Legal Question in Business Law in California

My company in California received a summons from a plaintiff of which my company has no connection. The defendant is named as Lancaster Palms,LLC, American Premiere Homes; and Does 1-1000, Inclusive and on the bottom of the summons the box is checked "you are served as the person sued under the fictitious name of Doe 210; Holiday Tile".

My company is Holiday Tile and has never conducted any business with the other named entities whether plaintiffs or defendants. My company is a tile business and the bulk of the lawsuit seems to be from 40 homeowners suing their contractor for building defects.

Once again my company has never worked with any parties. Also another strange thing is that this notice was filed Jan 27th,2016 but we just got served the papers yesterday, 9/30/2016.

How should I respond as my company has no association with any of the parties named in the lawsuit? Thank you so much for any advice that may be given.


Asked on 9/30/16, 11:27 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gerald Dorfman Dorfman Law Office

If you have insurance, you should immediately inform your carrier about the lawsuit and forward the papers to them. They will appoint, and pay for, an attorney to defend you. The legal question is not necessarily whether you have a connection to the named parties, but whether you may have a connection to the project containing the alleged defects. In any case, if you have no insurance, it is very likely worth you while to have a consultation with an attorney. It is possible a phone call or letter can get you dismissed from the lawsuit.

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Answered on 9/30/16, 4:12 pm


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