Ansoorian v. Tesla Motors, Inc., et al.

Case No.: 24STCV00957 Matter: Motion to Quash Subpoena Moving Party: Defendant Diana Affre Responding Party: Plaintiff Martin Ansoorian Notice: OK Ruling: The Motion is granted in part. Moving party to give notice. The Court encourages all parties to appear remotely via LA CourtConnect. If submitting on the Court's tentative ruling, please follow the instructions provided above.

This is an employment action. Defendant Diana Affre seeks to quash the business record subpoena issued to her former employer, Amazon. Plaintiff contends that Affre would harass him and that the subpoena will show "me too" evidence of Defendant's wrongful conduct from the past because there is reason to believe Affre was terminated from Amazon for such conduct.

Code of Civil Procedure Sec. 1987.1 authorizes courts to quash a subpoena entirely, modify it, or direct compliance with it upon the court's own terms and conditions, including protective orders. In addition, the court may take other appropriate means to protect parties or nonparties "from unreasonable or oppressive demands, including unreasonable violations of the right of privacy." (Code Civ. Proc. Sec. 1987.1(a).) Discovery devices are meant to facilitate litigation, not wage it. (Calcor Space Facility, Inc. v. Superior Court (1997) 53 Cal.App.4th 216, 221.)

The subpoena seeks: "ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND/OR RECORDS THAT REFER, RELATE, OR PERTAIN TO DIANA AFFRE, INCLUDING PERSONNEL FILES, REVIEWS, COMPLAINTS, DEAL MEMOS, EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS, COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO DIANA AFFRE, AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS PERTAINING TO DIANA AFFRE." This subpoena is overbroad in light of Affre's privacy rights. The subpoena will be narrowed to only include documents as to Affre's termination, discipline, and performance.

The Motion to Quash Subpoena is granted in part. No sanctions. Moving party to give notice.

Judge Kevin C. Brazile Department 310 Hearing Date: August 24, 2026 Case Name: Calderon, et al. v. Children's Hospital Los Angeles, et al.