Rule 1.914 Separate trials

If a case has more than one claim or issue, the judge can decide to split them up and try them separately instead of handling everything in one trial. This might happen if combining everything would confuse the jury, take too long, or unfairly hurt one side's chances at a fair hearing.

For example, if a lawsuit includes a main claim and a counterclaim, the judge could choose to hold two separate trials instead of one. The same goes for cases with multiple parties or multiple legal issues wrapped into a single case. The judge has the power to separate any of these pieces and let them move forward on their own timeline.

This rule gives judges flexibility to manage complicated cases in a way that makes sense. The goal is to keep trials fair and easier to follow, especially when combining everything into one trial could create confusion or put one party at an unfair disadvantage.