Williams v. Afarian
Case Information
Motion(s)
Defendant Fresno Community Hospital’s Motions to Compel Initial Responses to Discovery; Defendants Afarian, Coelho, Fujimoto, and Herger’s Motions to Compel Initial Responses to Discovery
Motion Type Tags
Motion to Compel Discovery · Motion for Sanctions
Parties
- Plaintiff: Jason John Williams
- Plaintiff: Melvin Lamonte Williams, Sr.
- Plaintiff: Vicki La Chon Cole
- Plaintiff: Barbara Aliane Williams
- Defendant: Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center
- Defendant: Afarian
- Defendant: Coelho
- Defendant: Fujimoto
- Defendant: Herger
Ruling
(03) Tentative Ruling
Re: Williams v. Afarian Case No. 24CECG04901
Hearing Date: May 20, 2026 (Dept. 403)
Motion: Defendant Fresno Community Hospital’s Motions to Compel Initial Responses to Discovery from Plaintiffs Jason John Williams and Melvin Lamonte Williams, Sr. and Request for Monetary Sanctions
Defendants Afarian, Coelho, Fujimoto, and Herger’s Motions to Compel Initial Responses to Discovery from Plaintiffs Jason John Williams, Melvin Lamonte Williams, Sr., Vicki La Chon Cole, and Barbara Aliane Williams and Request for Monetary Sanctions
Tentative Ruling:
To grant defendant Fresno Community Hospital’s motions to compel plaintiffs Jason John Williams and Melvin Lamonte Williams, Sr. to provide initial responses without objections to defendant’s form interrogatories, special interrogatories, and requests for production, set one. To grant defendant’s request for sanctions against plaintiffs, in the amount of $525 against each plaintiff.
To grant defendants Afarian, Coelho, Fujimoto, and Herger’s motions to compel plaintiffs Jason John Williams, Melvin Lamonte Williams, Vicki La Chon Cole, and Barbara Aliane Williams to provide initial responses without objections to defendants’ form interrogatories, special interrogatories, and requests for production, set one. To grant defendants’ request for sanctions against plaintiffs, in the amount of $547.50 against each plaintiff.
Plaintiffs shall serve their verified responses without objections within ten days of the date of service of this order. Plaintiffs shall pay sanctions within 30 days of the date of service of this order.
If oral argument is timely requested, it will be entertained on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. in Department 403.
Explanation:
Plaintiffs have failed to respond to any of the discovery requests of defendant Fresno Community Hospital and Medical Center, dba Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC), despite the passage of more than a year since the requests were served. All extensions of time have now expired and plaintiffs’ counsel has withdrawn from representing plaintiffs, yet plaintiffs have still failed to serve any responses to any of the
requests. Therefore, plaintiffs are subject to being ordered to provide initial responses to the discovery, without objections. (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 2030.290