Judge: Armen Tamzarian, Case: 23STCV14071, Date: 2025-02-03 Tentative Ruling

Please notify Department 52 via email at smcdept52@lacourt.org and indicate that the parties are submitting on the tentative ruling. Please provide the attorney's name and represented party. Please notify the opposing side via email if submitting on the Court's tentative ruling.

Case Number: 23STCV14071    Hearing Date: February 3, 2025    Dept: 52

Defendant Tammy Woloski’s Motion to Continue Trial

Defendant Tammy Woloski moves to continue the trial, which is set for April 9, 2025.  California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332(c) provides, “The court may grant a continuance only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring the continuance.  Circumstances that may indicate good cause include: [¶¶] (5) The addition of a new party if: (A) The new party has not had a reasonable opportunity to conduct discovery and prepare for trial.”  (Rule 3.1332(c).)

Plaintiff effected valid service of summons on Woloski on November 22, 2024.  Woloski has shown no diligence in conducting discovery and preparing for trial since then.  There is no evidence she conducted any discovery.  Moreover, though Woloski successfully moved to quash the initial service of summons, she knew about this action no later than September 13, 2024, when she filed that motion.  Woloski also could have gathered a substantial amount of the information she needs to prepare for trial by demanding initial disclosure under Code of Civil Procedure section 2016.090. 

Nevertheless, the court finds good cause for a brief trial continuance. 

Defendant Tammy Woloski’s motion to continue trial is granted.  The court hereby continues the final status conference from March 24, 2025, to July 7, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.  The court hereby continues the jury trial from April 9, 2025, to July 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.  All pretrial deadlines are continued to follow the new trial date.

Lead trial counsel for all parties shall personally appear at the final status conference.  No remote appearances are allowed.  Following the final status conference, lead trial counsel shall be prepared to meet and confer in the courthouse to finalize the joint trial documents for the remainder of the court day.  Counsel shall bring laptop computers with them to the final status conference.