Judge: Michael E. Whitaker, Case: 20STCV40229, Date: 2023-03-13 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV40229    Hearing Date: March 13, 2023    Dept: 32

PLEASE NOTE:   Parties are encouraged to meet and confer concerning this tentative ruling to determine if a resolution may be reached.  If the parties are unable to reach a resolution and a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the Court at sscdept32@lacourt.org indicating that party’s intention to submit.  The email shall include the case number, date and time of the hearing, counsel’s contact information (if applicable), and the identity of the party submitting on this tentative ruling.  If the Court does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on this tentative ruling and there are no appearances at the hearing, the Court may place the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court.  If all parties do not submit on this tentative ruling, they should arrange to appear in-person or remotely (which is highly encouraged).  Further, after the Court has posted/issued a tentative ruling, the Court has the inherent authority to prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion and adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court. 

TENTATIVE RULING

MOTION

Defendants Freetown Holdings Company and Abdul Jamal Sheriff (collectively, Defendants) move to continue the trial, and all trial-related dates, which is currently set for March 29, 2023 to September 29, 2023.  The motion is unopposed.    

ANALYSIS

 “Continuances are granted only on an affirmative showing of good cause requiring a continuance.”  (In re Marriage of Falcone & Fyke (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 814, 823.)  A trial court has broad discretion in considering a request for a trial continuance.  (Pham v. Nguyen (1997) 54 Cal.App.4th 11, 13-18.)  California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332 sets forth factors for the Court to consider in ruling on a motion to continue trial.  Whether the parties have stipulated to the postponement is a relevant factor for consideration.  (See Code Civ. Proc., § 595.2, but see Lorraine v. McComb (1934) 220 Cal. 753, 756-757 [finding a stipulation to be merely “directory”].)  

Here, Defendants seek a continuance of trial to accommodate the Motion for Summary Judgment hearing date set for June 9, 2023.  Defendants rely on the declaration of Defendants’ counsel, Rebecca T. Cohanghadosh (Counsel).  Counsel states on December 14, 2022, Defendants filed and served its Motion for Summary Judgment pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure, Section 437c, with a hearing date of June 9, 2023, which was the first available hearing date that could be reserved. (Declaration of Rebecca T. Cohanghadosh, ¶ 5.)  Defendants argues it is entitled to have his motion for summary judgment heard thirty days prior to trail pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure section 437c.  (Declaration of Rebecca T. Cohanghadosh, ¶ 7.)  Counsel avers that a lengthier trial continuance, passed the 30 days following the Motion for Summary Judgment hearing, is appropriate as Defendants will require additional time to prepare for trial in the event the Motion for Summary Judgment is not granted.  (Declaration of Rebecca T. Cohanghadosh, ¶ 9.)  Counsel states that Defendants have had to file several motions to compel Plaintiffs’ written discovery and only recently were allowed to take Plaintiffs’ depositions in this matter.   

Accordingly, the Court finds Defendants have shown good cause for a trial continuance pursuant to California Rules of Court, rule 3.1332.

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Therefore, the Court grants Defendants’ motion to continue trial and all trial related dates and orders as follows:

·       The trial date, currently set for March 29, 2023, is continued to October 11, 2023 at 8:30 AM in Department 32.

·       The Final Status Conference, currently set for May 15, 2023, is continued to September 27, 2023 at 10:00 AM in Department 32.

·       All discovery and pre-trial motion cut-off dates shall be based upon the new trial date of October 11, 2023.

·       Per the Discovery Act, the parties shall meet and confer forthwith to schedule and complete all non-expert discovery and to prepare for the completion of expert discovery to obviate the need for a further continuance of the trial. 

·       No further continuance of the trial absent sufficient good cause. 

Defendants shall provide notice of the Court’s ruling and file a proof of service of such.