Ramirez vs. Garcia’s Landscaping

202300576200CUOE: Ramirez vs. Garcia's Landscaping 05/20/2026 in Department 44 Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia's Landscaping Maintenance Inc to Provide Responses to Plaintiff's Form Interrogatories - Employment Law (Set Two)

Effective January 5, 2026, Judge Charmaine H. Buehner and all cases previously assigned to Department J4 at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard transferred to Department 44, located at the Hall of Justice, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, California 93009.

Department Rules. Parties and counsel shall follow the Department 44 rules and Zoom protocols, available at https://www2.ventura.courts.ca.gov/Courtroom/C44.

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Tentative Rulings. Oral argument should address the tentative decision. To submit on the tentative decision, email courtroom44@ventura.courts.ca.gov before 8:00 a.m. on the hearing date, copying all other parties, Use the subject line “SUBMISSION ON TENTATIVE”, [Case Number], [Case Title] and [Party]. If not all parties submit, the hearing will proceed, and the tentative ruling may change.

The Court may adopt, modify or reject the tentative ruling after hearing. The tentative ruling has no legal effect unless and until adopted by the Court.

Motions

(1) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia’s Landscaping Maintenance Inc. to Provide Responses to Plaintiff’s Request for Admission (Set Two); and Request for Sanctions Against Defendant and Its Counsel of Record, Jointly and Severally in the Amount of $3,204.38 (2) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia’s Landscaping Maintenance Inc. to Provide Responses to Plaintiff’s Request for Production of Documents (Set Three); and Request for Sanctions Against Defendant and Its Counsel of Record, Jointly and Severally in the Amount of $3,204.38 (3) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia’s Landscaping Maintenance Inc. to Provide Responses to Plaintiff’s Form Interrogatories—Employment Law (Set Two); and Request for Sanctions Against Defendant and Its Counsel of Record, Jointly and Severally in the Amount of $3,204.38

202300576200CUOE: Ramirez vs. Garcia's Landscaping

(4) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia’s Landscaping Maintenance Inc. to Provide Responses to Plaintiff’s Special Interrogatories (Set Four); and Request for Sanctions Against Defendant and Its Counsel of Record, Jointly and Severally in the Amount of $3,204.38 (5) Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Defendant Garcia’s Landscaping Maintenance Inc. to Provide Responses to Plaintiff’s Special Interrogatories (Set Five); and Request for Sanctions Against Defendant and Its Counsel of Record, Jointly and Severally in the Amount of $3,476.25

Tentative Ruling

The Motions are DENIED without prejudice.

Discussion

Although the motions are unopposed, Plaintiff, as the moving party, must still meet his burden. In this case, the Court has, on two occasions, ordered that formal discovery is stayed and that any discovery is limited to class certification discovery. (Orders of Aug. 15, 2025, and Oct. 2, 2025.)

In connection with these motions, the Court has considered Defendant’s statement in the November 6, 2025, joint status report concerning its belief that the discovery violates the Court’s order limiting discovery. The Court has also reviewed the requests at issue and the allegations of the operative First Amended Complaint. Finally, the Court has considered the arguments of Plaintiff’s counsel. In each set of moving papers, Plaintiff argues in conclusory fashion that the information is “necessary in order to prepare for certification of the Class and to effectively prosecute this class action and prepare for trial.” (Moving Papers [Admissions] at 4:25-26; Moving Papers [Document Demands] at 5:1-2; Moving Papers [Employment Form Interrogatories] at 5:6-7; Moving Papers [Special Interrogatories, Set Four] at 5:3-4; Moving Papers [Special Interrogatories, Set Five] at 5:4-5.)

No further explanation is provided.

Based on the information before the Court, the Court is not persuaded that the information sought is related to class certification issues.

The motions are thus DENIED without prejudice.

Plaintiff’s counsel is ordered to give notice of the Court’s ruling.

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