Judge: Stephen I. Goorvitch, Case: 21STCV03179, Date: 2023-02-02 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV03179    Hearing Date: February 2, 2023    Dept: 39

Gillian Maduako v. Martin Luther King, Jr. Healthcare Corporation, Case No. 21STCV03179

Plaintiff filed this action on January 27, 2021.  Defendants retained new counsel, who filed a substitution of attorney form on February 21, 2022.  Trial was set for October 18, 2022, but the parties filed a stipulation to continue the trial date to January 18, 2023, which the Court granted.  Then, the parties filed another stipulation to continue the trial date to March 10, 2023, which the Court granted.  Both stipulations cited the need to complete depositions, trial preparation, and attempt to settle the case. 

Now, the parties have filed another stipulation to continue the trial date, and Defendants’ counsel has filed an ex parte application to do so.  Defendants cite the same reasons, viz., the need to complete depositions and attempt to settle the case.  Defendants’ ex parte application is granted only insofar as the Court sets the discovery deadlines based on the current trial date of April 11, 2023, which should afford the parties time to conduct discovery, participate in their mediation on February 14, 2023, and complete discovery after the mediation if the case does not settle.  The ex parte application is denied in all other respect, as there is no good cause for another continue, and the Court is not available on the requested trial date.  Currently, the Court is setting new trials for April 2024, and it is difficult to accommodate requests to set earlier trial dates due to congestion of the Court’s trial calendar. 

Based upon the foregoing, the Court grants the ex parte application to set the discovery deadlines based on the current trial date (April 11, 2023).  The ex parte application is denied in all other respects.  Defendants’ counsel shall provide notice and file proof of such with the Court.