IN RE: NARAYANAN (AKA "NARA") RAJAGOPALAN ET AL

SF Superior Court - Law & Motion / Discovery Dept 302 - CPF24518804 - October 22, 2025 Hearing date: October 22, 2025 Case number: CPF24518804 Case title: IN RE: NARAYANAN (AKA "NARA") RAJAGOPALAN ET AL Case Number: | | CPF24518804 | Case Title: | | IN RE: NARAYANAN (AKA "NARA") RAJAGOPALAN ET AL | Court Date: | | 2025-10-22 09:00 AM | Calendar Matter: | | Notice Of Motion And Motion To Lift Stay Of Proceedings And To Relieve Counsel | Rulings: | | On the Law and Motion/Discovery calendar for October 22, 2025, line 2. PETITIONERS NARAYANAN RAJAGOPALAN, BAY VIEWS, LLC's Motion To Lift Stay Of Proceedings And To Relieve Counsel.

Before the court is an unopposed Motion to Lift Stay and to be Relieved as Counsel from Counsel John S. Durrant. The Durrant Law Firm, APC, Brianna Pierce and Bellatrix Law, PC, counsel of record for Petitioners Narayanan Raja Gopalan and Bay Views, LLC. HEARING REQUIRED.

On July 2, 2025, Moving Counsel had a substantially identical motion on calendar. The court issued a tentative ruling directing that a hearing was required. Moving Counsel failed to appear and, as a result. the motion was ordered off calendar.

On August 21, 2025, Moving Counsel had a substantially identical motion on calendar. The court issued a tentative ruling directing that a hearing was required. This time, Counsel Pierce appeared, but late. The motion was denied because between the time the motion was filed and the hearing, the court had stayed the action at the parties' urging.

Now, Moving Counsel take their third shot. In this motion, Moving Counsel failed to submit their motion to be relieved and supporting papers on the mandatory Judicial Council forms. (See MC051 & MC052.) Counsel should have filed two motions-one to lift the stay and one to be relieved as counsel with the latter on the mandatory JC forms. Given the need to move to lift the stay and the apparent lack of prejudice, the court will excuse this deficiency.

The court is contemplating lifting the stay to hear the motion to be relieved, granting the motion to be relieved then reinstating the stay pending the outcome of the arbitration. Moving Counsel is advised that another failure to appear or late appearance may result in denial of both motions.

Prior to the hearing, Moving Counsel shall lodge by email to contestdept302tr@sftc.org a proposed order containing the above text verbatim. In addition, Moving Counsel shall lodge by email to contestdept302tr@sftc.org a completed proposed order on MC-053 that includes accurate information regarding next court date and, if any.

For the 9:00 a.m. calendar, all attorneys and parties may appear in Department 302 remotely or in person. Remote hearings will be conducted by videoconference using Zoom. (Dept. 302 Zoom ID 160 409 7690; Passcode 516287.) To appear remotely at the hearing, go to the court's website at sfsuperiorcourt.org under "Online Services," navigate to "Tentative Rulings," and click on the appropriate link, or dial the corresponding phone number.

Any party who contests a tentative ruling must send an email to contestdept302tr@sftc.org with a copy to all other parties by 4pm stating, without argument, the portion(s) of the tentative ruling that the party contests. The subject line of the email shall include the line number, case name and case number. The text of the email shall include the name and contact information, including email address, of the attorney or party who will appear at the hearing.

Counsel for the prevailing party is required to prepare a proposed order which repeats verbatim the substantive portion of the tentative ruling and must email it to contestdept302tr@sftc.org prior to the hearing even if the tentative ruling is not contested.

The court no longer provides a court reporter in the Law & Motion Department. Parties may retain their own reporter, who may appear in the courtroom or remotely. A retained reporter must be a California certified court reporter (CSR), for only a CSR's transcript may be used in California courts. If a CSR is being retained, include in your email all of the following: their name, CSR and telephone numbers, and their individual work email address. =(302/JMQ) | |