Judge: Daniel M. Crowley, Case: 23STCV27589, Date: 2024-07-30 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV27589    Hearing Date: July 30, 2024    Dept: 71

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

DEPARTMENT 71

TENTATIVE RULING

Moving Defendant Shell U.S.A, Inc.’s unopposed application for an order admitting Robert J. Flora to appear pro hac vice is granted.

          Defendant Shell U.S.A., Inc. (“Shell”) (“Moving Defendant”) applies unopposed to admit Robert J. Flora (“Flora”) to appear pro hac vice on its behalf.  (Notice Pro Hac Vice, pg. 2; CRC, Rule 9.40.)

          Background

On June 27, 2024, Moving Defendant filed the instant application for Flora to be admitted pro hac vice.  As of the date of this hearing no opposition has been filed.

Motion to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice

C.R.C., Rule 9.40(d) provides that an application to be admitted pro hac vice must state the following:

(1)   The applicant’s residence and office address;

(2)   The courts to which the applicant has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission;

(3)   That the applicant is a licensee in good standing in those courts; 

(4)   That the applicant is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; 

(5)   The title of each court and cause in which the applicant has filed an application to appear as counsel¿pro hac vice¿in this state in the preceding two years, the date of each application, and whether or not it was granted; and

(6)   The name, address, and telephone number of the active licensee of the State Bar of California who is attorney of record.

C.R.C., Rule 9.40(e) provides as follows, “[a]n applicant for permission to appear as counsel pro hac vice under this rule must pay a reasonable fee not exceeding $50 to the State Bar of California with the copy of the application and the notice of hearing that is served on the State Bar.”

Moving Defendant’s application on behalf of Flora provides the information required by C.R.C., Rule 9.40(d).  Moving Defendant submitted proof that the $50.00 fee was paid to the State Bar of California.  (C.R.C., Rule 9.40(e); Decl. of Flora ¶9, Exh. A.)  Moving Defendant submitted proof of service on the State Bar of California via its online portal.  (C.R.C., Rule 9.40(c)(1); Decl. of Flora ¶9, Exh. A.)

Moving Defendant has provided this Court with Flora’s bar number in Texas (Bar No. 07157550). While this requirement is not enumerated in C.R.C., Rule 9.40, the Court needs this number to enter Flora’s application into the Court’s system.

Accordingly, Moving Defendants’ unopposed motion for an order admitting Fain to appear pro hac vice is granted.

Moving Party to give notice.

Dated:  July _____, 2024