Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: 23SMCV00748, Date: 2023-07-10 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23SMCV00748    Hearing Date: July 10, 2023    Dept: R

The matter is here for a final status conference.  It appears to be a bench trial, although the court will verify that.

The court’s FSC order was given on June 16, 2023.  The court has received no joint documents.  The court has received plaintiff’s witness list (3 witnesses that will take 2.5 hours on direct and 1.25 hours on cross) and plaintiff’s exhibit list (4 exhibits, no indication as to whether there are any objections).  The court has received no trial briefs, although given the short nature of the case, the court can overlook that.

The court will inquire as to what steps, if any, the parties undertook to file joint documents.  If no steps were taken, the court will consider whether the case is truly ready for trial.  If steps were taken but defendant refused to participate, the court will deem the matter ready for trial and defendant will be precluded from calling any witness other than defendant and precluded from introducing any exhibit not on plaintiff’s list.

The court notes that it may be engaged in a trial on the trial date set for this matter.  If so, this matter might trail that one.