Judge: Mark H. Epstein, Case: SC129215, Date: 2024-04-18 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: SC129215    Hearing Date: April 18, 2024    Dept: I

The court is inclined to GRANT the application.  Defendant has filed a case-dispositive motion (if granted) to confirm the arbitration award.  Plaintiff claims that due to counsel’s schedule, more time is needed to oppose the motion and therefore counsel seeks a 30 day continuance.  The court is inclined to agree absent some showing of prejudice.  That said, the court will give defendant additional time to file a reply if defendant so requests, although that would push the hearing date further out.  The court is aware that the details of the need for time are sketchy and the court recalls the opposition to continuing the trial.  But the trial and a hearing are different.  The court’s trial calendar is much harder to move and openings are far fewer.  The hearing calendar is more flexible.  The court sees no prejudice here, and better to get it right than do it fast.