TENTATIVE RULING

Cross-Defendant Manuela Bump-Murillo's (Bump-Murillo) motion to bifurcate is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Bump-Murillo's alternative motion to continue trial is DENIED. Bump-Murillo seeks to bifurcate Teresa Heimaster, Maurice Cornell, and Derek Barksdale dba Military Mutual of California Inc.'s (Cross-Complainants) cross-complaint against her from the main action. Bump-Murillo argues that the complaint and cross-complaint involve distinct timeframes, and by the time she came into the picture, "the damage had already been done." She also argues bifurcation will avoid unnecessary confusion, as well as save resources in the event Cross-Complainants prevail in the main action, at which point their claims for indemnity, contribution, and declaratory relief would be moot. Cross-Complainants oppose bifurcation on the ground that Bump-Murillo is an "integral party" in this matter, and the allegations against her are "intertwined" with those in the main action. They argue that t