Judge: Mel Red Recana, Case: 20STCV47910, Date: 2024-07-17 Tentative Ruling

All rulings shown here are TENTATIVE ONLY, and thus oral argument WILL be heard. All Counsel are still required to attend.

Case Number: 20STCV47910    Hearing Date: July 17, 2024    Dept: 45

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

 

 


CAROLYN W. DEAL, et al.,

 

                             Plaintiffs,

 

                              vs.

KIYATONNIA BROUSSARD, et al.,

 

                              Defendants.

AMIR ALOKOUR, et al.,

Cross-Complainants,

                        vs.

KIYATONNIA BROUSSARD, et al.,

                           Defendants

 
Case No.:  20STCV47910

DEPARTMENT 45

 

 

 

[TENTATIVE] RULING

 

 

 

Action Filed:  12/15/2020

1st Amended Complaint Filed: 01/21/2021

Cross-Complaint Filed: 04/16/2021  

Trial Date:  None

 

Hearing date:  July 17, 2024

 

Moving Party:  Defendant Richard Stanley McHenry Jr. (in Pro Per)

 

Responding Party:  None

 

Motion to Set Aside Entry of Default and Default Judgment     

The Court considered the moving papers.

            The motion is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

Background

            On December 13, 2020, Plaintiffs Carolyn W. Deal and Karen Jayne Deal filed their Complaint. On January 21, 2024, Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint against Defendants alleging nine causes of action.

            On December 26, 2023, Defendant McHenry filed a Motion to Set Aside/Vacate Default and or Default Judgment.

            As of July 16, 2023, no oppositions have been filed.

 

Legal Standard

            Under Code of Civil Procedure section 473 (d), the default judgment must be vacated for lack of personal jurisdiction.  Subdivision (d), provides that “[t]he court ... may on¿motion¿of either party after notice to the other party,¿set¿aside¿any void judgment or order.”  “A judgment void on its face ... is subject to collateral attack at any time.” (Rochin v. Pat Johnson Mfg. Co. (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 1228, 1239.)  This does not hinge on evidence: A void judgment's invalidity appears on the¿face of the record, including the proof of service.  (Morgan v. Clapp¿(1929) 207 Cal. 221, 224-225;¿Cruz v. Fagor America, Inc. (2007) 146 Cal.App.4th 488, 496.)  “[A] default¿judgment¿entered against a defendant who has not been served with a summons in the manner prescribed by statute is void.”  (Dill v. Berquist Construction Co.¿(1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 1426, 1444.)¿  

 

Discussion

            Procedural Deficiencies

            As a preliminary manner, the Court notes that Defendant McHenry has not provided Proof of Service and lists the incorrect time on the Notice of Motion. Additionally, the case name does not match the case number. Therefore, it is unclear whether Plaintiffs were properly noticed.

 

            Therefore, the Court denies the motion without prejudice.

 

            It is so ordered.

 

Dated: July 17, 2024

 

_______________________

MEL RED RECANA

Judge of the Superior Court