Judge: Lee W. Tsao, Case: 23NWCV00733, Date: 2025-04-30 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23NWCV00733    Hearing Date: April 30, 2025    Dept: F

Rodriguez v. Downey School District, et al., 23NWCV00733 

This motor vehicle-personal injury action was filed on March 10, 2023. Trial is scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025. Plaintiff’s counsel, Carlo Noravian (Counsel) now applies ex parte to continue trial and related dates.

Counsel seeks a six-month continuance because the attorney-client relationship has broken down and there is an active conflict between Counsel and Plaintiff. Counsel indicates that the conflict arose after four plaintiffs, children of Plaintiff, were dismissed pursuant to the Court’s March 20, 2025 ruling on a motion for summary judgment. Counsel argues good cause exists to allow Plaintiff to obtain new counsel, for substitutions to be effectuated appropriately, and for Counsel to move the Court to be relieved from representation.

Counsel’s ex parte application to continue trial and related dates is GRANTED pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332(c)(3) – “the unavailability of trial counsel because of…other excusable circumstances. A trial continuance to a date after six months is reasonable. The Court will confer with the parties to select new trial and FSC dates. The discovery cut-off date and related deadlines will correspond with the new trial date. Moving party to give notice.