Roman Catholic Archbishop v. Superior Court

Opinion

DAVID, J. *

Petitioner, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco (“Archbishop”), a corporation sole, is a defendant in an action brought by real party in interest, William Sheffield, for $260 damages. The Archbishop seeks mandate to compel respondent, the Alameda County Superior Court, to enter summary judgment in its favor, or prohibition to restrain further proceedings against it.

Facts: According to Sheffield, the following events led to filing of his complaint: In 1968, Sheffield, while traveling through Switzerland, visited the Hospice du Great St. Bernard, a monastery…