Judge: Cherol J. Nellon, Case: 23STCV25451, Date: 2025-02-25 Tentative Ruling



Case Number: 23STCV25451    Hearing Date: February 25, 2025    Dept: 14

#8

Case Background

This is an action for violations of the FEHA and wrongful termination. Plaintiff alleges she suffered discrimination and wrongful termination after becoming disabled in 2021.  

On October 18, 2023, Plaintiff Camille Perez filed her Complaint against Defendant West Hills Hospital.

On December 30, 2024, Defendant filed its motion for summary judgment.

On February 10, 2025, Defendant filed this motion to continue trial.

Instant Pleading

Defendant moves to continue trial to allow its motion for summary judgment to be heard.

Decision

Defendant’s motion to continue trial is GRANTED. Trial is continued to August 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., Final Status Conferences is set on August 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Discovery and related dates are to track with the new date.

Defendant must re-notice its motion for summary judgment within 10 days of this order.

Discussion

Defendant moves to continue trial to allow its motion for summary judgment to be heard. Defendant’s counsel represents that she filed and served Defendant’s motion for summary judgment with sufficient time to meet the timing requirements under Code Civ. Proc., section 437c. (Chuang Decl., ¶7.) However, the earliest available hearing date with sufficient notice time was June 2, 2025. (Id., ¶8.)

The Court finds good cause exists to continue trial because Defendant could not secure a hearing date for its motion for summary judgment due to unavailability in the Court’s calendar. Therefore, the motion to continue trial is GRANTED.

Defendant’s current notice of the summary judgment motion is invalid because it noticed the hearing date for less than 30 days before trial and it is not enough for the Court to simply continue trial to cure defects with the notice. (Robinson v. Woods (2008) 168 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1267-1268.) Thus, Defendant must re-notice the motion for summary judgment.   

Conclusion

Defendant’s motion to continue trial is GRANTED. Trial is continued to August 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., Final Status Conferences is set on August 13, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Discovery and related dates are to track with the new date.

Defendant must re-notice its motion for summary judgment within 10 days of this order.