Judge: Thomas D. Long, Case: 22STCV39343, Date: 2023-03-10 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV39343    Hearing Date: March 10, 2023    Dept: 48

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

On December 19, 2022, Plaintiff D.S. filed this action against Doe School and Doe Archdiocese, arising from childhood sexual assault.  On March 8, 2023, Plaintiff filed an ex parte application to seal the certificate of corroborative fact and to amend the complaint to name the defendants.

A.        Seal Certificate of Corroborative Fact

A plaintiff who is 40 years of age or older in an action arising from childhood sexual assault must file a certificate of corroborative fact and certificates of merit executed by the attorney for the plaintiff and by a licensed mental health practitioner selected by the plaintiff, and the court must review them in camera.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.1, subds. (f)-(g), (i), (n).)

Because records examined in camera must be filed under seal (California Rules of Court, rule 2.585(b)) and the Court must keep all certificates of corroborative fact under seal (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.1, subd. (o)), the request to seal Plaintiff’s Certificate of Corroborative Fact is granted.

B.        Amend Complaint to Name Defendants

A defendant must be named “Doe” in all pleadings and filings until there has been a showing of corroborative fact as to the charging allegations against that defendant.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.1, subd. (l).)  An application must include a certificate of corroborative fact executed by the plaintiff’s counsel declaring that the attorney has discovered one or more facts corroborative of one or more of the charging allegations against a defendant or defendants and setting forth the nature and substance of the corroborative fact.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.1, subd. (m).)  The court must review the application and the certificate of corroborative fact in camera.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 340.1, subd. (n).)  The court must order that the complaint may be amended to substitute the name of the defendant if, based solely on the certificate and any reasonable inferences to be drawn from the certificate, one or more corroborative facts of one or more of the charging allegations has been shown.  (Ibid.)

The Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s Certificate of Corroborated Fact and finds that one or more corroborative facts of one or more of the charging allegations has been shown.  Accordingly, the request to file an amended complaint substituting the names of Doe 1 is granted.

C.        Conclusion

The ex parte application is GRANTED.

Moving party to give notice.

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the Court at SMCDEPT48@lacourt.org indicating intention to submit.  Parties intending to appear are encouraged to appear remotely and should be prepared to comply with Dept. 48’s new requirement that those attending court in person wear a surgical or N95 or KN95 mask.

         Dated this 10th day of March 2023