Judge: Kevin C. Brazile, Case: 20STCV37776, Date: 2023-05-24 Tentative Ruling

Hearing Date: May 24, 2023

Case Name: Zarabian v. Willwerth, et al.

Case No.: 20STCV29052

Matter: Motions to Compel (2x)

Moving Party: Plaintiff Babak Zarabian 

Responding Party: (1) Defendant Zanna USA 2SB Holdings, Inc.

(2) Defendant Zanna USA 3 Holdings, Inc. 

Notice: OK

Ruling: The Motions are granted in part.

Moving party to give notice.

If counsel do not submit on the tentative, they are strongly 

encouraged to appear by LACourtConnect rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This is an action in which Plaintiff Babak Zarabian alleges the Defendants cut him out of a partnership deal relating to the “Zanna” family of corporate entities.    

Plaintiff now seeks to compel further responses and documents with respect to his requests for production in connection with the depositions of Defendants Zanna USA 2SB Holdings, Inc. and Zanna USA 3 Holdings, Inc.  Plaintiff asserts that no documents were produced because Defendants asserted meritless objections.

Defendants object on the grounds that the subject documents contain private information.

The Motion is granted as to request nos. 1-12 and 15 because these requests merely seek documents identifying certain shareholders, managers, and banks for Defendants.  These requests also seek the total number of shareholders for Defendants and documents relating to their investments, as well as profit and loss statements.  Most of this is not private information.  In any case, this information is directly relevant to identifying witnesses and establishing damages.  If there are certain documents that do not exist, then an appropriate response should be provided.  

The Motion is denied as to request nos. 13-14, which encompass documents subject to the taxpayer privilege.

Documents are to be produced within thirty days.  The Court awards reduced sanctions against the Defendants in the total amount of $1,000.  This liability is joint and several.  

Moving party to give notice.

If counsel do not submit on the tentative, they are strongly encouraged to appear by LACourtConnect rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.