On 07/29/2019 MARTIN COVARRUBIAS filed a Contract - Other Contract lawsuit against WESTLAKE SERVICES, LLC. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is WENDY CHANG. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
*******6968
07/29/2019
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
WENDY CHANG
VELAZQUEZ NARDA G
COVARRUBIAS MARTIN
WESTLAKE SERVICES LLC FDBA WESTLAKE FINANCIAL
GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY
SADR KASRA
10/30/2020: Motion re: (name extension) - Motion re: Plaintiff's Motion to Lift Stay
10/30/2020: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration Declaration of Nima Heydari in Support of Plaintiff's Motion to Lift Stay
2/24/2021: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration of NH Re Failure to Appear for Post Arb Status Conference
2/24/2021: Minute Order - Minute Order (Post-Arbitration Status Conference;)
2/24/2021: Certificate of Mailing for - Certificate of Mailing for (Post-Arbitration Status Conference;) of 02/24/2021
6/24/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Motion to Compel Arbitration)
5/18/2020: Notice of Continuance Due to COVID-19 State of Emergency Declarations - Notice of Continuance Due to COVID-19 State of Emergency Declarations
3/23/2020: Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order - Notice Re: Continuance of Hearing and Order
1/13/2020: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration of Nima Heydari In Support of Plaintiffs Petition to Compel Arbitration
1/13/2020: Motion to Compel Arbitration - Motion to Compel Arbitration
2/13/2020: Proof of Service by Substituted Service - Proof of Service by Substituted Service
10/23/2019: Request for Dismissal - Request for Dismissal
9/11/2019: Proof of Personal Service - Proof of Personal Service
9/18/2019: Proof of Personal Service - Proof of Personal Service
7/29/2019: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
7/29/2019: Summons - Summons on Complaint
7/29/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
7/29/2019: Complaint - Complaint
Hearing05/18/2021 at 10:00 AM in Department 26 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Hearing on Motion for Order (name extension)
Hearing05/18/2021 at 10:00 AM in Department 26 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Post-Arbitration Status Conference
DocketPost-Arbitration Status Conference scheduled for 05/18/2021 at 10:00 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26
DocketUpdated -- Certificate of Mailing for (Post-Arbitration Status Conference;) of 02/24/2021: Status Date changed from 02/24/2021 to 02/24/2021; As To Parties: removed
DocketDeclaration of NH Re Failure to Appear for Post Arb Status Conference; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff)
DocketMinute Order (Post-Arbitration Status Conference;)
DocketCertificate of Mailing for (Post-Arbitration Status Conference;) of 02/24/2021; Filed by: Clerk
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Post-Arbitration Status Conference scheduled for 02/24/2021 at 09:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26 Not Held - Continued - Court's Motion was rescheduled to 05/18/2021 10:00 AM
DocketMotion re: Plaintiff's Motion to Lift Stay; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Westlake Services, LLC (Defendant)
DocketDeclaration Declaration of Nima Heydari in Support of Plaintiff's Motion to Lift Stay; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff)
DocketProof of Personal Service; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Great American Insurance Company (Defendant); Service Date: 08/19/2019; Service Cost: 40.00; Service Cost Waived: No
DocketProof of Personal Service; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Westlake Services, LLC (Defendant); Service Date: 08/21/2019; Service Cost: 81.00; Service Cost Waived: No
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 01/25/2021 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 08/01/2022 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketCase assigned to Hon. Wendy Chang in Department 94 Stanley Mosk Courthouse
DocketComplaint; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Westlake Services, LLC (Defendant); Great American Insurance Company (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Westlake Services, LLC (Defendant); Great American Insurance Company (Defendant)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: Martin Covarrubias (Plaintiff); Narda G Velazquez (Plaintiff); As to: Westlake Services, LLC (Defendant); Great American Insurance Company (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 19STLC06968 Hearing Date: June 24, 2020 Dept: 26
Based on current conditions, including, but not limited to, the spread of Covid-19, the need for social distancing, and the states of emergency having been declared by Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump, the General Orders issued by the Presiding Judge and Statewide Orders issued by the Chief Justice, no more than six people may be in the courtroom at any given time, in addition to court staff. Due to overcrowding concerns via COVID-19, the parties shall make every effort to appear telephonically via CourtCall for their scheduled hearing.
Covarrubias, et al. v. Westlake Services, LLC, et alMOTION TO COMPEL ARBITRATION AND STAY PROCEEDINGS
(CCP §§ 1281.2, et seq., 638)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Plaintiffs Martin Covarrubias and Narda G. Velazquez’s Motion to Compel Arbitration is GRANTED. THE MATTER IS TO BE ARBITRATED BEFORE THE AAA AND DEFENDANT WESTLAKE SERVICES, LLC DBA WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES IS TO PAY ANY OUTSTANDING FEES TO AAA TO REINSTATE THIS CASE THEREIN. DEFENDANT WESTLAKE SERVICES, LLC DBA WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES IS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY PLAINTIFFS’ COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $439.95 WITHIN 30 DAYS’ NOTICE OF THIS ORDER.
ANALYSIS:
On July 29, 2019, Plaintiffs Martin Covarrubias and Narda G. Velazquez (“Plaintiffs”) filed this action against Defendants Westlake Services, LLC dba Westlake Financial Services (“Holder”) and Great American Insurance Company (“Great American”). On October 23, 2019, Plaintiffs dismissed Great American from the action.
Plaintiffs filed the instant Motion to Compel Arbitration on January 13, 2020. To date, no opposition has been filed.
Legal Standard
“On petition of a party to an arbitration agreement alleging the existence of a written agreement to arbitrate a controversy and that a party thereto refuses to arbitrate such controversy, the court shall order the petitioner and the respondent to arbitrate the controversy if it determines that an agreement to arbitrate the controversy exists, unless it determines that: (a) The right to compel arbitration has been waived by the petitioner; or (b) Grounds exist for the revocation of the agreement.” (CCP §§ 1281.2(a)-(b).) As with other types of agreements, “[t]he failure of the [party] to carefully read the agreement and the amendment is not a reason to refuse to enforce the arbitration provisions.” (Powers v. Dickson, Carlson & Campillo (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 1102, 1115.) “California law, ‘like [federal law], reflects a strong policy favoring arbitration agreements and requires close judicial scrutiny of waiver claims.’” (Wagner Const. Co. v. Pacific Mechanical Corp. (2007) 41 Cal.4th 19, 31.) If the court orders arbitration, then the court shall stay the action until arbitration is completed. (See CCP § 1281.4.)
Discussion
Plaintiffs bring the instant Motion seeking to compel Holder to submit to arbitration based on a Retail Installment Sale Contract to purchase a car (the “Contract”). (Motion, Heydari Decl., Exh. 2.) Both Plaintiffs and the car dealership are parties to the Contract, and Holder is alleged to have been assigned the contract. (See Compl., ¶¶36-37.) Plaintiffs provide evidence of the existence of the arbitration agreement in the sales contract. (Motion, Heydari Decl., Exh. 2, p. 4.) They further demonstrate that they made payments to Holder on the Contract and that their demand to Holder to arbitrate the dispute was ignored. (Id. at ¶¶4-9 and Exhs. 1, 4.) This demonstrates that the Court’s intervention is needed to compel the parties to arbitration. Nor has Holder submitted an opposition to the instant Motion. Accordingly, Plaintiffs have demonstrated the existence of an arbitration agreement and the Court finds there is no defense to its enforcement.
Plaintiffs also request costs for having to bring the instant Motion. “The court shall award costs upon any judicial proceeding under this title as provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1021) of Title 14 of Part 2 of this code.” (Code Civ. Proc., § 1293.2.) “A petition to compel arbitration under section 1281.2 is a judicial proceeding covered by this provision.” (Otay River Constructors v. San Diego Expressway (2008) 158 Cal.App.4th 796, 805.) Therefore, Plaintiffs are awarded costs of $439.95. (Motion, pp. 7:20-22.)
Conclusion
Plaintiffs Covarrubias and Narda G. Velazquez’s Motion to Compel Arbitration is GRANTED. THE MATTER IS TO BE ARBITRATED BEFORE THE AAA AND DEFENDANT WESTLAKE SERVICES, LLC DBA WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES IS TO PAY ANY OUTSTANDING FEES TO AAA TO REINSTATE THIS CASE THEREIN. DEFENDANT WESTLAKE SERVICES, LLC DBA WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES IS ALSO ORDERED TO PAY PLAINTIFFS’ COSTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $439.95 WITHIN 30 DAYS’ NOTICE OF THIS ORDER.
Moving party to give notice.
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