Judge: Lisa R. Jaskol, Case: 19STCV10866, Date: 2023-08-11 Tentative Ruling
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Case Number: 19STCV10866 Hearing Date: December 15, 2023 Dept: 28
Having considered the moving papers, the Court rules as follows.
BACKGROUND
On March 29, 2019, Plaintiff Carmela Tyson (“Plaintiff”) filed this action against Defendants Walmart, Inc. (“Walmart”) and Does 1-100 for premises liability and negligence. Plaintiff later amended the complaint to include Defendants Tammy Cannon, Robin Abbott, Brenda Robert, J.T. Doe, Isabell Doe, Julio Doe, Gilbert Doe and Vincent Doe.
On December 9, 2020, Walmart filed an answer.
On November 13, 2023, Plaintiff filed and served a motion to continue the trial and all related dates. No opposition has been filed.
On December 6, 2023, the Court granted Walmart’s motion for terminating sanctions and dismissed Plaintiff’s claims against Walmart with prejudice.
On December 14, 2023, the Court granted Plaintiff’s counsel’s motion to be relieved as counsel.
The trial is currently scheduled to begin on January 8, 2024.
PARTY’S REQUEST
Plaintiff asks the Court to continue the trial and all related dates to an unspecified future time.
LEGAL STANDARD
A. Request to continue trial
California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332(b), provides that “a party seeking a continuance of the date set for trial, whether contested or uncontested or stipulated to by the parties, must make the request for a continuance by a noticed motion or an ex parte application under the rules in chapter 4 of this division, with supporting declarations. The party must make the motion or application as soon as reasonably practical once the necessity for the continuance is discovered.”
Under California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332(c), the Court may grant a continuance only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring the continuance. Circumstances that may indicate good cause include “a party's excused inability to obtain essential testimony, documents, or other material evidence despite diligent efforts,” or the unavailability of a party, counsel, or expert due to death, illness or other excusable circumstance. The Court should consider all facts and circumstances relevant to the determination, such as proximity of the trial date, prior continuances, prejudice suffered, whether all parties have stipulated to a continuance, and whether the interests of justice are served. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1332(d).)
B. Request to continue or reopen discovery
Code of Civil Procedure section 2024.020 provides:
“(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any party shall be entitled as a matter of right to complete discovery proceedings on or before the 30th day, and to have motions concerning discovery heard on or before the 15th day, before the date initially set for the trial of the action.
“(b) Except as provided in Section 2024.050, a continuance or postponement of the trial date does not operate to reopen discovery proceedings.”
(Code Civ. Proc., § 2024.020.)
Code of Civil Procedure section 2024.050 provides:
“(a) On motion of any party, the court may grant leave to complete discovery proceedings, or to have a motion concerning discovery heard, closer to the initial trial date, or to reopen discovery after a new trial date has been set. This motion shall be accompanied by a meet and confer declaration under Section 2016.040.
“(b) In exercising its discretion to grant or deny this motion, the court shall take into consideration any matter relevant to the leave requested, including, but not limited to, the following:
“(1) The necessity and the reasons for the discovery.
“(2) The diligence or lack of diligence of the party seeking the discovery or the hearing of a discovery motion, and the reasons that the discovery was not completed or that the discovery motion was not heard earlier.
“(3) Any likelihood that permitting the discovery or hearing the discovery motion will prevent the case from going to trial on the date set, or otherwise interfere with the trial calendar, or result in prejudice to any other party.
“(4) The length of time that has elapsed between any date previously set, and the date presently set, for the trial of the action.
“(c) The court shall impose a monetary sanction under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 2023.010) against any party, person, or attorney who unsuccessfully makes or opposes a motion to extend or to reopen discovery, unless it finds that the one subject to the sanction acted with substantial justification or that other circumstances make the imposition of the sanction unjust.”
(Code Civ. Proc., § 2024.050.)
Code of Civil Procedure section 2016.040 provides: “A meet and confer declaration in support of a motion shall state facts showing a reasonable and good faith attempt at an informal resolution of each issue presented by the motion.”
DISCUSSION
Plaintiff asks the Court to continue the trial to allow any new attorney she retains time to prepare for trial. However, the Court has no information that Plaintiff has retained new counsel or that Plaintiff has served or plans to serve the summons and complaint on any of the non-dismissed defendants.
The Court does not find good cause for a continuance and denies the motion without prejudice.
CONCLUSION
The Court DENIES without prejudice motion of Plaintiff Carmela Tyson to continue the trial and related dates.
Moving party is ordered to give notice of this ruling.
Moving party is to file a proof of service of this ruling within five days.