MARIANGEL AGUILAR ET AL VS. SHORT STORY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION ET AL

SF Superior Court - Law & Motion / Discovery Dept 302 - CGC24614404 - May 26, 2026 Hearing date: May 26, 2026 Case number: CGC24614404 Case title: MARIANGEL AGUILAR ET AL VS. SHORT STORY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION ET AL Case Number: | | CGC24614404 | Case Title: | | MARIANGEL AGUILAR ET AL VS. SHORT STORY, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION ET AL | Court Date: | | 2026-05-26 09:00 AM | Calendar Matter: | | Motion And Notice Of Hearing To Compel Compliance With Subpoena To Kim Legal, Apc | Rulings: | | On the Law & Motion/Discovery calendar for Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Line 2, DEFENDANT SHORT STORY, INC.'S Motion And Notice Of Hearing To Compel Compliance With Subpoena To Kim Legal, APC.

Defendant Short Story, Inc.'s Motion To Compel Compliance With Subpoena To Kim Legal, APC IS REFERRED TO A REFEREE AND THIS MOTION IS CONTINUED TO JUNE 1, 2026, AT 9 A.M. IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF THE REFEREE.

This is the 18th discovery motion or application made in this case.

In this motion, Plaintiffs' counsel Kim Legal, APC and Defendant ask the court to consider whether the law firm's numerous documents that it shared with another non-represented party (who is at least nominally adverse) are protected work product; if so, whether absolute or qualified; if qualified, whether production should be ordered; whether work product protection has been waived. Counsel asks the court to review each document and each attachment in native format in camera. This inquiry would be substantial and time consuming. It is an undertaking appropriate for a referee. (Code of Civil Procedure section 639(a)(5).)

The court will appoint a referee to handle this motion and, potentially, any remaining discovery in this action. The referee will be authorized to set the date, time, and place for the hearing on the referred motions, preside over hearings, take evidence, and rule on objections and other requests during the hearing. Pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 643(c), the referee shall serve their reports and recommendations on all parties. Any proposed order lodged with the court shall include the referee's proof of service. (The Court's complete tentative ruling was emailed to the parties.)

Moving Party is ordered to prepare a proposed order quoting the above verbatim and email it to contestdept302tr@sftc.org prior to the time set for this hearing.

For the 9:00 a.m. calendar, all attorneys and parties may appear in Department 302 remotely or in person. Remote hearings will be conducted by videoconference using Zoom. (Dept. 302 Zoom ID 160 409 7690; Passcode 516287.) To appear remotely at the hearing, go to the court's website at sfsuperiorcourt.org under "Online Services," navigate to "Tentative Rulings," and click on the appropriate link, or dial the corresponding phone number.

Any party who contests a tentative ruling must send an email to contestdept302tr@sftc.org with a copy to all other parties by 4pm stating, without argument, the portion(s) of the tentative ruling that the party contests. The subject line of the email shall include the line number, case name and case number. The text of the email shall include the name and contact information, including email address, of the attorney or party who will appear at the hearing.

The court no longer provides a court reporter in the Law & Motion Department. Parties may retain their own reporter, who may appear in the courtroom or remotely. A retained reporter must be a California certified court reporter (CSR), for only a CSR's transcript may be used in California courts. If a CSR is being retained, include in your email all of the following: their name, CSR and telephone numbers, and their individual work email address. =(302/JMQ) | |