Judge: Stephen I. Goorvitch, Case: 20STCV24017, Date: 2022-09-30 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV24017    Hearing Date: September 30, 2022    Dept: 39

Lucky Holiday Travel v. Jerry Mao, et al., Case No. 20STCV24017

Defendants seek a continuance of the final status conference date (January 27, 2023) and the trial date (February 7, 2023) due to the purported unavailability of counsel.  The parties previously filed a stipulation in which Plaintiff’s counsel represented that he was unavailable from January 9 to January 20, 2023, and from January 26 to January 31, 2023.  Therefore, the Court advances the final status conference to January 25, 2023, at 8:30 a.m., to accommodate this conflict.

However, the ex parte application to continue trial is denied.  Defendants’ counsel states that he has a trial starting on January 27, 2023, which is expected to last five days.  This trial will start on February 7, 2023.  There should be no conflict.  Regardless, if Defendants’ counsel’s trial lasts longer than expected—assuming that case does not settle—the Court will trail or continue the instant case.

Based upon the foregoing, the Court orders as follows:

1.       The Court advances the final status conference to January 25, 2023, at 8:30 a.m.  The Court orders the parties to file a joint witness list, a joint exhibit list, and any deposition designations/counter-designations—prepared in accordance with the courtroom procedures for Department #39—on or before January 18, 2023.

2.       The Court denies Defendants’ ex parte application for a trial continuance.

3.       Defendants’ counsel shall provide notice and file proof of such with the Court.