LEMAR, et al. vs CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE RETAILING GROUP, INC., et al.

23CV049070: LEMAR, et al. vs CALIFORNIA AUTOMOTIVE RETAILING GROUP, INC., et al. 08/27/2026 Hearing on Petition to Confirm Minor's Compromise in Department 24

Tentative Ruling - 08/21/2026 Rebekah Evenson

On the Petition to Approve Compromise of Claim of Minor Plaintiff Zohra Lemar, PARTIES ARE TO APPEAR. More specifically, Plaintiffs’ counsel and Iran Jami, the guardian ad litem for Zohra Lemar, must appear (by Zoom, if they prefer.) Because Department 24 is currently in trial, the hearing on this matter will proceed on Friday, August 28, at 9:30 a.m.

According to the Petition, the total settlement being allocated to Zohra Lemar is $525,000. The declaration of Plaintiff’s counsel Serena Peerali states (in paragraph 19) that counsel has agreed to reduce the contingency fee for Zohra Lemar to 30% of the settlement. However, the Petition seeks attorneys’ fees of $159,424.08. That is more than 30% of Zohra Lemar’s settlement. 30% of $525,000 is $157,500.

Appendix B to the Alameda County Superior Court Local Rules states that under normal circumstances, in an action in involving a minor that settles prior to trial, 25% of the net amount of settlement after deducting allowable costs is considered the reasonable amount of attorneys’ fees.

Prior the hearing, Plaintiffs’ counsel is directed to file with the clerk’s office, and email directly to Department 24, a revised proposed order that reduces the amount of attorneys’ fees to 25% of the net settlement after deducting allowable costs.

If Plaintiffs’ counsel continues to seek a 30% contingency fee, Plaintiffs’ counsel shall address why the reasonable amount of attorneys’ fees in this case should be higher than the fee set forth in the Local Rules.