This summary is not the rule. The rule text controls.
When two or more lawsuits share the same basic facts or legal issues, a judge can combine them into one case. This is called consolidation. The judge can either merge the cases fully or just have them heard together for certain parts of the process.
The point of this rule is to save time and money. If separate cases involve the same evidence, witnesses, or legal questions, it does not make sense to force everyone through the same process twice. Combining them means less repeated work for the court, the parties, and their witnesses.
The judge has a lot of freedom here. They can decide how much to combine the cases and can set up any special procedures needed to keep things running smoothly. This might mean joint hearings, shared discovery, or a single trial covering all the combined claims. The goal is always to cut down on unnecessary costs and delays for everyone involved.
