Judge: Teresa A. Beaudet, Case: 24STCV07922, Date: 2024-11-19 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV07922    Hearing Date: November 19, 2024    Dept: 50

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

Department 50

Defendant Commerce Enterprises, Inc. (“Defendant”) moves for a protective order.

Defendant’s motion will be continued to a new date as set forth below. NO HEARING WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 19, 2024     

Pursuant to the Court’s power to “amend and control its process and orders so as to make them conform to law and justice” (Code Civ. Proc., § 128, subd. (a)(8)), the Court orders the parties in this case to participate in a meet and confer with the Court (“Informal Discovery Conference” or “IDC”). Lead or other designated counsel for the parties with full authority and any self-represented parties are ordered to participate in person in an IDC.

It appears Defendant reserved an IDC for December 5, 2024 that pertains to the instant motion for protective order. Defendant filed an IDC Statement on October 23, 2024 indicating, inter alia, “[t]the Motion has already been filed and is presently set for November 19, 2024…As stated in the moving papers, the subpoena served by the Plaintiff is over broad and Defendant seeks a protective order barring or significantly modifying, the requested materials.”

The Court notes that the responding parties may file an IDC form in Department 50 setting forth a response to Defendant’s IDC Statement three days prior to the IDC.  

Defendant must use the Court’s online reservation system to continue the motion to a post-IDC discovery hearing date. The parties are ordered to have with them whatever materials are needed to make the IDC session productive and successful. Prior to the IDC date, lead or other designated counsel for the parties with full authority, and any self-represented parties are to meet and confer, in person or via telephone in a further attempt to resolve as many of the issues as possible before the IDC. (See CRC Rule 3.670, subd. (f)(2).) If the parties resolve their discovery disputes before the IDC date, Defendant is ordered to take both the December 5, 2024 IDC and the motion off calendar as soon as possible. 

Defendant is ordered to provide notice of this Order. 

DATED:  November 19, 2024                       ________________________________

Hon. Teresa A. Beaudet

Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court