Judge: Ronald F. Frank, Case: 20STCV15925, Date: 2023-08-23 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV15925    Hearing Date: August 23, 2023    Dept: 8

Tentative Ruling¿ 

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HEARING DATE:                 August 23, 2023¿¿ 

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CASE NUMBER:                   20STCV15925

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CASE NAME:                        Arthur Allen v Mi Mercadito, et al.

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MOVING PARTY:                (1) Defendant Eukya USA

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RESPONDING PARTY:       (1) Defendant Charley’s Fixtures, LLC

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TRIAL DATE:                       Not Set.  

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MOTION:¿                              (1) Motion Challenging Good Faith Settlement Determinations 

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Tentative Rulings:                  (1) GRANTED.

Based on the Plaintiff’s settlement demand, the series of mediations, the mediator compromise reflected in Defendant’s Eukya USA’s papers, and the Tech Bilt standards, Eukya’s substantial settlement appears to the Court to be in good faith and within the “ballpark” of the settling defendant’s potential proportionate liability for Plaintiff’s injury.  The Court need not know the policy limits to make such a determination so long as the opposing party has been provided that information in discovery responses, as it is not material in the circumstances presented whether the policy limits are $1 billion or $1 million, given the settlement amount.  The Court will entertain oral argument as to any of the factors the Court considers on such a motion.

            Normally the Court would provide a much more detailed tentative ruling but the case was only recently reassigned from the PI hub and this motion was not picked up by the Court’s staff for preparation of a detailed written tentative.