Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: 23SMCV03259, Date: 2025-06-10 Tentative Ruling

If the parties wish to submit on the tentative ruling and avoid a court appearance on the matter, the moving party must contact the opposing party and all other parties who have appeared in the action and confirm that each will submit on the tentative ruling. Please call the court no later than 4:30 p.m. on the court day before the hearing, leave a message with the court clerk at (310) 260-3629 advising her that all parties will submit on the tentative ruling and waive hearing, and finally, serve notice of the Court's ruling on all parties entitled to receive service. If any party declines to submit on the tentative ruling, then no telephone call is necessary, and all parties should appear at the hearing.

Case Number: 23SMCV03259    Hearing Date: June 10, 2025    Dept: I

The court will discuss the matter with counsel.  If lead counsel for the defendants is on paternity leave, that is something that will need to be addressed.  However, the court is unclear why it is that this leave—about which counsel must have known for many months—is only being brought to the court’s attention now.  The other arguments lack merit.  The FSC order was given on January 24, 2024—well over a year ago.  There was plenty of time to do what needed to be done.  The agreed-upon mediation completion date was January 31, 2025, so the court does not understand why mediation was not set until September.

If this is granted, the court makes no promises as to when the matter can be restored to the trial calendar.