Judge: Daniel M. Crowley, Case: 22STCV01640, Date: 2023-03-16 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV01640    Hearing Date: March 16, 2023    Dept: 28

Defendants Thomas Alan Fields and Steven Loston’s Motion to Consolidate Cases

Having considered the moving papers, the Court rules as follows.

BACKGROUND

On January 14, 2022, Plaintiff Trulena Reed (“Plaintiff”) filed this action against Defendants Thomas Alan Fields (“Fields”) and Steven Loston (“Loston”) for motor vehicle negligence and general negligence.

On February 23, 2022, Defendants filed an answer.

On June 16, 2022, the Court deemed this case and case no. 22STCV10109 related.

On February 17, 2023, Defendants filed a Motion to Consolidate to be heard on March 16, 2023.

Trial is current scheduled for July 14, 2023.

PARTY’S REQUESTS

Defendants request the Court consolidate this case with Case No. 22STCV10109 entitled Julio Cesar Gonzalez Hernandez v. Thomas Alan Fields, et al.

LEGAL STANDARD

According to CCP § 1048, when actions involved a common question or law or fact, it may order a joint hearing or trial, or order all actions consolidated.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Local Rule 3.3(g) provides as follows: “(1) Cases may not be consolidated unless they are in the same department. A motion to consolidate two or more cases may be noticed and heard after the cases, initially filed in different departments, have been related into a single department, or if the cases were already assigned to that department. (2) Upon consolidation of cases, the first filed case will be the lead case, unless otherwise ordered by the court. After consolidation, all future papers to be filed in the Consolidated case must be filed only in the case Designated as the lead case”

DISCUSSION

Defendants allege that both cases arise out of the incident and involve common parties to the action. Both cases stem from an automobile accident on January 17, 2021, involving a motor vehicle accident between Plaintiff, Defendants and the plaintiff of the related case. Defendants are identified as the defendants in both cases. They have the same basic questions of fact or law. The cases were deemed related on June 16, 2022. It is within the interest of judicial economy to consolidate these actions. As such, the Court grants the motion.

CONCLUSION

Defendants Thomas Alan Fields and Steven Loston’s Motion to Consolidate Cases is GRANTED. Case No. 22STCV01640 and Case No. 22STCV10109 are consolidated, with Case No. 22STCV01640 designated as the lead case.

                Moving Party is ordered to give notice of this ruling.

Moving Party is ordered to file the proof of service of this ruling with the Court within five days.

The parties are directed to the header of this tentative ruling for further instructions.