Judge: Ronald F. Frank, Case: BC714139, Date: 2023-01-20 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: BC714139    Hearing Date: January 20, 2023    Dept: 8

Tentative Ruling on Ex Parte Application for Friday, January 20, 2023

BC714139 MATTHEW PALMER VS ELEVON RETAIL ASSOCIATION ET AL

                This is an application to continue the trial, and the tentative is to GRANT, WITH CONDITIONS. 

This case is nearing its five-year anniversary.  Regardless of what has happened in other courts that have seen this matter, the case is assigned to Inglewood Dept. 8 (IW-8) for the remaining proceedings and trial.  The Court is NOT inclined to continue all discovery proceedings predicated on the proposed new trial date, but rather to cut off discovery sooner and to facilitate an earlier exchange of experts.  The Court will grant the continuance on the following conditions, to be discussed at the hearing:

1.       Mutual Demand for exchange of expert witness information deemed made as of 3/15/23;

2.       Discovery other than expert discovery shall be completed no later than 4/30/23;

3.       Expert discovery shall be completed no later than 5/26/23;

4.       Post-mediation status conference set for 5/31/23, 8:30 a.m., Dept. IW-8;

5.       Final Status conference to be set for 6/15/23, 9:30 a.m., Dept. IW-8;

6.       The Dept. IW-8 Courtroom Information page on the Court’s website will govern the requirements for FSC, motions in limine, and trial, notwithstanding any previous trial scheduling order, and also governs the Court’s availability and encouragement of Informal Discovery Conferences;

7.       Trial to commence 7/3/23, 9:30 a.m., Dept. IW-8, with hearings on motions in limine and completion of activities not completed at FSC.  The Court intends to call in a panel of prospective jurors at 10:30 a.m. on 7/5/23;

8.       No further trial date continuance motions shall be made, absent life and death circumstances; and

9.       If the parties stipulate to extend any of the discovery completion / cut-off dates set by this Order, such agreements shall be self-enforcing only, as the Court will not enforce such an agreement in conflict with this Order.