Consolidation. Unless a party shows the party will be prejudiced thereby the court may

consolidate separate actions which involve common questions of law or fact or order a single trial of any or all issues therein. In such cases it may make such orders concerning the proceedings as tend to avoid unnecessary cost or delay. [Report 1943; amendment 1955; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]