Judge: Michael Shultz, Case: 22CMCV00089, Date: 2023-02-16 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22CMCV00089    Hearing Date: February 16, 2023    Dept: A

22CMCV00089 Juan Carlos Garcia dba Fany Claire, Inc. v. Sewby, LLC

Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO COMPEL DEFENDANT’S RESPONSES TO FORM INTERROGATORIES, SET ONE AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS, SET ONE; REQUEST FOR MONETARY SANCTIONS

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR ORDER DEEMING ADMITTED TRUTH OF FACTS AND IMPOSING MONETARY SANCTIONS AGAINST DEFENDANT

 

I.        BACKGROUND

      This action arises from an alleged breach of contract requiring Defendant to pay for face masks ordered from Plaintiff. Plaintiff filed these motions to compel Defendant’s responses to discovery served on August 19, 2022. Plaintiff has met and conferred with Defendant on five occasions. Defendant did not serve responses and did not file a written opposition to the motions. (Decl of Jonathan B. Teperson, ¶¶ 2-5).

II.      DISCUSSION

a.      Form Interrogatories, Set One and Request for Production of Documents, Set One

Where a party fails to timely respond to a Form Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents, the court has authority to compel a response. (Code Civ. Proc., §2030.290(b), §2031.300(b)). Untimely responses result in a waiver of objections. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290(a), § 2031.300(a). Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the motion to compel Defendant’s responses.

b.      Requests for Admission, Set One

Where a party fails to respond to requests for admission, the court can deem the requests admitted against the non-responding party unless it finds that the non-responding party has subsequently served, before the hearing, a proposed response to the requests that substantially complies with statutory requirements. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2033.280 subd. (c)). Imposition of sanctions is mandatory where a party’s failure to respond to the requests necessitates the motion. Code Civ. Proc., § 2033.280 subd. (c).

As there is no evidence that Defendant has served responses, this motion is GRANTED.

III.    CONCLUSION

            Based on the foregoing, both motions filed by Plaintiff are GRANTED. Defendant is ordered to serve verified responses without objection to Set One of Form Interrogatories and Request for Production of Documents within 15 days. The Court imposes monetary sanctions against Defendant, Sewby, LLC, in the amount of $350 ($175 per hour) payable to the Plaintiff within 15 days.

            The Court deems the Requests for Admission admitted against Defendant. Monetary sanctions are imposed against Defendant, Sewby, LLC, in the amount of $175.00 payable to the Plaintiff within 15 days.