Section 68616 Of Article 5. The Trial Court Delay Reduction Act From California Government Code >> Title 8. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 5.
68616
. Delay reduction rules shall not require shorter time periods
than as follows:
(a) Service of the complaint within 60 days after filing.
Exceptions, for longer periods of time, (1) may be granted as
authorized by local rule, and (2) shall be granted on a showing that
service could not reasonably be achieved within the time required
with the exercise of due diligence, consistent with the amount in
controversy.
(b) Service of responsive pleadings within 30 days after service
of the complaint. The parties may stipulate to an additional 15 days.
Exceptions, for longer periods of time, may be granted as authorized
by local rule.
(c) Time for service of notice or other paper under Sections 1005
and 1013 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and time to plead after
service of summons under Section 412.20 of the Code of Civil
Procedure, shall not be shortened, except as provided in those
sections.
(d) Within 30 days of service of the responsive pleadings, the
parties may, by stipulation filed with the court, agree to a single
continuance not to exceed 30 days.
It is the intent of the Legislature that these stipulations not
detract from the efforts of the courts to comply with standards of
timely disposition. To this extent, the Judicial Council shall
develop statistics that distinguish between cases involving, and not
involving, these stipulations.
(e) A status conference, or similar event, other than a challenge
to the jurisdiction of the court, shall not be required to be
conducted sooner than 30 days after service of the first responsive
pleadings, or 30 days after expiration of a stipulated continuance,
if any, pursuant to subdivision (d).
(f) Title 4 (commencing with Section 2016.010) of Part 4 of the
Code of Civil Procedure shall govern discovery, except in arbitration
proceedings.
(g) A case shall not be referred to arbitration prior to 210 days
after the filing of the complaint, exclusive of the stipulated period
provided for in subdivision (d). Any rule adopted pursuant to this
article shall not contravene Sections 638 and 639 of the Code of
Civil Procedure.
(h) Unnamed (DOE) defendants shall not be dismissed or severed
prior to the conclusion of the introduction of evidence at trial,
except upon stipulation or motion of the parties.