The Hon. James F. Rigali is a judge for the Santa Barbara County Superior Court in California. He was elected to the bench in 2004.
He is a registered Republican.
Judge Rigali received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Notre Dame in 1983. He also earned his M.B.A. and J.D. from Santa Clara University.
Rigali first worked at the Los Angeles law firm of Burke, Williams, and Sorensen before moving to Santa Maria, California to practice general civil law at Henbury and Rigali. Then, in 1994, he joined Kirk and Simas where he would serve as a partner. During his time there, Rigali specialized in real estate, estate litigation and general civil matters. Rigali also served as co-owner of the Grover Beach Realty Company, a business he ran alongside his sister. He remained in both capacities until his appointment to the Superior Court in 2004.
He and his wife Anne are the parents of six children.
CONSERVATORSHIP OF JEFFRY THOMAS SWEENEY
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Court Investigator’s Annual Review
No appearance is required. Matter is continued to March 30, 2021.
...CONSERVATORSHIP OF YUMI YO MCLAUGHLIN
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Court Investigator’s Annual Review
The court investigator’s report has been received and recommends that the conservatorship continue. No appearance is required.
The next hearing will be held on February 15, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in the court identified above, concurrent...
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition: Letters Administration
Continued to March 30, 2021.
...Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Evidentiary Hearing: Petition to Determine Ownership of Estate Property
Appearances required.
...GUARDIANSHIP OF JAKHIA SMITH ET AL
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition to Appoint Guardian of the Person
Appearances required. The following must be submitted:
1) Proof of Personal Service. Proof of timely personal service of the notice of hearing and a copy of the petition (Prob. Code, § 1511) on both minors over the age of 12 ...
GUARDIANSHIP OF NOLAN JORDAN ET AL
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition to Appoint Guardian of the Estate
Appearances required. The following must be submitted:
1) Proposed Order to Deposit Money Into Blocked Account (MC-355)
2) Proposed Orders (Forms GC-240)
3) Supplement. Paragraph 7 of the petition contains an ...
CONSERVATORSHIP OF ADOLFO CHAVEZ
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Court Investigator’s Biennial Review
The court investigator’s report has been received and recommends that the conservatorship continue. No appearance is required.
The next review hearing will be held on February 21, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the court identified above.
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition for Final Distribution
No appearances required. Petition is recommended for approval.
...CONSERVATORSHIP OF KAREN MANNING
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition for Conservatorship of the Person
Appearances required. The Court received Notice of Conservatee’s Death (Form GC-399) on February 17, 2021. The death of a conservatee terminates the conservatorship by operation of law. (Prob. Code, § 1860, subd. (c).) However, death...
LEER V. GHITTERMAN, GHITTERMAN & FELD
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motion for Summary Judgment (not Summary Adjudication)
The history of this case was detailed in the court’s ruling on the demurrer to the cross-complaint, given on September 29, 2020. Suffice it to say for our purposes that plaintiff Marilu Leer (plaintiff) filed her first a...
BEDFORD, ET AL. V. COUNTY OF SANTA BARBARA BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ET AL.
Feb 23, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Demurrer to Second Amended Petition
The lawsuit, its history, and the specific causes of action, including the names and relationships of the parties, were detailed in the tentative order adopted by the court on November 17, 2020, and will not be recounted here. Suffice it t...
Feb 16, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition for Probate and Letters Testamentary
The following must be submitted:
1) Proof of re-Publication. Jurisdiction of the Probate Court is obtained by publication in accordance with Probate Code section 8121. (Prob. Code, § 8003(b).) The proof of publication show...
MATTER OF ENRIQUE MORALES-ESQUIVEL
Feb 16, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Minor’s Compromise
Appearances required, including the minor. (CRC 7.952.)
The following issues are noted for the Court:
1) Minor is not fully recovered, and may never do so. Adequate documentation that the minor has fully recovered, or is expected to fully re...
Feb 16, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition for Letters of Administration
The following must be submitted:
Proof of Publication. Jurisdiction of the Probate Court is obtained by publication in accordance with Probate Code section 8121. (Prob. Code, § 8003(b).) No proof of publication was filed.
MATTER OF CATALINA DACANAY SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST
Feb 16, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition to Approve First Accounting
The following discrepancies are noted for the Court:
Discrepancy no. 1 – Bank Fees. $214.99 was spent on bank fees to American Riviera Bank, with no explanation as to why those fees are necessary and whether or not they can be avoi...
Feb 16, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: DiSieno v. Nohr, et al.
The court permitted plaintiff’s counsel to file a supplemental brief addressing the court’s written tentative ruling, issued on December 15, 2020, in which the court (1) granted all requests to take judicial notice; (2) overruled all evidentiary objec...
Feb 09, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Review Hearing re: Residence Status of Ward
No appearances required. The guardianship is terminated by operation of law.
...CONSERVATORSHIP OF NOBUKO HIRATA
Feb 09, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: 4th Accounting and Report
Appearances required. A supplement addressing the following must be submitted:
Discrepancy no. 1: The conservatorship estate is paying for the property tax and insurance on properties owned by the trust. The conservatorship estate is not resp...
CONSERVATORSHIP OF TANYA LOUISE PERKINS
Feb 09, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Court Investigator’s Annual Review
The court investigator’s report has been received and recommends that the conservatorship continue. No appearance is required.
The next hearing will be held on February 8, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. in the court identified above.
...Feb 09, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Second Amended Petition for Probate / Petition for Appointment of Successor Personal Representative
There are two matters on calendar.
Petition for Probate of Will and Letters Testamentary (Second Amended)
As previously noted, a supplement was required. A Pers...
RANCHO YNECITA OWNERS ASSOCIATION V. JAMES H. NICHOLAS, ET AL.
Feb 09, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Motions to Strike, Demurrer, Motion to Release Cash Bond, and Petition to Enforce Order
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
This case began with a Complaint filed by Rancho Ynecita Homeowners Association on April 28, 2016. That Complaint named James Nicholas and Yvonne Nicholas indivi...
GUARDIANSHIP OF ADRIAN JOSEPH SHELTON, ET AL.
Feb 02, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition for Termination of Guardianship
Appearances required. The following must be submitted:
Final Order After Hearing. On June 5, 2019, the Court ordered Ms. Brooks-Montgomery to file a Final Order After Hearing with the court, and serve notice of that order on al...
CONSERVATORSHIP OF MIREYA TALAMANTEZ
Feb 02, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Court Investigator’s Biennial Review
The court investigator’s report has been received and recommends that the conservatorship continue. No appearance is required.
The next review hearing will be held on February 7, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in the court identified above.
GUARDIANSHIP OF JORGE FERNANDO ALVAREZ
Feb 02, 2021 | Santa Barbara County
Nature of Proceedings: Petition to Appoint Guardian of the Person
Appearances required. The following must be submitted:
1) Proof of Personal Service. Proof of timely personal service of the notice of hearing and a copy of the petition (Prob. Code, § 1511) on Carmen Clemencia Alvarez Chay O...
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