Judge: Gary I. Micon, Case: 22CHCV00666, Date: 2024-02-26 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22CHCV00666    Hearing Date: March 20, 2024    Dept: F43

Dept. F-43 

Date: 3-20-24 

Case # 22CHCV00666, Alma Vargas vs. General Motors, LLC 

Trial Date: 4-22-24 

MOTION TO COMPEL FURTHER DISCOVERY RESPONSES 

MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff Alma Vargas 

RESPONDING PARTY: Defendant General Motors, LLC 

RELIEF REQUESTED 

Further Responses to Defendant’s Answers to Plaintiff’s Requests for Production 

RULING: Parties are ordered to conduct a meaningful meet and confer 

SUMMARY OF ACTION AND ANALYSIS 

On August 19, 2022, Plaintiff Alma Vargas (Plaintiff) filed this lemon law case against Defendant General Motors, LLC (Defendant).  

Plaintiff propounded discovery on Defendant on August 17, 2023. On September 18, 2023, Defendant served responses to Plaintiff’s requests for production. On December 5, 2023, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel further responses to the requests for production. Plaintiff argues that Defendant responses to Request Nos. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 19, 22, 24, 30, 35, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 55, 56, 65, 73, 75, 76, and 79 were inadequate, and Defendant’s objections were without merit. 

On February 26, 2024, the Court called the matter for hearing and stated that it will not decide the motion on the merits as there is a dispute between the parties over the sufficiency of the meet and confer.  The Court ordered the following: (1) the parties to conduct a meaningful meet and confer; and (2) the parties shall submit a joint statement of the remaining issues no later than March 11, 2024. (Minute Order 2/26/24.)

On March 12, 2024, Plaintiff’s counsel filed a supplemental declaration in support of the motion.  Counsel attests she sent opposing counsel emails in efforts to schedule a telephonic meet and confer regarding the discovery dispute, but Defendant never responded. (Declaration of Nino Sanaia, ¶ 3; Ex. “1.”)

The parties have not done as the Court had ordered on February 26, 2024.  The Court will not decide the motion on the merits until the parties meet and confer directly and submit a joint statement of the remaining issues per the Order of February 26. Accordingly, the matter is continued to allow the parties to comply with the Court’s Order. The parties shall file a joint statement of remaining issues by a date to be set by the Court.