Judge: Lee S. Arian, Case: 21STCV20174, Date: 2025-01-06 Tentative Ruling


Case Number: 21STCV20174    Hearing Date: January 6, 2025    Dept: 27

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

 

STEVEN VARKONY,

                        Plaintiff,

            vs.

 

EL DORADO VILLAS, LLC, et al.,

 

                        Defendants.

 

 

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    CASE NO.: 21STCV20174

 

[TENTATIVE] MOTIONS TO BIFURCATE ARE DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE

 

Dept. 27

1:30 p.m.

January 6, 2024

Defendants E.A. Harrison Properties, Inc. and Murrieta Paradise, Inc.’ motions to bifurcate are DENIED without prejudice to Defendants raising this issue for the trial judge to consider, on its own motion, at the time that the judge rules upon motions in limine.¿ Given that in the Personal Injury Hub system this case will be tried by a different judicial officer than the one ruling on this motion at this time, the Court finds it appropriate for the trial judge to determine whether bifurcation is warranted.

The Court orders that the bifurcation briefing be included in the trial binders in Tab B along with any motions in limine filed in the case.¿ The Court recognizes that CRC Rule 3.57(c) states, “A motion in limine may not be used for the purpose of seeking an order to try an issue before the trial of another issue or issues,” and thus this order should not be construed in a way that contradicts this rule.¿ Defendants may direct the trial court to this order, which should not be construed to in any way to bind the trial court in making a bifurcation decision on its own motion.

Based on the foregoing, the motion to bifurcate is DENIED without prejudice.

Moving party is ordered to give notice.

 

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the Court at SSCDEPT27@lacourt.org indicating intention to submit on the tentative as directed by the instructions provided on the court’s website at www.lacourt.org.  Please be advised that if you submit on the tentative and elect not to appear at the hearing, the opposing party may nevertheless appear at the hearing and argue the matter.  Unless you receive a submission from all other parties in the matter, you should assume that others might appear at the hearing to argue.  If the Court does not receive emails from the parties indicating submission on this tentative ruling and there are no appearances at the hearing, the Court may, at its discretion, adopt the tentative as the final order or place the motion off calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hon. Lee S. Arian

Judge of the Superior Court