On 07/12/2019 a Personal Injury - Other Personal Injury case was filed by VALERY BOOTH against KRISTI FAGEN in the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Stanley Mosk Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California.
*******6519
07/12/2019
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
WENDY CHANG
BOOTH VALERY
FAGEN KRISTI
7/19/2019: Amended Complaint - Amended Complaint
7/12/2019: Complaint - Complaint
7/12/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
7/12/2019: Summons - Summons on Complaint
7/12/2019: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
7/12/2019: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
Hearingat 08:30 AM in Department 94 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Order to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service
Hearingat 08:30 AM in Department 94 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Non-Jury Trial
DocketUpdated -- Amended Complaint 1st: Name Extension: 1st; As To Parties changed from Kristi Fagen (Defendant) to Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
Docketamended complaint; Filed by: Valery Booth (Plaintiff); As to: Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
DocketAmended Complaint; Filed by: Valery Booth (Plaintiff); As to: Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 01/08/2021 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 07/15/2022 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: Valery Booth (Plaintiff); As to: Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Valery Booth (Plaintiff); As to: Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: Valery Booth (Plaintiff); As to: Kristi Fagen (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
Case Number: 19STLC06519 Hearing Date: November 15, 2019 Dept: 2
Booth v. Fagen
Defendant Kristi Fagen’s Motion to Strike Portions of Plaintiff Valery Booth’s First Amended Complaint is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Court grants the motion as to the prayer for punitive damages; the prayer for punitive damages is stricken. The Court denies the motion to strike the allegations in paragraph 9. Leave to amend is granted; Plaintiff has 30 days to amend.
To state a claim for punitive damages under Civil Code section 3294, a plaintiff must allege specific facts showing that the defendant has been guilty of malice, oppression or fraud. Smith v. Superior Court (1992) 10 Cal. App. 4th 1033, 1042. The basis for punitive damages must be pled with specificity; conclusory allegations devoid of any factual assertions are insufficient. Id.
“Malice” is defined in section 3294(c)(1) in relevant part as “despicable conduct which is carried on by the defendant with a willful and conscious disregard of the rights or safety of others.” “Oppression” is defined in section 3294(c)(2) as “despicable conduct subjecting a person to cruel and unjust hardship in conscious disregard of that person’s rights.” The term “despicable” has been defined in the case law as actions that are “base,” “vile,” or “contemptible.” See, e.g., Shade Foods, Inc. v. Innovative Products Sales & Marketing, Inc. (2000) 78 Cal. App. 4th 847, 891.
By contrast, negligence, gross negligence or even reckless conduct is insufficient to support a claim for punitive damages. Dawes v. Superior Court (1980) 111 Cal. App. 3d 82, 87.
Here, the Complaint alleges that Defendant’s dog attacked Plaintiff while she was on Defendant’s premises. The Complaint further alleges that the dog had previously bitten “as many as” twelve other persons and that despite that history, Defendant “recklessly and willfully” has failed to take appropriate steps to control or give up possession of the dog.
Plaintiff has provided no specific facts regarding the previous incidents. The language is exceedingly vague; on its face, “as many as twelve” other incidents could mean as many as twelve or as few as one. Further, the facts as alleged could refer to minor nips that caused no injury. There are no facts alleged regarding the context of the previous incidents or whether the Defendant even knew about them. Moreover, there are no specific facts alleged about the circumstances of the incident at issue in this case that would support a finding of despicable conduct. The facts as alleged are simply not sufficient to establish “despicable” conduct undertaken with a “conscious disregard” of the safety of others.
Moreover, Plaintiff has not cited and the Court is not aware of any cases allowing punitive damages in a dog bite case. Punitive damages are “typically awarded for intentional torts” while “cases involving unintentional torts are far fewer.” Lackner v. North (2006) 135 Cal. App. 4th 1188, 1212. A much more specific showing would have to be made to justify departure from the general rule than has been made here.
In sum, the motion to strike the prayer for punitive damages is granted. Leave to amend is granted. Plaintiff has 30 days to amend.
By contrast, there is no basis for striking the allegations in paragraph 9 of the Complaint, which are directly relevant to a negligence claim. The motion is denied to the extent it seeks to strike those allegations.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.