Massive Modifications Are Coming to California Abstract Judgment Motions In 2025

Heads as much as all employment litigators in California – adjustments are coming to the principles governing Motions for Abstract Judgment and Abstract Adjudication come January 1, 2025.

Each plaintiffs and defendants in employment litigation typically use these motions to both win a case outright, or knock out claims (and therefore restrict disputed points), earlier than trial. 

Meeting Invoice No. 2049 was enacted by the Governor on July 15, 2024 and can amend Part 437(c) of the California Code of Civil Process efficient January 1, 2025.

Below 437(c) because it stands now, the next deadlines are in place:

• A movement for abstract judgment or abstract adjudication in a civil motion or continuing should be served and filed not less than 75 days earlier than the listening to on the movement;
• An opposition to the movement should be served and filed not less than 14 days earlier than the listening to on the movement; and
• A reply to the opposition should be served and filed not less than 5 days earlier than the listening to on the movement.

Nevertheless, the amendments will alter the statutory deadlines to the next:

• A movement for abstract judgment or abstract adjudication in a civil motion or continuing should be served and filed not less than 81 days earlier than the listening to on the movement;
• An opposition to the movement should be served and filed not less than 20 days earlier than the listening to on the movement; and
• A reply to the opposition should be served and filed not less than 11 days earlier than the listening to on the movement.

Past extending submitting deadlines, the amendments will make substantive adjustments to present legislation:

• Events can be prohibited from submitting multiple movement for abstract judgment in opposition to an hostile get together with out go away of court docket; and
• Events can be prohibited from introducing new info in a reply to an opposition to a movement for abstract judgment.

California employment attorneys ought to take heed of those adjustments come 2025, which on steadiness, might convey a optimistic change to the statutory scheme that had remained largely untouched for 20 years.