Judge: Mark E. Windham, Case: 22STLC06201, Date: 2023-03-21 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STLC06201    Hearing Date: March 21, 2023    Dept: 26

Opara v. Reed, et al.

MOTION TO COMPEL RESPONSES TO INTERROGATORIES;

REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS

                                                                                (CCP §§ 2030.290, 2023.010)


TENTATIVE RULING:  

Defendant Marcus Xzavier Reed’s (1) Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One; and Request for Sanctions; and (2) Motion to Compel Responses to Special Interrogatories, Set One; Request for Sanctions are GRANTED. PLAINTIFF GERALDINE N. OPARA IS TO SERVE VERIFIED RESPONSES TO THE INTERROGATORIES WITHOUT OBJECTIONS WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. PLAINTIFF AND COUNSEL OF RECORD ARE JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY ORDERED ARE FURTHER ORDERED TO PAY SANCTIONS OF $523.30 TO DEFENSE COUNSEL WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER.

ANALYSIS:

On October 25, 2022, Defendant Marcus Xzavier Reed (“Defendant”) served Form Interrogatories, Set One, and Special Interrogatories, Set One, on Plaintiff Geraldine N. Opara (“Plaintiff”). (Motions, Gualderon Decl., Exh. A.) Despite a meet and confer effort extending the deadline to respond to the requests, Plaintiff has not served responses. (Id. at Exh. B.) Defendant filed the instant (1) Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One; and Request for Sanctions; and (2) Motion to Compel Responses to Special Interrogatories, Set One; Request for Sanctions, on February 23, 2023. No oppositions have been filed to date.

Discussion

There is no requirement for a prior meet and confer effort before a motion to compel initial responses can be filed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290.) Further, the motion can be brought any time after the responding party fails to provide the responses.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290.) Based on Plaintiff’s failure to respond to the propounded discovery, Defendant is entitled to an order compelling Plaintiff to serve verified responses to the interrogatories without objections.

Plaintiff’s failure to timely respond constitutes a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (d).) Sanctions are appropriate under Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.010 and 2023.030 and have been properly noticed. However, the amount sought is excessive under a lodestar calculation. Sanctions are awarded in the amount of $523.30 based on two hours of attorney time billed at $200.00 per hour, and $61.65 in costs per motion. (Motions, Gualderon Decl., ¶7.)

Conclusion

Defendant Marcus Xzavier Reed’s (1) Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One; and Request for Sanctions; and (2) Motion to Compel Responses to Special Interrogatories, Set One; Request for Sanctions are GRANTED. PLAINTIFF GERALDINE N. OPARA IS TO SERVE VERIFIED RESPONSES TO THE INTERROGATORIES WITHOUT OBJECTIONS WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. PLAINTIFF AND COUNSEL OF RECORD ARE JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY ORDERED ARE FURTHER ORDERED TO PAY SANCTIONS OF $523.30 TO DEFENSE COUNSEL WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER.

Moving party to give notice.