Judge: Robert B. Broadbelt, Case: 21STCV34332, Date: 2023-02-23 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV34332    Hearing Date: February 23, 2023    Dept: 53

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles – Central District

Department 53

MOVING PARTY:                Plaintiff Anchor General Insurance Company

RESPONDING PARTY:       Unopposed

Motion to Continue Trial and Related Pre-Trial Dates

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

Plaintiff Anchor General Insurance Company (“Plaintiff”) moves the court for an order continuing (1) trial in this action, currently scheduled to begin on August 30, 2023, and (2) all related pre-trial dates, including discovery cutoff dates.

The court finds good cause to grant Plaintiff’s motion to continue the trial and related discovery cutoff dates in this action because Plaintiff has presented evidence establishing that (1) an unanticipated change in the status of the case as a result of which the case is not ready for trial exists since Plaintiff has filed a motion to compel further discovery that is set for hearing after trial; (2) the parties will not be unduly prejudiced by the continuance; and (3) the interests of justice are best served by a continuance so that Plaintiff has an opportunity to have its discovery motion heard.  (Cal. Rules of Ct., rule 3.1332, subds. (c)(7), (d)(5), (d)(10), (d)(11); Solis Decl., ¶¶ 5-10, 12.)

The court therefore grants plaintiff Anchor General Insurance Company’s motion to continue trial and all related pre-trial dates.  The court orders:

1.  The trial in this action is continued from August 30, 2023, to May 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., in Department 53. 

2.  The Final Status Conference is continued from August 18, 2023, to April 6, 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 court exercises its discretion to advance the hearing date on the motion to compel defendant Quincy Lee King to Provide Further Responses to Requests for Admissions, filed on July 13, 2022 by plaintiff Anchor General Insurance Company, to August 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

5.  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 plaintiff Anchor General Insurance Company to give notice of this ruling.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED:  February 23, 2023

_____________________________

Robert B. Broadbelt III

Judge of the Superior Court