Judge: Maurice A. Leiter, Case: 24STCV15603, Date: 2025-01-13 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV15603    Hearing Date: January 13, 2025    Dept: 54

Hearing Date: January 13, 2025

Department 54, Judge Maurice A. Leiter

Defendant’s Motion to Compel Plaintiff Ronal Dominguez’s Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One

Moving Party: Defendant Keyairra Tamya Davis

Responding Party: None

T/R:   DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO COMPEL PLAINTIFF RONAL DOMINGUEZ’S RESPONSES TO FORM INTERROGATIRES, SET ONE, IS GRANTED.

PLAINTIFF TO SERVE VERIFIED RESPONSES TO FORM INTERROGATIRES, SET ONE, WITHOUT OBJECTION, WITHIN 15 DAYS OF NOTICE OF RULING.

DEFENDANT’S REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS IS GRANTED IN THE REDUCED, TOTAL AMOUNT OF $597.50.

If the parties wish to submit on the tentative, please email the courtroom at¿SMCdept54@lacourt.org¿with notice to opposing counsel (or self-represented party) before 8:30 am on the day of the hearing. 

DEFENDANT TO NOTICE.

            The Court considers the moving papers. No opposition has been received.

A party must respond to interrogatories and requests for production of documents within 30 days after service. (CCP § 2030.260(a); CCP § 2031.260(a).) When timely responses to interrogatories are not received, “[t]he party propounding the interrogatories may move for an order compelling response to the interrogatories.” (CCP § 2030.290(b).) The party also waives the right to make any objections, including one based on privilege or work-product protection. (CCP § 2030.290(a); CCP § 2031.300(a).)

            Defendant moves to compel Plaintiff Ronal Dominguez’s responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One. Defendant served the subject discovery on September 3, 2024. Responses were due on October 1, 2024. As of the filing of the instant motion, Defendant has not received responses. Plaintiff has not opposed this motion to show that responses have been served. Accordingly, Defendant's motion to compel Plaintiff Ronal Dominguez’s responses to Form Interrogatories, set one, is GRANTED.

            Defendant seeks $705.00 in sanctions for three hours of attorney time at $215 per hour, plus the $60 filing fee. Defendant requests sanctions for 1.5 hours spent preparing the motion, 0.5 hours reviewing and replying to Plaintiff’s anticipated opposition, and 1 hour for appearance at the hearing. As Plaintiff filed no opposition, the Court awards Defendant a reduced amount of $597.50 for 2.5 hours of work and the $60 filing fee. Defendant’s request for sanctions is GRANTED in the amount of $597.50.