Judge: Lisa R. Jaskol, Case: 21STCV33918, Date: 2023-09-08 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV33918    Hearing Date: September 8, 2023    Dept: 28

Having reviewed Defendant Alexandria Chika Chidebelu’s unopposed Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Special Interrogatories, and Request for Production of Documents, the Court rules as follows. 

On March 14, 2023, Defendant Alexandria Chika Chidebelu ("Defendant") served Form Interrogatories, Set No. One, Special Interrogatories, Set No. One, and Request for Production of Documents, Set No. One, on Plaintiff Michael Trombly ("Plaintiff"). 

Responses were due on April 13, 2023. Plaintiff failed to provide timely responses. Defendant now moves to compel code-compliant responses. 

The Court grants the motion to compel responses to the form and special interrogatories under Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.290, subdivision (b), and orders Plaintiff to provide verified responses to the interrogatories compliant with Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.210, subdivision (a), and 2030.220 without objections by October 2, 2023. 

The Court grants the motion to compel responses to the request for production under Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.300 and orders Plaintiff to provide verified responses in compliance with Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.210 and to produce the documents, electronically stored information, and/or other things requested without objections by October 2, 2023. 

Defendant requested relief regarding three different discovery requests.  Therefore, Defendant should have filed three separate motions and paid three filing fees.  The Court ORDERS Defendant Alexandria Chika Chidebelu to pay two additional filing fees to the Court. 

Defendant requests monetary sanctions of $811.65 based on 3 hours of attorney’s work at a rate of $250.00 per hour and 1 $61.65 filling fee.  The Court adds $123.30 for the additional two filing fees Defendant must pay, bringing the total sanctions award to $934.95.  The Court finds the amount is reasonable and grants the request under Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.030, subdivision (a), 2030.290, subdivision (c), and 2031.300, subdivision (c). 

The Court ORDERS Plaintiff Michael Trombly and his counsel to pay Defendant Chika Chidebelu $934.95 by October 2, 2023.  

Moving party is to give notice of this ruling.