KATZ VS. COLLECTIVE SOCIETY CORP.

4. KATZ VS. COLLECTIVE SOCIETY CORP. 2025-01526146 MOTION TO STRIKE ANSWER

The motion of plaintiffs Ilam and Zarnie Katz move for an order striking the defendants’ unverified answer is GRANTED with 30 days’ leave to amend.

Plaintiffs Ilam and Zarnie Katz move for an order striking the unverified answer of defendants Collective Society Corp., Brian Foley, and Emma Bergeron. Defendants oppose the motion.

Plaintiffs contend that, under Code Civ. Proc. § 446, defendants were required to file a verified answer because they filed a verified complaint. In fact, defendants filed an unverified general denial. (See ROA 14.)

Defendants respond by contending only one of the two co-plaintiffs verified the complaint and that the other co-plaintiff should provide a verification before they are required to file a verified answer.

Contrary to the objections raised by defendants, if there is more than one plaintiff, verification by one of them is sufficient. (Clairborne v. Castle (1893) 98 Cal.

30. See also Patterson v. Ely (1861) 19 Cal.28.) Likewise, verification of an answer by one defendant is sufficient. (Butterfield v. Graves (1902) 138 Cal.155, 158.)

Thus, plaintiffs’ complaint was properly verified with the verification of plaintiff Zarnie Katz. And when a complaint is verified, the answer also must be verified, generally. (French v. Smith Booth Usher Co. (1942) 56 Cal.App.2d 23.)

In addition, if the complaint is verified, use of a general denial is not permitted; rather, the denials must be specific. If the complaint is verified and defendant answers with a general denial, the answer may be disregarded and all material allegations in the complaint taken as true. (Code Civ. Proc. § 431.20(a). Pico v. Colimas (1867) 32 Cal. 578, 580