The Palmcroft Baptist Church lawsuit was a personal injury case, Luz Mendez v. Palmcroft Baptist Church, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court in June 2017 over a motor vehicle incident and voluntarily dismissed with prejudice by the plaintiff on December 26, 2018, meaning the claims cannot be refiled.1UniCourt. Luz Mendez vs Palmcroft Baptist Church et al
What the Case Was About
Luz Mendez filed the complaint on June 15, 2017 at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. The docket classifies it as a personal injury action arising from a motor vehicle incident. Three defendants were named: Palmcroft Baptist Church, Palmcroft Baptist Church of Phoenix AZ, and an individual driver, Kort Daniel Meyer.1UniCourt. Luz Mendez vs Palmcroft Baptist Church et al
Mendez was represented by Hamed L. Yazdanpanah of HYP Law in Los Angeles.2HYP LAW. About The defense was handled by Golnar Jabbari Fozi of Meyers Fozi & Dwork, LLP in Carlsbad, California.3Lawyers.com. Meyers Fozi and Dwork LLP The case was later reassigned to Judge Stephen I. Goorvitch at the Spring Street Courthouse, Department 5.1UniCourt. Luz Mendez vs Palmcroft Baptist Church et al
How the Case Ended
The last contested issue in the record was venue. On October 18, 2018, the defendants moved to transfer the action to San Bernardino County. Mendez opposed the motion on November 6, and the court addressed it on November 28, 2018.1UniCourt. Luz Mendez vs Palmcroft Baptist Church et al Around the same time, the court vacated the previously scheduled final status conference, jury trial, and order to show cause regarding dismissal.
Less than a month later, on December 26, 2018, Mendez filed a request for dismissal with prejudice as to the entire action.1UniCourt. Luz Mendez vs Palmcroft Baptist Church et al A dismissal with prejudice is a final resolution: the plaintiff gave up the right to bring the same claims against these defendants again. The case status is listed as disposed.
What the Public Record Does Not Show
The court docket does not include the full text of the complaint, so the specific allegations beyond the “personal injury — motor vehicle” classification are not available from public court records. The timing of the dismissal, coming shortly after the venue ruling, is consistent with a private settlement, but no settlement terms appear in the public record. There is no publicly available finding of liability against Palmcroft Baptist Church, the Phoenix entity, or the individual defendant; the case ended before trial and without a judgment on the merits.