HENSON, et al. vs SLYAHJANI, et al.

24CV102590: HENSON, et al. vs SLYAHJANI, et al. 07/17/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel MOTION TO COMPEL DEPOSITION OF PLAINTIFFS KIA’ORA HENSON, JEREMIAH ADAMS, AND ISAIAH OWENS; filed by CHRISTINE BRYANT-FINNEY (Defendant) CRS# 139576795940 in Department 520

Tentative Ruling - 07/13/2026 Jamilah A. Jefferson

The Motion to Compel NOTICE OF DEFENDANTS CHRISTINE BRYANT-FINNEY AND THE ESTATE OF BARNAMON BRYANT JR.S MOTION TO COMPEL DEPOSITION OF PLAINTIFFS KIAORA HENSON, JEREMIAH ADAMS, AND ISAIAH OWENS filed by CHRISTINE BRYANT-FINNEY on 06/24/2026 is Granted.

Defendants' Motion to Compel the Depositions of Plaintiffs is GRANTED.

It appears from Defendants' moving papers that Defendants have repeatedly attempted to notice, schedule, and take Plaintiffs' deposition to no avail. It is unclear to the Court whether there is any substantive basis for Plaintiffs' alleged repeated unavailability and failure to properly object to various noticed depositions.

LAW

If, after service of a deposition notice, a party to the action . . . without having served a valid objection under Section 2025.410, fails to appear for examination, or to proceed with it, or to produce for inspection any document . . . described in the deposition notice, the party giving the notice may move for an order compelling the deponent's attendance and testimony, and the production for inspection of any document, electronically stored information . . .” (Code Civ. Proc., § 2025.450, subd. (a).) “The motion shall be accompanied by a meet and confer declaration under Section 2016.040, or, when the deponent fails to attend the deposition and produce the documents, electronically stored information, or things described in the deposition notice, by a declaration stating that the petitioner has contacted the deponent to inquire about the nonappearance.” (Code Civ.

Proc., § 2025.450, subd. (b)(2).)

DISCUSSION 1. All Plaintiffs shall appear for deposition no later than August 14, 2026 as follows: At least one Plaintiff shall appear for deposition on or before July 31, 2026; the remaining two Plaintiffs shall appear for deposition on or before August 14, 2026.

2. The parties are ordered to meet and confer no later than July 22, 2026 by phone or inperson on a mutually convenient date and time consistent with the timeframe required in this Order. Defendant shall provide proper notice of the depositions. 24CV102590: HENSON, et al. vs SLYAHJANI, et al. 07/17/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel MOTION TO COMPEL DEPOSITION OF PLAINTIFFS KIA’ORA HENSON, JEREMIAH ADAMS, AND ISAIAH OWENS; filed by CHRISTINE BRYANT-FINNEY (Defendant) CRS# 139576795940 in Department 520

3. If Plaintiffs Kia’ora Henson, Jeremiah Adams, and Isaiah Owens all fail to appear for deposition as ordered above, the Court will consider a noticed motion for monetary, evidentiary and/or terminating sanctions given the Court maintains the current trial date (October 9, 2026) and mandatory settlement conference (September 17, 2026).

NOTICE: This tentative ruling will automatically become the court’s final order on July 17, 2026 unless, by no later than 4:00 P.M. on July 16, 2026, a party to the action notifies BOTH: 1) the court by emailing Dept520@alameda.courts.ca.gov; AND 2) all opposing counsel or selfrepresented parties (by telephone or email) that the party is contesting this tentative ruling.

The subject line (RE:) of the email must state: “Request for CONTESTED HEARING: [the case name], [number].” When a party emails to contest a tentative ruling, the party must identify the specific holding(s) within the ruling they wish to contest via oral argument.

The court does not provide court reporters for hearings in civil departments. A party who wants a record of the proceedings must engage a private court reporter. (Local Rule 3.95.) Any privately retained court reporter must also participate via video conference. Their email must be provided to the court at the time the Notice of Contest is emailed.

ALL CONTESTED LAW AND MOTION HEARINGS ARE CONDUCTED VIA REMOTE VIDEO unless an in person appearance is required by the court. Invitations to participate in the video proceeding will be sent by the court upon receipt of timely notice of contest. A party may give email notice that they will appear in court in person for the hearing, however all other counsel/parties and the JUDGE MAY APPEAR REMOTELY.