Judge: Melvin D. Sandvig, Case: 23CHCP00158, Date: 2023-08-22 Tentative Ruling

Counsel wishing to submit on a tentative ruling may inform the clerk or courtroom assisant in North Valley Department F47, 9425 Penfield Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311, at (818) 407-2247.  Please be aware that unless all parties submit, the matter will still be called for hearing and may be argued by any appearing/non-submitting parties. If the matter is submitted on the court's tentative ruling by all parties, counsel for moving party shall give notice of ruling. This may be done by incorporating verbatim the court's tentative ruling. The tentative ruling may be extracted verbatim by copying and specially pasting, as unformatted text, from the Los Angeles Superior Court’s website, http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org. All hearings on law and motion and other calendar matters are generally NOT transcribed by a court reporter unless one is provided by the party(ies).


Case Number: 23CHCP00158    Hearing Date: January 18, 2024    Dept: F47

Dept. F47

Date: 1/18/24

Case #23CHCP00158

 

PETITION FOR RELIEF FROM GOVERNMENT CLAIM FILING REQUIREMENTS,

OR, IN THE ALTERNATIVE,

FOR ORDER FINDING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE

 

Petition filed on 4/10/23.

 

MOVING PARTY: Petitioner E.A., a minor, by and through her Guardian ad Litem, J.A.

RESPONDING PARTY : Respondent City of Los Angeles

 

RELIEF REQUESTED: An order pursuant to Government Code 946.6 relieving Petitioner from the requirements of Government Code 945.4.  Alternatively, Petitioner seeks an order that she has substantially complied with said requirements. 

 

RULING: The petition is denied.    

 

On 8/22/23, the hearing on the petition was continued to 9/27/23 because there was no evidence that Respondents County of Los Angeles (County) and City of Los Angeles (City) had been served with notice that the hearing was scheduled for 8/22/23.  (See 8/22/23 Minute Order).

 

On 9/27/23, the hearing on the petition was continued to 11/2/23 due to issues with the service of the petition and notice of hearing.  (See 9/27/23 Nunc Pro Tunc Minute Order).  Nothing had been filed between the 9/27/23 hearing date and the 11/2/23 hearing date.  Therefore, on 11/2/23, the Court noted that it would continue the hearing on the petition “one last time to allow for proper service of same.”  (See 11/2/23 Minute Order).  The hearing was then continued to 12/19/23.  (emphasis added) Id.   

 

On 11/21/23, a proof of personal service was filed indicating that the City was served with the Notice of Ruling and Notice of Hearing on 11/17/23.  (See 11/21/23 Proof of Service – City).  On 12/1/23, the Court served Petitioner’s counsel with a notice and order that the 12/19/23 hearing date was continued to 1/18/24.  (See 12/1/23 Notice of Continuance and Order).  Petitioner’s counsel was also ordered to give notice of the continuance to all parties and file proof of service of such notice forthwith.  Id.  On 12/20/23, Petitioner’s request to dismiss the County was entered.

 

After three continuance due to issues with notice, Petitioner has still failed to establish that the petition was properly served and/or that the City had notice of the 1/18/24 hearing date. 

 

First, the proof of service filed on 11/21/23 only shows that the City was served with the Notice of Ruling and Notice of Hearing, not the underlying petition.  (See 11/21/23 Proof of Service – City; 11/17/23 Notice of Ruling & Notice of Hearing – does not have petition attached).  Second, a proof of service has not been filed showing Petitioner served the City with notice that the 12/19/23 hearing was continued to 1/18/24 as ordered by the Court on 12/1/23.  (See 12/1/23 Notice of Continuance and Order and eCourt generally). 

 

No response to the petition by the City has been filed to cure the defect in notice.  Since this is the fourth time Petitioner has failed to provide proper notice of the hearing on this matter, the petition is denied.