Judge: Bruce G. Iwasaki, Case: 20STCV48986, Date: 2022-10-25 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV48986    Hearing Date: October 25, 2022    Dept: 58

JUDGE BRUCE G. IWASAKI

Hearing Date:             October 25, 2022

Case Name:                Mariana Cortez v. BAH California, Inc. et al.

Case No.:                    20STCV48986

Matter:                        Motion to Quash Service of Summons

Moving Party:             Defendant Best American Hospitality Corporation

            This is an employment action.  On July 28, 2021, the clerk entered default against Best American Hospitality Corporation (Defendant).  On September 21, 2022, Defendant specially appeared and moved to quash service of summons.

A defaulted defendant cannot participate in litigation until the default is vacated.  “‘As a general rule, “the entry of a default terminates a defendant’s rights to take any further affirmative steps in the litigation until . . . the default is set aside.” [Citations.]’”  (Humphrey v. Bewley (2021) 69 Cal.App.5th 571, 580.)  Accordingly, “[a]ny motion by a defaulted defendant, other than a motion to set aside the default, is ‘“unauthorized and void”’” and has “‘no legal effect.’”  (Ibid.; Devlin v. Kearny Mesa AMC/Jeep/Renault, Inc. (1984) 155 Cal.App.3d 381, 385; A&B Metal Products v. MacArthur Properties, Inc. (1970) 11 Cal.App.3d 642, 647; Christerson v. French (1919) 180 Cal. 523, 525.)

Because Defendant remains in default, the court declines to rule on the motion to quash at this time and the hearing is taken off calendar.