Judge: Kevin C. Brazile, Case: 21STCV25046, Date: 2023-05-19 Tentative Ruling

Hearing Date: May 19, 2023

Case Name: Loyd v. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., et al.

Case No.: 21STCV02018

Matter: Motion to Advance Trial Date

Moving Party: Plaintiff Melissa Loyd 

Responding Party: Defendants Walmart Inc., Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., and Oscar Mejia 

Notice: OK

On January 19, 2021, Plaintiff Melissa Loyd filed the operative Complaint against Defendants Walmart Inc., Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., and Oscar Mejia for (1) defamation, (2) intentional infliction of emotional distress (“IIED”), (3) FEHA gender harassment, (4) FEHA gender discrimination, (5) FEHA failure to prevent harassment and discrimination, (6) FEHA disability discrimination, (7) violation of the CFRA, (8) FEHA retaliation, (9) FEHA failure to accommodate, (10) FEHA failure to engage in interactive process, (11) wrongful termination, (12) FEHA disability harassment, (13) failure to pay overtime wages, (14) violation of the UCL, and (15) fraud.

On April 11, 2023, the Court granted the motion for summary adjudication of Defendants Walmart Inc., Wal-Mart Associates, Inc., and Oscar Mejia as to the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, and twelfth causes of action.  The Court otherwise denied the motion.

Plaintiff now requests that the Court advance the April 2025 trial date in this action because this case has been pending since January 2021 and the parties have completed the majority of their discovery.

Defendants argue that they are not available for a trial until mid-2024.  

The Court will take a look at its trial reservation system and have a discussion with the parties to see if there could be an available date in 2024 for a trial.  

Moving parties to give notice.

If counsel do not submit on the tentative, they are strongly encouraged to appear by LACourtConnect rather than in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic.