COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS OF AMERICA, LLC VS. WILLIAM HODGES, ET AL.

May 12, 2026 Law and Motion Calendar PAGE 12 Judge: HONORABLE NANCY L. FINEMAN, Department 04 ________________________________________________________________________

2:00 PM LINE 4 24-CIV-05320 COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS OF AMERICA, LLC VS. WILLIAM HODGES, ET AL.

COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS OF AMERICA, LLC CALVIN F. LOVE WILLIAM HODGES IAN CHOWDHURY

MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT VSS STUDIOS C/O WILLIAM HODGES

TENTATIVE RULING:

The unopposed motion of Ian Chowdhury to be relieved as counsel of record for defendant VSS Studios is DENIED without prejudice for lack of proof that the motion was served in compliance with California Rules of Court, rule 3.1362(d). There is no proof of service in the file. (Id., rule 3.1300(c) [proofs of service must be filed five court days before the hearing].)

If counsel properly contests and provides notice that he is contesting and emails the proof of service to Department 4 and all parties by 10:00 a.m. on May 12, 2026, the court will grant the motion. Alternatively, if Chowdhury properly contests the tentative and provides evidence that plaintiff and William Hodges do not object, e.g. by emails confirming that they do not object, the court will grant the motion. The court notes that while paragraph 3 of the form declaration concerns service of the moving papers on the client, none of the boxes regarding the manner of service is checked. At best, counsel indicates there was some email communication with VSS Studios CEO, William Hodges. However, it is unclear whether the moving papers were emailed or if there was an email confirming defendant’s address. If the service issue is resolved, then the motion is granted because VSS Studios is suspended and is thus unable to defend the action unless the corporate status is revived. However, if Chowdhury does not provide evidence of proper service, the court must deny the motion. (Diaz v. Professional Community Management, Inc. (2017) 16 Cal.App.5th 1190, 1204–1205 [“court lacks jurisdiction to rule on a motion that has not been properly noticed for hearing on the date in question.”].)

If the tentative ruling is uncontested, the order denying the motion shall become the order of the court. Thereafter, counsel for VSS Studios shall prepare a written order consistent with the court’s ruling for the court’s signature, pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1312, and provide written notice of the ruling to all parties who have appeared in the action, as required by law and the California Rules of Court.