Motion To Compel Initial Verified Responses Or, In The Alternative, Further Responses Of Defendant Cityleaf Inc. To Requests For Admissions, Set One; Request For Monetary Sanctions
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Matter on the Law & Motion/Discovery Calendar for Tuesday, October 8, 2025, line 9, 1 - PLAINTIFF PETER HASEGAWA'S Motion To Compel Initial Verified Responses Or, In The Alternative, Further Responses Of Defendant Cityleaf Inc. To Requests For Admissions, Set One; Request For Monetary Sanctions
Plaintiff Peter Hasegawa's motion to compel further responses to his requests for admission, set one, is granted in part and denied as moot in part. The court orders defendant CityLeaf Inc. to pay partial sanctions.
Hasegawa propounded the RFAs on May 30, 2025. CityLeaf provided unverified responses with extensive objections. CityLeaf agreed to amend but did not do so after repeatedly requesting extensions. It ultimately provided substantive responses on September 25, 2025 after Hasegawa filed his motion, but did not provide verifications until after filing its opposition brief. The court exercises its discretion to consider the untimely opposition.
The court denies as moot the request to order further responses. The parties should meet and confer about any issues with the amended responses and Hasegawa may bring a new motion if informal resolution efforts are insufficient.
The court concludes that CityLeaf's delays were unwarranted and that Hasegawa was forced to bring this motion to obtain responses. The court finds that the CityLeaf engaged in a misuse of the discovery process by "[f]ailing to respond or to submit to an authorized method of discovery." (Code Civ. Proc., section 2023.010, subd. (d).) The court orders CityLeaf to pay partial sanctions of $1000 to Hasegawa within 30 days of entry of this order. (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.1348, subd. (a).)
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