Rule 42 - Consolidation; Separate Trials(a) Consolidation. When actions involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, it may order a consolidated hearing or trial of any or all the matters in issue in the actions; it may order all the actions consolidated; and it may make such orders concerning proceedings therein as may tend to avoid unnecessary costs or delay. (b) Separate trials. The court, in furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will be conducive to expedition and economy, may order a separate trial of any claim, cross-claim, counterclaim, or third-party claim, or of any separate issue or of any number of claims, cross-claims, counterclaims, third-party claims, or issues. Amended July 1, 1982, effective 7/1/1982; further amended October 11, 1999, effective 1/1/2000; further amended November 20, 2014, effective 1/1/2015.