Division 4. Parties and Actions · Chapter 7. Coordination of Complex Actions · Article 4. Pretrial and Trial Rules for Complex Coordinated Actions · Adopted 2025 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceRule 3.546 lets the coordination trial judge terminate the entire coordination proceeding once its intended benefits have been achieved through settlement, remand, transfer, or other means, but requires at least 16 court days’ advance notice to all parties in pending coordinated actions and a chance to object before the order issues.
(a)Coordination trial judge may terminate proceeding
(1)The coordination trial judge may terminate any coordination proceeding when it appears that the intended benefits of coordination have been obtained by settlement of most or all coordinated actions, by remand of certain coordinated actions under rule 3.542, by transfer of certain coordinated actions to other trial courts under rule 3.543, or otherwise.
(2)Notice of intent to make an order terminating the coordination proceeding must be given to all parties to pending coordinated actions in the coordination proceeding, if any, at least 16 court days before issuing the order.
(3)Any party to a pending coordinated action in the coordination proceeding may object to the proposed termination by a written filing submitted within 10 court days after the notice is sent.
(b)Copies of order terminating coordination proceeding If the coordination trial judge issues an order terminating the coordination proceeding, the clerk of the coordination trial judge’s court must transmit a certified copy of the order to:
(1)The clerk of the court in which any coordinated action was pending when first filed; and
(2)The Chair of the Judicial Council.
Plain-English Summary
Ending a single coordinated action under Rule 3.545 is different from shutting down the coordination proceeding itself — the umbrella that holds every coordinated action together. Rule 3.546 covers that larger step. The coordination trial judge may terminate the whole proceeding once it appears that coordination has done what it set out to do, whether that came through settling most or all of the coordinated actions, remanding some of them under Rule 3.542, transferring others to different trial courts under Rule 3.543, or some other combination of events.
Because terminating the proceeding affects every case still active in it, the rule requires advance warning. The trial judge must give notice of the intent to terminate to every party in every pending coordinated action at least 16 court days before issuing the order, and any of those parties can object in writing within 10 court days after that notice goes out.
If the termination order goes forward, the clerk of the coordination trial judge’s court sends certified copies to the clerk of the court where each coordinated action was originally pending and to the Chair of the Judicial Council, closing the loop on a proceeding that may have run across multiple courts for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between terminating a coordinated action and terminating a coordination proceeding?
Rule 3.545 ends a single case within the proceeding; Rule 3.546 ends the entire coordination proceeding covering all the coordinated actions.
What triggers termination of an entire coordination proceeding?
The coordination trial judge may terminate it once the intended benefits of coordination appear to have been obtained, through settlement of most or all coordinated actions, remand, transfer, or otherwise.
How much notice do parties get before a coordination proceeding is terminated?
At least 16 court days before the trial judge issues the termination order.
Can a party object to terminating the coordination proceeding?
Yes. Any party to a pending coordinated action may file a written objection within 10 court days after the notice of intent to terminate is sent.
Who receives copies of the order terminating the proceeding?
The clerk of the court where each coordinated action was pending when first filed, and the Chair of the Judicial Council.
Amendment History
Rule 3.546 adopted effective July 1, 2025.
Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from
the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
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