Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: 22SMCV01992, Date: 2023-12-18 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22SMCV01992    Hearing Date: December 18, 2023    Dept: I

This is a motion to consolidate two cases arising from a single automobile accident.  Plaintiff opposes the request on the theory that he does not want his former wife to know his medical information.  That is not a good reason.  The obvious efficiency and economy of trying the cases together is plain.  And the cases are already related.  The trial will also be a public event; plaintiff cannot keep his medical condition a secret to the extent it pertains to the accident.  However, for purposes of discovery at least, there is no reason that the parties cannot enforce their protective order and it is not clear to the court that one plaintiff’s medical information must be disclosed to the other.  Maybe it does need to be disclosed, but the court is not sure.  In any event, the long and short of it is that judicially economy and efficiency strongly support granting the motion, and the motion is GRANTED.