Judge Bret D. Hillman: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Motion: Demurrer by Defendants County of Tulare, Tulare County Resource Management Agency, Reed Schenke, John Hess, Hernan Beltran Herrera, and Grey Tompkins to Plaintiff’s Complaint
Tentative Ruling: To Sustain Defendants’ demurrer to Plaintiff’s Complaint as to the 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Causes of...

Motion: Defendants’ Demurrer to Second Amended Complaint
Tentative Ruling: To sustain the demurrer of defendants County of Tulare, et al.’s demurrer to second amended complaint with twenty days’ leave to amend.
The court notes from a review of its file that proper notice was given to all parties. The...

Motion: Motion to Enforce Written Settlement and for Attorney’s Fees (CCP §664.6)
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff’s motion to enforce written settlement as itemized below in this ruling. Plaintiff shall be awarded attorney fees under Civil Code §1717 in the amount of $1,590.00.
This is an action...

Motion: Plaintiff’s Motion for Leave to File his Second Amended Complaint
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff’s motion for leave to file his first amended complaint. Plaintiff shall file his first amended complaint within five days from the notice of this ruling.
All parties were given proper notice...

Motion: Demurrer to Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint
Tentative Ruling: Defendant Metrocom, Inc.’s demurrer to plaintiff’s first amended complaint (FAC) is overruled. Defendant Metrocom, Inc. shall have thirty days’ leave to answer the plaintiff’s FAC.
Item #2 of defendant’s request for judicial no...

Motions: (1) General Demurrer to All Causes of Action to Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint; (2) Motion to Strike Improper Prayer and Punitive Damages and “Retraining” from Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint
Defendants’ demurrer is sustained without leave to amend as to plaintiff Christopher Renfro’s ...

Motion: Objector’s Motion to Quash, Modify. Or Limit Petitioners’ Subpoena for Records Issued to Cardboard Box Company & Mountain View Dairy
Tentative Ruling: To grant Objector’s motion to quash, modify. or limit petitioners’ subpoena for records issued to Cardboard Box Company & Mountain View Dairy
...

Motion: Motion for Entry of Judgment Pursuant to CCP §664.6
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff Impax Automation, LLC’s motion for entry of judgment under CCP §664.6 in the amount of $220,000.00 against Visalia Dairy Company and defendants Mark D. Acevedo, and Leonard Vandenberg.
$50,000 of this jud...

Motion: Motion for Reconsideration Pursuant to CCP 473
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of the waiver of a jury trial. Plaintiff shall deposit the applicable jury fees with the Court within ten days from the notice of this ruling.
Plaintiff’s Request for Judicial Noti...

Motion: Unopposed Motion for Class Certification
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff David Contreras Lopez’s (as representative for plaintiffs and the putative class) unopposed motion for class certification.
A review of the Court’s file indicates that all necessary parties have been given timely an...

Motion: Motion for Determination of Good Faith Settlement of Cross-Defendant California Mantel and Fireplace, Inc.;
Tentative Ruling: To grant cross-defendant California Mantel and Fireplace, Inc.’s motion for determination of good faith settlement
A review of the Court’s file indicates that all nece...

Motions: (1) Motion Compelling Response to Special Interrogatories Set One and for Monetary Sanctions; (2) Motion to Compel Response to Request to Request for Production of Documents Set One, and Production Thereof.
Tentative Rulings: (1) To grant plaintiff’s motion compelling response to special interr...

Motion: Motion for Order Compelling Production of Documents and for Monetary Sanctions (CCP §708.030)
Tentative Ruling: To grant judgment creditor Kaweah Container, Inc.’s motion to compel judgment debtor Brookfield Box Company, Inc. to respond to judgment creditor Kaweah Container, Inc.’s request for p...

Motion: Motion to Deem Admitted Request for Admissions
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff LVNV Funding LLC’s motion to deem admitted request for admissions. The facts and allegations identified in Requests for Admissions 1 through 10 of plaintiff’s first set of requests for admissions to defendant Son...

Motion: Motion by Defendants Sycamore Valley Academy, The Academies Charter Management Organization, and Ruth Dutton to Strike Plaintiff’s Prayers for Costs and Attorney’s Fees and for Punitive Damages
Tentative Ruling: To Grant Defendants’ Motion to Strike Plaintiff’s prayers for recovery of attorney’s...

Motion: Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Tentative Ruling: To grant plaintiff Discover Bank’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.
The proof of service on file with the Court for this matter indicates that defendant Issac V. Alvarez received timely and proper notice of this motion for judgment o...

Motion: Plaintiff’s Motion for Order Granting Final Approval of Class Action Settlement
Tentative Ruling: To Grant Plaintiff’s Motion for Order Granting Final Approval of Class Action Settlement. A hearing on compliance with the terms of the settlement shall be on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. in ...

Motions: (1) Motion for Order Compelling Plaintiff to Answer Special Interrogatories; Request for Sanctions; (2) Motion for Order Compelling Plaintiff to Answer Form Interrogatories; Request for Sanctions; (3) Motion to Deem the Truth of Matters Specified in Requests for Admissions, Set One, Admitted and C...

Motion: Motion to Set Aside Default and for Leave to Defend Action
Tentative Ruling: To grant defendant Cindy Whipple’s motion to set aside default and for leave to defend action. Defendant shall file a responsive pleading to the plaintiff’s complaint within five days from the notice of this ruling.
...

Motion: Motion for Leave to file Second Amended Complaint
Tentative Ruling: To deny plaintiff’s motion to file second amended complaint without prejudice
California Rule of Court 3.1324 (a) mandates that “[a] motion to amend a pleading before trial must: (1) Include a copy of the proposed amendment o...

Motion: Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Tentative Ruling: To continue the hearing on plaintiff Discover Bank’s motion for judgment on the pleadings to April 16, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 7 of this court and direct the plaintiff to file a declaration with the Court that complies with the “meet...

Motion: Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings
Tentative Ruling: Defendant Vidal Barreto Velasco’s motion for judgment on the pleadings is granted as to the conversion and quantum meruit/unjust enrichment causes of action and denied as to plaintiff’s quiet title and fraud cause of action.
Defendant’s R...

Motion: Defendant Jason Dulcich & Sons Motion to Tax Costs
Tentative Ruling: Defendant Jason Dulcich & Sons motion to tax the $8,734.05 for fees that plaintiff paid to “jury consultant” Deborah A. Hansen, J.D., Ph.D. is granted.
Defendant Jason Dulcich & Sons motion to tax the $297.00 associated with...

Motion: Motion to Quash Service of Summons and Complaint
Tentative Ruling: To grant defendant Tulare County’s Motion to Quash Summons and Complaint.
The court’s file indicates that plaintiff Gary Henry was properly noticed for this motion at the address stated in his complaint. There has been no resp...