Judge: Cherol J. Nellon, Case: 21STCV37165, Date: 2025-01-14 Tentative Ruling



Case Number: 21STCV37165    Hearing Date: January 14, 2025    Dept: 14

#6

Case Background

On October 26, 2021, Plaintiff Orna Shaposhnik (“Shaposhnik”), filed her Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”) for (1) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.5; (2) Violation of Civil Code § 2924(a)(1); (3) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.6; (4) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.7; (5) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.9; (6) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.10; (7) Unfair Competition; (8) Cancellation of Instruments; (9) Wrongful Foreclosure; and (10) Quiet Title against Defendants Select Portfolio Servicing, Inc. (“SPS”); US Bank, N.A. as Trustee for WaMu Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Series 2006-AR11 (“US Bank”); Quality Loan Service Corporation (“Quality Loan”); and DOES 1-10.

On December 17, 2021, Plaintiff filed an “Amendment to Complaint” substituting Defendant Redwood Holdings, LLC (“Redwood”) in lieu of DOE 1.

On February 10, 2022, this court sustained the demurrer of Defendants SPS and US Bank to the second, fourth, and fifth causes of action, with 30 days leave to amend. No amendment was made.

On March 29, 2022, Defendant Quality Loan filed its Answer. On April 19, 2022, Defendants SPS and US Bank filed their joint Answer.

On June 17, 2022, this case was stayed pending bankruptcy proceedings. On October 19, 2022, the stay was lifted pursuant to an order issued by Judge Martin Barash in Bankruptcy Court.

On February 23, 2023, Plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Defendants SPS and US Bank, without prejudice.

On April 7, 2023, Plaintiff filed her Third Amended Complaint (“TAC”) for (1) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.5; (2) Violation of Civil Code § 2924(a)(1); (3) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.6; (4) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.7; (5) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.9; (6) Violation of Civil Code § 2923.10; (7) Unfair Competition; (8) Cancellation of Instruments; (9) Wrongful Foreclosure; and (10) Quiet Title against Defendants SPS, US Bank, Quality Loan, Redwood, and DOES 2-10. Only the second, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth causes of action are asserted against Defendant Quality Loan. Only the tenth cause of action is asserted against Defendant Redwood.

Because of the prior proceedings, set forth above, Defendants SPS and US Bank remain dismissed without prejudice. The case proceeds only against Defendants Quality Loan and Redwood.

On June 15, 2023, Defendant Redwood filed its Answer.

On August 10, 2023, this court granted judgment on the pleadings in favor of Defendant Quality Loan as to the second, seventh, and tenth causes of action. The court granted 10 days leave to amend as to the seventh cause of action, but Plaintiff elected to appeal instead. The appeal was dismissed on January 4, 2024.

On January 12, 2024, Defendant Redwood filed its First Amended Answer.

On September 20, 2024, Defendant Quality Loan Service Corporation filed its motion for summary judgment.

Instant Pleading

Defendant Quality Loan Service Corporation moves for summary judgment.

Decision

The motion for summary judgment filed by Defendant Quality Loan Service Corporation is DENIED.

Discussion

Defendant Quality Loan set a hearing for this motion for summary judgment for January 14, 2025, which is after the trial date.

A motion for summary judgment or adjudication must be heard no later than 30 days before the date of trial unless a judge orders otherwise for good cause. (Code Civ. Proc., section 437c(a)(3).) A party may not notice a motion for summary judgment for hearing within 30 days of the trial date without first obtaining a determination of good cause from the court. (Robinson v. Woods (2008) 168 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1268.) Such notice is invalid unless and until a court makes a determination that good cause exists to hear the motion later than 30 days before trial. (Id.)

Here, Quality Loan’s motion for summary judgment was set for hearing after the trial date. Quality Loan failed to move to continue trial and failed to seek a determination of good cause from the Court to set the summary judgment hearing on a date less than 30 days before trial. Therefore, the notice of motion is invalid. Quality Loan’s motion for summary judgment is DENIED.

Conclusion

The motion for summary judgment filed by Defendant Quality Loan Service Corporation is DENIED.