Judge: Elaine Lu, Case: 22STCV35339, Date: 2023-04-17 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV35339    Hearing Date: April 17, 2023    Dept: 26

 

 

 

 

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

Department 26

 

DIGITALBRIDGE GROUP, INC. (F/K/A COLONY CAPITAL, INC.); and DIGITALBRIDGE OPERATING COMPANY, LLC (F/K/A COLONY CAPITAL OPERATING COMPANY, LLC),

                        Plaintiffs,

            v.

 

XL SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY; FREEDOM SPECIALTY INSURANCE CO.; CONTINENTAL CASUALTY CO.; TWIN CITY FIRE INSURANCE CO.; ENDURANCE SPECIALTY INSURANCE LTD.; EVEREST NATIONAL INSURANCE CO.; XL SPECIALTY INSURANCE CO.; CHUBB BERMUDA INSURANCE LTD.; STARR INDEMNITY & LIABILITY CO.; GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE CO.; et al.,

                        Defendants.

 

  Case No.:  22STCV35339

 

  Hearing Date:  April 17, 2023

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER RE:

APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER PERMITTING SCOTT SCHECHTER AS COUNSEL PRO HAC VICE

 

 

Scott Schechter (“Schechter”) applies as counsel pro hac vice for Defendant Great American Insurance Co.  The application is unopposed.

Under California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40, attorneys licensed and in good standing in other states may, upon the California court’s approval, appear as counsel pro hac vice in a pending case if an active member of the state bar is associated as attorney of record.  (CRC 9.40(a).)  Schechter is an active member, in good standing, of “the State Bar of New York since April 1994 and [has] been a member of good standing of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York since December 1994; the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York since January 1995; and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York since February 1995.”  (Schechter Decl. ¶ 3.)  In addition, Schechter states that he is not a resident of California or regularly engaged in business in California and is a resident of New York with an office in Pound Ridge, New York.  (Schechter Decl. ¶¶ 1, 4.)  Schechter states that states that, within the last two years, he has not applied to be admitted pro hac vice in California.  (Schechter Decl. ¶ 4.) Thus, Counsel satisfies the eligibility requirements of CRC 9.40(a).

Schechter’s application successfully addresses all six content requirements outlined in CRC 9.40(d).  Specifically, Schechter provides in his application: (1) his residence and office address (Schechter Decl. ¶ 1); (2) the courts to which Schechter has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission (Schechter Decl. ¶ 3); (3) that Schechter is a member in good standing in those courts (Schechter Decl. ¶ 3); (4) that he is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court (Schechter Decl. ¶ 3); (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, and whether or not it was granted if any (Schechter Decl. ¶ 4); and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of an active member, Joshua Shayne of the State Bar of California who is the current counsel of record for Defendant Great American Insurance Co.  (Schechter Decl. ¶ 5).

Furthermore, Schechter demonstrates that he has meet the requirement of CRC 9.40(c)(1). That rule provides: “a person desiring to appear as counsel pro hac vice in a superior court must file with the court a verified application together with proof of service . . . of a copy of the application and of the notice on all parties who have appeared in the cause and on the State Bar of California at its San Francisco office.”  (See Shayne Decl. ¶ 4.)

 

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

The application of Scott Schechter to appear as counsel pro hac vice for Defendant Great American Insurance Co. is GRANTED.

Moving Party is to give notice and file a proof of service of such.

 

DATED: April 17, 2023                                                         ___________________________

                                                                                    Elaine Lu

                                                                                    Judge of the Superior Court