Opinion ID: 1418760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Consolidation of Cases for Trial

Text: The trial court granted Weiss' motion to consolidate Weiss' case and the trustee's case for trial. The trial court denied Northwest's motion for a separate trial on the issue of fraud. Northwest contends the trial court erred in both rulings and the error prejudiced it both as to Weiss and as to Auld. ORS 11.050 provides for consolidation of actions for trial. ORS 11.060 provides for separate trials of certain claims or issues. Both statutes are substantially identical to Rule 42 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. We have not yet interpreted either statute. In interpreting Rule 42 the federal courts have held: The trial court may consolidate for purposes of convenience and economy; the trial court cannot consolidate if consolidation will lead to confusion and prejudice. We adopt these general considerations. ORS 11.060 provides that separate trials may be ordered    in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy   . Inasmuch as the trial court's rulings concern the administration of the business of the trial court, the appellate courts grant the trial courts a wide range of discretion in making such rulings. 9 Wright and Miller, Federal Practice and Procedure, § 2381-2392 (1971). We are of the opinion that the trial court acted within its range of discretion in its rulings on these subjects. We also hold the trial court did not err in its rulings concerning the manner of examination of witnesses of one plaintiff by the attorney for the other plaintiff. Likewise, the trial court did not err in denying Northwest's counsel the right in cross-examination to lead Northwest's officers called as witnesses by plaintiff. See Sinclair v. Barker, 236 Or. 599, 607-608, 390 P.2d 321 (1964).