Huerta v. First Solar, Inc., a Delaware corporation
- Beth Freeman
- 5:18-cv-06761
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 1
In George Huerta v. CSI Electrical Contractors, Judge Freeman ordered Huerta to explain why his California UCL claim should not be dismissed.
George Huerta and CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc.; the order concerns whether Huerta’s UCL claim may proceed.
What happened
George Huerta sued CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc., and the parties told the court which claims remained for trial. They disagreed about whether Huerta’s claim under California’s Unfair Competition Law could proceed.
CSI argued that the claim only sought unpaid wages, which were also covered by other claims. The court explained that a plaintiff seeking money through this law must show that no adequate legal remedy exists.
Judge Beth Labson Freeman ordered Huerta to respond in writing within 14 days, explaining why the claim should not be dismissed under the rule from Sonner v. Premier Nutrition Corp. CSI may file a reply within seven days after Huerta’s response, but it is not required to do so. The order did not itself dismiss the claim.
The detailed version
- Huerta v. First Solar, Inc., a Delaware corporation · No. 5:18-cv-06761
- Beth Freeman
- May 29, 2025
Background
The parties filed a joint statement identifying the claims remaining for trial. They agreed on those claims except for George Huerta’s claim under California Business and Professions Code section 17200 and following, commonly called the Unfair Competition Law (UCL). CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc. argued that the UCL claim should not proceed because it merely seeks unpaid wages that are also the subject of other claims.
Legal issue
The court cited Sonner v. Premier Nutrition Corp. for the rule that a plaintiff seeking equitable restitution for past harm under the UCL must establish that there is no adequate remedy at law. The court stated that, if Huerta’s UCL claim merely seeks unpaid wages covered by other claims, the UCL claim is subject to dismissal.
Order
The court ordered Huerta to show cause, in writing and within 14 days, why the UCL claim should not be dismissed under Sonner. CSI may, but need not, file a reply within seven days after Huerta files his response. Each brief is limited to three pages. The opinion is an order to show cause; it does not state that the UCL claim was dismissed. Judge Beth Labson Freeman signed the order.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.