On March 24, the San Francisco Superior Court issued an Order halting almost all eviction trials for 90 days, until June 19, 2020. The sole exception is unlawful detainer cases resulting from violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues.
The Order states:
All actions in unlawful detainer cases, including trials, motions, discovery, and ex parte applications, with the exception of unlawful detainer cases resulting from violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues, are stayed for 90 days, until June 19, 2020. Parties in all matters that are not stayed may appear by telephone. Telephone appearances must be arranged through Court Call by calling 1-888-88-COURT. All unlawful detainer filings will continue to be processed as they are submitted for filing. The period from March 18, through April 15, 2020 is deemed a holiday for purposes of computing time under Code of Civil Procedure section 1167, with the exception of unlawful detainer cases resulting from violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues.
The hearing dates for all law and motion matters in unlawful detainer cases will be continued by the Court to a date after June 19, 2020 on a rolling basis.
All new motions filed in unlawful detainer cases will be assigned a hearing date on or after June 22, 2020.
The hearing dates for all law and motion matters in civil cases ( excluding unlawful
detainers) will be continued by the Court at least 90 days out from the existing hearing date on the rolling basis.
Trials and Mandatory Settlement Conferences in unlawful detainer cases will be continued for at least 90 days on a rolling basis, with the exceptiori of unlawful detainer cases resulting from violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues. Jury trials in unlawful detainer cases resulting from violence, threats of violence, or health and safety issues may be continued for a week on a rolling basis based on availability of jurors.
The dates to conduct discovery in all unlawful detainer cases remain in accordance with the original trial date.
The full Order can be viewed here.
More information regarding the court’s responses to COVID-19 can be found here.
This Order adds to the tenant protections put in place by the Mayor and the Sheriff.