Judge: Robert B. Broadbelt, Case: 19STCV44103, Date: 2023-03-14 Tentative Ruling

Tentative rulings are sometimes, but not always, posted. The purpose of posting a tentative ruling is to to help focus the argument. The posting of a tentative ruling is not an invitation for the filing of additional papers shortly before the hearing.

Case Number: 19STCV44103    Hearing Date: March 14, 2023    Dept: 53

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles – Central District

Department 53

MOVING PARTIES:             Defendants Jacob Emrani and Law Offices of Jacob Emrani

RESPONDING PARTY:       Plaintiff Karol Vladovich

Motion to Continue Trial Date and all Related Deadlines

The court considered the moving papers and declaration in opposition filed in connection with this motion.  No reply papers were filed.

Defendants Jacob Emrani and Law Offices of Jacob Emrani (“Defendants”) move the court for an order continuing (1) trial in this action, currently scheduled to begin on May 10, 2023, and (2) all related deadlines, including discovery deadlines and expert designation deadlines, to follow the new trial date.  Alternatively, Defendants request that the court shorten the time to hear Defendants’ motion for summary judgment or, alternatively, summary adjudication to April 10, 2023. 

Counsel for plaintiff Karol Vladovich (“Plaintiff Vladovich”) has submitted a declaration stating that Plaintiff Vladovich (1) is agreeable to (i) continuing the trial date to 60 days after the hearing on Defendants’ motion for summary judgment and (ii) continuing the expert designation and discovery to coordinate with the new trial date, but (2) is not agreeable to extending any other discovery beyond the discovery cut-off date.  (Plummer Decl., ¶ 3.)

The court finds good cause to grant Defendants’ motion to continue the trial and related discovery cut-off dates in this action because Defendants have presented evidence showing that (1) a significant, unanticipated change in the status of the case as a result of which the case is not ready for trial exists since Defendants have filed a motion for summary judgment, or alternatively, summary adjudication, which is scheduled for hearing after trial; (2) Plaintiff Vladovich has agreed to a continuance; and (3) the interests of justice are best served by a continuance to allow Defendants’ motion to be heard before trial.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 3.1332, subds. (c)(7), (d)(10), (d)(11); Osbore Decl., ¶ 5; Plummer Decl., ¶ 3.)

The court therefore grants defendants Jacob Emrani and Law Office of Jacob Emrani’s motion to continue trial and all related deadlines.  The court orders:

1.     The trial in this action is continued from May 10, 2023, to January 31, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., in Department 53.

2.     The Final Status Conference is continued from April 28, 2023, to January 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., in Department 53.

3.     All discovery cut-off and discovery motion cut-off dates, and deadlines for the exchange of information concerning expert trial witnesses shall be based on the new trial date.

4.     The parties and their counsel shall hold a meeting, conference call, or videoconference to discuss and try to settle all issues in the case no later than December 22, 2023.

The court orders defendants Jacob Emrani and Law Office of Jacob Emrani to give notice of this ruling.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:  March 14, 2023

_____________________________

Robert B. Broadbelt III

Judge of the Superior Court