Judge: Anne Hwang, Case: 21STCV23727, Date: 2023-10-25 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV23727    Hearing Date: October 25, 2023    Dept: 32

PLEASE NOTE:   Parties are encouraged to meet and confer concerning this tentative ruling to determine if a resolution may be reached.  If the parties are unable to reach a resolution and a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the Court at sscdept32@lacourt.org indicating that party’s intention to submit.  The email shall include the case number, date and time of the hearing, counsel’s contact information (if applicable), and the identity of the party submitting on this tentative ruling.  If the Court does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on this tentative ruling and there are no appearances at the hearing, the Court may place the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court.  If all parties do not submit on this tentative ruling, they should arrange to appear in-person or remotely.  Further, after the Court has posted/issued a tentative ruling, the Court has the inherent authority to prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion and adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court. 

TENTATIVE RULING

BACKGROUND

On June 25, 2021, Plaintiffs Bewaji Alabi, and Paul Nwachukwu, by and through his Guardian ad litem (Plaintiffs), filed a complaint against Defendants Stan H. Soto and Susan Soto (Defendants) for injuries related to a motor vehicle accident. Plaintiffs were granted fee waivers on June 28, 2021.

Plaintiff now move to reset this case for jury trial after waiving their right to a jury trial by failing to pay jury fees.

LEGAL STANDARD

A party can secure their right to a jury trial by timely demanding a jury trial and posting jury fees. (See Code. Civ. Proc. § 631 (b), (f)(4).) Code of Civil Procedure section 631 provides that “[a]t least one party demanding a jury on each side of a civil case shall pay a nonrefundable fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150), unless the fee has been paid by another party on the same side of the case.” (Code Civ. Proc. § 631(b).) The fee must be paid before the date scheduled for the initial case management conference in the action. (Id., section 631(c).) If no case management conference is scheduled in a civil action, the fee shall be due no later than 365 calendar days after the filing of the initial complaint. (Id., section 631(c)(2).) A party waives jury trial by failing to timely pay the fee, unless another party on the same side of the case has paid that fee.  (Id., section 631(f)(5).)  

“The court may, in its discretion upon just terms, allow a trial by jury although there may have been a waiver of a trial by jury.” (Id., section 631(g).)  “A trial court abuses its discretion as a matter of law when relief has been denied where there has been no prejudice¿to the other party or to the court from an inadvertent waiver.”¿ (Tesoro del Valle Master Homeowners Assn. v. Griffin¿(2011) 200 Cal.App.4th 619, 638.) Policy favors the court using its discretion to proceed with a jury trial.¿ (Bishop v. Anderson¿(1980) 101 Cal.App.3d 821, 823.)¿  

“Where the right to jury is threatened, the crucial focus is whether any prejudice will be suffered by any party or the court if¿a motion for relief from waiver is granted…relief has been denied where there has been no prejudice to the other party or to the court from an inadvertent waiver.’”  (Wharton v. Superior Court¿(1991) 231 Cal.App.3d 100, 104.)¿¿“The mere fact that trial will be by jury is not prejudice per se.”¿¿(Johnson-Stovall v. Superior Court¿(1993) 17 Cal.App.4th¿808, 811 [prejudice not shown by need to prepare motions¿in limine, enlarged exhibits, and jury instructions unless inadequate time also shown].)¿¿Rather, the prejudice that must be shown is “prejudice from the granting of relief from waiver not prejudice from the jury trial.”¿¿(Winston v. Superior Court¿(1987) 196 Cal.App.3d 600, 602, 603 [fact that it takes longer to try a jury case is not prejudice from granting relief from waiver].)

DISCUSSION

As an initial matter, the Court, on its own, takes judicial notice of Plaintiff’s complaint as a court record under Evidence Code section 452(d). Here, Plaintiffs filed the complaint on June 25, 2021 and demanded a jury trial within. However, Plaintiffs did not pay a jury fee of $150 within 365 days of filing the complaint. As a result, their right to a jury trial was waived. (Code Civ. Proc. § 631 (f)(5).)

Plaintiffs argue Defendants will suffer no prejudice if relief from the waiver is granted. Defendants oppose but offer no reason for prejudice, instead arguing that Plaintiffs have not justified their mistake in failing to pay the jury fees. The Court notes that Plaintiffs have filed a Notice of Posting Of Jury Fees on September 20, 2023. Because no prejudice has been identified by the parties, and in line with the public policy favoring jury trials, Plaintiff’s motion is granted.  

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Therefore, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Reset Case for Jury Trial is GRANTED.

Plaintiffs shall provide notice of the Court’s ruling and file a proof of service of such.