On 08/07/2017 LARAINE BAXTER filed a Personal Injury - Motor Vehicle lawsuit against EDER REYES MENDEZ. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Stanley Mosk Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is JON R. TAKASUGI. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
****9951
08/07/2017
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
JON R. TAKASUGI
BAXTER LARAINE
MENDEZ EDER REYES
DOES 1-100
BARRY CLIFFORD N.
1/22/2019: Minute Order
8/7/2017: CoverSheet
8/7/2017: Civil Case Cover Sheet
8/7/2017: Summons
8/7/2017: Complaint
at 08:30 AM in Department 3, Jon R. Takasugi, Presiding; Non-Jury Trial - Not Held - Advanced and Vacated
at 10:00 AM in Department 3, Jon R. Takasugi, Presiding; Final Status Conference - Not Held - Advanced and Vacated
Minute Order ( (Final Status Conference)); Filed by Clerk
Civil Case Cover Sheet
Complaint
Complaint; Filed by Laraine Baxter (Plaintiff)
Summons; Filed by Laraine Baxter (Plaintiff)
Case Number: BC669951 Hearing Date: March 10, 2020 Dept: 31
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT
LARAINE BAXTER, Plaintiff(s), vs. EDER REYES MENDEZ, ET AL., Defendant(s). |
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CASE NO: BC669951 [TENTATIVE] ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO INTERVENE Dept. 31 1:30 p.m. March 10, 2020 |
Plaintiff, Laraine Baxter filed this action against Defendant, Eder Reyes Mendez for damages arising out of an automobile accident.
At this time, Anchor General Insurance Company moves for leave to intervene in this case contending its insured, Mendez, cannot be located. Per CCP §387(a), permissive intervention is proper if:
• The nonparty has a direct and immediate interest in the litigation; and
• The intervention will not enlarge the issues in the case; and
• The reasons for intervention outweigh any opposition by the existing parties.
A liability insurer normally cannot intervene in a tort action against its insured to contest whether the claim against the insured is covered under its policy. The judgment in the tort action collaterally estops the insurer only on issues necessarily adjudicated therein—i.e., the insured's liability and the amount of the injured party's damages. It does not bind the insurer on coverage issues. Western Heritage Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1196, 1212.
However, because a liability insurer agrees to pay any judgment obtained against its insured (see Ins.C. §11580(b)(2)), it has the right to intervene (not merely permissive) where an insured is barred from defending itself. In such cases, intervention is necessary to protect the insurer's own interests because it may be obligated to pay any judgment rendered against its insured (assuming no coverage defenses). Reliance Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2000) 84 Cal.App.4th 383, 386–387.
In this case, the Court finds Intervener adequately established a direct and immediate interest in the litigation, and the inability to locate its insured requires permission to intervene. In light of the lack of opposition, the motion to intervene is granted. Intervener is ordered to file a separate copy of the complaint-in-intervention within ten days. Intervener is ordered to give notice.
Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the court at sscdept3@lacourt.org indicating intention to submit on the tentative as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org. If the department does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on the tentative and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion may be placed off calendar. If a party submits on the tentative, the party’s email must include the case number and must identify the party submitting on the tentative.
Dated this 10th day of March, 2020
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Hon. Thomas D. Long Judge of the Superior Court |