Judge: Stephen P. Pfahler, Case: 24STCV04571, Date: 2024-08-27 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV04571    Hearing Date: August 27, 2024    Dept: 68

Dept. 68

Date: 8-27-24

Case #24STCV04571

Trial Date: Not Set/Not At Issue

 

DEMURRER

 

MOVING PARTY: Defendant, Reliant Real Estate Management, Inc.

RESPONDING PARTY: Plaintiffs, Desai, et al.

 

RELIEF REQUESTED

Demurrer to the Complaint

·         1st Cause of Action: Violations of the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (“ICRAA”), Cal. Civ. Code § 1786, et seq.

·         2nd Cause of Action: Invasion of Privacy

·         3rd Cause of Action: Declaratory Relief

 

Joinder of Reliant Real Estate Management, Inc. and Tribeca MDR Management, LLC

 

SUMMARY OF ACTION

On February 23, 2024, Plaintiffs filed a complaint for 1. Violations of the Investigative Consumer Reporting Agencies Act (“ICRAA”), Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1786, et seq. 2. Invasion of Privacy, and 3. Declaratory Relief.

 

On May 13, 2024, a request for dismissal of Alondra Moreno Lopez, Olivia Young, Dennis Young, Cesar Barraza, Ying Luan and Krista Parry, was filed. On May 20, 2024, a dismissal of Eleanore Ryan. Madison Kim, Daniela Kim. Tico Baloyan, Jessica Jayson, Jackson Lloyd, Scott Barlow, Christopher Dziubak, Morgan Callahan, was filed. On May 21, 2024, a dismissal of Madison Kim and Daniela Block was filed. On June 3, 2024, a dismissal of Tribeca MDR Management, LLC was filed.

 

RULING: Sustained without Leave to Amend.

Requests for Judicial Notice: Granted.

 

Defendant, Reliant Real Estate Management, Inc. submits a demurrer to the complaint on grounds of other pending actions, and failure to allege a claim for invasion of privacy. Plaintiffs present NO SUBSTANTIVE OPPOSITION to the demurrer regarding the other pending action(s) and only addresses the invasion of privacy action. Defendant in reply notes the lack of opposition to the main argument regarding previously filed other actions pending, and thereby contends Plaintiffs waived any such challenge. Defendant offers a response to the deficiencies of the complaint itself as well.

 

The complaint in the instant action lists the following plaintiffs: Regina Walker, Angel Weber, Alondra Moreno Lopez, Sylvia Ramirez, Matthew Ramirez, Mark Warburg, Prentice Morris, Kaeden Hoff, Olivia Young, Dennis Young, Cesar Barraza, Eleanore Ryan, Madison Kim, Daniela Block, Tico Baloyan, Jessica Jayson, Jackson Lloyd, Scott Barlow, Leonel Sanchez, Ying Luan, Sahil Desai, Arnold Baek, Christopher Dziubak, Morgan Callahan, Ashley Carrell, Angelica Herrador, Anthony Estrada, Rachel Bird, Felix Alonzo, Krista Parry, Tiffany Coffman, Jaime Castaneda And Adriel Sanders. In May, the following plaintiffs were dismissed: Alondra Moreno Lopez, Olivia Young, Dennis Young, Cesar Barraza, Ying Luan and Krista Parry, was filed. On May 20, 2024, a dismissal of Eleanore Ryan. Madison Kim, Daniela Kim. Tico Baloyan, Jessica Jayson, Jackson Lloyd, Scott Barlow, Christopher Dziubak, Morgan Callahan, was filed. On May 21, 2024, a dismissal of Madison Kim and Daniela Block.

 

This leaves Regina Walker, Angel Weber, Sylvia Ramirez, Matthew Ramirez, Mark Warburg, Prentice Morris, Kaeden Hoff, Leonel Sanchez, Sahil Desai, Arnold Baek, Ashley Carrell, Angelica Herrador, Anthony Estrada, Rachel Bird, Felix Alonzo, Tiffany Coffman, Jaime Castaneda and Adriel Sanders within the instant action.

 

A court may sustain a demurrer on grounds of abatement, where “There is another action pending between the same parties on the same cause of action.” (Code Civ. Proc., 430.10, subd. (c).) The court shows at least two other actions filed by the same counsel with many if not all of the same Plaintiffs named in the instant action against the same parties. Both cases, 22STCV29738 and 23STCV26668, were transferred to Orange County Superior Court on January 30, 2024, and February 15, 2024.

 

Plaintiffs are clearly forum shopping.  The court disallows such practices and therefore sustains the demurrer without leave to amend. The court therefore sustains the demurrer without leave to amend on grounds of abatement due to other previously filed pending actions. (Code Civ. Proc., 430.10, subd. (c).) Plaintiffs may join any and all Plaintiffs identified in the subject action and potentially not part of either Orange County case, as necessary.

 

Defendant to submit a judgment.

 

Defendant to give notice.