SANDERSON, et al. vs SINGH, et al.

25CV160428: SANDERSON, et al. vs SINGH, et al. 06/02/2026 Hearing on Motion - Other NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION AND MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES; filed by Marina Sanderson (Plaintiff) + CRS# 743604180741 in Department 518

Tentative Ruling - 05/28/2026 Mark Fickes

The Motion re: NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION AND MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES filed by Behishta Alimi, Marina Sanderson on 02/17/2026 is Denied.

Background

This action arises from a vehicular collision which occurred on February 22, 2024, at or near 1- 580 Eastbound, 1000 feet East pf Schafer Rd. (Complaint p. 4.)

On December 17, 2025, Plaintiffs Marina Sanderson and Behishta Alimi filed a motor vehicle complaint against Defendants Karamjit Singh, A S Gill Trucking, and DOES 1 – 50.

On February 17, 2026, Plaintiffs filed a motion to serve Defendants via publication.

Legal Standard

CCP § 415.50 provides:

(a) A summons may be served by publication if upon affidavit it appears to the satisfaction of the court in which the action is pending that the party to be served cannot with reasonable diligence be served in another manner specified in this article and that either:

(1) A cause of action exists against the party upon whom service is to be made or he or she is a necessary or proper party to the action.

(2) The party to be served has or claims an interest in real or personal property in this state that is subject to the jurisdiction of the court or the relief demanded in the action consists wholly or in part in excluding the party from any interest in the property.

(b) The court shall order the summons to be published in a named newspaper, published in this state, that is most likely to give actual notice to the party to be served. If the party to be served resides or is located out of this state, the court may also order the summons to be published in a named newspaper outside this state that is most likely to give actual notice to that party. The order shall direct that a copy of the summons, the complaint, and the order for publication be forthwith mailed to the party if his or her address is ascertained before expiration of the time prescribed for publication of the summons.

Except as otherwise provided by statute, the publication shall be made as provided by Section 6064 of the 25CV160428: SANDERSON, et al. vs SINGH, et al. 06/02/2026 Hearing on Motion - Other NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION AND MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES; filed by Marina Sanderson (Plaintiff) + CRS# 743604180741 in Department 518 Government Code unless the court, in its discretion, orders publication for a longer period.

(c) Service of a summons in this manner is deemed complete as provided in Section 6064 of the Government Code.

(d) Notwithstanding an order for publication of the summons, a summons may be served in another manner authorized by this chapter, in which event the service shall supersede any published summons.

(e) As a condition of establishing that the party to be served cannot with reasonable diligence be served in another manner specified in this article, the court may not require that a search be conducted of public databases where access by a registered process server to residential addresses is prohibited by law or by published policy of the agency providing the database, including, but not limited to, voter registration rolls and records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. (Emphasis added.)

Discussion

Plaintiffs Marina Sanderson and Behishta Alimi move for an order granting publication of summons to serve Defendants, pursuant to CCP § 415.50. There is no opposition on file.

Plaintiffs have not supplied a declaration from someone with personal knowledge of the facts giving rise to the cause of action. (See Harris v. Cavasso (1977) 68 Cal.App.3d 723, 726 (verification of complaint by plaintiff's counsel on information and belief not sufficient as sworn statement of facts for publication of summons); Rios v. Singh (2021) 65 Cal.App.5th 871, 882 [“A declaration supporting a section 415.50 application must state probative facts based on personal knowledge rather than hearsay or legal conclusion.”] (internal citations omitted).)

Thus, the motion for an order for an order for publication of the summons is DENIED without prejudice.

The Court considers motions for orders for service by publication on an ex parte basis.

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PLEASE NOTE: Pursuant to California Rule of Court 3.1308, subdivision (a)(1), this tentative ruling will become the order of the Court unless it is contested before 4:00 PM on the court day preceding the noticed hearing.

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA

25CV160428: SANDERSON, et al. vs SINGH, et al. 06/02/2026 Hearing on Motion - Other NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION FOR ORDER FOR SERVICE BY PUBLICATION AND MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES; filed by Marina Sanderson (Plaintiff) + CRS# 743604180741 in Department 518 To contest a tentative ruling, a party should do the following:

First, the party must notify Department 518, by email at Dept518@alameda.courts.ca.gov and copy all counsel of record and self-represented parties. The contesting party must state in the subject line of the email the case name, case number and motion.

Second, the party shall log into the eCourt Public Portal, search for this case (e.g., by case number), select the case name, select the "Tentative Rulings" tab, click the "Click to Contest this Ruling" button, enter the party's name and a brief statement of the party's reason for contesting the tentative, and click "Proceed."

Please note the Court does not permit remote appearances for motions for summary judgment that are contested. If you contest a Motion for Summary Judgment, you must appear in person.

For all other motions (unless otherwise noted in the tentative ruling), Parties may appear via videoconference, using the Zoom.com website or application. TO CONNECT TO ZOOM: Department 518 is inviting you to a scheduled ZoomGov meeting.

Topic: Department 518's Personal Meeting Room

Join ZoomGov Meeting https://alameda-courts-ca-gov.zoomgov.com/j/16054307984

Meeting ID: 160 5430 7984

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