Judge: Curtis A. Kin, Case: 22STCV14511, Date: 2022-12-29 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV14511    Hearing Date: December 29, 2022    Dept: 72

MOTIONS TO COMPEL RESPONSES TO SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES, SET ONE FROM (1) LABRJON SHIELD, AND (2) DANTE KIMBROUGH

 

MOTIONS TO COMPEL RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS, SET ONE FROM (1) LASHAMEKA COLLINS AND (2) LABRJON SHIELD

 

 

Date:                                                                                       12/29/22 (8:30 AM)               

Case:                                                                                                   Lashameka Collins et al. v. CS Properties LLC (22STCV14511)

 

 

TENTATIVE RULING:

 

Defendant CS Properties LLC’s UNOPPOSED Motions to Compel Plaintiffs (1) Labrjon Shield, a Minor by and through His Guardian Ad Litem, Lashameka Collins and (2) Dante Kimbrough, a Minor by and through His Guardian Ad Litem, Lashameka Collins to Respond to First Set of Special Interrogatories are GRANTED.

 

Defendant CS Properties LLC’s UNOPPOSED Motions to Compel Plaintiffs (1) Lashameka Collins and (2) Labrjon Shield, a Minor by and through His Guardian Ad Litem, Lashameka Collins to Respond to First Set of Request for Production of Documents are GRANTED.

 

On August 11, 2022, defendant CS Properties LLC served three separate sets of Form Interrogatories-General, Set One on plaintiffs (1) Labrjon Shield, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins and (2) Dante Kimbrough, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins by email. (Levy Decls. re: Special Interrogatories ¶¶ 3 & Exs. A.) On the same date, defendant CS Properties LLC served Request for Production of Documents, Set One on plaintiff Lashameka Collins and Shield by email. (Levy Decls. re: Request for Production ¶ 3 & Ex. A.)

 

The subject discovery was served on counsel for plaintiffs when plaintiffs were represented. Pursuant to defendant’s agreement, the deadline to serve responses to the discovery was November 10, 2022. (Levy Decls. ¶¶ 4 & Exs. B; CCP §§ 2030.270, 2031.270 [parties may agree to extension of deadline to respond to discovery].) Counsel for plaintiffs was subsequently relieved as counsel. (Levy Decls. ¶ 5.) Despite service of the instant motions directly on plaintiffs, no oppositions have been filed.

 

No responses to the subject discovery have been served. (Levy Decls. ¶ 6.) Accordingly, all objections are waived. (CCP §§ 2030.290(a), 2031.300.)

 

The motions are GRANTED. Within 15 days of this ruling, plaintiffs Labrjon Shield, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins and Dante Kimbrough, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins are ordered to serve written verified responses, without objection, to their respective Special Interrogatories, Set One propounded by defendant CS Properties LLC. With 15 days of this ruling, plaintiffs Lashameka Collins and Labrjon Shield, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins are ordered to serve written verified responses, without objection, to Request for Production of Documents, Set One, propounded by defendant CS Properties LLC.

 

For failing to comply with discovery obligations thereby forcing defendant to file four motions, the Court imposes a total of $885.00 in monetary sanctions on each defendant as follows:

 

·                     $194.38 against plaintiff Lashameka Collins

 

·                     $388.75 against plaintiff Labrjon Shield, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins

 

·                     $194.38 against plaintiff Dante Kimbrough, a minor by and through his guardian ad litem, Lashameka Collins

 

The monetary sanctions are based on 2 hours of work preparing all four motions, instead of the 2 hours claimed for each motion, and 0.5 hours attending the hearing for all four motions, instead of the 1 hour claimed for each motion, all at an hourly rate of $215, plus a $60 filing fee for each motion. The total sanctions are allocated equally to each motion.

 

Monetary sanctions are to be paid to counsel for defendant CS Properties LLC within 30 days hereof.