Judge: Maurice A. Leiter, Case: 24STCV26331, Date: 2025-03-21 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV26331    Hearing Date: March 21, 2025    Dept: 54

Hearing Date: March 21, 2025

Department 54, Judge Maurice A. Leiter

Motion for Issuance of Letters Rogatory

Moving Party: Defendant Geoffrey Doran

Responding Party: Plaintiff Douglas Liang

T/R:      DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR LETTERS ROGATORY IS DENIED.

DEFENDANT TO NOTICE.

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 8:00 am on the day of the hearing. 

The Court considers the moving papers, opposition, and reply.

CCP § 2027.010(e) provides, “on motion of the party seeking to take an oral deposition in a foreign nation, the court in which the action is pending shall issue a commission, letters rogatory, or a letter of request, if it determines that one is necessary or convenient.”

Defendant moves for the issuance of letters rogatory to depose Plaintiff’s parents, Dr. Shiaw-Chun Shang and Ying Ping Liang, who reside in Taiwan. This is a breach of loan agreement action in which Plaintiff alleges Defendant failed to repay loans issued to Defendant’s cannabis company. Defendant asserts that Plaintiff is not the “true lender” and instead the funds originated from Plaintiff’s parents, necessitating their depositions. In opposition, Plaintiff argues that the “true” origin of the funds is not relevant to the action.

The Court declines to order the depositions of Plaintiff’s parents. Defendant has not shown how their depositions would affect any of the legal or factual issues in this case. Defendant’s motion is DENIED.