Judge: John C. Gastelum, Case: 21-01186369, Date: 2022-08-09 Tentative Ruling

Motion for Protective Order

Tentative Ruling:  Defendants Leonard Tierney and Richard J. Chipman’s Motion for Protective Order is GRANTED, in part, as follows.

The Court DENIES Defendants’ motion for a protective order that the depositions noticed by Plaintiff Adam Kidan (“Plaintiff”) for jurisdictional purposes in connection with CHIPMAN and TIERNEY’s Motion to Quash Service of Summons for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction not be taken at all, pursuant to Code of Civil Procdure section 2025.420(b)(1) and also DENIES their request that Plaintiff be required to propound additional specific interrogatories as to their contacts with California in lieu of depositions.

The Court, however, GRANTS Defendants’ request that their depositions be limited to two hours each, a request that Plaintiff concedes in the Opposition. The Court also GRANTS Defendants’ request that the scope of the depositions be limited to TIERNEY and CHIPMAN’s individual contacts with California, if any, related to Plaintiff’s specific claims against them (breach of fiduciary duty and negligence) and that any other matters not be inquired into, including but not limited to the general corporate affairs, finances and any other proprietary business information, and internal communications of MADISON, CHARTWELL, and COAST TO COAST.

Moving Party is to give notice.