Separate trials. In any action the court may, for convenience or to avoid prejudice,

order a separate trial of any claim, counterclaim, cross-claim, cross-petition, or of any separate issue, or any number of any of them. Any claim against a party may be thus severed and proceeded with separately. [Report 1943; October 31, 1997, effective January 24, 1998; November 9, 2001, effective February 15, 2002]