Judge: Audra Mori, Case: 20STCV38845, Date: 2022-09-22 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV38845    Hearing Date: September 22, 2022    Dept: 31

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

Plaintiff Lawrence Jefferson (“Plaintiff”) filed this action against defendants Smart & Final LLC, Smart & Final Stores LLC, Smart & Final Stores Corporation; Devonshire Reseda LLC, and David Grajalez for injuries relating to a slip and fall in defendants’ store.  Trial is currently set for January 20, 2023.    

Defendants Smart & Final Stores LLC, Devonshire Reseda LLC, and David Grajalez (collectively, “Defendants”) now move to continue the current trial date to a date after May 28, 2023, so that Defendants’ motion for summary judgment, which is set for April 28, 2023, can be heard prior to trial. 

The Court notes that on September 13, 2022, Defendants filed a reply to Plaintiff’s opposition.  However, the Court does not have a copy of Plaintiff’s opposition.  The Court wishes to consider all arguments prior to ruling on the motion, and thus, the hearing will be continued.  Plaintiff must file a copy of the opposition served on Defendant, with proof of service of such, at least nine court days before the continued hearing. 

The motion to continue trial is continued to __________________ at 1:30 p.m.

Defendants are ordered to give notice. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

• Parties are encouraged to meet and confer after reading this tentative ruling to see if they can reach an agreement.
• If a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the court at sscdept31@lacourt.org with the Subject line “SUBMIT” followed by the case number.  The body of the email must include the hearing date and time, counsel’s contact information, and the identity of the party submitting.  
• Unless all parties submit by email to this tentative ruling, the parties should arrange to appear remotely (encouraged) or in person for oral argument.  You should assume that others may appear at the hearing to argue.  
• If the parties neither submit nor appear at hearing, the Court may take the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court.  After the Court has issued a tentative ruling, the Court may prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion without leave. 

Dated this 21^st day of September 2022