J Cellars Investments LLC v. HDI Global Insurance Company

(Stanley Mosk Courthouse: Dept. 513) August 25, 2026 DEPARTMENT 513 LAW AND MOTION RULINGS

Court of California County of Los Angeles - Central District Department 513 J Cellars Investments LLC; Plaintiff, vs. HDI Global Insurance Company; Defendant. | Case No.: |

| | | Hearing Date: | August 25, 2026 | | | Time: | 10:00 a.m. | | | [Tentative] Order RE: Motion for Order Setting Reasonable Fee for Copy of Deposition Transcripts | MOVING PARTY: Plaintiffs J Cellars Investments LLC and Joseph Bartholomew RESPONDING

PARTY: Non-Party Express Deposition Services Motion for Order Setting Reasonable Fee for Copy of Deposition Transcripts The court considered the moving, opposition, and reply papers filed in connection with this motion.

DISCUSSION Plaintiffs J Cellars Investments, LLC and Joseph Bartholomew ("Plaintiffs") move the court for an order setting the reasonable cost of a copy of a deposition transcript from non-party Express Deposition Services ("EDS") for a non-noticing party at 20 cents per 100 words or 40 cents per page.

Ordinarily, the party noticing a deposition bears the cost for transcription of that deposition. (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 2025.510, subd. (b).) Any other party may obtain a copy of the transcript at that party's own expense. (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 2025.510, subd. (c).) A non-noticing party has the right to obtain a copy of a transcript at a "reasonable rate." (Serrano v. Stefan Merli Plastering Co., Inc. (2008) 162 Cal.App.4th 1014, 1036.) Where there is a dispute over the reasonableness of the rate charged to a non-noticing party, the court may determine the amount of a reasonable fee. (Id. at 1038-39.)

The court finds that 40 cents per page is a reasonable fee for deposition transcripts to a non-moving party. That fee is in line with the statutory fee schedule for transcripts of court proceedings, which range between 20 and 26 cents per 100 words--which is approximately one half of a page. (Gov. Code, Sec.Sec. 69950, 69954.) While the transcripts at issue here are deposition transcripts, not court transcripts, the statutory fee schedule is instructive.

ORDER The court GRANTS plaintiffs J Cellars Investments LLC and Joseph Bartholomew's motion for order setting reasonable fee for deposition transcripts. The court orders that Express Deposition Services shall charge plaintiffs J Cellars Investments LLC and Joseph Bartholomew no more than $0.40 per page for deposition transcripts where plaintiffs J Cellars Investments LLC and Joseph Bartholomew were not the noticing parties. The court orders J Cellars Investments LLC and Joseph Bartholomew to give notice of this ruling. IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: August 25, 2026 _____________________________ Robert B. Broadbelt III Judge of the Superior Court Case Number: 26STCV00556 Hearing Date: August 25, 2026 Dept: 513 Superior Court of California