a. Consolidation. When lawsuits involving a common question of law or fact are pending before the court, the court may order a joint hearing or trial of any or all of the matters at issue in the lawsuits, or it may order all the lawsuits consolidated, and it may make appropriate orders concerning proceedings to avoid unnecessary costs or delay. [ARCP 42(a)]

b. Separate trials. In furtherance of convenience or to avoid prejudice, or when separate trials will further judicial economy, the court 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, crossclaims, counterclaims, third-party claims, or issues, always preserving inviolate the right of trial by jury. [ARCP 42(b)]