McCONVILLE v. TEKSYSTEMS GLOBAL SERVICES LLC, et al.

The trial court has discretion in determining whether adequate meet and confer efforts preceded the filing of the motion. (Obregon v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 424 [factors include complexity of discovery issues, history of counsel in prior disputes, judge's gut feeling; sending one brief letter 13 days prior to deadline to file motion was not sufficient attempt].) The court finds GEORGIA ST. made adequate efforts to meet and confer.

Analysis. MILES served boilerplate, inapplicable objections to form interrogatories, with no response notwithstanding the objections following. Form interrogatories are specially approved by the Judicial Council to seek basic information about a case and are generally not objectionable. MILES’s objections to the form interrogatories are unreasonable and without merit. GEORGIA ST.’s requests for production are reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence and are also not objectionable. MILES has filed no opposition and gives no defense of his objection-only responses.

Sanctions. Code of Civil Procedure sections 2030.300, subdivision (d) [interrogatories] and 2031.310, subdivision (h) [inspection demands] require sanctions against a party that unsuccessfully makes or opposes a motion to compel further responses to discovery requests, unless the court finds that the losing party acted with substantial justification or that other circumstances weigh against the imposition of sanctions. MILES shows no justification for his use of boilerplate objections in response to form interrogatories.

However, the court notes that GEORGIA ST.’s requested $1,000 in sanctions pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.050 is not appropriately imposed at this time as this is a motion to compel further responses and not a motion for sanctions for misuse of the discovery process under sections 2023.030 and 2023.040. The court imposes $4,385 in sanctions under sections 2030.300 and 2031.310 as compensation for GEORGIA ST.’s counsel’s time dealing with this matter, adjusting the requested amount in light of the fact MILES has not filed opposition requiring any responsive work.

Conclusion. GEORGIA ST.’s unopposed motion is granted. MILES is to serve further responses to GEORGIA ST.’s form interrogatories and requests for production within ten days of the date of this order. The court imposes $4,385 in sanctions against Gomez Law, APC, due and payable within ten days of the date of this order.

McCONVILLE v. TEKSYSTEMS GLOBAL SERVICES LLC, et al. Case No. CU25-11932