STEVENSON, ET AL. VS. MERCY MEDICAL HOSPITAL, ET AL.

CASE NUMBER: 25CV-0206834 Tentative Ruling on Order to Show Cause Re: Sanctions: An Order to Show Cause Re: Sanctions issued on April 13, 2026 to Plaintiffs Brandy Louise Stevenson and the Estate of Jeffrey Stevenson and their counsel, Lipeles Law Group, APC for failure to appear on April 20, 2026 as ordered on February 17, 2026 and failure to timely serve pleadings as required by CRC 3.110. Plaintiffs have not responded to the Order to Show Cause and therefore provided no excuse for failing to appear on April 20, 2026 and failing to comply with CRC 3.110.

Plaintiffs’ counsel was present on December 15, 2025 when the February 17, 2026 review hearing was set. The tentative ruling on February 17, 2026 set the April 20, 2026 hearing date with no appearance necessary. Plaintiffs had notice of the April 20, 2026 review hearing and did not appear.

Plaintiffs named several Defendants in their Complaint filed January 16, 2025. Plaintiffs filed a First Amended Complaint (FAC) on February 11, 2026. Attached to the FAC is a proof of electronic service on the Defendants who had already appeared. No other proofs of service for the FAC have been filed. This is the current status of each Defendant for which the FAC is not at issue:

 Mercy Medical Hospital and Ibraheem Kayali, MD, served electronically with FAC but have not answered.  Dignity Health, no proof of service for FAC.  Jesse Arnold ACNP/FNP, dismissed from Complaint on August 12, 2025 but then renamed in FAC and not served.  Jeremy Wellman PA, dismissed from Complaint on August 12, 2025 but then renamed in FAC and not served.  Matther Herring MD, not served with FAC.  Julie McClelland MD, dismissed from Complaint on February 3,2026 but then renamed in FAC and not served.  Kiruba Dharaneeswaran MD, not served with FAC. Demurrer to Complaint dropped from calendar on April 20, 2026 based on filing of FAC.

Defendants Dana Detwiler CRNA, Khiara Scolari PA-C, and Pardeep Athwal MD have filed Answers to the FAC. CRC 3.110 sets timelines in which a plaintiff must serve a defendant and how quickly a plaintiff must seek 6

default if a responsive pleading is not filed. Plaintiffs appear to have completely ignored these requirements. Further, Plaintiffs have dismissed Defendants and then brought them back into the case by including them in the FAC. Plaintiffs’ actions and inactions are causing unnecessary delays. This matter was filed well over a year ago and is still not at issue. Plaintiffs must take the necessary steps to get the matter at issue.

Monetary sanctions are imposed on Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ counsel in the amount of $250 for both failing to appear on April 20, 2026 and failing to comply with CRC 3.110. The clerk is directed to prepare the Order of Sanctions. This matter is on calendar at 9:00 a.m. today for a review hearing and the Court will address all parties at that time regarding when this matter will be at issue.