Rashidat Adetoun Koko Egun v. Chibueze Chima, et al.

reasonable inference that he is absolutely privileged as a mandatory reporter in California. (WIC Sec.Sec. 15630, subd. (a) (providing Act) and 15634 ("No care custodian ... who reports a known or suspected instance of abuse of an elder or dependent adult shall be civilly or criminally liable for any report required or authorized by this article"); see also Valero v. Spread Your Wings, LLC (2023) 88 Cal.App.5th 243, 253-261 (analyzing the Act's extension of absolute immunity to care custodian's conduct).)

WIC section 15634 specifically protects mandated reporters from liability for conduct "integrally related to a report of suspected elder abuse." (Santos v. Kisco Senior Living, LLC (2016) 1 Cal.App.5th 862, 866 (holding mandated reporter immune under Act for actions related to report of suspected elder abuse).)

Accordingly, the burden shifts to Plaintiff to disclose a triable issue of material fact. In opposition, Plaintiff argues that Restum's motion turns entirely on his own declaration of his conduct and state of mind, and that it is contradicted by his own deposition testimony and discovery responses, as well as the testimony of others including Azevedo and Aparicio. (Agadzhanov Decl., P. 2, Ex. A [Restum Depo. Vol. I] at 57:25-58:18; Ex. C [Aparicio Depo.] at 29:11-23; Ex. D [Azevedo Depo.] at 32:21-25.)

Plaintiff also submitted evidence from Caregiver Lipsey Rojas that contradicts Restum's versions of events. (RSS 12.)

Plaintiff also submitted evidence that Restum published the accusation to Child Support Services for an unrelated reason (i.e., garnishment of wages), and submitted three governmental certificates of no records for the subject APS report and Restum's own admissions of ill will. Taken together, the Court finds triable issues as to this cause of action. Based on the foregoing, Restum's motion for summary judgment is denied. It is so ordered. Dated: Sepember, 2026 Hon. Jon R. Takasugi Judge of the Superior Court

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the court at smcdept17@lacourt.org by 4 p.m. the day prior as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org. If a party submits on the tentative, the party's email must include the case number and must identify the party submitting on the tentative. If all parties to a motion submit, the court will adopt this tentative as the final order. If the department does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on the tentative and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion may be placed off calendar. For more information, please contact the court clerk at (213) 633-0517. Case Number: 26STCV02118 Hearing Date: September 9, 2026 Dept: 309 Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles DEPARTMENT 17 TENTATIVE RULING RASHIDAT ADETOUN KOKO EGUN vs. CHIBUEZE CHIMA, et al. | Case No.: 26STCV2118 Hearing Date: September 9, 2026 | Defendant Tribe Entertainment Center, LLC and Chibueze Chima counsel John W. Bussman's motions to be relieved as counsel are GRANTED, effective upon filing proof of service of the court's order (MC-053).

Legal Standard

Motions to withdraw are routinely granted if made in the proper form and presented with proper notice. The court may issue an order allowing an attorney to withdraw from representation, after notice to the client. (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 284(2).)

Discussion

John W. Bussman brings motions for relief as counsel as to Defendants Tribe Entertainment Center, LLC and Chibueza Chima. The following documents are properly submitted: Civil Form MC-051 "Notice of Motion and Motion to be Relieved as Counsel," Civil Form MC-052 "Declaration in Support of Attorney's Motion to be Relieved as Counsel," and Civil Form MC-053 "Order Granting Attorney's Motion to be Relieved as Counsel." The motions are GRANTED. It is so ordered. Dated: September, 2026 Hon. Jon R. Takasugi Judge of the Superior Court

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the court at smcdept17@lacourt.org by 4 p.m. the day prior as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org. If a party submits on the tentative, the party's email must include the case number and must identify the party submitting on the tentative.

If all parties to a motion submit, the court will adopt this tentative as the final order. If the department does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on the tentative and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion may be placed off calendar. For more information, please contact the court clerk at (213) 633-0517. | Home -->)" -->