Alvarez v. Ramirez CA1/3

── Alvarez v. Ramirez CA1/3 ── Court: California Court of Appeal Date: May 15, 2026 Category: General Filed 5/15/26 Alvarez v. Ramirez CA1/3 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or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 This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.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 FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION THREE BALTHASAR ALVAREZ et al., A172234 Plaintiffs and Respondents, v. (Alameda County Super. Ct. No. 22-CV-018329) NOEL RAMIREZ, Defendant and Appellant. Noel Ramirez (defendant) appeals from an order denying his motion to set aside a default judgment awarding substantial damages to four of his former tenants (plaintiffs). (Civ. Proc. Code, § 473, subd. (d) (§ 473(d)); statutory references are to this code unless otherwise indicated.) Defendant contends the judgment is void for lack of jurisdiction or, alternatively, the trial court abused its discretion by denying him relief from default. We affirm. BACKGROUND Plaintiffs’ Complaint In September 2022, plaintiffs filed their operative complaint seeking damages for harm they suffered while living at a property on Wildwood Street in Hayward that was owned by defendant (the Wildwood property). According to the complaint, each plaintiff entered into a verbal agreement with defendant to rent a different room at the Wildwood property, which had 1 three bedrooms and a living room that was walled off to form two additional bedrooms. Plaintiffs alleged they were all “victims of [a] consistent pattern of harassment, intimidations, and other violations from Defendant.” Defendant’s conduct allegedly included invading plaintiffs’ privacy by entering their rooms without notice, rifling through and taking their property, and installing a camera in the kitchen. Plaintiffs alleged that defendant called them offensive names, habitually threatened eviction, destroyed their property, and intimidated them into complying with unreasonable demands. The complaint contains specific allegations regarding each plaintiff’s interactions with defendant, which we summarize briefly. Plaintiff Morales moved into the garage of the Wildwood property, pursuant to a verbal agreement to pay rent of $1,300 a month. Defendant accepted Morales’s payments but never provided the receipts Morales requested. The garage was not permitted or suitable for habitation, and it flooded during heavy rains. Defendant allegedly entered without notice on several occasions and when Morales protested, defendant “used intimidation tactics, physical violence, and aggressive behavior against Morales.” He also “filed false criminal allegations against Morales,” causing Morales to suffer a weekend in jail before he was released without charges. In addition, defendant allegedly took Morales’s property and documents, attempted to withdraw $1,300 from Morales’s bank account, and cut the cable to Morales’s satellite dish. Plaintiff Martinez moved into an unpermitted bedroom at the Wildwood property, pursuant to a verbal agreement to pay monthly rent of $800 in cash. Defendant accepted Martinez’s payments without providing the receipts Martinez requested. Subsequently, Martinez moved into the 2 master bedroom and agreed to pay $1,100 in monthly rent. Defendant allegedly entered Martinez’s room without notice or permission, took photographs, and sent Martinez