LASC: SUPERIOR COURT OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY TO LAUNCH INNOVATIVE PATHWAY PILOT FOR EXPEDITING PERSONAL INJURY (MOTOR VEHICLE) CASES IN SELECT DISTRICTS, REDUCING COSTS AND DELAYS FOR COURT USERS

The Pathway Pilot Will Launch on Nov. 12 in the East District at the Pomona Courthouse South and West Covina Courthouse and the Northwest District at the Van Nuys Courthouse East and Van Nuys Courthouse West

The Superior Court of Los Angeles County will launch a Pathway Pilot Program (Pathway Pilot) for processing unlimited civil personal injury (motor vehicle) cases filed on or after Nov. 12 in the Court’s East and Northwest Districts to ease a backlog of unlimited civil filings as part of the Court’s core mission to resolve cases in a fair, timely and efficient manner, Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner announced today.

“Research has shown us for years that a pathway approach to caseflow management affords litigants fair and prompt resolution of their disputes without needless delay and cost,” Presiding Judge Jessner said. “Establishing a Pathway Pilot in the Civil Division to tackle an unprecedented backlog of unlimited civil case filings is the latest example of the Court’s innovative and expansive efforts to streamline case processing and promote timely access to justice.”

General Order 2024-GEN-013-00 will establish in motor vehicle cases involving personal injury and/or property damage a pathway with predictable and firm deadlines based on existing Rules of Court. These deadlines will enable attorneys and litigants to move cases expeditiously toward resolution with fewer court appearances. The pathway approach to caseflow management bolsters transparency and predictability for meeting important deadlines while keeping costs reasonable and promoting effective decision-making by all parties. Attorneys will save time with fewer court appearances, encountering fewer delays in getting to trial, and be able to rely on a firm set of dates, minimizing uncertainty. Each case will be conveniently assigned to one judge for all purposes, including trial.

As the largest trial court in the nation, the Court is setting the bar for caseflow management in its response to a steady rise in civil case filings. Since 2008, the Court has experienced a 48% increase in annual unlimited civil filings. In the last decade, unlimited civil caseloads have nearly doubled from a court-wide average of 443 cases per unlimited civil department in December 2014 to 847 in December 2023. In fact, these caseloads have increased by 9% just in the last six months.

The pilot will launch in the East and Northwest Districts, in the following courthouses and departments:

• Pomona Courthouse South: Departments G, H, L and O.
• West Covina Courthouse: Department 6.
• Van Nuys Courthouse East: Departments A, B, T, U and W.
• Van Nuys Courthouse West: Departments O and 107.

Cases assigned to the pathway must adhere to a litigation schedule with the following firm and predictable dates set at the outset of a case:

• Proof of Service of the Summons and Complaint: Must be filed within 60 calendar days of fling the complaint as required by the California Rules of Court.
• Case Management Statement: Must be completed and filed no later than 15 calendar days prior to the case management conference as required by the California Rules of Court.
• Case Management Conference/Order to Show Cause Hearing: Scheduled 120 calendar days after filing date. Appearance at the Case Management Conference will not be required if the preceding two deadlines have been met.
• Required Filing of Post Mediation Joint Report: Deadline set 60 days before trial date.
• Final Status Conference: Scheduled approximately 10 court days before trial date.
• Trial: Scheduled approximately 14 months after filing date.

All cases subject to the Pathway Pilot will be referred to the Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Office. Attorneys or parties will be provided with a range of low-cost or no-cost ADR resources, including access to the Court’s new Mediation Volunteer Panel (MVP), made up of expert mediators who volunteer three hours of their time to conduct a free mediation.

Following the launch of the pilot, the Court will collect and analyze data on the success of moving cases through the pathway program toward resolution to determine how well the program is working.

For more information on the Court’s current programs and services, follow the Court on X (@LASuperiorCourt), Instagram (@LASuperiorCourt), Threads (@LASuperiorCourt), or visit the Court’s website, www.LACourt.org.

You can view the full notice here.