Judge: Serena R. Murillo, Case: 21STCV21702, Date: 2023-03-03 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV21702    Hearing Date: March 3, 2023    Dept: 29

Motions to Compel Further are CONTINUED.

The Eighth Amended LASC Standing Order for Procedures in the Personal Injury Hub Courts, states at Paragraphs "PI Hub Courts will not hear Motions to Compel Further Discovery Responses to Discovery until the parties have engaged in an Informal Discovery Conference (IDC).  PI Hub Courts may deny or continue a motion to Compel Further Responses to Discovery unless the parties have participated in an IDC before the scheduled hearing on a motion to compel further discovery responses.” 

Pursuant to the order, “After meeting and conferring about available dates for an IDC, the moving/propounding party shall reserve an IDC through CRS and provide notice of the reserved IDC to the opposing/responding party by filing and serving an Informal Discovery Conference Form for Personal Injury Courts (LASC CIV 239) at least 15 court days before the IDC and attach the CRS reservation receipt as the last page.  The IDC will not be “scheduled” by the court until the IDC Form is filed.  The opposing/responding party may file and serve a responsive IDC Form at least 10 court days before the IDC.  All parties shall briefly set forth their respective positions on the pending discovery issues on the IDC Form.”  In addition, please note that reserving or scheduling an IDC does not extend the time to file a Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses. 

The parties engaged in an IDC on June 21, 2022 wherein the court found the Motions to Compel Further were untimely.  Significantly, the Court did not find the IDC unresolved, thus allowing the parties to go forward on a Motion to Compel Further.  The Motions on calendar require an IDC.