Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses
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SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 24CV092980: MACON vs OIFFA, et al. 06/04/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses filed by Issyriah Macon (Plaintiff) CRS# 245269395944 in Department 17 Tentative Ruling - 06/02/2026 Chad A. Stegeman The Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses filed by Issyriah Macon on 05/12/2026 is Granted in Part. The Motion of Plaintiff Issyriah Macon (Plaintiff) to Compel Further and for Sanctions is GRANTED IN PART. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.300; 2031.310; 2033.280.) No sanctions are awarded.
Defendants Zineb Oiffa and Millard Dorntge (Defendants) are ordered to serve Plaintiff with verified, code-compliant supplemental responses without objections to Plaintiffs Special Interrogatories, Set One, Nos. 2 and 5 within ten (10) days of the date of this Order. It is DENIED as to Nos. 1, 3-4, and 6 to 10.
LEGAL STANDARD Interrogatories Where the party propounding written discovery deems the responses unsatisfactory, the party may move to compel further responses. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.300.) Unless limited by order of the court any party may obtain discovery regarding any matter, not privileged, that is relevant to the subject matter involved if the matter either is itself admissible in evidence or appears reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. (Code of Civil Procedure § 2017.010.)
The responding party bears the burden of justifying any objection or failure to fully respond to an interrogatory. (Fairmont Ins. Co. v. Superior Court (2000) 22 Cal.4th 245, 255.) It is the responding partys obligation to provide answers as complete and straightforward as the information reasonably available to the responding party permits. (CCP § 2030.220(a).) Sanctions The imposition of sanctions related to discovery lies within the trial court’s discretion. (
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Misuse of the discovery process includes failing to respond or submit to authorized discovery, providing evasive discovery responses, disobeying a court order to provide discovery, [and] unsuccessfully making or opposing discovery motions without substantial justification .... (Karlsson v. Ford Motor Co (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 1202, 1214; Code Civ. Proc. § 2023.010, subds. (d)(h).) A court may impose monetary sanctions, issue sanctions, and evidence sanctions for failing to comply with a court order after a Motion to Compel. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2023.030, subd. (a)-(c), 2023.010, subd. (g).) Evidence or issue sanctions
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 24CV092980: MACON vs OIFFA, et al. 06/04/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses filed by Issyriah Macon (Plaintiff) CRS# 245269395944 in Department 17 are appropriate where a partys failure to comply with a discovery order results in the failure to provide information relevant to a claim or defense. (Sauer v. Superior Court (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 213, 228-229.) The court may impose a monetary sanction ordering that one engaging in the misuse of the discovery process, or any attorney advising that conduct, or both pay the reasonable expenses, including attorney’s fees, incurred by anyone as a result of that conduct.
The court may also impose this sanction on one unsuccessfully asserting that another has engaged in the misuse of the discovery process, or on any attorney who advised that assertion, or on both. If a monetary sanction is authorized by any provision of this title, the court shall impose that sanction 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., § 2023.030, subd. (a).) The court may impose an issue sanction ordering that designated facts shall be taken as established in the action in accordance with the claim of the party adversely affected by the misuse of the discovery process.
The court may also impose an issue sanction by an order prohibiting any party engaging in the misuse of the discovery process from supporting or opposing designated claims or defenses. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd. (b).) The court may impose an evidence sanction by an order prohibiting any party engaging in the misuse of the discovery process from introducing designated matters in evidence. (Code Civ. Proc., § 2023.030, subd. (c).) DISCUSSION After the Courts March 25, 2026 Order granting in part Plaintiffs second Motion to Compel, Defendants served supplemental responses on April 2, 2026. (Macon Decl., ¶ 5, Ex.
B.) Although as Plaintiff asserts, several of Defendants responses are partially noncompliant, for other SPROGS, the defects have been cured, including omitting objections.
As noted in the Courts prior Order, SPROG No. 2 fails to include all details sought besides the identification of persons like the date, nature of the complaint, and whether a formal notice was issued.
Likewise, SPROG No. 5 is still missing the date that Defendants’ agents became aware of Plaintiffs dog(s) being registered service animals and how their knowledge was obtained.
However, the responses to SPROGS 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are sufficient.
Accordingly, Plaintiffs Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
NOTICE TO DEFENDANTS: Defendants are advised that failure to comply with this Order
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 24CV092980: MACON vs OIFFA, et al. 06/04/2026 Hearing on Motion to Compel Further Discovery Responses filed by Issyriah Macon (Plaintiff) CRS# 245269395944 in Department 17 may result in the imposition of future sanctions, including evidentiary, monetary, or terminating sanctions.
If a party does not timely contest the foregoing Tentative Ruling and appear at the hearing, the Tentative Ruling will become the order of the court. HOW DO I CONTEST A TENTATIVE RULING? THROUGH ECOURT Notify the Court and all the other parties no later than 4:00 PM one court day before the scheduled hearing, and briefly identify the issues you wish to argue through the following steps: 1. Log into eCourt Public Portal 2. Case Search 3. Enter the Case Number and select Search 4. Select the Case Name 5.
Select the Tentative Rulings Tab 6. Select Click to Contest this Ruling 7. Enter your Name and Reason for Contesting 8. Select Proceed BY EMAIL Send an email to the DEPARTMENT CLERK and all the other parties no later than 4:00 PM one court day before the scheduled hearing. This will permit the department clerk to send invitations to counsel to appear remotely. BOTH ECOURT AND EMAIL notices are required.