Tentative Ruling: Dallas Dalton et al vs Punta Gorda Apartments et al

Case Number

24CV00914

Case Type

Hearing Date / Time

Wed, 03/04/2026 - 10:00

Nature of Proceedings

Motions to Compel

Tentative Ruling

For Plaintiffs: Ilan Rosen Janfaza.

For Punta Gorda and others: Sean P. Garretty, Gabriella Guthner.

For Willbridge: Scott Mizen, Andre Arzoo, Arnold Levine.

Issue

Motions to Compel

RULING

These are nine unopposed discovery motions filed by Defendant Willbridge of Santa Barbara, Inc., (Willbridge) on December 29, 2025: (1) motion to compel further responses to request for production of documents, set one, from Plaintiff Dallas Dalton; (2) motion to compel further responses to form interrogatories, set one, and special interrogatories, set one, from Plaintiff Dallas Dalton; (3) motion to compel further responses to request for admission, set one, from Plaintiff Dallas Dalton; (4) motion to compel further responses to request for production of documents, set one, from Plaintiff Keith De Costa; (5) motion to compel further responses to form interrogatories, set one, and special interrogatories, set one, from Plaintiff Keith De Costa; (6) motion to compel further responses to request for admission, set one, from Plaintiff Keith De Costa; (7) motion to compel further responses to request for production of documents, set one, from Plaintiff Ted Munoz; (8) motion to compel further responses to form interrogatories, set one, and special interrogatories, set one, from Plaintiff Ted Munoz; (9) motion to compel further responses to request for admission, set one, from Plaintiff Ted Munoz. Each motion also requests monetary sanctions in the amount of $1,800.00, including time to review expected opposition and to attend the hearing. In a notice of non-opposition filed on February 25, 2026, Defendant Willbridge states that no opposition was received, however, verified responses were received from Plaintiffs Ted Munoz and Keith De Costa, but not from Dallas Dalton. Except as to sanctions, the motions to compel as to Plaintiffs Ted Munoz and Keith De Costa are denied as moot, without prejudice to any further motion with respect to the new responses. These motions are granted to compel further responses from Defendant Dallas Dalton as to requests for production of documents, set one, form interrogatories, set one, special interrogatories, set one, and request for admissions, set one. Dalton shall serve further verified responses to each respective discovery request, without objection except as to privilege, on or before March 19, 2026. Dalton shall concurrently produce all responsive documents identified in the response to requests for production as to be produced. Dalton shall concurrently serve a privilege log identifying all documents and information withheld on the grounds of privilege with sufficient additional information for the Court to rule on the claim of privilege. “The Court may award sanctions under the Discovery Act in favor of a party who files a motion to compel discovery, even though no opposition to the motion was filed, or opposition to the motion was withdrawn, or the requested discovery was provided to the moving party after the motion was filed.” (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1348(a).) The Court grants the respective requests for monetary sanctions in part. Because these motions are unopposed and the substantial overlap in the motions, the Court awards monetary sanctions in the amount of $410 for each motion, for cumulative total amount of sanctions of $3,690.00, to be paid to counsel for Defendant Willbridge on or before April 6, 2026.