On 08/20/2019 PAMELA ELLISON filed a Personal Injury - Motor Vehicle lawsuit against MAGGIE MINNIE. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is SERENA R. MURILLO. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
*******7727
08/20/2019
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
SERENA R. MURILLO
ELLISON PAMELA
MINNIE MAGGIE
YEAGER KENNETH
WELLS MICHELLE
1/15/2021: Notice of Ruling - Notice of Ruling
2/18/2021: Reply (name extension) - Reply to Opposition to Motion to Compel
2/19/2021: Opposition (name extension) - Opposition Declaration
11/13/2020: Stipulation and Order (name extension) - Stipulation and Order Stipulation Re: Continuance and Order
1/4/2021: Opposition (name extension) - Opposition Plaintiff's Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories And Request For Documents And For Sanctions
1/7/2021: Reply (name extension) - Reply to Opposition to Motion to Compel
1/14/2021: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Motion to Compel MOTION TO COMPEL FORM INTERROGATO...)
8/12/2020: Notice of Posting of Jury Fees - Notice of Posting of Jury Fees
8/20/2020: Motion to Compel (name extension) - Motion to Compel Response to Demand for Production of Documents
8/20/2020: Motion to Compel (name extension) - Motion to Compel Form Interrogatories
5/13/2020: Demand for Jury Trial - Demand for Jury Trial
5/13/2020: Answer - Answer
10/1/2019: Proof of Mailing (Substituted Service) - Proof of Mailing (Substituted Service)
8/20/2019: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
8/20/2019: Complaint - Complaint
8/20/2019: Summons - Summons on Complaint
8/20/2019: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
8/20/2019: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
Hearing08/23/2022 at 10:30 AM in Department 26 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Order to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service
Hearing11/22/2021 at 08:30 AM in Department 26 at 312 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; Non-Jury Trial
DocketHearing on Motion to Compel Production scheduled for 02/22/2021 at 09:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26
DocketHearing on Motion to Compel RESPONSE TO DEMAND FOR PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS scheduled for 02/22/2021 at 09:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 02/22/2021
DocketHearing on Motion to Compel Production scheduled for 02/22/2021 at 09:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 26 Not Held - Vacated by Court on 02/22/2021
DocketOpposition Declaration; Filed by: Pamela Ellison (Plaintiff)
DocketReply to Opposition to Motion to Compel; Filed by: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Ruling; Filed by: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketUpdated -- Motion to Compel Response to Demand for Production of Documents: Filed By: Maggie Minnie (Defendant); Result: Granted; Result Date: 01/14/2021
DocketUpdated -- Motion to Compel Form Interrogatories: Filed By: Maggie Minnie (Defendant); Result: Granted; Result Date: 01/14/2021
DocketDemand for Jury Trial; Filed by: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketProof of Mailing (Substituted Service); Filed by: Pamela Ellison (Plaintiff); As to: Maggie Minnie (Defendant); Mailing Date: 09/13/2019; Cost Waived: No
DocketNon-Jury Trial scheduled for 02/16/2021 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketOrder to Show Cause Re: Failure to File Proof of Service scheduled for 08/23/2022 at 08:30 AM in Stanley Mosk Courthouse at Department 94
DocketComplaint; Filed by: Pamela Ellison (Plaintiff); As to: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketSummons on Complaint; Issued and Filed by: Pamela Ellison (Plaintiff); As to: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Pamela Ellison (Plaintiff); As to: Maggie Minnie (Defendant)
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
DocketCase assigned to Hon. Serena R. Murillo in Department 94 Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Case Number: 19STLC07727 Hearing Date: January 14, 2021 Dept: 26
Ellison v. Minnie, et al.
MOTION TO COMPEL RESPONSES TO INTERROGATORIES;
(CCP § 2030.290)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Defendant Maggie Minnie’s Motion Compelling Plaintiff Pamela Ellison To Respond To Form Interrogatories, Set One and for Monetary Sanctions is GRANTED. PLAINTIFF IS TO SERVE VERIFIED RESPONSES WITHOUT OBJECTIONS WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER. PLAINTIFF AND COUNSEL OF RECORD ARE JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY ORDERED TO PAY SANCTIONS OF $340.00 TO DEFENSE COUNSEL WITHIN 20 DAYS’ SERVICE OF THIS ORDER.
ANALYSIS:
Defendant Maggie Minnie (“Defendant”) propounded Form Interrogatories, Set One, on Plaintiff Pamela Ellison (“Plaintiff”) on May 13, 2020. (Motion, Wells Decl., Exh. A.) Following Plaintiff’s failure to provide timely responses, Defendant extended the deadline to serve verified responses. (Id. at Exh. B.) Following no response from Plaintiff after the second deadline, Defendant filed the instant Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories, Set One, and Request for Sanctions on August 20, 2020. Plaintiff filed an opposition on January 4, 2021.
There is no requirement for a prior meet and confer effort before a motion to compel initial responses can be filed. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290.) Further, the motion can be brought any time after the responding party fails to provide the responses. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2030.290.) The opposition states that responses to the form interrogatories were served on Defendant on December 23, 2020. (Opp., Yeager Decl., ¶2.) Plaintiff argues that the Motion is moot as a result and any award of sanctions should be reasonable.
The Court finds that Defendant is entitled to an order compelling Plaintiff to serve verified responses to the form interrogatories without objections. Although the opposition is supported by an attorney declaration regarding service of the responses, the responses themselves are not attached. The Court cannot find that the responses comply with the statutory requirements without reviewing them or unless Defendant states the responses are proper.
Plaintiff’s failure to timely respond constitutes a misuse of the discovery process. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.010, subd. (d).) Sanctions are appropriate under Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.010 and 2023.030 and have been properly noticed. However, the amount sought is excessive under a lodestar calculation. Therefore, the request for sanctions is granted against Plaintiff in the amount of $340.00 based on one hour of attorney time billed at $250.00 an hour and $90.00 in filing costs. (Motion, Wells Decl., ¶5.)
Conclusion
Defendant Maggie Minnie’s Motion Compelling Plaintiff Pamela Ellison To Respond To Form Interrogatories, Set One and for Monetary Sanctions is GRANTED. Plaintiff is to serve verified responses without objections within 20 days’ service of this order. Plaintiff and counsel of record are jointly and severally ordered to pay sanctions of $340.00 to defense counsel within 20 days’ service of this order.
Moving party to give notice.
Dig Deeper
Get Deeper Insights on Court Cases