Judge: Mark E. Windham, Case: 22STLC06183, Date: 2024-06-17 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STLC06183    Hearing Date: June 17, 2024    Dept: 26

DeLuca, Esq. v. Guerra, et al.

MOTION TO VACATE DISMISSAL

(CCP § 473(b))

TENTATIVE RULING:

Plaintiff Philip P. DeLuca’s Motion to Vacate Dismissal is GRANTED. THE DISMISSAL ENTERED ON MARCH 21, 2024 IS HEREBY VACATED.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE FAILURE TO FILE PROOF OF SERVICE OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IS SET FOR JULY 22, 2024 AT 9:30 AM IN DEPARTMENT 26 IN THE SPRING STREET COURTHOUSE.

ANALYSIS:

On September 22, 2022, Plaintiff Philip P. DeLuca, Esq. filed the instant action against Defendant Melissa Guerra (“Defendant”) seeking a trial after attorney-client arbitration. When the action came for trial on March 21, 2024, Plaintiff failed to appear and the Court dismissed the action without prejudice. (Minute Order, 03/21/24.) Plaintiff filed the instant Motion to Vacate Dismissal on March 29, 2024. No opposition to the Motion has been filed to date, nor has proof of service of the Summons and Complaint been filed. 

Discussion

The motion is brought pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, section 473, subdivision (b). Under this statute, an application for relief must be made no more than six months after entry of the order from which relief is sought and must be accompanied by an affidavit of fault attesting to the moving party’s mistake, inadvertence, surprise or neglect. (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b); English v. IKON Business Solutions (2001) 94 Cal.App.4th 130, 143.) When based on attorney fault with respect to entry of default, default judgment, or involuntary dismissal, a timely request for relief must be granted. (Code Civ. Proc., § 473, subd. (b).) When brought pursuant to the provision for discretionary relief based on party fault, the request must have been filed within a reasonable amount of time.

The motion was timely filed less than one month after dismissal of the action and is supported by an attorney affidavit of fault. Plaintiff’s counsel declares that they inadvertently failed to appear for trial. (Motion, DeLuca Decl., ¶¶2-3.) Therefore, the case must be reinstated under Code of Civil Procedure section 473, subdivision (b).

Conclusion

Plaintiff Philip P. DeLuca’s Motion to Vacate Dismissal is GRANTED. THE DISMISSAL ENTERED ON MARCH 21, 2024 IS HEREBY VACATED.

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE FAILURE TO FILE PROOF OF SERVICE OF SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IS SET FOR JULY 22, 2024 AT 9:30 AM IN DEPARTMENT 26 IN THE SPRING STREET COURTHOUSE.

Court clerk to give notice.