Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust vs. Rocio A. Flamenco; Mathew Flamenco; and Does 1-3

(Chatsworth Courthouse: Dept. F49) September 2, 2026

Dept. F49 | Date: 9/2/26 | Case Name: Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust vs. Rocio A. Flamenco; Mathew Flamenco; and Does 1-3 | Case No. 24CHCV03204 | LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT NORTH VALLEY DISTRICT DEPARTMENT F49 SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 MOTION TO COMPEL RESPONSES TO FORM INTERROGATORIES; REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24CHCV03204 Motion filed: 3/27/26 MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust RESPONDING PARTY: None NOTICE: OK RELIEF REQUESTED: An order from this Court compelling Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco to respond to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - General; and awarding monetary sanctions in the amount of $320.00. TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is GRANTED. The request for sanctions is GRANTED IN PART.

BACKGROUND This action arises from a landlord-tenant dispute. On September 5, 2024, Plaintiff Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust, ("Plaintiff" or "Shaar") filed the Complaint against Defendants Rocio A. Flamenco ("Rocio"),

Matthew Flamenco ("Matthew"), and Does 1 through 50, alleging two causes of action: (1) Breach of Lease & Damages pursuant to Civil Code, and (2) Common Counts.

Subsequently, Rocio filed her Answer to the Complaint on October 3, 2024. On October 3, 2024, Rocio filed a Cross-Complaint in pro per against Plaintiff, alleging breach of contract and common counts. On January 9, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiff's special motion to strike the Cross-Complaint. The Cross-Complaint was subsequently dismissed on January 10, 2025.

On March 27, 2026, Plaintiff filed the instant motion to compel Rocio to respond to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - General (the "Motion"). No opposition or reply papers have been filed.

ANALYSIS A. Motion to Compel Responses to Form Interrogatories "A defendant may propound interrogatories to a party to the action without leave of court at any time." (Code Civ. Proc. Sec. 2030.020, subd. (a).) "Within 30 days after service of interrogatories, the party to whom the interrogatories are propounded shall serve the original of the response to them on the propounding party." (Sec. 2030.260, subd. (a).) If a party fails to timely serve responses to interrogatories, the propounding party may move for an order compelling response. (Code Civ. Proc. Sec. 2030.290, subd. (b).)

A party who fails to timely respond to interrogatories waives "any objection to the interrogatories, including one based on privilege or on the protection for work product under Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2018.010)." (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 2030.290, subd. (a).) The Court may relieve the party from that waiver if the party has subsequently served a response that substantially complies with the statute and the failure to serve a timely response was due to mistake, inadvertence, or excusable neglect. (Ibid.)

Plaintiff's counsel attests that Plaintiff served his Form Interrogatories - General on Rocio on February 11, 2026 via express mail at her address of record. (Zakari Decl., P. 4.) The interrogatories are attached to the declaration of Plaintiff's counsel, and the proof of service confirms that they were served by express mail on February 11, 2026. (Id., Exh. A.) Responses were accordingly due on March 17, 2026. (Code Civ. Proc., Sec.Sec. 1013, 2030.260.)

Plaintiff's counsel attests that, as of the filing of the Motion, his office had received neither responses to the interrogatories nor any communication from Rocio requesting an extension of time to respond. (Zakari Decl., P. 5.) Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Rocio has failed to serve timely responses to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - General, thereby waiving any objections to those interrogatories, including those based on privilege or work product.

Rocio has not opposed the Motion or moved separately for relief from the waiver of objection. Further, there is no indication that Rocio has subsequently served responses prior to the hearing on the Motion. The Court thus finds that relief from waiver under Code of Civil Procedure section 2030.290, subdivision (a) is unavailable. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the Motion.

B. Monetary Sanctions "The court shall impose a monetary sanction under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 2023.010) against any party, person, or attorney who unsuccessfully makes or opposes a motion to compel a response to interrogatories, unless it finds that the one subject to the sanction acted with substantial justification or that other circumstances make the imposition of the sanction unjust." (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 2030.290(c)).

Code of Civil Procedure section 2023.030 authorizes the Court to impose monetary sanctions against any party, person, or attorney who engages in conduct that constitutes a misuse of the discovery process. Misuses of the discovery process include failing to respond to an authorized method of discovery. (Code Civ. Proc., Sec. 2023.010, subd. (d).) Further, the Court may award sanctions "in favor of a party who files a motion to compel discovery, even though no opposition to the motion was filed[] ... or the requested discovery was provided to the moving party after the motion was filed." (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1348(a).)

Plaintiff requests monetary sanctions against Rocio in the amount of $320.00, calculated as 0.4 hours spent preparing the Motion, at an hourly rate of $650.00, plus $60 in filing fees. (Zakari Decl., P. 6.) Given that Rocio has not served responses to the interrogatories or filed an opposition providing good cause for non-response, the Court finds sanctions appropriate.

The Court finds the time expended on the Motion to be reasonable. However, Plaintiff's counsel provides no facts justifying the hourly rate of $650. The Court accordingly finds the rate to be unreasonable and exercises its discretion to reduce the rate to $300 per hour based on the Court's knowledge of prevailing rates for matters of this type and complexity. The Court finds the total and reasonable attorney fees and costs in connection with preparation of the Motion to be $180, calculated as 0.4 hours at a rate of $300, plus the $60 filing fee. Plaintiff's request for monetary sanctions is thus GRANTED IN PART.

CONCLUSION The Court GRANTS the motion to compel Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco to respond to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - General, filed by Plaintiff Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust. Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco is ordered to serve verified responses, without objection, to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - General within 30 days. Plaintiff's request for sanctions is GRANTED IN PART. Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco is ordered to pay $180.00 to Plaintiff's counsel within 30 days.

Moving party to give notice.

MOTION TO DEEM MATTERS ADMITTED; REQUEST FOR SANCTIONS Los Angeles Superior Court Case No. 24CHCV03204 Motion filed: 3/27/26 MOVING PARTY: Plaintiff Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust RESPONDING PARTY: None NOTICE: OK RELIEF REQUESTED: An order from this Court deeming matters in Plaintiff's Requests for Admissions to Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco, Set One admitted; and awarding monetary sanctions in the amount of $320.00. TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is GRANTED. The request for sanctions is GRANTED IN PART.

BACKGROUND This action arises from a landlord-tenant dispute. On September 5, 2024, Plaintiff Michael R. Shaar, Trustee of the Michael R. Shaar Separate Property Trust, ("Plaintiff" or "Shaar") filed the Complaint against Defendants Rocio A. Flamenco ("Rocio"), Matthew Flamenco ("Matthew"), and Does 1 through 50, alleging two causes of action: (1) Breach of Lease & Damages pursuant to Civil Code, and (2) Common Counts.

Subsequently, Rocio filed her Answer to the Complaint on October 3, 2024. On October 3, 2024, Rocio filed a Cross-Complaint in pro per against Plaintiff, alleging breach of contract and common counts. On January 9, 2025, the Court granted Plaintiff's special motion to strike the Cross-Complaint. The Cross-Complaint was subsequently dismissed on January 10, 2025.

On March 27, 2026, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for an order deeming the truth of matters specified in Plaintiff's Requests for Admissions to Defendant Rocio A. Flamenco, Set One (the "Motion"). No opposition or reply papers have been filed.

ANALYSIS A. Motion to Deem Matters Admitted "A defendant may make requests for admission by a party without leave of court at any time." (Code Civ. Proc. Sec. 2033.020, subd. (a).) "Within 30 days after service of requests for admission, the party to whom the requests are directed shall serve the original of the response to them on the requesting party." (Sec. 2033.250, subd. (a).) If a party fails to serve timely responses to requests for admission, the party to whom the requests are directed waives any objection to the requests, and the requesting party may move for an order that the genuineness of any documents and the truth of any