Judge James T. Chou: Professional Background and Legal Expertise

Marin County Superior Court, Department Courtroom B

CA Bar #: 142123 (December 1989)

Appointed By: Gov. Arnold A. Schwarzenegger

Biography

The Hon. James T. Chou is a judge for the Marin County Superior Court in California. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2010. He filled the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. John A. Sutro (Ret.).


He is a registered Democrat.


Judge Chou received his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley. He went on to earn his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law.


Chou began his legal career in private practice where he served as an associate at the law firm of Littler, Mendelson, Fastiff, and Tichy from 1989 to 1991.


He then left the private sector to become an assistant district attorney with the San Francisco County District Attorney's Office from 1991 to 1999. Chou left the D.A.'s office to join the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington as an assistant U.S. Attorney. Three years later, he then went to work for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California, where he served in the same capacity. He remained there until his appointment to the Superior Court eight years later.

Recent Rulings by Hon. James T. Chou

  • Aug 25, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: CLAIMS OF EXEMPTION 7 ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT [PLTF] UNIFUND CCR PARTNERS, A NEW YORK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP

    RULING

    Defendant Curd V. Fowler (“Fowler”) filed a Claim of Exemption on June 24, 2021, Plaintiff filed a Notice of Opposition on July 8, 2021. The San Francisco Sh...

  • Aug 25, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: HEARING ON DENIURRER — MOTION FOR DEMURRER [DEFT] R. SCOTT OSBORN

    RULING

    Defendant R. Scott Osborne’s (“Defendant”) demurrer is OVERRULED. The Court finds that Plaintiff Housing Group Fund 401K Pension Plan’s (“Plaintiff”) Complaint for Damages alleges sufficient facts...

  • Aug 25, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) MOTION TO STRIKE ~ CLAIM FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES FROM FOURTH AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] FIRST AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY

    2) HEARING ON DEMURRER 7 TO FOURTH AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] FIRST AMERICAN TITLE COMPANY

    RULING

    The demurrer by defendant First American Title Com...

  • Aug 25, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO VACATE — ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR ORDER CHARGING JUDGMENT DEBTOR’S PARTNERSHIP INTEREST; INVALIDATING AND REMOVING ABSTRACT OF JUDGMENT [OTHR] MICHELE M. LARSEN

    RULING

    Defendants Michele Larsen CPA. and Michele M. Larsen Revocable Trust’s (“Defendants”) Mot...

  • Aug 18, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO STAY — JUDGMENT PENDING APPEAL [DEFT] EHAB HABASHI [DEFT] LINDA HABASHI

    RULING

    In light of the appeal filed by Defendants Ehab and Linda Habashi et al, in this matter, their motion to stay enforcement of the judgment in this case is moot and is ordered off c...

  • Aug 18, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO COMPEL — DEFENDANT 45 MARIPOSA LLC’S FURTHER RESPONSES TO SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES, SET TWO; AND REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS, SET FOUR [PLTF] THOMAS H KNIGHT

    RULING

    Plaintiff has filed a motion to compel further responses to his Requests for Production...

  • Aug 11, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: HEARING ON DEMURRER 7 MOTION FOR DEMURRER [DEFT] R. SCOTT OSBORN

    RULING Matter continued to August 25, 2021 at 1:30 pm. in Department B.

    All parties must comply with Marin County Superior Court Local Rules, Rule 1.10(B) to contest the tentative decision. Parties who r...

  • Aug 04, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: HEARING ON DEMURRER 7 TO COMPLAINT OF PLAINTIFFS [DEFT] EAN HOLDINGS, LLC

    RULING

    Defendant EAN Holdings LLC’s (“EAN”) demurrer to the complaint is SUSTAINED WITH LEAVE TO AMEND:

    EAN demurs to the complaint (a sole “motor vehicle” cause ofaction) on the ground ...

  • Jul 28, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) MOTION TO COMPEL A ORTHOPEDIC INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION [DEFT] STEPHEN M. PUGH

    2) MOTION TO COMPEL — NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL INDEPENDENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION [DEFT] STEPHEN M. PUGH

    RULING

    Pursuant to Local Rule 1.13B, on July 12, 202,1 the Court appointed a...

  • Jul 28, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) MOTION — FOR CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 1287 STRIKING MR. KHVIBALL’S AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES WHICH LACK EVIDENTIARY SUPPORT [PLTF] NORTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLECTION SERVICE, INC.

    2) MOTION — FOR CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 1287 SANCTIONS STRJKI'NG MR. KIMBALL’S AFFIRMAT...

  • Jul 14, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO TAX COSTS 7 SOUGHT BY DEFENDANT CITY OF SAN RAFAEL [PLTF] GERSTLE PARK SIDEWALK SOLUTIONS

    RULING Plaintiff Gerstle Park Sidewalk Solutions’ Motion to Tax Costs is DENIED.

    Procedural Background Plaintiff‘s action against the City was dismissed, without prejud...

  • Jul 14, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) MOTION TO COMPEL — PRODUCTION OF BUSINESS RECORDS FROM TWITTER, INC [PLTF] ZENNI OPTICAL, INC, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION [PLTF] JULIA ZHEN

    2) MOTION ~ TO FILE UNDER SEAL PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION TO COMPEL PRODUCTION OF BUSINESS RECORDS AND SUPPORTING DECLARATIONS [PLTF] ZENNI OPT...

  • Jun 30, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: HEARING ON DEMURRER — DEMURRER TO AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] LISA LEIGH GIOMETTI

    RULING

    Defendant’s demurrer to the First and Sixth Causes of Action in the First Amended Complaint is OVERRULED.

    Procedural De tciencies Defendant failed to submit a copy of the ope...

  • Jun 30, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION e TO AMEND COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO CCP SECTION 8473(A)(1) [PLTF] RICHARD RAMIREZ

    RULING

    Plaintiff Richard Ramirez’s unopposed Motion for Leave to Amend the complaint pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure 473(a)(1) and California Rule of Court 3.1324 is GRANTEDi

    ...

  • Jun 30, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION — FOR AN ORDER APPOINTING SPECIAL MASTER TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF DEFENDANTS’ FEES [PLTF] HORNSTEIN LAW OFFICES, PROF, CORP.

    RULl'NG

    Plaintiff Hornstein Law Offices’ (“Plaintiff’) Motion for Order Appointing Special Master to Conduct Audit of Fees is GRANTED. (Co...

  • Jun 30, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: l) HEARING ON DEMURRER — TO PLAINTIFF’S SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] GOLDEN OCEAN INSURANCE CENTER, INC.

    2) HEARING ON DEMURRER — OF THE SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] KOOKMIN BEST INSURANCE COMPANY LTD.

    RULTNG

    Defendant Golden Ocean Insurance Center, Inc’...

  • Jun 30, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) HEARING ON DEMURRER — TO SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] ANASTASIA SPARROW PALMER [DEFT] PETER JAMES PALMER [DEFT] VISEART PARIS CORPORATION, INC., A CA CORPORATION

    2) MOTION TO STRIKE — SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT [DEFT] ANASTASIA SPARROW PALMER [DEFT] PETER JAMES PALMER [DE...

  • Jun 23, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION — TO RECONSIDER ORDER DENYING MOTION TO EIG’UNGE LIS PENDENS [DEFT] PETER HARPER [DEFT] HELIX HOLDINGS LP, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP [DEFT] SD. LENDING LLC, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED LIABILITY CO.

    RULING The parties are ordered to appear on June 23, 2021 at 1:30 pm. ...

  • Jun 23, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO COMPEL — COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT’S ORDER THAT RESPONDENT PAY SANCTIONS AND RESPOND TO DISCOVERY REQUESTS; AND FOR FURTHER MONETARY SANCTIONS [PETR] SHARON A, MANUEL

    RULING

    Petitioner Sharon Manuel‘s unopposed motion to compel Respondent Elizabeth Garfield t...

  • Jun 23, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) MOTION TO COMPEL — FURTHER RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR ADMISSIONS [DEFT] STEVEN R. RHOADS

    2) MOTION TO COMPEL — RESPONSES TO FORM INTERROGATORIES [DEFT] STEVEN R. RHOADS

    RULING

    Pursuant to Local Rule 1.13B, the parties are required to work with a discovery fac...

  • Jun 23, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: HEARING 7 FOR RIGHT TO ATTACH ORDER AND ORDER FOR ISSUANCE OF WRIT OF ATTACHMENT [DEFT] JOHN G WARNER

    RULING

    Cross-Complainant John G. Warner’s (“Warner”) Applications for Writ of Attachment for properties owned by Cross-defendants Mark Cunningham, Daniel Morgan and T...

  • Jun 02, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: 1) HEARING ON DEMURRER # TO DERUFF FIRST AMENDED CROSS-COMPLAINT [CRDF] DR, ROBERT TEASDALE [CRDF] CSM ENTERPRISES

    2) MOTION TO STRIKE 7 THE DERUFF FIRST AMENDED CROSS—COMPLAINT [CRDF] CSM ENTERPRISES [CRDF] DR, ROBERT TEASDALE

    RULING

    The Demurrer to the First...

  • Jun 02, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION — FOR LEAVE TO FILE ITS FIRST AMENDED ANSWER TO COMPLAINT [DEFT] COLINDRES & ASSOCIATES, INC, A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

    RULING

    Consistent with this state’s very liberal policy to allow amendments to answers, Defendant’s unopposed motion for leave to file an amend...

  • Jun 02, 2021 Marin County

    NATURE OF PROCEEDINGS: MOTION TO STRIKE — DEFENDANT’S ANSWER TO COMPLAINT [PLTF] QUALITY CAR SHIPPERS LLC

    RULING

    Plaintiff Quality Car Shippers’ unopposed motion to strike the answer in this case is DENIED.

    In this case, Defendant corporation was represented by counsel when it filed ...

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