Judge: Gary I. Micon, Case: 22CHCV00236, Date: 2024-03-26 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22CHCV00236    Hearing Date: March 26, 2024    Dept: F43

Dept. F43

Date: 3-26-24

Case #22CHCV00236, Monocent Inc., vs. Mina Kateb

Trial Date: 6-17-24

MOTION TO COMPEL MINA KATEB’S DEPOSITION

MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff Monocent and Cross-Defendants Shervin Taheri, Hooman Sahrapeyma, and Monocent, Inc.

RESPONDING PARTY: Defendant Mina Kateb

RELIEF REQUESTED

Defendants request that the Court compel Mina Kateb to appear at a deposition in order to complete her deposition that was started on June 12, 2023

RULING: Motion is deemed moot

SUMMARY OF ACTION

Cross-Defendants filed this motion after the parties could not agree on a date for a continuation of Kateb’s June 12, 2023, deposition. Cross-Defendants represent that Kateb refused to appear for the continuation of the deposition until Cross-Defendants acquiesced to her demands regarding certain financial and trade secret information. Cross-Defendants filed their motion on August 22, 2023. Cross-Defendants have requested sanctions in the amount of $8,875 for having to bring the motion.

On December 11, 2023, Kateb filed an opposition to Cross-Defendants’ motion. In her opposition, Kateb represents that she appeared for and completed the continued deposition on November 3, 2023. This, she argues, means that Cross-Defendants’ motion is now moot. Kateb argues that the motion should have been denied regardless because it was not accompanied by a meet and confer declaration. Kateb also argues that the exhibits attached to Cross-Defendants’ motion are not authenticated.

No reply has been filed as of March 21, 2023. Based on a court order continuing the original hearing date from December 22, 2023, to the current date, opposition and reply were due on the original hearing date.

Because it appears to the Court that the motion is moot, the parties should argue at the hearing whether sanctions are still warranted.