Judge: Elaine W. Mandel, Case: 24SMCV04603, Date: 2024-12-11 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24SMCV04603    Hearing Date: December 11, 2024    Dept: P

Tentative Ruling

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Dorian, Case no. 24SMCV04603

Hearing date December 11, 2024

Plaintiff State Farm’s Motions to Compel Further Discovery

Plaintiff State Farm Mutual insured Cobos. Defendant Dorian sustained injuries while a passenger in Cobos’ vehicle when it was struck by an underinsured motorist. Defendant filed a claim against plaintiff. Plaintiff served special interrogatories (set two) and a demand production of documents (set two) on 8/16/24. Defendant served responses 9/14/24. Plaintiff moves to compel further discovery.

Plaintiff’s RFPs requested documents regarding injuries, treatment, amounts billed and paid and special interrogatories requesting names of health care providers and charges. This is all relevant and discoverable. That such documentation or information may already be in plaintiff’s possession does not obviate the need for defendant to provide verified responses to the discovery.

The reply misstates this department's IDC policy; such is typically required prior to filing motions. The parties should have met and conferred. They did not. The parties should have scheduled an IDC. They did not. These motions could and should have been resolved informally. They were not. Motions granted. Sanctions denied. Verified responses within 20 days.