Judge: Audra Mori, Case: 20STCV16349, Date: 2023-02-16 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 20STCV16349    Hearing Date: February 16, 2023    Dept: 31

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES - CENTRAL DISTRICT

Co-Plaintiff Cheuk Ying Lam’s (“Plaintiff”) attorney of record, Hesam Yazdanpanah (“Counsel”), moves to be relieved as counsel for Plaintiff.  Counsel contends relief is necessary because there has been a loss of communication with Plaintiff, as Plaintiff does not respond to Counsel’s phone calls and cannot be contacted.  Counsel has filed proof of service on Plaintiff and Defendant.  Counsel provides it has served the moving papers on Plaintiff at Plaintiff’s last known address; however, Counsel was unable to confirm Plaintiff’s address was current.  Nonetheless, Counsel filed proof of service showing it has served the moving papers on the Clerk of the Court pursuant to CCP §1011(b) and California Rules Court, rule 3.1362(d).

The motion is unopposed and granted; the ruling is effective upon filing proof of service of the final order.  The Court notes the next scheduled matter is a demurrer set for March 13, 2023, and trial is not scheduled until September 13, 2023.  To give Plaintiff time to seek other counsel or otherwise prepare to continue the litigation should they desire to do so, each will be continued for approximately 60 days.  The demurrer is continued to ____ at 1:30 p.m.; the FSC to ____ at 10:00 a.m.; trial is continued to ___ at 8:30 a.m.  The Motion to Compel scheduled for July 31, 2022, will remain set for that time.  Plaintiff is encouraged to seek other counsel expeditiously to protect Plaintiff’s interests in this matter.   

Moving Counsel is ordered to give notice. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

• Parties are encouraged to meet and confer after reading this tentative ruling to see if they can reach an agreement.
• If a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the Court at sscdept31@lacourt.org with the Subject line “SUBMIT” followed by the case number.  The body of the email must include the hearing date and time, counsel’s contact information, and the identity of the party submitting.  
• Unless all parties submit by email to this tentative ruling, the parties should arrange to appear remotely (encouraged) or in person for oral argument.  You should assume that others may appear at the hearing to argue.  
• If the parties neither submit nor appear at hearing, the Court may take the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court.  After the Court has issued a tentative ruling, the Court may prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion without leave. 

Dated this 16^th day of February 2023