Judge: Daniel M. Crowley, Case: 19STCV09739, Date: 2023-01-20 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 19STCV09739    Hearing Date: January 20, 2023    Dept: 28

Ruling on Defendant Special Events Security, Inc.’s Unopposed Motions to Compel Responses to Special Interrogatories and Request for Production

            Having reviewed Defendant Special Events Security, Inc.’s unopposed Motions to Compel Responses to Special Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents, the Court rules as follows.

            On August 30, 2022, Defendant Special Events Security, Inc. served Special Interrogatories, Set No. Two, Supplemental Interrogatories, Request for Production of Documents, Set No. Two, and Supplemental Request for Production of Documents on Plaintiff Mauricio Alaniz.

            Responses were due on October 20, 2022. Plaintiff Mauricio Alaniz has failed to provide timely responses. Defendant Special Events Security, Inc. now moves to compel code-compliant responses.

            The Court grants the motions to compel responses to the interrogatories pursuant to Code of Civ. Proc. § 2030.290(b) and orders Plaintiff Mauricio Alaniz to provide verified responses to the interrogatories compliant with Code of Civ. Proc. §§ 2030.210 (a) and 2030.220 without objections by February 19, 2023. The Court grants the motion to compel responses to the request for production and production of items pursuant to Code of Civ. Proc. § 2031.300 and orders Plaintiff Mauricio Alaniz to provide verified responses pursuant to Code of Civ. Proc. § 2031.210 and to produce the documents, electronically stored information, and/or other things requested without objections by February 19, 2023.

Defendant Special Events Security, Inc. requests monetary sanctions totaling $3,840.00.

The Court awards sanctions pursuant to Code of Civ. Proc. § 2023.030 (a), Code of Civ. Proc. § 2030.290 (c) and Code of Civ. Proc. § 2031.300 (c) in the amount of 1,500.00, calculated as follows:

Defendant requests $960.00 in sanctions for each motion, based upon 5 hours of attorney’s work, at a rate of $180.00 per hour, and one $60.00 filling fee. Attorney’s work is based on 3 hours of preparing the motion, 1 hour replying to any opposition and 1 hour to appear at the hearing on the motion. First, all motions are unopposed, so no time has been spent preparing a reply. All four motions are being heard concurrently. Finally, the Court notes that all four motions are substantially similar. The Court awards $1,500.00 in sanctions, based on 7 hours of attorney’s work and 4 $60.00 filling fees.

The sanctions total $1,500.00 and are payable by Plaintiff Mauricio Alaniz and his counsel by February 19, 2023.

Moving Party is to give notice of this ruling.