19574.2
. (a) Any party claiming that his or her request for
discovery pursuant to Section 19574.1 has not been complied with may
serve and file a petition to compel discovery with the Hearing Office
of the State Personnel Board, naming as respondent the party
refusing or failing to comply with Section 19574.1. The petition
shall state facts showing that the respondent party failed or refused
to comply with Section 19574.1, a description of the matters sought
to be discovered, the reason or reasons why the matter is
discoverable under Section 19574.1, and the ground or grounds of the
respondent's refusal so far as known to the petitioner.
(b) The petition shall be served upon the respondent party and
filed within 14 days after the respondent party first evidenced his
or her failure or refusal to comply with Section 19574.1 or within 30
days after the request was made and the party has failed to reply to
the request, whichever period is longer. However, no petition may be
filed within 90 days of the date set for commencement of the
administrative hearing, except upon a petition and a determination by
the administrative law judge of good cause. In determining good
cause, the administrative law judge shall consider the necessity and
reasons for the discovery, the diligence or lack of diligence of the
moving party, whether the granting of the petition will delay the
commencement of the administrative hearing on the date set, and the
possible prejudice of the action to any party. The respondent shall
have a right to file a written answer to the petition. Any answer
shall be filed with the Hearing Office of the State Personnel Board
and the petitioner within 15 days of service of the petition.
Unless otherwise stipulated by the parties and as provided by this
section, the administrative law judge shall review the petition and
any response filed by the respondent and issue a decision granting or
denying the petition within 20 days after the filing of the
petition. Nothing in this section shall preclude the administrative
law judge from determining that an evidentiary hearing shall be
conducted prior to the issuance of a decision on the petition. In the
event that a hearing is ordered, the decision of the administrative
law judge shall be issued within 20 days of the closing of the
hearing.
A party aggrieved by the decision of the administrative law judge
may, within 30 days of service of the decision, file a petition to
compel discovery in the superior court for the county in which the
administrative hearing will be held or in the county in which the
headquarters of the appointing power is located. The petition shall
be served on the respondent party.
(c) If from a reading of the petition the court is satisfied that
the petition sets forth good cause for relief, the court shall issue
an order to show cause directed to the respondent party; otherwise
the court shall enter an order denying the petition. The order to
show cause shall be served upon the respondent and his or her
attorney of record in the administrative proceeding by personal
delivery or certified mail and shall be returnable no earlier than 10
days from its issuance nor later than 30 days after the filing of
the petition. The respondent party shall have the right to serve and
file a written answer or other response to the petition and order to
show cause.
(d) The court may, in its discretion, order the administrative
proceeding stayed during the pendency of the proceeding, and, if
necessary, for a reasonable time thereafter to afford the parties
time to comply with the court order.
(e) Where the matter sought to be discovered is under the custody
or control of the respondent party and the respondent party asserts
that the matter is not a discoverable matter under Section 19574.1,
or is privileged against disclosure under Section 19574.1, the court
may order lodged with it matters which are provided in subdivision
(b) of Section 915 of the Evidence Code and shall examine the matters
in accordance with the provisions thereof.
(f) The court shall decide the case on the matters examined by the
court in camera, the papers filed by the parties, and any oral
argument and additional evidence as the court may allow.
(g) Unless otherwise stipulated by the parties, the court shall no
later than 45 days after the filing of the petition file its order
denying or granting the petition; provided, however, that the court
may on its own motion for good cause extend the time an additional 45
days. The order of the court shall be in writing setting forth the
matters or parts the petitioner is entitled to discover under Section
19574.1. A copy of the order shall forthwith be served by mail by
the clerk upon the parties. Where the order grants the petition in
whole or in part, the order shall not become effective until 10 days
after the date the order is served by the clerk. Where the order
denies relief to the petitioning party, the order shall be effective
on the date it is served by the clerk.
(h) The order of the superior court shall be final and, except for
this subdivision, shall not be subject to review by appeal. A party
aggrieved by the order, or any part thereof, may within 30 days after
the service of the superior court's order serve and file in the
district court of appeal for the district in which the superior court
is located, a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the superior
court to set aside, or otherwise modify, its order. Where a review
is sought from an order granting discovery, the order of the trial
court and the administrative proceeding shall be stayed upon the
filing of the petition for writ of mandamus; provided, however, that
the court of appeal may dissolve or modify the stay thereafter, if it
is in the public interest to do so. Where the review is sought from
a denial of discovery, neither the trial court's order nor the
administrative proceeding shall be stayed by the court of appeal
except upon a clear showing of probable error.
(i) Where the superior court finds that a party or his or her
attorney, without substantial justification, failed or refused to
comply with Section 19574.1, or, without substantial justification,
filed a petition to compel discovery pursuant to this section, or,
without substantial justification, failed to comply with any order of
court made pursuant to this section, the court may award court costs
and reasonable attorney fees to the opposing party. Nothing in this
subdivision shall limit the power of the superior court to compel
obedience to its orders by contempt proceedings.