Rule 42. Consolidation; Separate Trials.
(a) Consolidation. If actions before the court involve a common question of law or fact, the court may:
(1) join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the actions;
(2) consolidate the actions; or
(3) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay.
(b) Separate Trials. For convenience, to avoid prejudice, or to expedite and economize, the court may order a separate trial of one or more separate issues, claims, crossclaims, counterclaims, or third-party claims. When ordering a separate trial, the court must preserve any statutory or constitutional right to a jury trial.
History: En. Sup. Ct. Ord. No. AF 07-0157, April 26, 2011, eff. Oct. 1, 2011.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 20. Rules of Civil Procedure
Rule 38. Right to a Jury Trial; Demand
Rule 39. Trial by Jury or by the Court
Rule 40. Scheduling Cases for Trial
Rule 42. Consolidation; Separate Trials
Rule 44. Proving an Official Record
Rule 44.1. Determining Foreign Law
Rule 46. Objecting to a Ruling or Order
Rule 49. Special Verdicts and Interrogatories
Rule 51. Instructions to the Jury; Objections; Preserving a Claim of Error
Rule 52. Findings and Conclusions by the Court; Judgment on Partial Findings