Judge: Joel L. Lofton, Case: 22AHCV00022, Date: 2023-11-01 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22AHCV00022    Hearing Date: November 1, 2023    Dept: X

   Tentative Ruling

Judge Joel L. Lofton, Department X

HEARING DATE:     November 1, 2023                                          TRIAL DATE: No date set.

CASE:                         REBECCA VALDEZ, an individual, v. KIA AMERICA, INC. and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive.

CASE NO.:                 22AHCV00022

MOTION TO COMPEL COMPLIANCE

MOVING PARTY:               Plaintiff Rebecca Valdez

RESPONDING PARTY:      Defendant Kia America, Inc.

SERVICE:                              Filed September 18, 2023

OPPOSITION:                       Filed October 19, 2023

RELIEF REQUESTED

             Plaintiff moves for an order compelling compliance with this court’s order from May 9, 2023. 

BACKGROUND

            This case arises from Plaintiff Rebecca Valdez’s Song Beverly claim for the purchase of a 2021 Kia Sorento, Vehicle Identification Number 5XYRL4LC3MG009433 (“Subject Vehicle”). Plaintiff filed this complaint on January 12, 2022, alleging four causes of action for: (1) violation of Civil Code section 1793.2, subdivision (d), (2) violation of Civil Code section 1793.2, subdivision (b), (3) violation of Civil Code section 1793.2, subdivision (a)(3), and (4) breach of express written warranty.      

TENTATIVE RULING

            Plaintiff’s motion to compel compliance and request for sanctions are DENIED.  

DISCUSSION

            On May 9, 2023, this court granted Plaintiff’s motion to compel further responses. Plaintiff provides that Defendant has failed to provide responses to those discovery requests. (Cohen Decl. ¶ 6.) Defendant provides that it served a further production of documents on October 19, 2023. (Yong Decl. ¶¶ 5-8.) Plaintiff’s request is mooted by Defendant’s supplemental responses.

            Further, the court notes that Plaintiff’s motion to compel compliance lacks a statutory basis. Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.210, subdivision (a)(1) provides that a party may respond to a discovery request by stating it will comply with the demand. Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.320, subdivision (a), provides that a party may move to compel compliance if a party fails to respond in accordance “with that party’s statement of compliance.”  Thus, the code sections cited by Plaintiff do not provide a basis for her to move for an order compelling compliance with a previous court order.

CONCLUSION

            Plaintiff’s motion to compel compliance and request for sanctions are DENIED.

            Moving party to provide notice.

Dated:   November 1, 2023                                         ___________________________________

                                                                                    Joel L. Lofton

                                                                                    Judge of the Superior Court