Judge: Elaine Lu, Case: 22STCV40467, Date: 2023-04-26 Tentative Ruling





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Case Number: 22STCV40467    Hearing Date: April 26, 2023    Dept: 26

 

 

 

 

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

Department 26

 

JOHN KLR1-B DOE; JOHN DA2-B DOE; JOHN JR3-B DOE; JANE EV4-B DOE; JOHN EL5-B DOE; JOHN JM6-B DOE; JOHN PE7-B DOE; JANE HH8-B DOE; JOHN KR9-B DOE; JOHN CM10-B DOE; and JOHN JC11-B DOE,

                        Plaintiffs,

            v.

 

DOE 1, a governmental entity; DOE 2, an individual; DOE 3, an individual; DOE 4, an individual; DOE 5, an individual; DOE 6, an individual; DOE 7, an individual; DOE 8, an individual; DOE 9, an individual; DOE 10, an individual; et al.,

                        Defendants.

 

  Case No.:  22STCV40467

 

  Hearing Date:  April 26, 2023

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER RE:

APPLICATIONS FOR AN ORDER PERMITTING ANDY RUBENSTEIN, ESQ AND RACHAL GARCIA ROSAS, ESQ. AS COUNSEL PRO HAC VICE

 

 

On April 5, 2023, Andy Rubenstein, Esq. (“Rubenstein”) and Rachal Garcia Rosas, Esq. (“Rosas”) have each applied to appear as counsel pro hac vice for Plaintiffs.  The applications are 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).)  

Rubenstein is an active member, in good standing, of the State Bar of Texas, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. (Rubenstein Decl. ¶¶ 4-6.)  In addition, Rubenstein states that he is not a resident of California nor regularly engaged in business in California.  Rubenstein is a resident of Houston, Texas with an office in Houston, Texas.  (Rubenstein Decl. ¶¶ 1, 2.)  Rubenstein states that states that within the last two years, he has applied for pro hac vice admission in California in:

A.    22STCV29220 – Jane Doe 1, et al. v. Iglesia Del Dios Vivo Columna Y Apoyo De La Verdad, et al.

Submitted on January 6, 2023 and Granted February 7, 2023

B.    22STCV40512 – Jane Doe 6, et al. v. Doe Church, et. al.

Submitted on February 28, 2023 and Granted March 28, 2023

C.    Relating to Lead Case: 19STCV04543 – John Doe 1, et al. v. Dennis A. Kelly, M.D., et al.;   19STCV13881 – John Doe 1, et al. v. Dennis A. Kelly, M.D., et al.;  20STCV49504 – John Doe 1, et al v. Dennis A. Kelly, M.D., et al.

Submitted on May 25, 2021 and granted on June 21, 2021

D.    22STCV40418 – John VB1-A Doe, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al.

Submitted on March 6, 2023 and currently pending.

Thus, Rubenstein satisfies the eligibility requirements of CRC 9.40(a).

Rubenstein’s application successfully addresses all six content requirements outlined in CRC 9.40(d).  Specifically, Rubenstein provides in his application: (1) his residence and office address (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 1); (2) the courts to which Rubenstein has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 4); (3) that Rubenstein is a member in good standing in those courts (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 5); (4) that he is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 6); (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 (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 7); and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of an active member, Thomas A. Cifarelli of the State Bar of California who is the current counsel of record for Plaintiffs.  (Rubenstein Decl. ¶ 8).

Furthermore, Rubenstein demonstrates that he has met 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 Cifarelli Decl. ¶ 3.)

Rosas is an active member, in good standing, of the State Bar of Texas, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.  (Rosas Decl. ¶ 4-6.)  In addition, Rosas states that she is not a resident of California or regularly engaged in business in California and is a resident of resident of Houston, Texas with an office in Houston, Texas.  (Rosas Decl. ¶¶ 1-2.)  Rosas states that, within the last two years, she has applied to be admitted pro hac vice in California in 22STCV40418 – John VB1-A Doe, et al. v. County of Los Angeles, et al. which she submitted on March 6, 2023 and is still pending.  (Rosas Decl. ¶ 7.)  Thus, Rosas satisfies the eligibility requirements of CRC 9.40(a).

Rosas’s application successfully addresses all six content requirements outlined in CRC 9.40(d).  Specifically, Rosas provides in her application: (1) her residence and office address (Rosas Decl. ¶ 1); (2) the courts to which Rosas has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission (Rosas Decl. ¶ 4); (3) that Rosas is a member in good standing in those courts (Rosas Decl. ¶ 5); (4) that she is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court (Rosas Decl. ¶ 6); (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 (Rosas Decl. ¶ 7); and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of an active member, Thomas A. Cifarelli of the State Bar of California who is the current counsel of record for Plaintiffs.  (Rosas Decl. ¶ 8).

Furthermore, Rosas demonstrates that she has met 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 Cifarelli Decl. ¶ 3.)

 

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

The applications of Andy Rubenstein, Esq. and Rachal Garcia Rosas, Esq. to appear as counsel pro hac vice for Plaintiffs are GRANTED.

Moving Parties are to give notice and file proof of service of such.

 

DATED: April 26, 2023                                                         ___________________________

                                                                                    Elaine Lu

                                                                                    Judge of the Superior Court