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.

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.         SCV-266046, Martin v. Echelon Communities, LLC: Motion to be Relieved as Counsel
Counsel Chis Chapman of Rudderow Law Group, LLC’s unopposed motion to be relieved as counsel for Defendant Echelon Communities, LLC is GRANTED, pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 284(2).

Counsel Chapman declares that Rudderow Law Group, LLC must terminate its representation of Defendant, citing an irreparable breakdown of the attorney-client relationship. Counsel served all parties with notice of the hearing on this motion on September 5, 2025, and there are no other upcoming hearings in this case. Unless oral argument is requested, the Court shall sign the proposed order lodged with this motion.
 

2.         24CV05115, Looney v. The Palate LLC: Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Receiver
Plaintiff Gary Looney (“Plaintiff”) moves unopposed against Defendants The Palate, LLC (doing business as Lime in the Coconut) and Kevin Rhodes, individually as personal guarantor for The Palate, LLC, to appoint Landon McPherson as receiver to seize and sell Defendant’s California Liquor License number 627949 to satisfy the $6,061.91 judgment entered December 5, 2024 (the “Judgment”). The unopposed motion is GRANTED pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure (“C.C.P.”) section 564(b)(3).  

Plaintiff was unable to enforce this Court’s Judgment and now moves to appoint Mr. McPherson as receiver to take possession of and, if necessary, sell Defendant’s California Liquor License number 627949 to satisfy the outstanding Judgment. (Motion, pp. 2–3.) Defendant’s license is not subject to any security interests except for obligations under California law. (Motion, p. 2.) Plaintiff provided sufficient notice of the motion’s hearing. Defendant has not opposed the motion.

The appointment of Mr. McPherson as receiver is warranted. Defendant has not responded to the complaint, to any post-judgment discovery requests after this Court’s order compelling responses, or to any of Plaintiff’s efforts to enforce the judgment entered. Mr. McPherson is a consultant broker for CAL ABC License Services and specializes in the acquisition and sale of liquor licenses in California with over 15 years of experience in the field.

As Plaintiff has satisfied the minimum requirements for the appointment of a receiver, Plaintiff’s motion is GRANTED. The Court appoints Mr. McPherson as receiver to take possession of and, if necessary, sell Defendant’s California Liquor License number 627949 to satisfy the $6,061.91 judgment entered December 5, 2024. Unless oral argument is requested, the Court will sign the proposed order lodged with the Court.
 

3.         25CV-05055, Casadaban v. Velasquez: Petition for Release of Property from a Claim of Lien
The petition for release of property from a claim of lien is CONTINUED to Friday, November 14, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 18 for Petitioners to properly serve Respondent Jonathan Chavez Velasquez as Petitioners failed to provide a proof of service with their petition.

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