A Los Angeles judge has rejected an actor's bid to force Tyler Perry to sit for an earlier deposition in a sexual assault lawsuit, ruling the filmmaker had already agreed to testify later this year.

In a ruling issued Monday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brock Hammond denied Mario Rodriguez's motion to compel Perry's deposition, writing that the request "lacks merit."

The judge said Rodriguez acknowledged Perry was unavailable for a June deposition before serving the notice and noted the filmmaker has already agreed to appear for an in-person deposition on Dec. 9.

Rodriguez, who appeared in Boo! A Madea Halloween, sued Perry, accusing the filmmaker and media mogul of using his influence in Hollywood to make unwanted sexual advances. Rodriguez's attorney has said he has sought to depose Perry since April.

Rodriguez argued Perry's commitment to the December deposition was unreliable, writing in court filings that previous agreements had fallen through and that "an email from these defendants is not an order."

Perry's attorneys countered that their client had already agreed to the Dec. 9 deposition and accused Rodriguez of filing a "frivolous motion" instead of confirming the date.

They also alleged the filing was part of an effort to pressure Perry into settling the case.

"The sequence is telling," Perry's lawyers wrote. "Having secured an agreed time and place for Mr. Perry's deposition, plaintiff floated his interest in a multimillion-dollar settlement and when Mr. Perry wouldn't take the bait, he filed a public motion to attempt to harm Mr. Perry's reputation."

Perry's legal team further argued Rodriguez was using repeated discovery disputes to harass the filmmaker and expose details of his personal life unrelated to the allegations.

"Perry will not be bullied by such tactics," the attorneys wrote.

Perry has denied Rodriguez's allegations in previous court filings and maintains the plaintiff suffered no damages.

A case management conference is scheduled for Oct. 16.