Judge: Katherine Chilton, Case: 21STLC07217, Date: 2023-04-26 Tentative Ruling
Case Number: 21STLC07217 Hearing Date: April 26, 2023 Dept: 25
PROCEEDINGS: MOTION
TO SET ASIDE DISMISSAL AND ENTER JUDGMENT
MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
RESP. PARTY: None
MOTION TO ENFORCE SETTLEMENT
(CCP § 664.6)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Plaintiff State Farm Mutual Automobile
Insurance Company’s Motion to Set Aside Dismissal and Enter Judgment is GRANTED.
Judgment is to be entered against Defendant Tania Yareli Lara Hernandez in the
amount of $5,680.85
SERVICE:
[X]
Proof of Service Timely Filed (CRC, rule 3.1300) OK
[X]
Correct Address (CCP §§ 1013, 1013a) OK
[X]
16/21 Court Days Lapsed (CCP §§ 12c, 1005(b)) OK
OPPOSITION: None filed as of April
21, 2023 [ ] Late [X]
None
REPLY: None filed as
of April 21, 2023 [ ] Late [X] None
ANALYSIS:
I.
Background
On October 10, 2021, Plaintiff State Farm Mutual
Automobile Insurance Company (“Plaintiff”) filed an action against Defendant Tania
Yareli Lara Hernandez (“Defendant”) seeking damages of $10,770.85. Defendant filed
an Answer on December 14, 2021.
On July 27,2022, the parties submitted a Stipulation for
Entry of Judgment in the Event of Default under Code of Civil Procedure section
664.6 (the “Stipulation”). On August 9, 2022, the Court signed an order per the
Stipulation dismissing the action without prejudice and retaining jurisdiction
under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. (8/9/22 Order.)
Plaintiff filed the instant Motion to Set Aside Dismissal
and to Enter Judgment (the “Motion”) on January 12, 2023. No opposition was
filed.
II.
Legal
Standard
Under Code of Civil Procedure, section 664.6:
“(a) If parties to pending litigation stipulate, in a writing signed by
the parties outside of the presence
of the court or orally before the court, for settlement of the case, or part
thereof, the court, upon motion, may enter judgment pursuant to the terms of
the settlement. If requested by the parties, the court may retain jurisdiction
over the parties to enforce the settlement until performance in full of the
terms of the settlement.
(b) For
purposes of this section, a writing is signed by a party if it is signed by any
of the following:
(1) The party.
(2) An attorney who represents the party.
(3) If the
party is an insurer, an agent who is authorized in writing by the insurer to
sign on the insurer's behalf.”
III.
Discussion
The Stipulation was signed by Defendant on July 13, 2022,
by Defendant’s counsel on July 14, 2022, by Plaintiff’s counsel on July 15,
2022, and by Plaintiff’s authorized representative on July 26, 2022. (7/27/22
Stipulation.) The Stipulation provides that Defendant would pay Plaintiff $9,400.00,
$5,000.00 of which would be paid by Defendant’s insurer, Kemper Insurance, and
the remaining balance would be paid by Defendant at a rate of $75.00 per month,
commencing July 15, 2022 and continuing thereafter on the first of each
succeeding month, until paid in full. (Id.) Failure to make a payment as
agreed constitutes a default of the Stipulation. (Id.) In the event of
default, Defendant has a 15-day grace period for payment of any installment due
thereunder. (Id.) Plaintiff is required to give written notice of the
default, after which Defendant shall be allowed an additional ten days from the
date of such written notice within which to cure that particular default. (Id.)
Failure to cure a default entitles Plaintiff to enter judgment for the full
amount of $10,770.85 plus costs and prejudgment interest from the date of loss,
less any monies paid. (Id.)
The Court finds the Stipulation to
be valid and enforceable under Code of Civil Procedure section 664.6. Plaintiff
provides evidence that Defendant’s insurer paid $5,000.00, but Defendant only
paid $150.00 of the remaining $4,400.00 balance. (Mot., Reese Decl., ¶ 5.) Plaintiff’s
counsel sent Defendant a letter regarding his default on October 12, 2022, but the
default was not cured. (Id. at ¶ 6, Exh. 2.)
Plaintiff requests that a judgment
of $5,680.85, based on a principal amount of $10,770.85 less payments received
of $5,000.00 plus costs of $60.00, be entered against Defendant. (Id. at
¶ 8.) Plaintiff’s request is GRANTED.
IV.
Conclusion
& Order
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company’s Motion to Set Aside Dismissal
and Enter Judgment is GRANTED. Judgment is to be entered against Defendant Tania
Yareli Lara Hernandez in the amount of $5,680.85.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.