Case Number: BC608175 Hearing Date: April 02, 2018 Dept: 92

SOLOMON HELECHIE,

Plaintiff(s),

vs.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY MTA, ET AL.,

Defendant(s).

Case No.: BC608175

[TENTATIVE] ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO CONTINUE TRIAL DATE

Dept. 92

1:30 p.m.

April 2, 2018

Plaintiff, Solomon Helechie filed this action against Defendant, LACMTA for damages arising out of a fall. Plaintiff filed his complaint on 1/25/16, and the matter was originally set for trial on 7/25/17. The parties have stipulated to continue the trial date three times, and is currently scheduled for 6/19/18.

At this time, Plaintiff moves to continue the trial date for approximately three months, from 6/19/18 to 9/12/18. Of note, all parties to the action agree to the requested continuance. Plaintiff indicates two reasons for the requested continuance: first, “counsel” (unclear whether this is Plaintiff’s attorney or Defendant’s attorney) requested Plaintiff’s Medi-Cal and Medicare lien information on 2/12/18, and second, the parties wish to continue a mediation originally scheduled for 2/21/18 once the lien information is received.

The Court finds the parties’ desire to conduct a mediation constitutes “good cause” to grant the motion to continue the trial date, and the motion is granted. The Court asks the parties to treat the new trial date as firm. The Court notes that Plaintiff indicates it is “not clear” when the lien information will be provided; it is Plaintiff’s responsibility to ensure this information is provided forthwith. This is the fourth trial continuance in this case. The Court will not be inclined to continue the trial date a fifth time absent a compelling showing of good cause, which must include, at a minimum, specific information concerning efforts undertaken to obtain the necessary lien information. The 6/19/18 trial date is advanced to today’s date and continued to Wednesday, 9/12/18 at 8:30 a.m. in D-92. The 6/05/18 FSC is advanced to today’s date and continued to Wednesday, 8/29/18 at 10:00 a.m. in D-92. All discovery cut-off dates are continued to reflect the new trial date.