Judge: Stephanie M. Bowick, Case: 22STCV10091, Date: 2024-06-04 Tentative Ruling

DEPARTMENT 19 LAW AND MOTION RULINGS
If you desire to submit on a tentative ruling, you may do so by e-mailing Dept. 19 before 08:00 a.m. on the day of the motion hearing. The e-mail address for submitting is SMCDept19@lacourt.org. The heading on your e-mail must contain the case name and number, and that you submit. For example, "Smith v. Jones BC551124, submit". The message should indicate your name, contact information, and the party you represent.

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Case Number: 22STCV10091    Hearing Date: June 4, 2024    Dept: 19

Plaintiff's unopposed Motions to Compel 1) Responses to Special Interrogatories , Set One, By Defendant Lucy Guevara; and 2) Responses to Request for Production of Documents, Set One, By Defendant Lucy Guevara are GRANTED. 

Defendant is ordered to provide verified responses without objections by July 5, 2024. 

The request for sanctions is also granted in part against each Defendant Lucy Guevara and counsel of record, Arash Mepour, jointly and severally, in the reduced amount of $1,185.00 for each motion, for a total of $2,370 payable to Plaintiff through his attorney of record within 30 days.  The Court finds that Defendant has engaged in the abuse of the discovery process in failing to respond to a valid method of discovery, warranting sanctions for reasonable expenses incurred by Plaintiff, including motion filing fees. (Code of Civ. Proc. section 2023.010(d); 2023.030(a)). The Court takes into account that no formal oppositions or reply briefs were filed in reducing the amount of sanctions awarded.

Moving party to submit proposed orders within 5 days and give notice.