42.02 Separate trials

Here's a plain English summary:

A judge can split a case into separate trials instead of handling everything at once. This might happen when a case has multiple claims or issues, and dealing with them all together would be confusing, unfair, or slow things down.

The judge will order separate trials if doing so makes the case easier to manage, protects a party from being treated unfairly, or saves time and money. This can apply to any type of claim in the case, including the main claim, a counterclaim, a cross-claim between defendants, or a third-party claim brought in by someone new to the case.

For people involved in a lawsuit, this means the judge has the power to break a complicated case into smaller pieces. Each piece gets its own trial, focusing on specific issues or claims one at a time. This can make a confusing case easier to understand and can speed up getting a final decision on at least part of the dispute.