Judge: Robert B. Broadbelt, Case: 21STCV02859, Date: 2023-02-02 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV02859    Hearing Date: February 2, 2023    Dept: 53

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles – Central District

Department 53

 

 

Consumer advocacy group, inc. ;

 

Plaintiff,

 

 

vs.

 

 

midland hardware company no. 4 , et al.;

 

Defendants.

Case No.:

21STCV02859

 

 

Hearing Date:

February 2, 2023

 

 

Time:

10:00 a.m.

 

 

 

[Tentative] Order RE:

 

motion to compel initial responses to requests for production

 

 

MOVING PARTY:                Plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.

 

RESPONDING PARTY:        Unopposed

Motion to Compel Initial Responses to Requests for Production

The court considered the moving papers and the supplemental declaration filed in connection with this motion.  No opposition papers were filed.   

DISCUSSION

Plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) moves the court for an order (1) compelling defendant Kittrich Corporation (“Defendant”) to provide initial responses to Plaintiff’s Request for Production of Documents, and (2) awarding sanctions in favor of Plaintiff and against Defendant in the amount of $1,747.50.

If a party to whom a demand for inspection is directed fails to serve a timely response, the party making the demand may move for an order compelling response to the demand.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.300, subd. (b).)

 

Plaintiff electronically served Defendant with its Requests for Production of Documents, Set One, on February 4, 2022.  (January 30, 2023 Yeroushalmi Decl., ¶ 2, Ex. A.)  Defendant did not serve timely responses and had not provided responses as of the date Plaintiff filed this motion.  (Rasiah Decl., ¶¶ 3, 5.)  Defendant has not filed an opposition or other evidence with the court establishing that responses have been served.

The court therefore grants Plaintiff’s motion to compel Defendant’s initial responses to Plaintiff’s Requests for Production of Documents, Set One.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.300, subd. (b).)

The court grants Plaintiff’s request for monetary sanctions against Defendant.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.300, subd. (c).)  The court finds that $997.50 (2.5 hours x $375 hourly rate + $60 filing fee) is a reasonable amount of sanctions to impose against Defendant in connection with this motion.  (Rasiah Decl., ¶ 6.)

ORDER

The court grants plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.’s motion to compel initial responses to requests for production. 

Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.300, the court orders defendant Kittrich Corporation (1) to serve on plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. full and complete verified responses, without objections, to plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.’s Requests for Production of Documents, Set One, that comply with Code of Civil Procedure sections 2031.210 through 2031.250, and (2) to produce to plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. all documents and things in defendant Kittrich Corporation’s possession, custody, or control which are responsive to those requests, within 20 days of the date of service of this order.

            The court grants plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.’s request for monetary sanctions against defendant Kittrich Corporation.  The court orders defendant Kittrich Corporation to pay monetary sanctions in the amount of $997.50 to plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. within 30 days of the date of service of this order.  (Code Civ. Proc., § 2031.300, subd. (c).)  

 

            The court orders plaintiff Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc. to give notice of this ruling.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

 

DATED:  February 2, 2023

 

_____________________________

Robert B. Broadbelt III

Judge of the Superior Court