Judge: Joseph Lipner, Case: 24STCV00063, Date: 2024-05-30 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV00063    Hearing Date: May 30, 2024    Dept: 72

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

DEPARTMENT 72

TENTATIVE RULING

Plaintiffs Renee Turner, Rashanee Y. Guest, and Ra’nala Skye Williams, a minor, by and through her Guardian Ad Litem, Rashanee Y. Guest (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), move for an order setting this case for trial preference.  Defendants 23930 Copa Pacific Apts LLC (“Copa”) and Defendant GGE Management LLC (“GGE”) (collectively, “Defendants”) oppose the motion.

The Court will hear argument, first from Defendants, then from Plaintiffs, on the following questions:

1.      Is there any guidance from case law about what the term “substantial interest in the case as a whole” means in CCP § 36, subdivision (b)?

2.      Is there any guidance from any other source, such as treatises, practice guides or legislative history about what the term “substantial interest in the case as a whole” means in CCP § 36, subdivision (b)?

3.      Are Defendants correct that the minor plaintiff cannot meet the jurisdictional minimum of $35,000?  Does it matter?