Judge: Kerry Bensinger, Case: 21STCV11976, Date: 2023-08-29 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV11976    Hearing Date: August 29, 2023    Dept: 27

Tentative Ruling

Judge Kerry Bensinger, Department 27

HEARING DATE:     August 29, 2023                                 TRIAL DATE:  January 26, 2024

CASE:                                Prince Obinna Utah v. Buddha Jones, LLC, et al.

CASE NO.:                 21STCV11976

MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE A CROSS-COMPLAINT

MOVING PARTY:               Defendants Buddha Jones, LLC and Doublewide, LLC

RESPONDING PARTY:     No opposition

I.          INTRODUCTION

On March 29, 2021, Plaintiff, Prince Obinna Utah, initiated this action against Defendant, Buddha Jones, LLC, for injuries arising from a trip and fall on a metal object on Defendant’s premises.  Plaintiff was working in the scope of his employment as a security guard at the time of the incident.  Plaintiff later filed amendments to name Rosales Garden Services and Doublewide, LLC, as Does 1 and 2, respectively.

On February 14, 2023, Defendants, Buddha Jones, LLC and Doublewide, LLC, filed this motion seeking leave to file a cross-complaint against proposed Cross-Defendants, Rosales Garden Services, Allied International Security, Inc. (“AIS”), and Roes 1-50, for indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief.   

The motion is unopposed.

II.        LEGAL STANDARD 

A party against whom a cause of action has been asserted in a complaint or cross-complaint may file a cross-complaint asserting any cause of action against a person alleged to be liable thereon, whether or not such person is already a party to the action, if the cause of action asserted in the cross-complaint arises out of the same transaction, occurrence, or series of transactions or occurrences as the cause brought against him.  (Code Civ. Proc. § 428.10, subd. (b)(1).)   

A party shall file a cross-complaint against any of the parties who filed the complaint or cross-complaint against him or her before or at the same time as the answer to the complaint or cross-complaint.  (Code Civ. Proc. § 428.50, subd. (a).)  Any other cross-complaint may be filed at any time before the court has set a date for trial.  (Code Civ. Proc. § 428.50, subd. (b).)  A party shall obtain leave of court to file any cross-complaint except one filed within the time specified in subdivision (a) or (b).  Leave may be granted in the interest of justice at any time during the course of the action.  (Code Civ. Proc. § 428.50, subd. (c).)  A party who fails to plead a cause of action, whether through oversight, inadvertence, mistake, neglect, or other cause, may apply to the court for leave to amend his pleading, or to file a cross-complaint, to assert such cause at any time during the course of the action.  The court, after notice to the adverse party, shall grant, upon such terms as may be just to the parties, leave to amend the pleading, or to file the cross-complaint, to assert such cause if the party who failed to plead the cause acted in good faith.  (Code Civ. Proc. § 426.50.) 

III.       APPLICATION

Defendants argue leave should be granted to file a cross-complaint because Defendant Buddha Jones, LLC entered into a contract for security services with AIS which requires AIS to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Buddha Jones, LLC from all claims arising out of the performances of the security services by AIS.  Buddha Jones, LLC tendered their defense to AIS, which AIS rejected.  As to Rosales Garden Services, Buddha Jones, LLC contracted with Rosales Garden Services (already a party to this case) to perform landscaping and gardening services the week of the incident.  As such, Defendants contend it is in the interests of justice that leave be granted to file a cross-complaint. 

Defendants have acted in good faith.  Further, as the motion is unopposed, the Court finds no prejudice will result if leave is granted to file a cross-complaint.

IV.       CONCLUSION

            The motion for leave to file a cross-complaint is GRANTED.  Defendants, Buddha Jones, LLC, and Doublewide, LLC, are ordered to file the attached proposed cross-complaint within 10 days of this order.

Moving party to give notice. 

Dated:   August 29, 2023                                          ___________________________________

                                                                                    Kerry Bensinger

                                                                                    Judge of the Superior Court

            Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the Court at SSCDEPT27@lacourt.org indicating intention to submit on the tentative as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org.  Please be advised that if you submit on the tentative and elect not to appear at the hearing, the opposing party may nevertheless appear at the hearing and argue the matter.  Unless you receive a submission from all other parties in the matter, you should assume that others might appear at the hearing to argue.  If the Court does not receive emails from the parties indicating submission on this tentative ruling and there are no appearances at the hearing, the Court may, at its discretion, adopt the tentative as the final order or place the motion off calendar.