MURIELLE MUTZEL VS. PEET'S COFFEE AND TEA, INC., ET AL

Set for Law and Motion/Discovery Calendar on Monday, December 15, 2025, Line 5. Defendant Peet's Coffee, Inc.'s 's Motion To (1) Compel Responses To Requests For Production; And (2) For Sanctions Against Plaintiff And Her Counsel is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN PART.

Defendant moves under Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.310. This section applies only when further responses are sought. The relevant statute here is section 2031.300 The court finds the motion was timely filed and served. There is no contention that Defendant's RFPs addressed to Plaintiff Murielle Mutzel are not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence (See Code of Civil Procedure section 2017.010.)

Plaintiff has not established that she provided any responses to the RFPs prior to this motion. (See Code of Civil Procedure section 2031.300.) Plaintiff's failure to timely provide responses is not excused. There is no duty to meet and confer prior to making a motion such as this. In any event, Defendant has demonstrated meet and confer efforts.

Plaintiff Murielle Mutzel shall serve verified, objection-free responses no later than December 30, 2025. Defendant's request for an order that Plaintiff produce all responsive documents by the same date is denied. Defendant did not cite section 2031.320, let alone demonstrate a basis for relief under it. In any event, currently the court sees no substantial basis for relief under section 2031,320.

The court does not find Plaintiff Murielle Mutzel and her counsel acted with substantial justification in connection with this discovery. Plaintiff Murielle Mutzel and her counsel Gary S. Saunders and Saunders & Associates, APC, jointly and severally, shall pay to Defendant, through counsel, $960 as sanctions, payment no later than January 6, 2026. (See Code of Civil Procedure sections 2023.010, 2023.030, 2031.300(c).)

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