Zhang v. Superior Court CA2/2

Filed 11/22/22 Zhang v. Superior Court CA2/2 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SECOND APPELLATE DISTRICT

DIVISION TWO

JANICE M. ZHANG, B311867

Plaintiff and Appellant, (Los Angeles County Super. Ct. No. 20STCV19771) v.

LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT,

Defendant and Respondent.

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Susan Bryant-Deason, Judge. Affirmed.

Law Office of R. Chris Lim, R. Chris Lim; Law Office of Michelle Kuo and Michelle Kuo for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo, Nate J. Kowalski, Jorge J. Luna, and Mae G. Alberto for Defendant and Respondent. ______________________________

Plaintiff and appellant Janice M. Zhang (Zhang) appeals from a judgment following the trial court’s order sustaining defendant and respondent Los Angeles Superior Court’s (LASC) demurrer to Zhang’s first amended complaint without leave to amend. She does not challenge the propriety of the order sustaining the demurrer. Rather, she argues that the judgment must be reversed because the trial court erred by (1) failing to consider and then grant her request to change venue, and (2) failing to recuse itself and all other LASC judges because of an appearance of bias. We are not convinced by Zhang’s arguments. Accordingly, we affirm. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Before she retired, Zhang was employed as an interpreter by the LASC. On May 22, 2020, acting in pro. per., she filed the instant action against her former employer. As is relevant here, Zhang alleges in her pleading that she is a resident of Humboldt County. She asserts that “she will suffer extreme prejudice in conflict of interest because [LASC is] the Employer of all judges and witnesses. . . . Judges have obvious and hidden social and working relationships with court[] administrators and witnesses that will break down a judge, or a witness’[s] ability to remain fair and impartial if the case remains in the Los Angeles Superior Court. A motion to Change of Venue to Humboldt County Superior Court, California has [been] filed concurrently.” (Bolding omitted.) Zhang did not file a motion to change venue or set a hearing date for a motion. Instead, along with her complaint, she filed a “Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support of Motion for Change of Venue.”