Hi Cal,
May I know your source of who requested the oral hearing? As to my digging and understanding, it was LAC who requested the oral hearing on 8-11-2022 as the court file shows in the link below.
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59247337/271/bartell-ranch-llc-v-mccullough/
If you have any other souce of it, please share it with us. I truly wish it was the opponents who filed the oral hearing request since I believe this request implies the proposer's lack of confidence in their written reply and their wish of further chance to express any of their opinions not fully expressed or show any latest materials not included in the written reply.
Thanks,
Adam