MOTION FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER
TENTATIVE RULING: Attorney Jarhett Blonien’s motion for a protective order is DENIED. Plaintiff BVK Gaming, Inc. (BVK) sent a deposition subpoena to Blonien. Blonien represents he is an attorney who has advised, counseled, and performed legal work for all the defendants in this action. “Depositions of opposing counsel are presumptively improper, severely restricted, and require ‘extremely’ good cause—a high standard.” (Carehouse Convalescent Hosp. v. Super. Ct. (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 1558, 1562.) However, the good- cause requirement for deposing an attorney applies when the deponent is “opposing counsel” in the litigation. (Spectra-Physics, Inc. v. Super. Ct. (1988) 198 Cal.App.3d 1487, 1494-95.) Blonien is not opposing counsel.
It is apparent, as BVK demonstrates, that Blonien wears different hats beyond providing legal advice to the defendants. To the extent Blonien has knowledge beyond that acquired in his role as an attorney, BVK is entitled to explore
Hearing Date
October 08, 2019
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MOTION FOR A PROTECTIVE ORDER
TENTATIVE RULING: Attorney Jarhett Blonien’s motion for a protective order is DENIED. Plaintiff BVK Gaming, Inc. (BVK) sent a deposition subpoena to Blonien. Blonien represents he is an attorney who has advised, counseled, and performed legal work for all the defendants in this action. “Depositions of opposing counsel are presumptively improper, severely restricted, and require ‘extremely’ good cause—a high standard.” (Carehouse Convalescent Hosp. v. Super. Ct. (2006) 143 Cal.App.4th 1558, 1562.) However, the good- cause requirement for deposing an attorney applies when the deponent is “opposing counsel” in the litigation. (Spectra-Physics, Inc. v. Super. Ct. (1988) 198 Cal.App.3d 1487, 1494-95.) Blonien is not opposing counsel.
It is apparent, as BVK demonstrates, that Blonien wears different hats beyond providing legal advice to the defendants. To the extent Blonien has knowledge beyond that acquired in his role as an attorney, BVK is entitled to explore