Judge: Elaine Lu, Case: 23STCV20669, Date: 2024-02-28 Tentative Ruling





1. If you wish to submit on the tentative ruling,
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Include the word "SUBMISSION" in all caps in the
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tentative and elect not to appear at the hearing, the opposing party may
nevertheless appear at the hearing and argue the motion, and the Court may
decide not to adopt the tentative ruling.




2. 
For any motion where no parties submit to the tentative ruling in
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4. IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT
PHYSICAL DISTANCING GOING FORWARD AND UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, THE COURT STRONGLY
ENCOURAGES ALL COUNSEL AND ALL PARTIES TO APPEAR TELEPHONICALLY FOR NON-TRIAL
AND NON-EVIDENTIARY MATTERS. 
Thus, until further
notice, Department 26 strongly encourages telephonic appearances for motion
hearings that do not require the presentation of live testimony.




 







Case Number: 23STCV20669    Hearing Date: February 28, 2024    Dept: 26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

Department 26

 

ALEXUS KITCHENS,

                        Plaintiff,

            v.

 

THE HERTZ CORPORATION, WAYNE (LAST NAME UNKNOWN); et al.,

                        Defendants.

 

  Case No.:  23STCV20669

 

  Hearing Date:  February 28, 2024

 

[TENTATIVE] ORDER RE:

APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER PERMITTING BRITTANY M. FALKOWSKI AS COUNSEL PRO HAC VICE

 

 

Brittany M. Falkowski (“Falkowski”) applies as counsel pro hac vice for Defendant The Hertz Corporation.  The application is unopposed.

Under CRC 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).)  Falkowski is an active member, in good standing, of the Supreme Court of Missouri, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Supreme Court of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.  (Falkowski Decl. ¶¶ 4-5.)  In addition, Falkowski states that she is not a resident of California or regularly engaged in business in California and is a resident of St. Louis, Missouri with an office in St. Louis, Missour.  (Falkowski Decl. ¶¶ 2-3, 7.)  Falkowski states that she has not applied to appear pro hac vice in an action in California in the last two years.  (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 6.)  Thus, Counsel satisfies the eligibility requirements of CRC 9.40(a).

Falkowski’s application successfully addresses all six content requirements outlined in CRC 9.40(d).  Specifically, Falkowski provides in her application: (1) her residence and office address (Falkowski Decl. ¶¶ 2-3); (2) the courts to which Falkowski has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 4); (3) that Falkowski is a member in good standing in those courts (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 4); (4) that she is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 5); (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 (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 6); and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of an active member, Allison M. Scott of the State Bar of California who is the current counsel of record for Defendant The Hertz Corporation.  (Falkowski Decl. ¶ 12).

Furthermore, Falkowski 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 Falkowski Decl. ¶ 11; Scott Decl. ¶ 6.)

 

CONCLUSION AND ORDER

The application of Brittany M. Falkowski to appear as counsel pro hac vice for Defendant The Hertz Corporation is GRANTED.

The Moving Party is ordered to provide notice of this order and file a proof of service of such.

 

DATED: February ___, 2024                                                 ___________________________

                                                                                          Elaine Lu

                                                                                          Judge of the Superior Court