On 02/13/2020 CHANG MAN YANG filed a Contract - Other Contract lawsuit against FUN SOO KIM. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is JAMES E. BLANCARTE. The case status is Disposed - Judgment Entered.
*******1471
02/13/2020
Disposed - Judgment Entered
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
JAMES E. BLANCARTE
YANG CHANG MAN
KIM MI YOUNG
KIM FON S
KIM JAMIE
9/8/2020: Answer - Answer
7/23/2020: Certificate of Mailing for - Certificate of Mailing for (Nunc Pro Tunc Order Re: Hearing on Demurrer - without Motion ...) of 07/23/2020
7/23/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Nunc Pro Tunc Order Re: Hearing on Demurrer - without Motion ...)
7/6/2020: Notice (name extension) - Notice of Errata of Plaintiff's complaint
5/12/2020: Notice of Rejection - Application for Default Judgment by Court - Contract or Tort - Notice of Rejection - Application for Default Judgment by Court - Contract or Tort
3/20/2020: Proof of Personal Service - Proof of Personal Service
3/20/2020: Request for Entry of Default / Judgment - Request for Entry of Default / Judgment
3/26/2020: Demurrer - without Motion to Strike - Demurrer - without Motion to Strike
3/27/2020: Notice of Rejection Default/Clerk's Judgment - Notice of Rejection Default/Clerk's Judgment
3/27/2020: Request for Entry of Default / Judgment - Request for Entry of Default / Judgment
3/27/2020: Default Judgment - Default judgment by Court pursuant to CCP585: Statement of Facts ; Declaration
3/27/2020: Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) - Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court)
3/27/2020: Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) - Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court)
2/13/2020: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
2/13/2020: Summons - Summons on Complaint
2/13/2020: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
2/18/2020: Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) - Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court)
DocketDefault judgment by Clerk entered for Plaintiff Chang Man Yang against Defendant Mi Young Kim and Defendant Fon S Kim on the Complaint filed by Chang Man Yang on 02/13/2020 for damages of $18,877.00, interest of $2,988.86, and costs of $150.00 for a total of $22,015.86.
DocketDefault Judgment; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff); As to: Fon S Kim (Defendant); Mi Young Kim (Defendant)
DocketUpdated -- Default Judgment: Status changed from Filed to Signed and Filed
DocketUpdated -- Default Judgment: Result Date changed from 08/26/2020 to 09/11/2020; As To Parties changed from Mi Young Kim (Defendant), Fon S Kim (Defendant) to Fon S Kim (Defendant), Mi Young Kim (Defendant)
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 08/12/2021 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 09/11/2020
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 02/16/2023 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 09/11/2020
DocketAnswer; Filed by: Fon S Kim (Defendant); Mi Young Kim (Defendant); As to: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff)
DocketUpdated -- Default Judgment: Filed By: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff); Result changed from Entered to Granted; Result Date: 08/26/2020
DocketDeclaration Pursuant to 585 CCP in Support of Default Judgment; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff)
DocketRequest for Entry of Default / Judgment; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff)
DocketCase assigned to Hon. James E. Blancarte in Department 25 Spring Street Courthouse
DocketOrder on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court); Signed and Filed by: Clerk; As to: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff)
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 08/12/2021 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 02/16/2023 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketComplaint; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff); As to: Fon S Kim (Defendant); Mi Young Kim (Defendant)
DocketRequest to Waive Court Fees; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff); As to: Fon S Kim (Defendant); Mi Young Kim (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Chang Man Yang (Plaintiff); As to: Fon S Kim (Defendant); Mi Young Kim (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 20STLC01471 Hearing Date: July 02, 2020 Dept: 25
DEMURRER
(CCP § 430.10, et seq.)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Defendants Fon S. Kim and Mi Young Kim’s Demurrer to Complaint is DENIED.
SERVICE:
[ ] Proof of Service Timely Filed (CRC, rule 3.1300) NO
[ ] Correct Address (CCP §§ 1013, 1013a) NO
[ ] 16/21 Court Days Lapsed (CCP §§ 12c, 1005(b)) NO
OPPOSITION: None filed as of June 29, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
REPLY: None filed as of June 29, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
ANALYSIS:
Background
On February 13, 2020, Plaintiff Chang Man Yang (“Plaintiff”) filed an action for breach of contract and promise without intent to perform against Defendants Fon S. Kim and Mi Young Kim (collectively, “Defendants”). On March 20, 2020, default was entered as to both Defendants.
On March 26, 2020, Defendants filed the instant Demurrer to Complaint (the “Demurrer”). To date, no opposition has been filed.
Legal Standard
“The primary function of a pleading is to give the other party notice so that it may prepare its
case [citation], and a defect in a pleading that otherwise properly notifies a party cannot be said to
affect substantial rights.” (Harris v. City of Santa Monica (2013) 56 Cal.4th 203, 240.)
“A demurrer tests the legal sufficiency of the factual allegations in a complaint.” (Ivanoff v. Bank of
America, N.A. (2017) 9 Cal.App.5th 719, 725.) The Court looks to whether “the complaint alleges
facts sufficient to state a cause of action or discloses a complete defense.” (Id.) The Court does not
“read passages from a complaint in isolation; in reviewing a ruling on a demurrer, we read the
complaint ‘as a whole and its parts in their context.’ [Citation.]” (West v. JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A. (2013) 214 Cal.App.4th 780, 804.) The Court “assume[s] the truth of the properly pleaded
factual allegations, facts that reasonably can be inferred from those expressly pleaded and matters of
which judicial notice has been taken.” (Harris, supra, 56 Cal.4th p. 240.) “The court does not,
however, assume the truth of contentions, deductions or conclusions of law. [Citation.]” (Durell v.
Sharp Healthcare (2010) 183 Cal.App.4th 1350, 1358.)
A general demurrer may be brought under Code of Civil Procedure section 430.10, subdivision (e) if insufficient facts are stated to support the cause of action asserted or under section 430.10, subdivision (a), where the court has no jurisdiction of the subject of the cause of action alleged in the pleading. Special demurrers are not allowed in limited jurisdiction courts. (Code Civ. Proc., § 92, subd. (c).)
Leave to amend must be allowed where there is a reasonable possibility of successful amendment. (Goodman v. Kennedy (1976) 18 Cal.3d 335, 348.) The burden is on the complainant to show the Court that a pleading can be amended successfully. (Id.)
Finally, Code of Civil Procedure section 430.41 requires that “[b]efore filing a demurrer pursuant to this chapter, the demurring party shall meet and confer in person or by telephone with the party who filed the pleading that is subject to demurrer for the purpose of determining whether an agreement can be reached that would resolve the objections to be raised in the demurrer.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.41, subd. (a).) The parties are to meet and confer at least five days before the date the responsive pleading is due. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.41, subd. (a)(2).) Thereafter, the demurring party shall file and serve a declaration detailing their meet and confer efforts. (Code Civ. Proc., § 430.41, subd. (a)(3).)
Discussion
Here, Defendants demur to Plaintiff’s first and second causes of action on the basis that they fail to state sufficient facts to constitute a cause of action. (Demurrer, p. 2.)
First, the Court notes that although Defendants filed a proof of service with their Demurrer, it does not specify on whom the moving papers were served. More importantly, as noted above, default was entered against both Defendants on March 20, 2020. “The clerk’s entry of default cuts off the defendant’s right to take further affirmative steps such as filing a pleading or motion, and the defendant is not entitled to notices or service of pleadings or papers.” (Sporn v. Home Depot USA, Inc. (2005) 126 Cal.App.4th 1294, 1301.) Should Defendants wish to defend this action, they must first seek to set aside the default entered against them pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 473 or 473.5.
Conclusion & Order
For the foregoing reasons, Defendants Fon S. Kim and Mi Young Kim’s Demurrer to Complaint is DENIED.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.