Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01773/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01773-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Ara G. Dolarian
Defendant
Dolarian Capital, Inc.
Counter Claimant
Sterling Cross Defense Systems, Inc.
Counter Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STERLING CROSS DEFENSE 

SYSTEMS, INC.,

Plaintiff,

v.

DOLARIAN CAPITAL, INC., et al.,

 Defendants.

No. 1:13-cv-01773-AWI-GSA

ORDER RE. DISCOVERY SANCTIONS

(Doc. 32)

On May 19, 2015, Plaintiff Sterling Cross Defense Systems, Inc. (“Plaintiff”) filed a

motion to compel based on the failure of Defendant Ara Dolarian (“Defendant”) and his counsel, 

Myron Smith, to appear at Mr. Dolarian’s deposition, which was properly noticed for May 11, 

2015. Doc. 32 at 3, 6; Doc. 32-1 at 11-15. Defendant did not file any opposition to Plaintiff’s 

motion to compel. The motion was set for hearing on May 22, 2015. Docs. 31, 33. Neither 

Defendant nor his counsel appeared at the motion hearing. Doc. 34. 

The Court has since determined, with reference to the website of the State Bar of 

California, that Defendant’s counsel appears to have stopped practicing law in California as of 

February 27, 2015. However, Mr. Smith failed to advise the Court of this development and to 

Case 1:13-cv-01773-AWI-EPG Document 35 Filed 05/29/15 Page 1 of 2
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withdraw as attorney of record for Plaintiff. Furthermore, Plaintiff’s counsel, Jeff Reich, states in 

a declaration submitted with the motion to compel that “it has been difficult to communicate with 

[Defendant’s] counsel throughout this case.” Doc. 32 at 7, ¶ 11. Mr. Reich also states in his 

declaration that “over the last six to eight weeks I have attempted to contact [Defendant’s] 

counsel on several occasions, leaving messages each time, but have had no response whatsoever.” 

Id. As detailed in Plaintiff’s moving papers, Plaintiff’s counsel expended considerable time and 

energy in attempting to reach Mr. Smith to discuss the scheduling of Defendant’s deposition, to 

no avail. See Docs. 32 and 32-1.

Accordingly, at the hearing on Plaintiff’s motion to compel, the Court granted Plaintiff’s 

request for discovery sanctions, specifically attorney fees and expenses for bringing the instant 

motion to compel. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(d)(3). Plaintiff has requested $ 1,625.00 in attorney 

fees (3 hours of attorney time billed at $275 per hour and 8 hours of paralegal time billed at $100 

per hour). Doc. 32 at 7. The Court finds that the respective rates for attorney and paralegal 

services, as well as the hours of attorney and paralegal time requested, are reasonable. Myron 

Smith, who remains Defendant’s counsel of record, is therefore ordered to pay $ 1,625.00 in 

attorney fees to Plaintiff. 

Finally, the Court directs the United States Marshals Service to personally serve a copy of 

this order on Defendant Ara G. Dolarian and Mr. Myron Smith respectively and to submit proof 

of such service to the Court. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 29, 2015 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01773-AWI-EPG Document 35 Filed 05/29/15 Page 2 of 2