What Are "Substantial Rulings" Which Terminate the Right to Automatic Substitution of Judge?

Discovery orders setting the treating physician™s testifying fee, declaring that such fees will be awarded as taxable costs, and allowing the plaintiff additional time to answer interrogatories did not relate to the merits of the case. Thus, the First District Appellate Court has held such rulings did not terminate entitlement to move for substitution of judge as a matter of right Nasrallah v. Davilla, No. 1-01-1045, 2001 WL 1609095 (1st Dist. Dec. 14, 2001).