Judge: Lee S. Arian, Case: 23STCV26287, Date: 2025-02-26 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV26287    Hearing Date: February 26, 2025    Dept: 27

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

On October 27, 2023, Plaintiff filed this premises liability case, alleging that Plaintiff fell through the attic while working for Alliant Networks on a premises maintained by Defendant, Most Worshipful St. Anthony’s Grand Lodge. Defendant filed its answer on August 28, 2024, and filed a cross-complaint against Plaintiff’s employer, Alliant Networks, the next day but has not yet effectuated service. Trial is currently set for April 25, 2025.

Defendant anticipates that the telecom provider that hired Alliant is likely to be brought into this case as well. Defendant asserts that significant discovery remains outstanding. Defendant has not yet taken Plaintiff’s deposition, which is currently set for March 28, 2025, less than a month before the scheduled trial date. Under the current schedule, expert disclosure is set for March 6, 2025. Defendant has yet to obtain all of Plaintiff’s medical records and employment records from Plaintiff’s past and current employers.

On that basis, Defendant moves the Court to continue the trial to March 26, 2026. No opposition has been filed.

Defendant’s request is reasonable given the case’s timeline and the need to bring in additional parties. The Court advises the parties that under CRC 3.714 cases are to be resolved within two years of filing, and this case was filed on October 27, 2023. While the Court is allowing the case to extend beyond that two-year period with this ruling, the parties should anticipate that the new trial date is firm.  The new trial date is March 26, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. The Final Status Conference is continued to March 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. All case-related deadlines will follow the new trial date. The parties are encouraged to diligently move this case forward, keeping in mind the timeline set forth under CRC 3.714.

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.