Judge: Lee S. Arian, Case: 23STCV12657, Date: 2024-09-30 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV12657    Hearing Date: September 30, 2024    Dept: 27

Hon. Lee S. Arian, Dept 27 

MOTION TO CONTINUE TRIAL

Hearing Date: 9/30/24¿ 

CASE NO./NAME: 23STCV12657 EDWIN SUCHITE vs JEFFREY JOSUE MUNOZARRIAGA et al.

Moving Party: Plaintiff and Defendants VJB Transport Corp. and Jeffrey Munozarriaga

Responding Party: Unopposed

Notice: Sufficient¿ 

Ruling: MOTION TO CONTINUE TRIAL IS GRANTED

On June 5, 2023, Plaintiff filed the present motor vehicle accident case. The current trial date is set for December 2, 2024. Both Plaintiff and Defendants VJB Transport Corp. and Jeffrey Munozarriaga move the Court to continue the trial to sometime in June 2025 to allow more time to conduct discovery, including depositions of the persons most qualified for Defendants VJB, depositions of both Plaintiffs, the deposition of Defendant Munozarriaga, and expert witness depositions. Furthermore, the moving parties agreed to mediate this case with John Raleigh on February 4, 2025.

This is the parties’ first continuance. The motion was filed several months ahead of the trial date. No opposition was filed alleging prejudice. The Court finds good cause to continue the trial in consideration of the parties' need for further discovery.

However, based on the discovery requested, including the IME and depositions, the parties do not need nine months to complete the required discovery. The Court finds good cause to continue the trial to April 2025, allowing the parties to attend the mediation set for February 4, 2025, and providing ample time for the parties to prepare for trial should mediation fail.

The new Trial Date is set for April 1, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. The Final Status Conference is continued to March 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. All case-related deadlines will follow the new trial date. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

If a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the court at sscdept27@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.