE BECKER MORENO ET AL
Jul 10, 2024 |
CGC24611734
Matter on the Law & Motion calendar for Wednesday, July 10, 2024, Line 11. DEFENDANT NOELLE MORENO's MOTION TO STRIKE COMPLAINT. Off calendar for noncompliance with Local Rule 2.7(B) (courtesy copies). The motion may be re-set for a Mon.-Thurs. after July 24, with papers to bear new hearing date. For the 9:30 a.m. Law & Motion calendar, all attorneys and parties may appear in Department 302 remotely. Remote hearings will be conducted by videoconference using Zoom. To appear remotely at the hearing, go to the court's website at sfsuperiorcourt.org under "Online Services," navigate to "Tentative Rulings," and click on the appropriate link, or dial the corresponding phone number. Any party who contests a tentative ruling must send an email to contestdept302tr@sftc.org with a copy to all other parties by 4pm stating, without argument, the portion(s) of the tentative ruling that the party contests. The subject line of the email shall include the line number, case name and case number. The text of the email shall include the name and contact information, including email address, of the attorney or party who will appear at the hearing. The court no longer provides a court reporter in the Law & Motion Department. Parties may retain their own reporter, who may appear in the courtroom or remotely. A retained reporter must be a California certified court reporter (CSR), for only a CSR's transcript may be used in California courts. If a CSR is being retained, include in your email all of the following: their name, CSR and telephone numbers, and their individual work email address. =(302/RBU)
Ruling
ARMEN BEGOYAN VS CITY OF LOS ANGELES, ET AL.
Jul 11, 2024 |
21STCV34525
Case Number:
21STCV34525
Hearing Date:
July 11, 2024
Dept:
32
PLEASE NOTE
:
Parties are encouraged to meet and confer concerning this tentative ruling to determine if a resolution may be reached.
If the parties are unable to reach a resolution and a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the Court at
sscdept32@lacourt.org
indicating that partys intention to submit.
The email shall include the case number, date and time of the hearing, counsels contact information (if applicable), and the identity of the party submitting on this tentative ruling.
If the Court does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on this tentative ruling and there are no appearances at the hearing, the Court may place the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court.
If all parties do not submit on this tentative ruling, they should arrange to appear in-person or remotely.
Further, after the Court has posted/issued a tentative ruling, the Court has the inherent authority to prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion and adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court
.
TENTATIVE RULING
DEPT
:
32
HEARING DATE
:
July 11, 2024
CASE NUMBER
:
21STCV34525
MOTIONS
:
Motion for Terminating Sanctions
MOVING PARTY:
Defendant City of Los Angeles
OPPOSING PARTY:
None
BACKGROUND
Defendant City of Los Angeles (
Defendant) moves for terminating sanctions against Plaintiff
Armen Begoyan (Plaintiff) for failure to comply with the Courts April 26, 2024 discovery order. Defendant seeks to dismiss the entire action. No opposition has been filed.
LEGAL STANDARD
To the extent authorized by the chapter governing any particular discovery method or any other provision of this title, the court, after notice to any affected party, person, or attorney, and after opportunity for hearing, may impose&sanctions against anyone engaging in conduct that is a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc. section 2023.030.) The court may impose a terminating sanction for misuse of the discovery process by any of the following: (1) An order striking out the pleadings or parts of the pleadings of any party engaging in the misuse of the discovery process; (2) An order staying further proceedings by that party until an order for discovery is obeyed; (3) An order dismissing the action, or any part of the action, of that party; (4) An order rendering a judgment by default against that party. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2023.030(d).)
Failing to respond or to submit to an authorized method of discovery, or
disobeying a court order to provide discovery,
constitutes a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (d), (g).)
The trial court may order a terminating sanction for discovery abuse after considering the totality of the circumstances: [the] conduct of the party to determine if the actions were willful; the detriment to the propounding party; and the number of formal and informal attempts to obtain the discovery. (
Los Defensores, Inc. v. Gomez
(2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 377, 390, quoting
Lang v. Hochman
(2000) 77 Cal.App.4th 1225, 1246.)
Generally, [a] decision to order terminating sanctions should not be made lightly.
But where a violation is willful, preceded by a history of abuse, and the evidence shows that less severe sanctions would not produce compliance with the discovery rules, the trial court is justified in imposing the ultimate sanction. (
Los Defensores, supra
, 223 Cal. App. 4th at p. 390 [citation omitted].)
Under this standard, trial courts have properly imposed terminating sanctions when parties have willfully disobeyed one or more discovery orders. (
Los Defensores, supra
, 223 Cal.App.4th at p. 390 citing
Lang, supra
, 77 Cal.App.4th at pp. 1244-1246 [discussing cases]; see, e.g.,
Collisson & Kaplan v. Hartunian
(1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 1611, 1617-1622 [terminating sanctions imposed (by striking the defendants Answer and subsequently granting default judgment) after defendants failed to comply with one court order to produce discovery];
Laguna Auto Body v. Farmers Ins. Exchange
(1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 481, 491, disapproved on other grounds in
Garcia v. McCutchen
(1997) 16 Cal.4th 469, 478, n. 4 [terminating sanctions imposed against the plaintiff for failing to comply with a discovery order and for violating various discovery statutes].)
If a party . . . fails to obey an order compelling answers [to interrogatories or requests for production], the court may make those orders that are just, including the imposition of an issue sanction, an evidence sanction, or a terminating sanction under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 2023.010). In lieu of or in addition to that sanction, the court may impose a monetary sanction under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 2023.010). (Code Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.290(c); 2031.300(c).)
DISCUSSION
Written discovery was originally served on Plaintiff on March 1, 2023. (Kahramanian Decl. ¶ 2.) On September 21, 2023 and January 11, 2024, Defendants counsel emailed Plaintiffs counsel requesting responses but received no response. (
Id.
¶ 3.)
On April 26, 2024, the Court granted
Defendants unopposed motion to compel Plaintiffs responses to Demand for Production of Documents, Set One, Special Interrogatories, Set One, and Form Interrogatories, Set One. Plaintiff was ordered to provide verified responses, without objections, within 10 days. (Min. Order, 4/26/24.) The Court also imposed $700.00 in monetary sanctions against Plaintiff and his counsel of record.
On May 2, 2024, Defendant filed and served electronic notice of the ruling on Plaintiffs counsel. Defendant contends that no responses have been served complying with the Courts order. (Kahramanian Decl. ¶ 4.) Plaintiff has not filed an opposition to this motion.
Therefore, it appears that the discovery was first served in March 2023, and the motion to compel was granted on April 26, 2024. Throughout this time, Defendant sought to obtain responses through informal ways before ultimately obtaining an order to compel. The delay in time also demonstrates that Defendant has been prevented from mounting a defense against this case. Considering the above, the fact Plaintiff did not oppose this motion nor the previous motion to compel, and monetary sanctions have been ineffective, the Court finds Plaintiffs actions to be willful. Therefore, the motion for terminating sanctions is granted.
CONCLUSION
Therefore, Defendant
City of Los Angeles
motion for terminating sanctions is GRANTED. The only remaining defendants are Doe Defendants who have not been named or served, and therefore t
he Court orders the complaint dismissed in its entirety.
If Defendant moves to dismiss the cross-complaint at the hearing on this motion, then the Final Status Conference and Jury Trial dates will be advanced and vacated.
Defendant shall provide notice of the Courts ruling and file a proof of service of such.
Ruling
Gilbert Hernandez vs. In-Shape Health Clubs, LLC
Jul 11, 2024 |
20CV-02521
20CV-02521 Gilbert Hernandez v. In-Shape Health Clubs LLC
Trial Settng Conference
Appearance required. Remote appearances are permitted. Parties who wish to appear
remotely must contact the clerk of the court at (209) 725-4111 to arrange for a remote
appearance. Appear to address the status of case following the unsuccessful mediation
and whether it is time to set this matter for trial.
Ruling
SOCORRO ALEGRIA VS ALTAMED HEALTH SERVICES CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, ET AL.
Jul 11, 2024 |
24PSCV00032
Case Number:
24PSCV00032
Hearing Date:
July 11, 2024
Dept:
K
1.
Defendant AltaMed Health Services Corporations Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings is summarily GRANTED in part (i.e., as to the fifth, sixth and tenth causes of action) and otherwise DENIED in part (i.e., as to the eighth and ninth causes of action).
2.
Defendant AltaMed Health Services Corporations Motion to Strike is DENIED as MOOT.
Background
Plaintiff Socorro Alegria (Plaintiff) alleges as follows: Plaintiff was sexually assaulted during her March 22, 2023 medical imaging appointment. On January 3, 2024, Plaintiff filed a complaint, asserting causes of action against AltaMed Health Services Corporation (AltaMed), Jose Luis Sanchez and Does 1-20 for:
1.
Negligent Hiring Retention, Supervision and Failure to Terminate (v. AltaMed only)
2.
Common Law Assault (v. Sanchez only)
3.
Common Law Battery (v. Sanchez only)
4.
Sexual Battery in Violation of Civil Code § 1708.5 (v. Sanchez only)
5.
Violation of Civil Code § 51.7
6.
Sexual Harassment in Violation of Civil Code § 51.9
7.
Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (v. Sanchez only)
8.
Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress
9.
Negligence (v. AltaMed only)
10.
Violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act A Case Management Conference is set for July 11, 2024.
1.
Judgment on the Pleadings
Legal Standard
The rules governing demurrers are generally applicable to a motion for judgment on the pleadings. (
Cloud v. Northrop Grumman Corp.
(1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 995, 999; Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (d) [The grounds for motion. . . shall appear on the face of the challenged pleading or from any matter of which the court is required to take judicial notice. Where the motion is based on a matter of which the court may take judicial notice. . ., the matter shall be specified in the notice of motion, or in the supporting points and authorities, except as the court may otherwise permit].)
A motion by a plaintiff may only be made on the grounds that the complaint states facts sufficient to constitute a cause or causes of action against the defendant and the answer does not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense to the complaint. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c)(1)(A).) A motion by a defendant may only be made on the grounds that (1) [t]he court has no jurisdiction of the subject of the cause of action alleged in the complaint or (2) [t]he complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against that defendant. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (c).)
Although a nonstatutory motion may be made at any time either prior to the trial or at the trial itself (
Stoops v. Abbassi
(2002) 100 Cal.App.4th 644, 650 [quotation marks and citation omitted]), a statutory motion cannot be made after entry of a pretrial conference order or 30 days before the initial trial date, whichever is later, unless the court otherwise permits. (Code Civ. Proc., § 438, subd. (e).)
Discussion
AltaMed moves the court, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure § 438, for judgment on the pleadings as to the fifth, sixth, and eighth through tenth (i.e., for
Violation of Civil Code § 51.7, Sexual Harassment in Violation of Civil Code § 51.9, Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress, Negligence and Violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, respectively)
causes of action in Plaintiffs complaint, on the basis that they each fail to state facts sufficient to constitute causes of action.
At the outset, Plaintiff represents that she agrees to dismiss her fifth, sixth and tenth causes of action, without prejudice (Opp., 1:26-2:2); accordingly, in the event a Request for Dismissal is not on file by the time of the hearing, the court will summarily grant the motion in this regard.
The courts following analysis, then, is limited to Plaintiffs eighth and ninth causes of action, for Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress and Negligence, respectively:
AltaMed asserts that these causes of action fail because it cannot be held vicariously liable for an alleged sexual assault by its employee. [A]n employer is vicariously liable for the torts of its employees committed within the scope of the employment. (
Lisa M. v. Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
(1995) 12 Cal.4th 291, 296.) However, [a]n
employer will not be held liable for an assault or other intentional tort that did not have a causal nexus to the employee's work. (
Id.
at 297).
The court construes Plaintiffs eighth and ninth causes of action as sounding in direct negligence, rather than vicarious liability. Further, while AltaMed contends that these causes of action are surplusage, this argument was raised for the first time in the reply; as such, it is disregarded. The motion is denied in this regard.
2.
Motion to Strike
AltaMed moves the court for an order striking out the following language from Plaintiffs complaint:
1.
Page 12, paragraph 68, lines 6-12;
2.
Page 13, paragraph 79, lines 9-15;
3.
Page 16, paragraph 102, lines 18-24;
4.
Page 17, paragraph 7, line 13;
5.
Page 17, paragraph 9, line 15;
6.
Page 17, paragraph 10, line 16. AltaMeds request is denied as moot. All of the allegations AltaMed seeks to have stricken pertain to the fifth, sixth and tenth causes of action, which Plaintiff has agreed to dismiss.
Ruling
Thompson, Harry Fayne III vs. Rose, Steven Leon et al
Jul 22, 2024 |
S-CV-0052451
S-CV-0052451 Thompson, Harry Fayne III vs. Rose, Steven Leon et al
No appearance required. CMC is continued to 10/14/24 at 2pm in Dept. 6.
Complaint is not at issue - Need responsive pleading, default or dismissal as to
Defendant(s): Grossman, Marilyn Joy
Additionally, no proof of service has been filed as to Defendant(s): Rose, Steven
Leon
Ruling
TODD BERTRANG, ET AL. VS IVORY HOLDINGS, LLC, A LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ET AL.
Jul 09, 2024 |
21STCV42736
Case Number:
21STCV42736
Hearing Date:
July 9, 2024
Dept:
S25 Procedural Background Plaintiffs, Todd Bertrang (Bertrang) and Ophie Beltran (Beltran) (collectively, Plaintiffs) sued Defendants, Lido Sailing Club, Inc. (Lido), Ivory Holdings, LLC (Ivory), and Scott Vollero (Vollero) based on injuries Plaintiffs allege they sustained from Bertrangs exposure to hazardous chemicals. Plaintiffs filed their original complaint on November 18, 2021, and filed a First Amended Complaint (FAC) on May 4, 2022. Notably, Plaintiffs did not serve any party prior to filing their FAC, and no party responded to the original complaint. On September 8, 2022, the Court sustained Lido Sailing Club, LLCs demurrer to the FAC with leave to amend. (September 8, 2022 Minute Order.) On September 30, 2022, Plaintiffs filed their Second Amended Complaint (SAC). On October 5, 2022, Lido filed a demurrer to the SAC. Shortly thereafter, the personal injury hub court found the case complicated and transferred it to Long Beach for all further proceedings. On January 12, 2023, Lido re-filed its demurrer to the SAC in Department S27. On June 27, 2023, the Court continued the hearing on the demurrer, finding the parties had not adequately met and conferred prior to filing their papers. On July 27, 2023, the Court sustained the demurrer with leave to amend. On September 20, 2023, rather than amending the SAC, Plaintiffs dismissed Lido from the case. On December 21, 2023, Defendants Ivory Holdings and Vollero filed a demurrer with the motion to strike portions of the SAC. On January 23, 2024, the Court sustained the demurrer with leave to 20 days amend as to the NIED cause of action and alter ego liability cause of action and overruled the strict liability for ultrahazardous activity cause of action, the violation of Health and Safety Code, § 25359.7, cause of action and the IIED cause of action; the Court also granted the motion to strike without leave to amend as to punitive damages and related allegations. (January 23, 2024 Minute Order.) On April 24, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint (TAC) more than two months after the Courts January 23 order. Meet and Confer Defendant Volleros counsel states that he sent a meet and confer letter to Plaintiffs counsel on May 17, 2024 detailing issues with the TAC and his availability for a telephonic meet and confer at least 5 days prior to filing the instant motions. (Rasmussen Decl.1, ¶ 5, Exh. B.) Defendant Volleros counsel states that Plaintiffs counsel did not respond to the meet and confer attempt. (Id., at ¶ 6.) In opposition, Plaintiffs counsel argues Defendant Volleros counsel failed to meet and confer because the issues were not discussed in person or by telephone as required under Code Civ. Proc., §§ 430.41, 435.5. Notwithstanding the parties conflicting ideas of meet and confer, it is very likely an informal attempt to resolve the matter would have been unsuccessful. Analysis 1. Delay in Filing of Third Amended Complaint Code Civ. Proc., § 472b, states that: [w] hen a demurrer to any pleading is sustained or overruled, and time to amend or answer is given, the time so given runs from the service of notice of the decision or order, unless the notice is waived in open court, and the waiver entered in the minutes. (Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2024) ¶ 7:145; Cano v. Glover (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 326, 329-330.) After expiration of the time in which a pleading can be amended as a matter of course, the pleading can only be amended by obtaining the permission of the court. (Leader v. Health Indus. of Am., Inc. (2001) 89 Cal. App. 4th 603, 613.) While a court has discretion to require a noticed motion before permitting a plaintiff to file an amended complaint late, a court also has the discretion to accept a filing without a noticed motion. (Harlan v. Dep't of Transportation (2005) 132 Cal. App. 4th 868, 873.) The Court exercises its discretion and accepts Plaintiffs untimely filed Third Amended Complaint without a noticed motion. 2. Second Amended Complaint Holding (Alter Ego) On January 23, 2024, Judge Mark Kim sustained Defendant Volleros Demurrer to the Second Amended Complaint with leave to amend. Judge Kim ruled: All claims against Volero are plead on an alter ego theory. Plaintiffs alter ego allegations are found at ¶6 of the SAC, and merely allege that each defendant was acting as the alter ego of each other defendant. Relying on Rutherford Holdings, LLC v. Playa del Rey (2014) 223 Cal.App. 221, 236, Judge Kim held: Plaintiffs herein failed to allege any of the ultimate facts showing alter ego liability. They failed to allege unity of interest, domination and control, inadequate capitalization, etc. Voleros demurrer is therefore sustained with leave to amend. Plaintiffs must allege ultimate facts showing imposition of liability against Volero would be proper. (See January 23, 2024 Minute Order, Legal Standard on Demurrer, Alter Ego Liability, 3(h)). 3. Demurrer to the Third Amended Complaint (Alter Ego) A demurrer is a pleading used to test the legal sufficiency of other pleadings. It raises issues of law, not fact, regarding the form or content of the opposing partys pleading. It is error for the trial court to sustain a demurrer if the plaintiff has stated a cause of action under any possible legal theory, and it is an abuse of discretion for the court to sustain a demurrer without leave to amend if the plaintiff has shown there is a reasonable possibility a defect can be cured by amendment. California Logistics, Inc. v. State of California (2008) 161 Cal. App. 4th 242, 247. The burden is on the complainant to show in what manner and how that amendment will change the legal effect of the pleading. (Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 335, 349.) Plaintiffs allegations of alter ego in the TAC are found at ¶ 3 and 6. These allegations are identical to the alter ego allegations found at ¶ 3 and ¶6 of the SAC. No additional facts or allegations have been added by Plaintiffs. As discussed, Judge Kim found those allegations deficient as Plaintiff failed to allege any of the ultimate facts showing alter ego liability and failed to allege unity of interest, domination and control, inadequate capitalization. (January 23, 2024 Minute Order). In sum, Plaintiffs completely failed to amend or modify their operative pleading in any manner or in compliance with Judge Kims ruling. In Plaintiffs opposition, Plaintiffs request leave to amend by suggesting three new facts, previously unknown, support the theory of alter ego between Vollero and Ivory Holdings. These facts are: (1) and (2) on August 16, 2016, two separate Deeds of Trust were recorded against the subject premises with Vollero as the Beneficiary and (3) Vollero, as an individual, performed the alleged remediation of the toxic chemicals which are alleged to have harmed Plaintiffs. Assuming the new facts found in Plaintiffs Opposition are true, Plaintiffs have not met their burden demonstrating how or in what manner these new allegations support of finding that a reasonable possibility exist for Plaintiffs to cure the defects and successfully pled a theory of alter ego. (Reeder v. Specialized Loan Servicing LLC (2020) 52 Cal.App.5th 795, 805.) These additional facts show no connection between Vollero and Ivory Holdings. Even with the inclusion of those three allegations, Plaintiffs operative pleading would fail to allege any of the ultimate facts showing an alter ego theory as set forth in Rutherford (e.g. allegations of unity of interest, domination and control, inadequate capitalization). 4. Ruling The Court sustains Defendant Volleros Demurrer without leave to amend. Defendant Volleros motion to strike is now moot.
Ruling
Luis Kutz, et al vs Jennifer Fribourgh, et al
Jul 11, 2024 |
23CV01711
23CV01711
KUTZ et al. v. FRIBOURGH et al.
(UNOPPOSED) PLAINTIFFS’ MOTIONS TO BE RELIEVED
The unopposed motions are denied without prejudice. Counsel must refile to reflect
correct upcoming hearing dates in the declarations and proposed orders.
Notice to prevailing parties: Local Rule 2.10.01 requires you to submit a proposed formal order
incorporating, verbatim, the language of any tentative ruling – or attaching and incorporating the
tentative by reference - or an order consistent with the announced ruling of the Court, in
accordance with California Rule of Court 3.1312. Such proposed order is required even if the
prevailing party submitted a proposed order prior to the hearing (unless the tentative is
simply to “grant”). Failure to comply with Local Rule 2.10.01 may result in the imposition of
sanctions following an order to show cause hearing, if a proposed order is not timely filed.
Page 1 of 1
Ruling
Dryden, Donna vs Tri Counties Bank
Jul 10, 2024 |
23CV03115
23CV03115 Dryden, Donna et al. v. Tri Counties Bank
EVENT: Plaintiffs’ Motion to Consolidate and Appoint Interim Class Counsel
Plaintiffs’ Motion to Consolidate and Appoint Interim Class Counsel is GRANTED. Defendant
shall file a responsive pleading within 60 days of the date of this order. The Court will sign the
proposed order with the noted modification.
Document
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FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 EXHIBIT 6 FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 Crane drops huge air conditioning unit down 30 stories in Midtown, damaging building and injuring 10 people BY KELDY ORTIZ , CAITLIN NOLAN ,GREG B. SMITH , STEPHEN REX BROWN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Pub sh unda a 31, , 2015, 11:34 AM 3rane Collapses in Midtown, Load Bei Carried Plummets 30 Stories A crane hauling an air conditioner to the top floor of a 30-story building in Midtown dropped the heavy load Sunday morning, smashing parts of the building and injuring 10 people. FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 Workers were loading the shipping-container-sized machine into a mechanical room at 261 Madison Ave. when a rigging strap broke, a city official familiar with the ongoing investigation told the Daily News. The conditioner bashed a hole near the roof, then sheared off chunks of the building as it fell at 10:43 a.m. Debris rained down on Madison Ave. near E. 38th St. Mayor de Blasio said 10 people were hurt — two of them construction workers — but the injuries were not serious, and they were treated at Bellevue Hospital and NYU Langone Medical Center. Seemingly everyone on the scene was astonished the accident had not ended in tragedy. “Thank God this occurs at this hour, on a weekend, when there were not many people around,” de Blasio said at the scene, promising a full investigation of the “serious incident.” FDNY Assistant Chief Ronald Spadafora agreed. FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 . ODD MAISEUNEW YORK DAHJ NEWS The massive air conditioning unit, seen here, smashed into the building several times during its way down before finally hitting the street. this," "We lucked out on he said. Perhaps no one was luckier than Gregory Welch, 51, and his wife, Priscilla, 49, who were driving through the one lane of traffic open alongside the crane when the air conditioner landed about 20 yards from their car. good," "God is Gregory Welch said. Workers and other passersby were also counting their blessings. One construction worker said he and several co-workers saw the crane lose its footing when the rig snapped loose. FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 “We heard a loud explosion. It was like a movie. It’s a miracle none of us got seriously hurt,” said the worker, who did not give his name. Ibrahim Schovic, 20, was on his shift as a security guard in the building across the street when he heard the thunderous crash. “A piece of concrete hit me in the back of the head,” he said, touching his injury. Schovic and another bystander made a run for it through the back of the building. “He looked really scared. He kept yelling ‘Help! Help!’ ” Schovic recalled. “It’s the scariest day of my life.” Holly Moore, 51, said she and her friend were riding bikes on Madison Ave. when the debris fell. “Stuff from the building was falling from the sky. People were screaming,” she said. Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler said the crane was in “good working order.” Investigators were trying to determine whether the accident was caused by operator error or a mechanical flaw. On May 4, the Buildings Department approved a permit for Skylift Contractor to operate a 375-foot crane at the site to lift a chiller to the top floors of the building, records show. The permit said the device was to be placed on the 29th or 30th floor. The building had no open violations relating to safety on file with the city. Skylift owner Brad Allecia could not be reached for comment. The trendy Japanese restaurant Zuma is on the ground floor of the building, and was closed at the time of the accident. Other tenants are Signature Bank, advertising firm PriMedia and AFTRA insurance, according to a website for the Sapir Organization, which owns the building. Meredith Kelly, 50, said that when the machinery hit the ground she had only one thing on her mind: run. “Your first thought was you want to be as far as you can,” she said. “It was really intense. Lots of smoke. We’re grateful to be alive.” Police blocked traffic between 34th and 42nd Sts. and Park and Fifth Aves. De Blasio said authorities hoped to have the area completely open to traffic by the Monday rush. Last year, city Controller Scott Stringer issued a report that found the city had only implemented eight of 65 safety reforms to prevent other crane disasters. FILED: NEW YORK COUNTY CLERK 08/09/2018 08:48 AM INDEX NO. 162502/2015 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 108 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 08/09/2018 The call for new measures came in 2008, when two separate crane collapses killed nine people. “With so much construction going on in our city, today’s event makes it clear that more has to be done, and that safety must be our top priority,” a Stringer spokesman said. “New Yorkers need to be able to walk the streets without fear.” That message resonated with Christina Collins, 35, who lives a block away from the accident. “I walk by here all the time,” she said. “It’s really scary to live in the neighborhood when things like this happen.” A visitor from Austin, Texas, remarked on the New York-minute aspect of the incident. “New York is upgrading and, wow, you can walk down the street and not know what hit you,” said Susan Post, 68.