Judge: Teresa A. Beaudet, Case: 21STCV04269, Date: 2022-12-07 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV04269    Hearing Date: December 7, 2022    Dept: 50

 

 

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

Department 50

 

290 beowawie llc,

                        Plaintiff,

            vs.

indinero inc., et al.,

                        Defendants.

Case No.:

21STCV04269

Hearing Date:

December 7, 2022

Hearing Time:

10:00 a.m.

[TENTATIVE] ORDER RE: 

 

MOTION OF PLAINTIFF 290 BEOWAWIE LLC FOR ORDER DIRECTING NON-PARTY JONES & ROTH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS TO SHOW CAUSE WHY IT SHOULD NOT BE HELD IN CONTEMPT AND/OR COMPELLING SECOND SESSION OF DEPOSITION OF NON-PARTY JONES & ROTH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND PRODUCTION OF MATERIALS IN ACCORDANCE THEREWITH; REQUEST FOR MONETARY SANCTIONS IN THE SUM OF $3,260.00 AGAINST JONES & ROTH CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS, ELIZABETH LOWERY, ESQ., AND FREEMAN MATHIS & GARY, LLP

 

           

 

Background

Plaintiff 290 Beowawie LLC (“Plaintiff”) filed this action on February 2, 2021. On October 25, 2022, Plaintiff filed the operative Second Amended Complaint against a number of Defendants, asserting causes of action for (1) breach of contract, (2) relief against avoidable transfers and/or obligations, (3) breach of fiduciary duty, (4) quia timet, and (5) unjust enrichment.

On October 14, 2022, Plaintiff filed a motion for an order “directing Non-Party Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants to show cause why it should not be held in contempt and/or compelling second session of deposition of Non-Party Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants, and production of materials in connection therewith, as well as imposing monetary sanctions in the sum of $3,260.00 against Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants, Elizabeth Lowery, Esq., and Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP.”  Non-Party Jones & Roth, P.C., CPA (J&R) filed a non-opposition.[1]

Discussion

As an initial matter, in its non-opposition, J&R indicates that it “no longer objects to producing documents or information Plaintiff seeks to compel via its Motion dated October 14, 2022.” (Non-Opp’n at p. 1:22-23.) J&R also indicates that “counsel have agreed upon a date for a further deposition of [J&R’s] two Person(s) Most Knowledgeable.” (Opp’n at p. 2:6-7.) Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s instant motion “for order directing Non-Party Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants to show cause why it should not be held in contempt and/or compelling second session of deposition of Non-Party Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants, and production of materials in connection therewith” is moot.

Plaintiff also seeks monetary sanctions in the amount of $3,260.00 against J&R, Elizabeth Lowery, Esq., and Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP. However, Plaintiff does not cite to any legal authority supporting such request. Thus, the Court denies Plaintiff’s request for sanctions.

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Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, Plaintiff’s motion for an order directing J&R to show cause why it should not be held in contempt and/or compelling second session of deposition of J&R, and production of materials in connection therewith, is denied as moot. Plaintiff’s request for sanctions is denied. 

Plaintiff is ordered to give notice of this ruling.  

 

 

DATED:  December 7, 2022                          ________________________________

Hon. Teresa A. Beaudet

Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court



[1]The Court notes that on September 7, 2022, an Informal Discovery Conference was held. The Court’s September 7, 2022 minute order provides, inter alia, that “Plaintiff and third-party Jones & Roth Certified Public Accountants (“J & R”) attended an Informal Discovery Conference (“IDC”)…The attendees agreed to further meet and confer to discuss the issues addressed in their respective IDC statements. At the request of both attendees, the Court continued the date for filing and serving a motion to compel regarding the production of a further qualified witness from J & R and the production of documents, both pursuant to a subpoena served on J & R, to 10/17/22. The hearing on that motion is set on 12/7/22.”