Judge: John J. Kralik, Case: 23BBCV01459, Date: 2025-04-18 Tentative Ruling

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Case Number: 23BBCV01459    Hearing Date: April 18, 2025    Dept: NCB

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

North Central District

Department B

There are 3 motions on calendar.  On March 13, 2025, Plaintiff Mayra Romero (“Plaintiff”) filed 2 motions to compel initial responses from Defendant Royalty Ambulance Services, Inc. (“Defendant”) for: (1) Form Interrogatories – Employment Law (“E-FROG”), set one, Form Interrogatories – General (“G-FROG”), set one, and Special Interrogatories (“SROG”), set one; and (2) Request for Production of Documents (“RPD”), set one.  Plaintiff also filed a motion for order deeming Requests for Admissions (“RFA”), set one, admitted. 

On June 4, 2024, Plaintiff served on Defendant the discovery requests.  On October 17, 2024, Plaintiff’s counsel sent a meet and confer letter on defense counsel, requesting responses by October 24, 2024.  In response, defense counsel stated that responses would be provided by November 1, 2024, but then sought extensions until December 6, 2024.  As of the filing of the motions, Plaintiff states that she has not received responses from Defendant. 

Plaintiff’s unopposed motions to compel responses to the E-FROG, G-FROG, SROG, and RPD are granted pursuant to CCP §§ 2030.290 and 2031.300.  Defendant is ordered to provide verified responses to Plaintiff’s discovery requests, without objections, within 20 days of notice of this order. 

Plaintiff’s unopposed motion for an order deeming the RFAs admitted is granted, pursuant to CCP § 2033.280. 

Plaintiff requests sanctions against Defendant and its attorney in the amount of $5,700 per motion (= Associate Kelly Ha’s time at 0.25 hour meeting and conferring + 1.5 hours on the motion + 2.5 anticipated hours for the reply and hearing at $500/hour; and Senior Associate Baruch Kreiman’s time at 1 hour on the motion + 4.5 anticipated hours for reviewing the opposition/reply and attending the hearing at $650/hour).  The requests are granted in the reduced sum of $300 per motion, which is reasonable for these relatively simple motions to compel initial responses and in light of the similar nature and content of the motions.  Defendant and its counsel of record, jointly and severally, are ordered to pay monetary sanctions in the amount of $900 to Plaintiff, by and through counsel, within 20 days of notice of this order.

Plaintiff shall provide notice of this order.

DATED: April 18, 2025                                             ___________________________

                                                                              John J. Kralik

                                                                              Judge of the Superior Court