Judge: Robert B. Broadbelt, Case: 22STCV38716, Date: 2025-05-22 Tentative Ruling

Tentative rulings are sometimes, but not always, posted. The purpose of posting a tentative ruling is to to help focus the argument. The posting of a tentative ruling is not an invitation for the filing of additional papers shortly before the hearing.

Case Number: 22STCV38716    Hearing Date: May 22, 2025    Dept: 53

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles – Central District

Department 53

MOVING PARTY:                 Defendant Deville Law Group          

RESPONDING PARTY:       Relator Dr. Jeannette Martello

(1)   Motion for Order Requiring Plaintiff / Relator to Furnish Security or for Order Dismissing Action

MOVING PARTY:                 Defendant Stella Madrid       

RESPONDING PARTY:       Relator Dr. Jeannette Martello

(2)   Motion for Order Requiring Plaintiff / Relator to Furnish Security or for Order Dismissing Action

MOVING PARTY:                 Defendant Joshua Merliss     

RESPONDING PARTY:       Relator Dr. Jeannette Martello

(3)   Motion for Order Requiring Plaintiff / Relator to Furnish Security or for Order Dismissing Action

MOVING PARTY:                 Defendant Jessica DeVille     

RESPONDING PARTY:       Relator Dr. Jeannette Martello

(4)   Motion for Order Requiring Plaintiff / Relator to Furnish Security or for Order Dismissing Action

Pending before the court are four motions, separately filed by defendants Deville Law Group, Stella Madrid, Joshua Merliss, and Jessica DeVille (collectively, “Defendants”) on November 12, 2024, in which Defendants move the court for an order (1) requiring plaintiff / relator Dr. Jeannette Martello (“Relator”) to furnish security or, if Relator does not furnish such security, (2) dismissing this action pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 391.1.[1]

After Defendants filed these motions, the Insurance Commissioner filed, on May 8, 2025, a motion to intervene and dismiss this action pursuant to Insurance Code section 1871.7 and Code of Civil Procedure section 581, which is set for hearing on October 30, 2025.

In the interest of efficiency, the court finds that it is appropriate, and therefore exercises its discretion, to continue the hearing on Defendants’ motions to October 30, 2025, so that they may be heard and ruled on at the same time as the court rules on the Insurance Commissioner’s motion to intervene and dismiss Relator’s action.

ORDER

            The court orders that the hearing on defendant Deville Law Group’s motion for order requiring plaintiff / relator to furnish security or for order dismissing action is continued to October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Department 53.

            The court orders that the hearing on defendant Stella Madrid’s motion for order requiring plaintiff / relator to furnish security or for order dismissing action is continued to October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Department 53.

            The court orders that the hearing on defendant Joshua Merliss’s motion for order requiring plaintiff / relator to furnish security or for order dismissing action is continued to October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Department 53.

            The court orders that the hearing on defendant Jessica DeVille’s motion for order requiring plaintiff / relator to furnish security or for order dismissing action is continued to October 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., in Department 53.

            The court orders defendant Deville Law Group to give notice of this ruling to all parties who have appeared in this action and to the real party in interest / proposed intervenor California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:  May 22, 2025

_____________________________

Robert B. Broadbelt III

Judge of the Superior Court