Judge: Stephen I. Goorvitch, Case: 24STCV04536, Date: 2024-03-13 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV04536    Hearing Date: March 13, 2024    Dept: 39

Robert Lindholm, et al. v. Crystal Bergstrom, et al.

Case No. 24STCV04536

Ex Parte Application

 

            Plaintiffs Robert Lindholm and Carolyn Lindholm (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed this action against Crystal Bergstrom, Judicial Judgment Enforcement Services, Joe Boyle, and Filip Van de Cappelle (collectively, “Defendants”).  Ms. Lindholm is an attorney and represents both Plaintiffs in this case. 

 

Plaintiffs allege that they settled an underlying dispute for $25,000.  (Complaint, ¶ 11.)  Plaintiffs allege that Defendant Crystal Bergstrom “repudiated and breached the contract, and is currently pursuing collection on the judgment.”  (Id., ¶ 12.)  Plaintiffs allege that Bergstrom served a notice of wage garnishment upon Ms. Lindholm’s law firm. 

 

            Plaintiffs filed an ex parte application for an order “instructing [Ms. Lindholm’s law firm] to not respond to any subpoena or wage garnishment issued by the unlicensed collector, Crystal Bergstrom, dba Judicial Judgment Enforcement Services, until a motion to enforce the settlement can be heard.”  (Plaintiffs’ Ex Parte Application, p. 5:2-5.)  There are several problems with Plaintiffs’ ex parte application.  As an initial matter, Plaintiffs have not served the summons and complaint, or this ex parte application, though that is not fatal.  The larger problem is that Plaintiffs identify no statutory or common law authority that permits the Court to issue the order they seek.  To the extent the Court has authority to issue this order, Plaintiffs do not demonstrate any likelihood of success on the merits based upon admissible evidence.  Nor have Plaintiffs demonstrated any exigency that would support a grant of extraordinary relief. 

 

            Based upon the foregoing, the ex parte application is denied.  The Court’s clerk shall serve this order upon Plaintiffs’ counsel, Ms. Lindholm.  Further notice is not required.