Beverly Union Co. v. Superior Court

On January 1, 1988, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County began operation of its pilot project mandated by the Trial Court Delay Reduction Act of 1986 (Gov. Code, § 68600 et seq.), under local rules of court promulgated under authority conferred by statute. (Gov. Code, § 68612.) Petitioner’s Code of Civil Procedure section 170.6 challenge to the pilot project judge was stricken as untimely under these local rules. Petitioner seeks a writ, contending it was unaware the action had been assigned to the pilot project because the trial court had not sent it notice of the assignment.

Petitioner commenced the action in the superior court by filing a complaint on August 13, 1982. The action was docketed as No. C 421635. Defendants cross-complained against petitioner on December 17, 1982.

On or about October 15, 1987, the Superior Court of Los Angeles County published rules of court implementing the exemplary delay reduction program mandated by the act. The court also announced the assignment to this pilot project of all odd-numbered cases pending in the central district. Twenty-five judges were named as pilot project judges, with designated groups of cases assigned to each…