Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: 19STCV09510, Date: 2023-04-05 Tentative Ruling

The Court generally uploads tentative rulings the morning of the hearing.  Because of that, the parties cannot submit on the tentative the night before and not appear.  However, if after reviewing the tentative ruling ALL COUNSEL submit, they should tell the Court's judicial assistant when checking in and the Court will endeavor to either not hear the case in light of the submission or, if the Court believes that a hearing is still needed for some other reason, then the Court will be inclined to give priority.

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Case Number: 19STCV09510    Hearing Date: April 5, 2023    Dept: R

The court is satisfied as to the fee.  Actually, the fee was not the question the court raised earlier.  The question was the division of the settlement as among the children and the adult and the reasons therefor.  The court’s inclination is to put the matter over for 30 days.  What the court is looking for is simply the reason that the distribution is what it is.  Again, the court’s concern is not the fee—either the fee associated with the minors or the fee overall.  The total fee appears reasonable.  A short declaration explaining the logic for the allocation will almost certainly suffice.  No appearances will be necessary if the court approves the minor’s compromise before the hearing date.