Judge: Michael Shultz, Case: 22CMCV00327, Date: 2024-03-07 Tentative Ruling

INSTRUCTIONS: If the parties wish to submit on the tentative ruling and avoid a court appearance on the matter, the moving party must:

1. Contact the opposing party and all other parties who have appeared in the action and confirm that each will submit on the tentative ruling.

2. No later than 4:00 p.m. on the court day before the hearing, call the Courtroom (310-761-4302) advising that all parties will submit on the tentative ruling and waive hearing; and

3. Serve notice of the Court's ruling on all parties entitled to receive service.

If this procedure is followed, when the case is called the Court will enter its ruling on the motion in accordance with its tentative ruling. If any party declines to submit on the tentative ruling, then no telephone call is necessary, and all parties should appear at the hearing. If there is neither a telephone call nor an appearance, then the matter may either be taken off calendar or ruled on. 

TENTATIVE RULINGS -- http://www.lacourt.org/tentativeRulingNet/ui/main.aspx?casetype=civil




Case Number: 22CMCV00327    Hearing Date: March 7, 2024    Dept: A

22CMCV00327 Mildred Arevalo Herrera v. Luis Enrique Martinez Orellana

Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 8:30 a.m.

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER TAKING OFF CALENDAR PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ORDER COMPELLING JOINDER OF PERSON WITH INTEREST IN SUBJECT PROPERTY

 

I.        BACKGROUND

      The complaint alleges that the parties have been domestic partners since April 2003 until June 10, 2021. The parties acquired real property together, however, only Defendant’s name was on title. The parties had an oral agreement to share all property acquired equally. Plaintiff alleges claims for breach of express contract, breach of implied-in-fact contract, declaratory relief, partition, and promissory estoppel.

      Plaintiff seeks an order to join Jose Miguel Calvillo and Olga L. Mercado as defendants in  this action because Defendant sold the property to the interested parties without permission of the court and for less than fair market value to avoid this action.

      The Court’s file does not reflect that an opposition has been filed.

 

II.      DISCUSSION

      While Plaintiff served the proposed new defendants with the motion, the proof of service filed on February 26, 2024, does not indicate that Defendant Orellana was served with the motion.

      The motion is also defective as Plaintiff misapplies the joinder statutes. (Code Civ. Proc., § 389, et seq.) An objection to the complaint based on a failure to join necessary parties is a defect raised by the defendant by demurrer. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.10 subd. (d).) If Plaintiff wishes to add new defendants and assert new theories of relief, Plaintiff’s remedy is a motion for leave to file an amended complaint pursuant to Code Civil Procedure, section 473 as Defendant answered the complaint on October 6, 2022. Otherwise, Plaintiff could have amended the complaint as a matter of right, before an answer is filed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 472).

 

III.    CONCLUSION

      Based on these procedural defects, the motion is TAKEN OFF CALENDAR.