First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company vs. Mana Family Holdings LLC

Respondents as part of its statement of the underlying facts, the October 3, 2025 order itself did not award those sanctions to Petitioner. Petitioner does not even attach the prior monetary sanctions orders to its petition. Moreover, Petitioner cites no authority showing the court may properly confirm a contractual arbitration award where three of the four Respondents were not signatories to the contract containing the arbitration agreement and were not named as claimants or respondents in the arbitration proceedings.

Here, only Petitioner and respondent Alazar Berhe are signatories to the arbitration agreement. (See Attachment 4b to Petition.) Perhaps there is an argument to be made the attorney Respondents who were not signatories to the arbitration agreement submitted to the arbitrator’s authority by voluntarily appearing and participating in the arbitration proceeding, but no authority is cited to establish that or any other basis for making and confirming an award against these nonsignatories. Accordingly, the petition is GRANTED as to the order granting terminating sanctions against respondent Alazar Berhe and dismissing all his claims against Petitioner, but the petition is DENIED in all other respects, including with regarding to any monetary sanctions or any other relief against the remaining three Respondents.

Counsel for Petitioner is ordered to give notice of this ruling.

4. First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company vs. Mana Family Holdings LLC 2026-01573260 Before the court is the unopposed motion for order to permit inspection under Civil Code section 2929.5, subdivision (d), filed by petitioner First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (Petitioner) regarding the real property located at 2301 East Orangethorpe Avenue, Fullerton, California 92831 (Property). For the reasons set forth below, the motion is GRANTED. Petitioner has shown (1) it is a secured lender of the Property, (2) it has commenced nonjudicial foreclosure proceedings, and (3) it has been unable to enter the Property without a breach of the peace for the purpose of determining the existence, location, nature, and magnitude of any past or present release or threatened release of any hazardous substance on the Property. (See Janes Decl., ¶¶ 7-8, 14-18, 20-21; Exhs. 1-4, 9-10; Strickland Decl., ¶¶ 3-4.)

Petitioner also has shown in compliance with Civil Code section 2929.5, subdivision(b), Petitioner provided the requisite twenty-four hours’ notice to respondents Mana Family Holdings LLC, Veterans Towing LLC, Ahmad Mofid, Nima Mofid, Mahtab Mofid, and Mohammad Mofid to

request access to the Property, but Petitioner has been unable to obtain access to the Property. (Janes Decl., ¶ 17, Exh. 10; Simon Decl., ¶ 2.) Petitioner thus has shown it is entitled to the relief requested under Civil Code section 2929.5, subdivision (d). Based on the foregoing, the motion is GRANTED. The court will sign the proposed order submitted by Petitioner. Counsel for Petitioner is ordered to give notice of this ruling.

5. Khaytovich vs. Locascio 2022-01239428 Before the court is the motion of attorney Charles Gomez or Gomez Law, APC, to be relieved as counsel of record for defendant Brandon LoCascio (Client). The motion was properly served on all parties and Client, it establishes grounds for the withdrawal of counsel, and otherwise complies with the requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 3.1362. Accordingly, the motion is GRANTED. The order relieves counsel shall be effective upon counsel filing with the court a proof of service showing the signed order granting the motion was served on Client. Counsel is ordered to submit a revised proposed order that accurately reflects all future dates. Counsel further is ordered to give notice of this ruling to all parties and Client.

6. In Re: Monarch Bay Terrace Property Owners Association 2026-01547636 Please check back later for a tentative ruling on this matter.

7. G. vs. Santa Ana Unified School District 2026-01576260 Before the court is the petition of petitioner N.G., by and through his guardian ad litem Margarita Flores (Petitioner), for relief from Government Code section 945.4 pursuant to Government Code section 946.6. As more fully set forth below, the petition is GRANTED. On December 19, 2026, Petitioner mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, a notice of claim to respondent Santa Ana Unified School District (District), Office of the Superintendent. Although this claim was timely submitted, Petitioner’s attorney’s office addressed and mailed the claim to the District at “1601 E. 17th Street” when it should have been addressed and mailed to the District at “1601 E.