Judge: Malcolm Mackey, Case: 22STCV23653, Date: 2023-01-24 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV23653    Hearing Date: January 24, 2023    Dept: 55

GONZALEZ v. LINDA V. ARMOR AS TRUSTEE                                22STCV23653

Hearing Date:  1/24/23,  Dept. 55

#8:   MOTION TO STRIKE ALL REFERENCES TO PUNITIVE DAMAGES AND HARASSMENT IN COMPLAINT.

 

Notice:  Okay

No Opposition (First Amended Complaint filed, however).

 

MP:  Defendant TAYLOR EQUITIES 17 LLC.

RP:  

 

 

Summary

 

On 7/21/22, plaintiffs filed a Complaint.

On 1/9/23, plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint, alleging that plaintiffs are tenants at 625 S. Burlington Ave., Los Angeles, which has uninhabitable conditions, including cockroach infestations, widespread mold contamination, open exposure to raw sewage, plumbing issues, faulty and insufficient utilities, structural defects, and deficient security.

The causes of action are:

1. BREACH OF THE WARRANTY OF HABITABILITY

2. NEGLIGENCE

3. BREACH OF QUIET ENJOYMENT

4. NUISANCE

5. VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTION 1942.4

6. INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

7. VIOLATION OF LOS ANGELES MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 45.30, ET SEQ. TENANT ANTI-HARASSMENT ORDINANCE

8. VIOLATION OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS CODE, SECTION 17200

9. VIOLATION OF THE FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS ACT OF 1988 – 42 SECTIONS 3601, ET SEQ.

10. VIOLATION OF FAIR EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING ACT (FEHA)

11. VIOLATION OF THE UNRUH CIVIL RIGHTS ACT – CAL. CIV. CODE §§ 51, et seq.

12. VIOLATION OF THE CALIFORNIA DISABLED PERSONS ACT – CAL. CIV. CODE §§ 54-55.2.

 

 

MP Positions

 

Moving party requests an order striking from the Complaint all references to punitive damages and harassment, on grounds including the following:

 

·         Plaintiffs failed to plead specific facts of oppression fraud and malice and to plead the identity and ratification of the despicable conduct by an officer, director or managing agent. (Civ. Code, § 3294 (a).) Civil Code § 3294(b)).

·         No cause of action for harassment or discrimination based on sexual orientation is pleaded in connection with allegations of harassment.

 

 

Tentative Ruling

 

The motion is ordered off calendar, as moot, in light of the First Amended Complaint subsequently filed 1/9/23.

The filing of an amended complaint pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure Section 472 renders moot a demurrer addressing the superseded pleading because it "'"ceases to perform any function as a pleading."'"   Sylmar Air Conditioning v. Pueblo Contracting Services, Inc. (2004) 122 Cal. App. 4th 1049, 1054.  Accord  State Compensation Ins. Fund v. Sup. Ct. (2010) 184 Cal.App.4th 1124, 1131 (“the filing of an amended complaint moots a motion directed to a prior complaint.”).

*IF BOTH PARTIES SUBMIT ON THE COURT’S TENTATIVE RULING, PLEASE CALL THE COURTROOM AT 213-633-0655*