Judge: Christian R. Gullon, Case: 23PSCV03341, Date: 2024-11-04 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23PSCV03341    Hearing Date: November 4, 2024    Dept: O

Tentative Ruling

Plaintiff’s Counsel Tina Abdolhosseini’s Motion to be Relieve as Counsel is GRANTED, effective upon [see below].

Background

This is a personal injury case.

On October 27, 2023, Plaintiff Jon Edwards and Bronda Hall filed suit against Joseph Durham and Nicole Durham-Mallory for injuries arising from a 10/27/21 motor vehicle accident.

On April 29, 2024, Defendants filed their answer.

On September 6, 2024, Bronda Hall was dismissed with prejudice.

On September 9, 2024, the instant motion was filed.

Discussion

Plaintiff’s Counsel Tina H. Abdolhosseini seeks to be relieved as counsel for Jon Edwards on the grounds that there has been a significant breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. A voluntary substitution of attorney form could not be obtained from Plaintiff Jon Edwards and Plaintiff’s Counsel “Plaintiff's Counsel is unaware of any new Counsel.” (MC-052 Form, emphasis added.) 

Here, as the case is relatively new, no substantive motions are on calendar, and all parties, including Defendants, have been served with notice of the motion,[1] the court finds good cause to grant the motion. Notwithstanding, on October 25, 2024, a ‘NOTICE OF CHANGE OF LAW FIRM ADDRESS FOR PLAINTIFFS’ was filed indicating that the “physical and mailing law firm address of the attorneys for Plaintiffs JON EDWARDS AND BRONDA HALL has changed.” Thus, it appears Plaintiff Jon Edwards (Bronda has been dismissed with prejudice) has retained new counsel, but no substitution of attorney form has been filed.

Conclusion

Based on the foregoing, the motion is GRANTED effective upon service of the court’s order upon all Plaintiffs, Defendants, and all other parties who have appeared.