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Cruz v. Fusion Buffet, Inc. (2020)

Disagreeing with Plancich v. United Parcel Service, Inc. (2011) 198 Cal.App.4th 308, this decision holds that Labor Code 218.5 and 1194 prescribe one-way fee and cost awards in employee suits for minimum wage and overtime pay, precluding the application of CCP 1032 and CCP 998, which only changes the normal prevailing party determination under CCP 1032.  An employer may recover… Read More

Cruz v. Fusion Buffet, Inc. (2020)

In this suit for unpaid wages, plaintiff successfully opposed defendant's motion to transfer the case to the court's limited jurisdiction division, but then failed to recover damages exceeding the limited jurisdiction's maximum.  CCP 1033 provides that when this occurs,, the court may deny the plaintiff costs, including attorney fees. Without deciding whether the fee-shifting provisions of various Labor Code sections… Read More

Auburn Woods I Homeowners Assn. v. State Farm General Ins. Co. (2020)

State Farm's 998 offer was valid and enforceable to shift costs in this case.  The signature block contained a space for signature by the attorney for the HOA, which was sufficient to identify the party in the signature line for acceptance.  Also, the 998 offer's requirement of signature on a settlement agreement releasing all claims " arising from, relating or… Read More

MES Investments, LLC v. Dadson Washer Service, Inc. (2020)

Under Cal. Rules of Court 3.1700, 3.1702, the time to file a memorandum of costs and a motion for attorney fees runs from service of notice of entry of judgment.  That the prevailing party had actual knowledge of entry of judgment earlier is irrelevant.  It is service of notice of entry, not actual knowledge that starts the time running.  Likewise,… Read More

Quiles v. Parent

by Jan T. Chilton |

The trial court did not abuse its discretion in awarding fees to a prevailing plaintiff in an individual FLSA retaliation claim, properly apportioning total fees among several plaintiffs, and attributing to this prevailing plaintiff only those fees reasonably incurred in prosecuting her individual claims. Read More

LAOSD Asbestos Cases (Alfaro v. Colgate Palmolive Co.)

by Jan T. Chilton |

A trial court has no discretion to deny a prevailing party ordinary court costs on the ground that the losing party lacks the financial ability to pay those costs, and may deny or reduce expert witness fees awardable under Code of Civil Procedure section 998 only upon making specific statutory findings. Read More