Judge: Holly J. Fujie, Case: 20STCV19331, Date: 2023-03-03 Tentative Ruling

DEPARTMENT 56 JUDGE HOLLY J. FUJIE, LAW AND MOTION RULINGS. The court makes every effort to post tentative rulings by 5.00 pm of the court day before the hearing. The tentative ruling will not become the final ruling until the hearing [see CRC 3.1308(a)(2)], and are also available in the courtroom on the day of the hearing [see CRC 3.1308(b)]. If the parties wish to submit on the tentative ruling and avoid a court appearance, all counsel must agree and choose which counsel will give notice. That counsel must 1) call Dept 56 by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing (213/633-0656) and state that all parties will submit on the tentative ruling, and 2) serve notice of the ruling on all parties. If any party declines to submit on the tentative ruling, then no telephone call is necessary and all parties should appear at the hearing in person or by Court Call. Court reporters are not provided, and parties who want a record of motions and other proceedings must hire a privately retained certified court reporter.

Case Number: 20STCV19331    Hearing Date: March 3, 2023    Dept: 56

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

AND RELATED CROSS-ACTION

MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff Jack Edjourian (“Plaintiff”)

            The Court has reviewed the moving papers.  No opposition papers were filed.  Any opposition papers were required to have been filed and served at least nine court days before the hearing under California Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”) section 1005, subdivision (b). 

BACKGROUND

This action arises out of a business relationship connected to a marijuana dispensary.  On February 1, 2023, Plaintiff filed a motion to compel compliance (the “Motion”).  The Motion seeks an order compelling Defendant Chronicpractor Caregiver, Inc. (“CCI”) to produce documents in compliance with its responses to Plaintiff’s Requests for Production (“RFPs”). 

DISCUSSION

If a party filing a response to a demand for inspection, copying, testing, or sampling thereafter fails to permit the inspection, copying, testing, or sampling in accordance with that party's statement of compliance, the demanding party may move for an order compelling compliance.  (CCP section 2031.320, subd. (a).)

            Plaintiff propounded the RFPs on October 7, 2022.  (Declaration of Kristin Westphal (“Westphal Decl.”) ¶ 3.)  CCI provided responses that did not include documents on November 23, 2022.  (Westphal Decl. ¶ 5.)  CCI has not since provided responsive documents respite Plaintiff’s attempts to follow up with its attorneys on the issue.  (See Westphal Decl. ¶¶ 6-16.)

As it is unopposed, the Court GRANTS the Motion.  (Sexton v. Superior Court (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 1403, 1410.)  CCI is ordered to serve responsive documents in compliance with its responses to Plaintiff’s RFPs within 20 days of this order. 

Monetary Sanctions

Plaintiff requests $3,635 in connection to the Motion.  (Westphal Decl. ¶ 19.)  This amount represents: (1) five hours drafting the moving papers; (2) an anticipated 1.5 hours drafting reply papers and appearing at the hearing at a rate of $550 per hour; and (3) a $60 filing fee.  (Westphal Decl. ¶¶ 18-19.)

The Court exercises its discretion and awards Plaintiff monetary sanctions in the reasonable amount of $1,710, which represents three hours spent on the Motion at a rate of $550 per hour and $60 in filing fees.  (Moran v. Oso Valley Greenbelt Assn. (2004) 117 Cal.App.4th 1029, 1034.)  CCI is to pay this amount within 20 days of this order.  

Moving party is ordered to give notice of this ruling.

In consideration of the current COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Court¿strongly¿encourages that appearances on all proceedings, including this one, be made by LACourtConnect if the parties do not submit on the tentative.¿¿If you instead intend to make an appearance in person at Court on this matter, you must send an email by 2 p.m. on the last Court day before the scheduled date of the hearing to¿SMC_DEPT56@lacourt.org¿stating your intention to appear in person.¿ The Court will then inform you by close of business that day of the time your hearing will be held. The time set for the hearing may be at any time during that scheduled hearing day, or it may be necessary to schedule the hearing for another date if the Court is unable to accommodate all personal appearances set on that date.¿ This rule is necessary to ensure that adequate precautions can be taken for proper social distancing. 

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the Court at SMC_DEPT56@lacourt.org as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org.  If the department does not receive an email and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion will be placed off calendar. 

          Dated this 3rd day of March 2023