Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: 21SMCV00715, Date: 2022-12-05 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21SMCV00715    Hearing Date: December 5, 2022    Dept: R

The matter is here for a final status conference for a short cause bench trial.  The case has been before this court twice for final status conference and the court has clearly warned the parties to have their final status conference materials filed.  The court is in receipt of the following documents, filed (untimely) on December 1, 2022.  (1) “Joint” Witness List; (2) “Joint” Exhibit List.  The word “Joint” is in quotes because it plainly is not.  Defendant has not signed it and defendant has not contributed to it.  There is no trial brief. 

If the reason for the non-compliance is that defendant has simply ignored the case, the court will likely have the trial go forward next week.  Right now the court is engaged in a trial, but the court will trail this case from day to day in that it is a short cause trial that ought to take less than two hours to complete.  If, on the other hand, the reason that the case is not ready is because plaintiff did not make adequate attempts to work with the defense to complete the documents required, the matter will be continued, likely until August.