Law & Motion Calendar

The tentative rulings will become the ruling of the Court unless a party desires to be heard.  If you desire to appear and present oral argument, YOU MUST NOTIFY the Judge’s Judicial Assistant by telephone at (707) 521-6604, and all other opposing parties of your intent to appear, and whether that appearance is in person or via Zoom, no later 4:00 p.m. the court day immediately preceding the day of the hearing.

If the tentative ruling is accepted, no appearance is necessary unless otherwise indicated.

*Please note Friday’s 8:30 a.m. Law & Motion Calendar will be called at 3:00 P.M.*

TO JOIN “ZOOM” ONLINE:

Department 18 Hearings

• Meeting ID: 160—739—4368
• Password: 000169
• https://sonomacourt-org.zoomgov.com/j/1607394368?pwd=aW1JTWlIL3NBeE9LVHU2NVVpQlVRUT09
   

TO JOIN DEPARTMENT 18 “ZOOM” BY PHONE:

• By Phone (same meeting ID and password as listed for each calendar):
• Call: +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
   

PLEASE NOTE: The Court’s Official Court Reporters are “not available” within the meaning of California Rules of Court, Rule 2.956, for court reporting of civil cases.

Guide for Participating in Court Proceedings via Zoom for Dept 18:

• After joining the meeting and checking in with the clerk, please mute your audio when not speaking. This helps keep background noise to a minimum.
• Be mindful of background noise when your microphone is not muted. Avoid activities that could create additional noise, such as shuffling papers.
• Position your camera properly if you choose to use a web camera. Be sure it is in a stable position and focused at eye level, if possible. Make sure everything visible in the frame is appropriate for an appearance in court.
• If a confidential session becomes necessary it is incumbent on you to ensure you are able to participate from a private location so that unauthorized people cannot overhear or see the proceedings.
• Chat is enabled for the sharing of documents among participants and the court and to allow attorneys to communicate individually with each other or their clients only. No chat messages should be sent privately to the court as it would amount to an unauthorized ex parte communication. Neither should chat messages be sent to all participants unless directed by the court.
• The recording function has been disabled. Remember, the prohibition against recording court proceedings, even remote ones, remains.
• Be patient. Check in will take more time and the experience from those who have tried this before is that proceedings are a little slower generally.

1.         24CV05072, Peterson Holding Company v. Pedrani: Defendants’ Motion to Consolidate
Defendant Thomas Pendleton, dba T&E Trucking, and Thomas Pendleton’s, individually, (“Defendants”) unopposed motion for consolidation is GRANTED.

This action arises from a motor vehicle collision involving multiple vehicles that occurred on October 14, 2022, on Porter Creek Road in Sonoma County. (MPA in Support of Motion to Consolidate Cases, 2:21–22.) There are three separate cases relating to the accident currently pending in the Sonoma County Superior Court:

• The instant action: Peterson Holding Company v. T&E Trucking (24CV05072) filed on August 29, 2024, in Department 18;
• Braithwaite v. Pendleton (24CV05319) filed on September 11, 2024, in Department 16; and
• Perez Chim v. T&E Trucking (24CV05492) filed on September 18, 2024, in Department 16.

Defendants previously moved the Court to consolidate these three cases on May 14, 2025, which the Court denied for failure to comply with California Rules of Court, Rule 3.350(a)(1)(C). (See Minute Orders, dated August 13, 2025.) Defendants refiled the motion on September 4, 2025. The Court notes that Defendants have complied with Rule 3.350(a)(1)(C) by filing a notice of motion to consolidate cases in 24CV05319 and 24CV05492. Additionally, all parties across all three cases have stipulated to have the cases consolidated. (See O’Connor Declaration, Exhibit A.)

A trial court has broad discretion to consolidate actions with common questions of law or fact to avoid unnecessary costs or delay. (C.C.P. § 1048(a); Walker v. Walker (1960) 177 Cal.App.2d 89, 91–92.) Here, all three actions arise from the same multivehicle collision and therefore will necessarily involve common questions of law or fact. Thus, Defendants’ motion is GRANTED in the interests of justice and judicial efficiency. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, Rule 3.350(b) and (d), the instant action, 24CV05072, is the lead case as the lowest numbered case and all documents filed must include the caption and case number of the lead case, followed by the case numbers of all the other consolidated cases.

Defendants’ counsel shall submit a written order on its motion to the Court consistent with this tentative ruling and in compliance with Rule of Court 3.1312(a) and (b). This order must also be filed in cases 24CV05319 and 24CV05492 pursuant to Rule 3.350(c).

2.         25CV04226, Rantissi v. Volkswagen Group of America Inc.: Plaintiff’s Demurrer to Defendant’s Answer
Appearances Required.

***This is the end of the Tentative Rulings***