Civil Tentative Rulings
Civil Tentative Rulings Announcement
CIVIL TENTATIVE RULING ANNOUNCEMENT
If the Tentative Ruling in your case is satisfactory, you need not appear at the scheduled time, the ruling becomes final, and the prevailing party prepares the order.
However, if you are not satisfied with the Tentative Ruling, and wish to appear and argue the matter, YOU MUST NOTIFY the Clerk’s Office and opposing counsel of your intent before 4:00 p.m. TODAY. If a TELEPHONIC HEARING is requested per CCP §367.5, you MUST register online to appear telephonically using Vcourt.
When doing so, you must indicate as to which issue(s) and/or motion(s) a hearing is being requested. If requesting a hearing for clarification of a tentative ruling, specify what matter(s) and/or issue(s) need clarification.
You may request a hearing by calling the calendar line at (209) 530-3162 or the main line at (209) 530-3100, prior to 4:00 p.m. - OR- by e-mailing at civil.tentatives@stanct.org Email requests must be made prior to 4:00 p.m. AND confirmed by return e-mail. If you do not receive confirmation e-mail from the clerk, you MUST call (209) 530-3162 to request your hearing.
Please refer to Local Rule of Court 3.12 concerning Court reporter fees.
If a Hearing is required or you have requested a Hearing for a Law and Motion Matter Scheduled in Department 21, 22, 23 or 24 in Modesto, please contact the Court Reporter Coordinator at (209) 530-3105 or ctreport@stanct.org to request a reporter and determine availability. If a Staff Reporter is not available, you may need to provide your own.
Effective April 2, 2012
Staff Court Reporters may be available, though it is not guaranteed, to report law and motion matters on the following schedule:
Department 21 - Wednesdays and Fridays only. Staff Reporters may be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call to confirm.
Department 22 - Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Staff Reporters may be available on Wednesdays and Fridays. Please call to confirm.
Department 23 - Wednesdays and Fridays only. Staff Reporters may be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please call to confirm.
Department 24 - Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Staff Reporters may be available on Wednesdays or Fridays. Please call to confirm.
If a Staff Reporter is not available, counsel can make arrangements to have their hearing reported by a private CSR. Please contact the Court Reporter Coordinator at (209)530-3105 to request a Staff Reporter and to determine if a Staff Reporter will be available for your hearing
The following are the tentative rulings for cases calendared before Judge John R. Mayne in Department 21:
CV-23-002213 – LEGGETT, JANAE vs KEMP, HIRAM – Plaintiff’s Motion to Tax Costs – GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
Plaintiff’s motion to tax Defendant’s costs for filing fees, depositions and photocopies is DENIED. These costs were reasonably necessary to the litigation and are recoverable in the following amounts (as documented in Defendant’s opposition to the motion to tax costs):
Filing Fees - $1,302.98
Deposition Costs - $1,950.00
Photocopies - $52.73 (as supported by documentation.)
Plaintiff provides no legal basis that a finding of financial hardship or indigency is a legal basis to tax or deny these costs and the Court is unaware of any. .
However, the Court finds that the $710 claimed under “Other Costs” in Defendant’s Memorandum of Costs consists of two previously imposed discovery sanctions. Court ordered monetary sanctions are independent monetary awards authorized under the Civil Discovery Act and are not taxable costs recoverable under Code of Civil Procedure sections 1032 and 1033.5.
Accordingly, the $710 in “Other Costs” is STRICKEN from the Memorandum of Costs, without prejudice to Defendant’s right to enforce the sanctions awards pursuant to the Court’s prior orders and applicable enforcement statutes.
Defendant is awarded $3,305.71 in costs.
Defendant shall prepare a formal order for the Court’s signature.
CV-25-004949 – CITIBANK NA vs EYERLY, MICHAEL – Defendant’s Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment (CCP 473(b), 473.5) – GRANTED.
The default and default judgment are hereby SET ASIDE and VACATED pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473(b) based on excusable neglect.
Defendant shall file and serve his proposed answer within ten (10) days of the date of this order.
A case management conference is set for Monday, June 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Department 21.
CV-26-001240 – UNIFIRST CORPORATION vs VALLEY MILK SIMPLY BOTTLED LLC – Petitioner’s Petition to Confirm Contractual Arbitration Award – GRANTED and unopposed.
The Final Arbitration Award issued on October 10, 2025, by Arbitrator Michael L. Novicoff in the matter of UniFirst Corporation v. Valley Milk Simply Bottled, LLC, AAA Case No. 01 25 0002 6846, is CONFIRMED pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1286.
Judgment shall be entered in favor of Plaintiff UniFirst Corporation and against Defendant Valley Milk Simply Bottled, LLC in the total sum of $86,668.97, in accordance with the arbitrator’s award, consisting of the following amounts as determined and awarded by the arbitrator:
• $75,073.52 in compensatory damages for breach of contract;
• $2,818.98 in interest through the date of the arbitration award;
• $4,801.47 in attorney’s fees; and
• $3,975.00 in costs.
All amounts awarded above are part of the confirmed arbitration award and shall be included in the total judgment amount stated herein.
Post judgment interest shall accrue on the judgment at the statutory rate from the date of entry of judgment until paid.
Counsel for Petitioner to prepare the judgment for the Court’s signature.
The following is the tentative ruling for a case calendared before Judge Stacy P. Speiller in Department 22:
CV-25-007908 – HENLEY, CHARLES vs D&L LEONG CORPORATION – Plaintiff’s Motion to be Relieved as Counsel – GRANTED, and unopposed.
The unopposed motion of Attorney Harout Messrelian of Messrelian Law, Inc. to be relieved as counsel for Plaintiff Charles Henley is GRANTED, effective on the filing of a proof showing service of the signed order on the client.
The Court will sign the proposed order that Attorney Messrelian submitted with the motion.
The following are the tentative rulings for cases calendared before Judge Clifford Tong in Department 23:
***There are no tentative rulings for Department 23***
The following are the tentative rulings for cases calendared before Judge Sonny S. Sandhu in Department 24:
CV-22-004332 – ARNOLD, KIMBLY vs STEARNS LENDING SERVICES LLC – Plaintiff’s Motion and Order to Vacate Order Sustaining Defendant’s Demurrer Without Leave to Amend Under CCP 473(b) and Reconsideration Under CCP 1008 – DENIED, without prejudice.
Plaintiff’s Amended Motion fails to demonstrate adequate notice to Defendants. (Civ. Proc. Code § 1005(b).
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Amended Motion is hereby denied without prejudice.
CV-25-009027 – JRP REALTY GROUP vs SINGH, JASBIR – Plaintiff’s Motion to Disqualify Opposing Counsel – Plaintiff’s Motion to Disqualify Opposing Counsel – REASSIGNED and CONTINUED.
In view of the related case CV-25-5913 JRP REALTY v GARCHA presently before Department 21 of this Court where Plaintiff filed a practically identical motion which has been addressed, judicial efficiency requires the reassignment of this matter to Department 21.
Accordingly, the Court reassigns this case to the Honorable Judge Mayne, Department 21, for all purposes and continues the case to May 12, 2026, at 8:30 am in Department 21 of this Court.
Counsel shall file a Notice of Related Case forthwith. (California Rules of Court Rule 3.300).
The following are the tentative rulings for cases calendared before Commissioner Jared D. Beeson in Department 19 located at the Turlock Division at 300 Starr Avenue, Turlock, CA:
***There are no tentative rulings for Department 19***