Windsor Skyline Care Center v. Superior Court CA6

I. Background

Windsor operates a skilled nursing facility in Monterey County. King was a patient there from March 21 until September 12, 2011 while she recuperated from head surgery. King was 81 years old and suffered from mild to moderate dementia. At Windsor, she developed urinary tract infections, dehydration, bedsores, and weight loss because of allegedly inadequate care. Beltran is King’s daughter. In 2013, Beltran and King (collectively, plaintiffs) filed suit against Windsor. The operative second amended complaint alleges causes of action for elder abuse and/or neglect (Welf. & Inst. Code, § 15657 et seq.), negligence, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and unfair and fraudulent business practices (Bus. & Prof. Code, § 17200). Plaintiffs propounded special interrogatories asking Windsor to identify (by “name, middle name, and last name, telephone number(s), addresses, email address, and job title, if any”) the “responsible party” and “resident representatives” for each person who was a resident of Windsor between March 1 and September 30, 2011. Windsor served objections on grounds, among others, that the interrogatories were burdensome and oppressive and sought to…