Yosef Karo

“ If there is deliberate postponement and deception on the part of the summoned party in order to avoid justice, then we can judge immediately . There are those places that have the custom that if they began the case prior to Nisan or Tishrei, then they do set a date during those months. Any place that has that custom may rely on that custom. One cannot start a case at night, but if a monetary case began during the day, they may complete it at night . ”

“ If they sat near the time of Mincha Ketanah, then they would stop .
5. When is a case considered to have begun? Once the parties have begun to set forth their claims or once the judges have wrapped themselves up . ”