Judge: Lisa R. Jaskol, Case: 21STCV10751, Date: 2023-08-08 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV10751    Hearing Date: August 8, 2023    Dept: 28

Having reviewed Defendants Jennifer Choi’s and Scott Kim's unopposed Motions to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, and Request for Production of Documents, the Court rules as follows. 

On December 19, 2022, Defendants Jennifer Choi and Scott Kim served Form Interrogatories, Set No. One, Special Interrogatories, Set No. One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set No. One, on Plaintiff Stephanie Valencia. 

Responses were due on January 18, 2023. Plaintiff Stephanie Valencia failed to provide timely responses. Defendants Jennifer Choi and Scott Kim now move to compel code-compliant responses. 

The Court grants the motions to compel responses to the form and special interrogatories under Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.290, subdivision (b) and orders Plaintiff Stephanie Valencia to provide verified responses to the interrogatories compliant with Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.210, subdivision (a) and 2030.220 without objections by September 11, 2023. The Court grants the motion to compel responses to the request for production and production of items under Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.300 and orders Plaintiff Stephanie Valencia to provide verified responses under Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.210 and to produce the documents, electronically stored information, and/or other things requested without objections by September 11, 2023. 

Defendants Jennifer Choi and Scott Kim request monetary sanctions totaling $350 for each motion, but they state each motion required 3 hours of attorney work at a rate of $175 per hour and one $50 filing fee, which adds up to more than $350. 

The motions are substantially similar and will be heard concurrently.  The Court awards sanctions under Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.030, subdivision (a), 2030.290, subdivision (c), and 2031.300, subdivision (c) in the amount of $880, based on 4 hours of attorney’s work and 3 filling fees. 

The Court orders Plaintiff Stephanie Valencia and her counsel to pay Defendants Jennifer Choi and Scott Kim $880 in sanctions by September 11, 2023. 

Moving parties are ordered to give notice of this ruling.