SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA  

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT 

 

 

I. MOTIONS TO COMPEL 

A. Background  

Defendant Lovi's Delicatessen Inc. ("Defendant”) propounded set one of form interrogatories, special interrogatories, request for production of documents (“RPDs”), and requests for admissions (“RFAs”), on plaintiffs Leora Sedaghati, Ryan Hanassab, and Adrian Sedaghati (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) on December 5, 2023. After granting two extensions, Defendant avers it has not received any responses to date. Defendant therefore seeks an order compelling the Plaintiffs to respond, without objections, to the outstanding discovery and to pay sanctions. 

Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a declaration, declaring that some responses have been served, and that his office is working on completing all pending discovery. Plaintiffs’ counsel provides copies of Plaintiffs’ responses to request for admissions, and Leora Sedaghati’s verified responses to request for production of documents.  

As of May 9, 2024, no reply has been received.  

 

B. Discussion 

Because Plaintiffs’ responses to RFAs and Leora Sedaghati’s responses RPDs have been served prior to the hearing, the issue as to these items are now moot. (St. Mary v. Superior Court (2014) 223 Cal.App.4th 762, 776.) However, Plaintiffs have not affirmatively demonstrated that the remaining outstanding discovery that are the subject of Defendant’s motions have been completed since.  

 

C. Conclusion & Order 

Accordingly, Defendant’s motions to compel responses to form interrogatories, special interrogatories, and RPDs are GRANTED as follows:  

(1) Ryan Hanassab, and Adrian Sedaghati are ordered to serve verified responses to Lovi's Delicatessen Inc.’s form interrogatories, set one, special interrogatories, set one, and RPDs, set one, without objections, within twenty (20) days. (CCP §§ 2030.290(a),(b), 2031.300(a),(b).). 

(2) Leora Sedaghati is ordered to serve verified responses to Lovi's Delicatessen Inc.’s form interrogatories, set one, and special interrogatories, set one, without objections, within twenty (20) days. (CCP § 2030.290(a),(b).) 

 

II. SANCTIONS 

Defendant requests $525 in monetary sanctions against Plaintiffs for each motion. Sanctions are mandatory against any party, person, or attorney who unsuccessfully makes or opposes a motion to compel a response, unless a court makes certain findings. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290(c), 2031.300(c).)  

Defendant is awarded 1 hour for the motion to compel interrogatories and RPDs, and 1 hour to appear at the hearing (awarded only once), at the requested rate of $175 per hour, for a total $700 as attorney’s fees. 

Sanctions are imposed against the Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ attorney of record, jointly and severally. Plaintiffs and/or their counsel are ordered to pay sanctions to defendant Lovi's Delicatessen Inc., by and through counsel of record, in the total amount of $700, within twenty (20) days.