CPS

Superior Court, Los Angeles County; Michael B. Rutberg, Temporary Judge. [*]

Devirian & Shinmoto and Donald B. Devirian, Los Angeles, for Plaintiff and Appellant.

Selman Breitman, Alan B. Yuter and Rachel E. Hobbs, Los Angeles, for Defendant and Respondent.

Wiley, Rein & Fielding; Laura A. Foggan, John C. Yang, Alexander K. Sun; Sinnot, Dito, Moura & Puebla, Randolph P. Sinnott, Los Angeles, Randy M. Marmor, Oakland, for Insurance Environmental Litigation Association as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent.

Horvitz & Levy, Mitchell C. Tilner, Encino, and Karen Bray for Fire Insurance Exchange, Farmers Insurance Exchange, Truck Insurance Exchange and Mid Century Insurance as Amici Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent.

Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft, W. Andrew Miller, William J. Baron and Kathryn C. Ashton, San Francisco, for London Market Insurers as Amicus Curiae on behalf of Defendant and Respondent.

BROWN, J.

Code of Civil Procedure [1] section 431.70 provides in pertinent part: "Where cross-demands for money have existed between persons at any point in time when neither demand was barred by the statute of limitations, and an action is thereafter…