Judge: Audra Mori, Case: 20STCV44908, Date: 2022-07-29 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV44908    Hearing Date: July 29, 2022    Dept: 31

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

Plaintiffs Simindokht Moghaddas and Dayyan Moghaddas (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) filed this action against Defendant Kim Honny Kowsky (“Defendant”) for damages arising from a motor vehicle accident.  Trial is currently set for September 20, 2022. 

Defendant now moves to continue the current trial date and all related dates to December 20, 2022.  The motion is unopposed.

Although continuances of trials are disfavored, each request for a continuance must be considered on its own merits.  (CRC Rule 3.1332(c).)  The Court may grant a continuance only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring the continuance.  (CRC Rule 3.1332(c).) The Court may look to the following factors in determining whether a trial continuance is warranted:  (1) proximity of the trial date; (2) whether there was any previous continuance of trial due to any party; (3) the length of the continuance requested; (4) the availability of alternative means to address the problem that gave rise to the motion; (5) the prejudice that parties or witnesses will suffer as a result of the continuance; and (6) whether trial counsel is engaged in another trial.  (See generally, CRC Rule 3.1332(d)(1)-(11).)  Additional factors for the Court to consider include: a party’s excused inability to obtain essential testimony, documents, or other material evidence despite diligent efforts; whether all parties have stipulated to a continuance; and any other fact or circumstance relevant to the fair determination of the motion or application.  (CRC Rule 3.1332(c), (d).)

Here, Defendant asserts that this action has been deemed related to Case No. 20STCV43663, and that Defendant has filed a motion to consolidate the actions, but the first available hearing date for the motion to consolidate was October 24, 2022, after the current trial date.  Defendant attests the related actions arise out of the same motor vehicle accident, so consolidation is appropriate and will avoid unnecessary costs and duplication of effort.  The motion is unopposed, and Defendant establishes good cause for the continuance since Defendant’s inability to have the motion to consolidate timely heard is due to the court’s calendar.  Moreover, as the Standing Order Re: Personal Injury Procedures at the Spring Street Courthouse provides, Defendant properly seeks to continue the trial date instead of seeking to advance or shorten the time for the motion to consolidate to be heard. 

Defendant’s motion to continue trial is granted.  The September 20, 2022, trial date is continued to ______________ at 8:30 a.m. in Department 31 of the Spring Street Courthouse.  The September 6, 2022, Final Status Conference is continued to _______________ at 10:00 a.m. in Department 31.  All discovery and expert cut-off dates are continued to reflect the new trial date. 

Defendant is ordered to give notice. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

• The court is not available to hear oral argument on this date.  If the parties do not submit on the tentative and want oral argument, the hearing will have to be continued, and the parties must work with the clerk to find an available date for the continuance.
• 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 29^th day of July 2022