LEROY, JOSEPH v. PICKETT, RYAN

PLACER COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT THURSDAY, CIVIL LAW AND MOTION DEPARTMENT 3 THE HONORABLE MICHAEL W. JONES TENTATIVE RULINGS FOR JULY 23, 2026, AT 8:30 A.M.

Filing fees ($275.02)

Plaintiff challenges several specific filing fees for three ex parte applications to continue trial, a stipulation and order, a remote appearance fee, and two substitution of counsel filings. Filing and motion fees are allowable costs. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1033.5, subd. (a)(1).) A remote appearance fee is neither allowable nor prohibited, so it may be allowed or denied in the court’s discretion. (Code Civ. Proc., § 1033.5, subd. (c)(4).) Here, the filing fees appear to be proper charges, so the burden to show that they were not reasonable or necessary to the litigation is on the plaintiff.

Plaintiff falls short of that burden. As remote appearances are commonly used in courts throughout the state and typically result in lower litigation costs generally, the court finds the remote appearance fee to be reasonably incurred and reasonably necessary for the litigation. The motion to tax filing fees is denied.

Based on the foregoing, plaintiff’s motion to tax costs is granted in part. Costs are taxed in the amount of $42,662.27 ($22,880.82 as withdrawn by defendant and $19,781.45 as taxed by the court). The motion is otherwise denied, and defendant is awarded costs in the total amount of $69,531.63.

3. S-CV-0047160 GUINASSO, FRANCES v. CITY OF LINCOLN

The petition to approve compromise of minor’s claim is dropped from calendar as no moving papers were filed with the court.

4. S-CV-0053111 LEROY, JOSEPH v. PICKETT, RYAN

The motion to challenge plaintiffs’ work product clawback is continued to October 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 3.

5. S-CV-0054631 PTAK, CRYSTAL v. THOMAS, KIRA

Motion to be Relieved as Counsel

The motion to be relieved as counsel for plaintiffs Crystal Ptak and Olver Jouin by Leah Kestrel Finke is granted, effective upon the filing of proof of service of the signed order after hearing on the clients, Crystal Ptak and Oliver Jouin. (Code Civ. Proc. § 284, subd. (2); Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362.) The court notes the motion does not include relief for Kestrel Law PLLC and this ruling does not include any relief not properly noticed or requested.

PLACER SUPERIOR COURT – DEPARTMENT 3 Thursday Civil Law and Motion – Tentative Rulings