Judge: Kevin C. Brazile, Case: 22STCV31527, Date: 2025-03-25 Tentative Ruling

Hearing Date: March 25, 2025

Case Name: Konopisos, et al. v. Wong, et al.

Case No.: 22STCV06312

Matter: Motion to Compel Further Responses

Moving Party: Defendant Ark Wong

Responding Party: Plaintiffs Jason Konopisos and Tara Norris

Notice: OK

Ruling: The Motion is granted.

Moving party to give notice.

The Court encourages all parties to appear remotely via LA CourtConnect.  If submitting on the Court's tentative ruling, please follow the instructions provided above.

This is a habitability matter.  Defendant Ark Wong now seeks to compel further responses to requests for production, set four, nos. 53-67, 73, 92, 93, and 97 from Plaintiffs Jason Konopisos and Tara Norris.

Plaintiffs submitted a late opposition that they justified based on fires that happened two months ago.  The Court need not consider such an opposition but did so anyway.  

Request nos. 53-67, 92, 93, and 97 seek documents that Plaintiffs provided to the media, to Defendant, to investigators, or exchanged between themselves about the subject property.  The Motion is granted as to these requests because Plaintiffs failed to specify if any other entity or person might have possession of the documents.  Stating that “Plaintiff is the last known person to be in possession” does not precisely address the issue.  If a media outlet or other entity was involved, then that entity should be specified.  

The Motion is granted as to request no. 73, which seeks documents about Plaintiffs’ relocation.  Defendant complains that redacted documents were provided.  Plaintiffs failed to justify their redactions.

In sum, the Motion is granted. Further responses/production are to be provided within 30 days. 

The Court awards reduced sanctions in the amount of $1,000.

Moving party to give notice.