What procedures must a Court follow when a plaintiff settles, leaving a "headless" putative class action?

I've faced a species of this issue myself.  But it turns out that the answer to this question involves more potential twists and turns than one might first believe.  Seems there's more than one way to skin this headless cat.  And, in a most interesting twist, the appellate division tackling this question is very same division that decided Parris v. Superior Court, 109 Cal. App. 4th 285 (2003) [pre-certification communications with class members], Belaire-West Landscape, Inc. v. Superior Court, 149 Cal. App. 4th 554 (2007) [discovery of putative class member identity and contact information], and Lee v. Dynamex, Inc., 166 Cal. App. 4th 1325 (2008) [discovery of putative class member identity and contact information], so one might say that this division has a certain expertise regarding this prickly area.

In Pirjada v. Superior Court (December 12, 2011), the Court of Appeal (Second Appellate District, Division Seven) issued an order to show cause but ultimately denied the petition for a writ of mandate brought by the plaintiff following the denial of a discovery motion.  The plaintiff settled his individual claim through direct negotiations with defendant's CEO.  The trial court granted leave to amend the complaint to name a new class representative but denied the motion to compel precertification discovery to identify a suitable class representative.

What will ultimately happen in this case remains unclear.  But this opinion does identify key decisions that might have changed the result, though that is hard to say with certainty.

The Court began its discussion by restating existing standards.  First, class member rights are protected, even pre-certification.  Second, court approval is not needed to communicate with putative class members, but when a court's assistance is solicited, a court can consider the potential for abuse.  Third, class member contact information is "generally discoverable."  Fourth, lead plaintiffs, who are unqualified to serve as a class representative may, "in a proper case," move for discovery to find a new representative.  However, the Court also noted that precertification discovery is not a matter of absolute right.

Next, citing La Sala v. American Savings & Loan Assn., 5 Cal. 3d 864  (1971) and Kagan v. Gibraltar Sav. & Loan Assn., 35 Cal. 3d 582 (1984) (disapproved in part on another ground in Meyer v. Sprint Spectrum L.P., 45 Cal.4th 634 (2009)), the Court emphasized the trial court's obligation, as also stated in Rule 3.770, to consider carefully any request to dismiss a class action and evaluate whether notice is necessary.

Then, after noting that the standard of review is the abuse of discretion standard, the Court explained why the writ must be denied. Petitioner first argued, as a matter of discovery law, that because defendant failed to respond to document requests, it waived any objection. Absent a finding that the failure was the result of mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect, Petitioner argued that it was an abuse of discretion to deny the motion to compel. Second, as a matter of the procedural law governing class actions, Petitioner argued that the court abused its discretion in declining to authorize notice to potential class members about the need for a substitute representative. The Court found the first contention to be incorrect and the second premature.

Interestingly, though the Court ultimately rejected the challenge to the discovery order, it was highly critical of defendant's behavior:

Outside the context of representative and class actions it may well be, as Pacific National observes, “a matter of common knowledge and common sense” that once a plaintiff settles his or her case any discovery responses not yet due no longer need to be served. Because the lawsuit against Pacific National was filed as a class action, however, and the individual settlement with Pirjada was made without the participation or consent of his lawyer, the experienced employment law attorneys representing Pacific National should have either objected to the still-outstanding discovery as moot, moved for a protective order or taken steps to ensure that the settlement agreement between their client and Pirjada included a provision withdrawing any remaining discovery requests.

Slip op., at 12.  The Court then observed that the trial court could have crafted a number of alternative orders designed to locate a suitable representative.  Here's where things get interesting.  The trial court first considered and denied a motion to give notice to the class.  That order was not challenged, though the Court telegraphed its opinion of the Order:

Although the court's decision to deny Westrup Klick's motion for notice to the class was based largely on a distinction between consumer and employee class actions, a distinction we implicitly rejected in Belaire-West Landscape, Inc. v. Superior Court, supra, 149 Cal.App.4th 554, the propriety of that ruling is not before us. Westrup Klick did not seek writ review of the court's May 26, 2011 order. Instead, it elected to proceed by way of a motion to compel.

Slip op., at 13.  The Court then concluded that the trial court's decision to deny the motion to compel after giving time to find a new representative was not arbitrary or capricious.

As to the second, premature argument, the Court also seemed to be hinting that the trial court should proceed with caution:

Whether or not the superior court's initial decision not to notify potential class members that Pirjada now lacks standing to represent the class was correct, the court will necessarily revisit that question when it hears its order to show cause regarding dismissal. Counsel's declaration in support of the petition for writ of mandate indicates a new class representative cannot be identified by the informal means authorized in Parris, supra, 109 Cal.App.4th 285, and discussed by the superior court during the May 26, 2011 hearing. Assuming that remains the case, Westrup Klick will have an opportunity to demonstrate to the court that some form of notice is required to avoid prejudice to absent class members. It would be inappropriate for us to prejudge the outcome of that hearing or to restrict the superior court's discretion by attempting to outline the factors it should weigh in deciding how to comply with the requirements of La Sala, Kagan and Rule 3.770.

Slip op., at 14-15.  Riiiiiight.  Good thing they didn't give the trial court a look at their cards.

So now you know, at a minimum, that when the representative suddenly hits the eject button, class counsel needs to walk carefully through the dismissal process so as to seek the best possible methods for locating replacement representatives and/or obtaining notice to the putative class.

Ninth Circuit discusses individual privacy interests in FOIA context

While not directly applicable to class member identity discovery, the Ninth Circuit recently provided some guidance about individual privacy interests and how they are weighed against a countervailing set of interests to keep them confidential.  Prudential Locations LLC v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (9th Cir. June 9, 2011) involved a Freedom of Information Act request for identification of various informants that advised the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) about their suspicions that Prudential Locations LLC was violating the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), 12 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2617, which was passed, in part, to “eliminat[e] . . . kickbacks or referral fees that tend to increase unnecessarily the costs of certain settlement services.” 12 U.S.C. § 2601(b)(2).

The Court described the process of review as one in which the Court must first identify a non-trivial privacy interest.  If such an interest is identified, the Court must then “balance the privacy interest protected by the exemption[ ] against the public interest in government openness that would be served by disclosure.”  Finally, the Court said that it must evaluate the likelihood that a privacy invastion would occur.  The Court concluded that HUD had failed to provide the trial court with sufficient information to rule on the request and remanded to give HUD an opportunity to do so.

While not precisely analagous to the test applied when discovery of class member identity is sought, this opinion at least suggests the type of analysis that must occur then balancing an asserted privacy interest in identity and contact information with the strong right to discover that information.

District Court Magistrate Judge grants motion to compel deposition of withdrawing named plaintiff who was not a putative class member

United States Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal (Central District of California) granted defedants' motion to compel the deposition of a named plaintiff that had filed a motion for voluntary dismissal and was not a putative class member.  Dysthe, et al. v. Basic Research, L.L.C., et al., ___ F.R.D. ___, 2011 WL 1350409 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 8, 2011).  The named plaintiffs Shalena Dysthe, Eric Hall and Chaunte Weiss filed a class action complaint alleging that various defendants made purportedly false claims concerning the efficacy of Relacore weight-loss products.  [I am shocked, shocked to hear of false claims related to the efficacy of a weight-loss product.]  When the defendants sought to schedule depositions, they were notified that Hall intended to dismiss his claims with prejudice.  The defendants responded that they would stipulate to the dismissal after the deposition.  Motions ensued.  Defendants argued that Hall's testimony was still relevant to certification.  Plaintiffs argued that Hall wouldn't even be a class member when his claims were dismissed with prejudice.

The Court explained, "Generally, to depose putative or absent class members, a party must show that 'discovery is both necessary and for a purpose other than taking undue advantage of class members.'"  Slip op., at 3.  Then the Court observed that, because Hall had not been dismissed, the showing required for discovery from putative class members was not applicable; Hall was still a party.  Even when dismissed, the Court found that Hall's testimony regarding his experience with Relacore would be highly relevant.

Written contact with putative class members for purpose of finding new plaintiff is not solicitation under California Rule of Professional Conduct 1-400

United States District Court Judge Susan Illston (Northern District of California) concluded that letters to putative class members seeking a new plaintiff were neither in violation of the Court's prior order governing class member contact nor a violation of California Rule of Professional Conduct 1-400, which governs solicitation.  Rand v. American National Insurance Company, 2010 WL 2758720 (N.D. Cal July 13, 2010).

In an earlier Order in that matter, the Court, in an effort to ensure protection of putative class members' privacy rights, instructed plaintiff's counsel to:

inform each policyholder at the outset of the initial contact that he or she has a right not to speak with counsel and that if he or she chooses not to speak with counsel, counsel will immediately terminate contact and not contact them again. Additionally, counsel will inform the policyholder that his or her refusal to speak with counsel will not prejudice his or her rights as a class member if the Court certifies a class. Finally, counsel is to keep a record for the Court of policyholders who make it known that they do not wish to be contacted.

Slip op., at 1.  After the death of the plaintiff, plaintiff's counsel sent a letter containing a first paragraph with substantially compliant language in the first paragraph.  The letter then went on to encourage contact to discuss the circumstances of annuity purchases.  The Court concluded that the inclusion of the disclaimer language in the first paragraph satisfied the Court's prior Order and was not an improper solicitation:

The Court also finds that the letter complies with California Rule of Professional Conduct 1-400. That rule defines “communication” as “any message or offer made by or on behalf of a member concerning the availability for professional employment....” Cal. R. Prof. Conduct 1-400(A). The rule defines “solicitation” as “any communication ... concerning the availability for professional employment of a member or a law firm in which a significant motive is pecuniary gain; and ... [w]hich is: (a) delivered in person or by telephone.” Id. at 1-400(B)(1)-(2). The rule generally prohibits “solicitations.” Id. at 1-400(C). As plaintiffs note, the letter was sent by mail, and thus it is not a “solicitation.” Defendant argues that because the letter invited policyholders to contact plaintiff's counsel by telephone, the letter is a “solicitation.” The Court disagrees, as the plain language of Rule 1-400(B) states that a solicitation is a communication “delivered” in person or by telephone. Here, the communication was delivered by mail. See Parris v. Superior Court, 109 Cal.App. 4th 285, 298 n. 6 (2003) (neither mail notice nor web site was “solicitation” under Rule 1-400(B)).

Slip op., at 2.

Discovery ruling in Currie-White v. Blockbuster, Inc. holds that a protective order is sufficient protection for class member contact information ordered produced

United States Chief Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James is on a roll with the class member contact information discovery orders.  In Currie-White v. Blockbuster, Inc., 2010 WL 1526314 (N.D.Cal. Apr 15, 2010), Magistrate Judge James Ordered defendant to produce class member contact information, subject to certain modifications to a pre-existing protective order in the case.  The interesting additional tidbit in this case is that it is described as a "class action against Defendant under the Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004, Cal. Labor Code §§ 2698, et seq."  Moving to certify PAGA-based penalty claims certainly eliminates all the uncertainty about PAGA-based representative actions.

Discovery ruling in McArdle v. AT&T Mobility LLC finds that notice is unnecessary when ordering class member contact information produced

United States Chief Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James, as if predicting the very contents of my April 21, 2010 Daily Journal article, ordered Defendants AT & T Mobility LLC, New Cingular Wireless PCS LCC, and New Cingular Wireless Services, Inc. to produce the contact information for thousands of customers that had complained after incurring international roaming charges without first issuing a privacy notice.  McArdle v. AT & T Mobility LLC, 2010 WL 1532334 (N.D.Cal. Apr 16, 2010).

Chief Magistrate Judge James said:

As to providing a written notice to the customers, the Court finds such notice unnecessary. First, Pioneer does not impose a notice requirement. Second, notice would make no sense here, as witnesses cannot choose to “opt out” of civil discovery.  Tierno v. Rite Aid Corp., 2008 WL 3287035, at *3 (N.D.Cal.2008). “Generally, witnesses are not permitted to decline to participate in civil discovery, even when the information sought from them is personal or private.” Puerto v. Superior Court, 158 Cal.App.4th at 1242, 1256-57 (2008). The Court notes that the minimal information Plaintiff requests is indeed contemplated under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as basic to the discovery process. Specifically, Rule 26(a)(1)(A) requires each party to disclose before formal discovery begins “the names, addresses and telephone numbers of each individual likely to have discoverable information that the disclosing party may use to support its claims or defenses.” Here, many of Defendants' complaining customers may be considered percipient witnesses to the relevant issue - international-roaming charges, and could therefore be considered persons having discoverable knowledge and proper subjects of discovery.

Slip op., at 4; see also, Boo-ya, at page bite me.  Defendants were given 14 days to provide the contact information.

“Generally, witnesses are not permitted to decline to participate in civil discovery, even when the information sought from them is personal or private.”  Yes.  Witnesses don't get to opt-out of being witnesses.

CLE: The Thirtieth Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium

On March 31, 2010, the Labor & Employment Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association will present the Thirtieth Annual Labor and Employment Law Symposium:

The 2010 Labor and Employment Law Symposium provides practical advice and cutting-edge panel discussions on labor and employment law issues of critical importance to attorneys, judges, neutrals, government practitioners, union representatives, in-house counsel, and human resource professionals. The Symposium provides a unique intellectual experience allowing the panelists, all of whom are recognized experts in their fields, to share new perspectives, ideas and information. Each panel discussion covers opposing viewpoints, interpretations and strategies, and will encourage audience questions and participation.

The location details:

Biltmore Hotel
506 South Grand Ave. 
Los Angeles, California

I will be speaking on the panel entitled "20 Tips for Successful Navigation of e-Discovery Requirements," with Moderator Angela Robledo, Hon. Carl J. West, and Heather Morgan.

in brief: Coito v. Superior Court may alter the way in which information is gathered in some class actions

Yesterday, in Coito v. Superior Court (March 4, 2010), the Court of Appeal (Fifth Appellate District) addressed an issue that nominally concerned the collection of evidence in a wrongful death lawsuit naming California as one defendant.  The facts are particularly sad in that the case involved the death of a child, but, then, the facts of all wrongful death cases are sad.  The issue addressed in Coito is whether an attorney's collection of a witness statement after the attorney selected the witness to interview is work product (absolute or qualified).  Coito holds that even attorney-collected statements are not, unless the attorney's independent thoughts and analysis are inextricably intertwined with the statements of the witness.  The majority is exceedingly critical of Nacht & Lewis Architects, Inc. v. Superior Court, 47 Cal.App.4th 214 (1996), a case frequently relied upon to shield putative class member declarations from discovery.  Coito puts that argument in jeopardy.  I may be wrong, but I think that this decision may affect the manner in which putative class members are handled during interviews by counsel on both sides.  The case, and especially the long and thoughtful concurring and dissenting opinion, deserves more attention than I can provide today, so I may post a longer comment over the weekend.

California Supreme Court activity for the week of January 11, 2010

The California Supreme Court held its (usually) weekly conference today.  The only notable result (in my view) was:

• A depublication request was denied in Clement v. Alegre (September 23, 2009) (conduct during discovery)

The Supreme Court also issued a number of "Grant and Hold" orders in criminal cases.

It's about time for a reminder about the purpose of discovery in civil litigation, and Clement v. Alegre provides much needed medicine

Twenty-three years ago, the Legislature enacted the Civil Discovery Act of 1986 (Code Civ. Proc., § 2016.010, et seq.)1 (the Act), a comprehensive revision of pretrial discovery statutes, the central precept of which is that civil discovery be essentially self-executing. More than 10 years ago, Townsend v. Superior Court (1998) 61 Cal.App.4th 1431 (Townsend) lamented the all too often interjection of "ego and emotions of counsel and clients" into discovery disputes, warning that "[l]ike Hotspur on the field of battle, counsel can become blinded by the combative nature of the proceeding and be rendered incapable of informally resolving a disagreement." (Id. at p. 1436.) Townsend counseled that the "informal resolution" of discovery disputes "entails something more than bickering with [opposing counsel]." (Id. at p. 1439.) Rather, the statute "requires that there be a serious effort at negotiation and informal resolution." (Id. at p. 1438.)

Clement v. Alegre (September 23, 2009), slip op., at 1-2.

So begins Clement v. Alegre (September 23, 2009), authored by the Court of Appeal (First Appellate District, Division Two).  The case involves a dispute over a real property transaction, but that's not all that relevant.  But it certainly isn't a class action matter, and it's not all that complex of a case.  The issue, however, permeates civil litigation to its core.  The discovery process is nearly, but not quite, broken.  The higher the stakes (like in class actions), the more entrenched and obstructive the positions taken by counsel.  Compromise is now a pleasant surprise.  Bitterness is the norm.  Clement reminds counsel and courts that it shouldn't be.

The discovery fight began with a set of 23 special interrogatories:

As described by the referee, plaintiffs‘ objections were of two types:

"Special Interrogatory No. 1 requested a description of 'all economic damages you claim to have sustained. . . .'  Clement objected that the question was 'vague and ambiguous'. Clement's contention that the term 'economic damages' is vague is based on propounding party's failure to specifically refer to Civil Code section 1431.2, [subdivision] (b)(1) which defines economic damages. Thus, reasons Clement, 'Responding Party reasonably construes the failure to adopt this definition as expressing Propounding Party's intention to define economic damages in a manner different than as provided in California Civil Code Section [1431. 2, subdivision] (b)(1).' Clement goes on to supply a restricted definition of his own, to wit: the lost profit from the potential sale of the property to a third party buyer. Thus limited, he answers that he is aware of none."

"Special Interrogatory No. 2 asks: 'Please state the amount of such damages as identified in interrogatory number 1.'  Clement's objections this time were (1) that this Special Interrogatory violates [section] 2030.060[, subdivision] (d) because it is not full and complete in itself, requiring, as it does, reference to the answer to an earlier interrogatory in the same set. He brands the reference to the answer to an earlier question as reference to 'other materials' in order to answer the question, citing Catanese v. Superior Court (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 1159, 1164 [(Catanese)]." Plaintiff Clement also stated that he did not have to answer the interrogatory, because it would deny him 30 days to respond, as interrogatory No. 2 was a follow-up question that referred to the answer to interrogatory No. 1, and there could be no answer to interrogatory No. 1 in existence until the response to interrogatory No. 1 was rendered. The 30 days to answer interrogatory No. 2 would start after the answer to interrogatory 1. Finally, Clement stated that he would meet and confer in good faith with defendant to resolve any dispute, without the need for a motion. However, he also stated no response to a meet and confer communications could be given without "reasonable time and opportunity to consult with [his] attorney."

Slip op., at 3-4.  A great deal of correspondence followed the initial objections.  Eventually the defendant filed a motion to compel.  An award of sanctions in excess of $5,000 followed soon thereafter, and an appeal of right was next.  The Court of Appeal was not sympathetic:

Ample evidence supports the referee‘s determination that plaintiffs "deliberately misconstrued the question."  Plaintiffs themselves quoted the statute defining the term in their initial response. Yet, they objected, and then deliberately provided an answer using a definition narrower than that provided by statute. Somewhat artfully, plaintiffs urge that Goldstein agreed in his January 23, 2008 letter to respond to any definition of economic damages that plaintiffs chose to provide. However, even after defendant's counsel advised that the term was being used as defined in the statute plaintiffs had cited, plaintiffs did not answer the question, but demanded that defendant supply the definition in writing and allow them an extra 30 days from the date of receipt in which to respond. Clearly this was "game-playing" and supports the referee's findings and the sanctions award.

Slip op., at 8.  Then the Court noted that, though they believed the plaintiff fully intended to obstruct discovery, that intent was irrelevant:

Even assuming we agreed that neither plaintiffs nor Goldstein intended to be evasive — and we do not — their intent is not relevant here. "There is no requirement that misuse of the discovery process must be willful for a monetary sanction to be imposed." (Cal. Civil Discovery Practice (Cont.Ed.Bar 4th ed. May 2009 update) § 15.94, p. 1440, citing Code Civ. Proc. § 2023.030, subd. (a); 2 Hogan & Weber, Cal. Civil Discovery (2d ed. 2004) Sanctions, § 15.4, p. 15-8 ["Whenever one party's improper actions — even if not 'willful' — in seeking or resisting discovery necessitate the court's intervention in a dispute, the losing party presumptively should pay a sanction to the prevailing party." (Fn. omitted)]; Kohan v. Cohan (1991) 229 Cal.App.3d 967, 971.)

Slip op., at 8.  Then the Court turned to the nonsense contention that an interrogatory that refers to a prior interrogatory answer is not "full and complete" by itself:

Plaintiffs do not contend that any of the interrogatories to which they objected on this basis were unclear, or that the interrogatories, considered either singly or collectively, in any way undermined or violated the presumptive numerical limit of 35 interrogatories of section 2030.030. Yet plaintiffs seized on what might have been at most an arguable technical violation of the rule, to object to interrogatories that were clear and concise where the interrogatories did not even arguably violate the presumptive numerical limitation set by statute. In so doing, plaintiffs themselves engaged in the type of gamesmanship and delay decried by the drafters of the Act.

Slip op., at 9.  The Court goes on to explain that the prohibition on preface instructions, definitions, and references to other materials were enacted solely to prevent circumvention of the presumptive 35 interrogatory limit.  More choice commentary:

Plaintiffs rely upon Catanese, supra, 46 Cal.App.4th at p. 1164, and upon Weil & Brown, California Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial (The Rutter Group 2009) paragraph 8:979.5, which provides: "No incorporation of other questions: The requirement that each interrogatory be 'full and complete in and of itself' is violated where resort must necessarily be made to other materials in order to answer the question. [Citation.]" (Weil & Brown, supra, at p. 8F-21, citing Catanese at p. 1164, italics added.)

First, the paragraph heading — "No incorporation of other questions:" — is not mirrored by the substance of the paragraph, which identifies the violation as interrogatories requiring resort to "other materials" — not to a previous question — to answer the interrogatory. Second, the treatise clearly is relying upon Catanese, supra, 46 Cal.App.4th 1159, which involves a very different situation and which is demonstrably distinguishable. (Weil & Brown, Cal. Practice Guide: Civil Procedure Before Trial, supra, ¶ 8:979.5, at p. 8F-21.)

In Catanese, supra, 46 Cal.App.4th 1159, after the plaintiff had been deposed for eight days, she propounded a series of five interrogatories inquiring whether the defendant contended that any of her answers to questions in the deposition were untruthful, and if so, what evidence supported that contention. (Id. at pp. 1161-1162.) The appellate court concluded that the interrogatories violated the "rule of 35" and the requirement of "self-containment" codified in the predecessor to the current statute.  (Id. at pp. 1163-1164.)  "This rule was violated here by interrogatories which necessarily incorporate, as part of each interrogatory, each separate question and answer in eight volumes of deposition. An interrogatory is not 'full and complete in and of itself' when resort must necessarily be made to other materials in order to complete the question. [Plaintiff] could have propounded interrogatories which inquire separately regarding each deposition question and answer, but if [she] had inquired separately in self-contained interrogatories, she would have violated the 'rule of 35.' " (Id. at p. 1164.) The court further explained that the "interrogatories as worded effectively posed upwards of 10,000 separate questions. It was a violation of the 'rule of 35' to propound these interrogatories without the supporting declaration required by [the statute]." (Id. at p. 1165.)

Slip op., at 11-12.  The opinion should be read fully and carefully by all litigators, but more is worth repeating here:

"It is a central precept to the Civil Discovery Act of 1986 (§ 2016 et seq.) . . . that civil discovery be essentially self-executing. [Citation.]" (Townsend, supra, 61 Cal.App.4th at p. 1434.) A self-executing discovery system is "one that operates without judicial involvement." (2 Hogan & Weber, Cal. Civil Discovery, supra, § 15.4, pp. 15-7 to 15-8.) Conduct frustrates the goal of a self-executing discovery system when it requires the trial court to become involved in discovery because a dispute leads a party to move for an order compelling a response. (Ibid.) The Reporter‘s Notes to the predecessor to section 2023.030, subdivision (a) confirms that revision of the "substantial justification" provision was "intended to encourage judges to be more alert to abuses occurring in the discovery process. On many occasions, to be sure, the dispute over discovery between the parties is genuine, though ultimately resolved one way or the other by the court. In such cases, the losing party is substantially justified in carrying the matter to court. But the rules should deter the abuse implicit in carrying or forcing a discovery dispute to court when no genuine dispute exists. And the potential or actual imposition of expenses is virtually the sole formal sanction in the rules to deter a party from pressing to a court hearing frivolous requests for or objections to discovery. . . . The proposed change provides in effect that expenses should ordinarily be imposed unless a court finds that the losing party acted justifiably in carrying his point to court.  At the same time, a necessary flexibility is maintained, since the court retains the power to find that other circumstances make an award of expenses unjust – as where the prevailing party acted unjustifiably. The amendment does not significantly narrow the discretion of the court, but rather presses the court to address itself to abusive practices. . . ." (2 Hogan & Weber, Cal. Civil Discovery, supra, Appendix D, Reporter‘s Notes at pp. AppD-19 to AppD-21, quoting Advisory Committee to Federal Rule of Civ. Proc. § 34(a)(4) as amended in 1970, italics added; see Cal. Law Revision Com. com., 21A West‘s Ann. Code Civ. Proc. (2007) foll. § 2023.030, p. 64.)

Slip op., at 14-15.  The Court concludes its discussion with a thorough review of the meet and confer efforts.  I won't quote from that discussion here, but it's cut from the same cloth.  I end with the Court's final admonitions:

Perhaps after 11 years it is necessary to remind trial counsel and the bar once again that "[a]rgument is not the same as informal negotiation" (id at p. 1437); that attempting informal resolution means more than the mere attempt by the discovery proponent "to persuade the objector of the error of his ways" (id. at p. 1435); and that "a reasonable and good faith attempt at informal resolution entails something more than bickering with [opposing]counsel . . . . Rather, the law requires that counsel attempt to talk the matter over, compare their views, consult, and deliberate." (Id. at p. 1439.)

Slip op., at 17-18.  I'd say these reminders were well overdue.