MIGUEL NIC VILLANUEVA ET AL VS. AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC. ET AL

Matter on calendar for Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Line 5, PLAINTIFF MIGUEL VILLANUEVA, INGRID MUKUL's Motion To Compel Responses To Form Interrogatories, And Request For Sanctions.

1 - Plaintiff's motion to compel further responses to Form Interrogatories, Set 1 is GRANTED. Plaintiff's meet and confer was reasonable. Form interrogatory request no. 15.1 is reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. (See CCP Section 2017.010.) Plaintiff has shown Defendant's response is incomplete. Defendant has not demonstrated that any objection has merit. Defendant's explanation that it raised affirmative defenses "at the beginning of this lawsuit... and [its] investigation and discovery are ongoing" is unsatisfactory. Defendant did not request an extension of time to respond, so its rationale that this request is premature is unpersuasive.

The court orders Defendant to provide further responses to form interrogatories set 1, no. 15.1, with a verification no later than ten court days from notice of this order. The court does not find Defendant acted with substantial justification. Defendant shall pay $2,185 to Plaintiff in sanctions, payment no later than 10 court days from notice of this order.

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.

Counsel for the prevailing party is required to prepare a proposed order which repeats verbatim the substantive portion of the tentative ruling and must email it to contestdept302tr@sftc.org prior to the hearing even if the tentative ruling is not contested.

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). | |