Judge: Stephen I. Goorvitch, Case: 23STLC02420, Date: 2024-01-18 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STLC02420    Hearing Date: March 5, 2024    Dept: 39

Executive Presentations, Inc. v. Maro Burunsuzyan, et al.

Case No. 23STLC02420

Motions to Compel

Motion to Deem Admitted

Sanctions Order

            Plaintiff Executive Presentations, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed this action against Maro Burunsuzyan, Esq.  Plaintiff moves to compel Maro Burunsuzyan to serve responses to Request for Production of Documents, Set One (“RPD”) and a supplemental request for documents.  Plaintiff also moves to deem the matters specified in the Requests for Admission (“RFAs”) to have been admitted. 

            Plaintiff served the RPDs on October 12, 2023, and the supplemental request on October 28, 2023, via email.  Defendant’s counsel represents that “Defendant/Cross-Complainant Maro Burunsuzyan has now served written responses without objections to each of the requests for production at issue in this motion . . . .”  (Declaration of David L. Scott, ¶ 2.)  Therefore, the motions to compel are denied as moot. 

            Plaintiff served the RFAs on August 10, 2023.  Defendant argues that service was improper, but the Court previously addressed this issue.  (See Court’s Minute Order, dated January 18, 2024.)  Nevertheless, Defendant has now served responses without objections.  (See Declaration of Maro Burunsuzyan, ¶ 2.)  Therefore, the motion to deem admitted is denied as moot.

            The Court awarded sanctions to Plaintiff at the prior hearing but declined to set an amount because the Court was “concerned by potential duplication in sanctions given that there are three other motions raising similar issues.”  (See Court’s Minute Order, dated January 18, 2024.)  Now, having reviewed all the motions, the Court finds that Plaintiff is entitled to sanctions.  The Court orders Maro Burunsuzyan to pay sanctions to Plaintiff, by and through counsel, in the amount of $4,350 plus four filing fees of $61.65 each.

            Based upon the foregoing, the Court orders as follows:

            1.         Plaintiff’s motions to compel responses to the request for production of documents and supplement are denied as moot.

            2.         Plaintiff’s motion to deem the matters specified in the requests for admission to have been admitted is denied as moot.

            3.         The Court orders Maro Burunsuzyan to pay Plaintiff, by and through counsel, discovery sanctions in the amount of $4,596.60 within thirty (30) days.

            4.         Defendant’s counsel shall provide notice and file proof of such with the Court.