Judge: Jon R. Takasugi, Case: 23STCV15242, Date: 2023-10-19 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 23STCV15242    Hearing Date: April 2, 2024    Dept: 17

Superior Court of California

County of Los Angeles

DEPARTMENT 17

            Attorney Michelle M. Sloss’s Application to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Plaintiff Redwood Liquidating Co. is GRANTED.

            On June 20, 2023, Plaintiff Redwood Liquidating Co. (Plaintiff) filed suit against Defendant Paul Hastings LLP (Defendant) and DOES 1-20 alleging legal malpractice.

            Michelle M. Sloss seeks an order permitting her to appear as counsel pro hac vice on Plaintiff’s behalf in this action.

Legal Standard

California Rules of Court 9.40 provides that an attorney in good standing in another jurisdiction may apply to appear pro hac vice in this State by way of written application upon notice by mail to all interested parties, as well as service on the State Bar in San Francisco with payment of a $50.00 fee, so long as that attorney is not a resident of California, does not work in California, and does not perform regular or substantial business, professional, or other activities in the State. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.40.)¿ 

The written application must provide the following information: (1) applicant attorney’s residence and office addresses; (2) the courts to which the applicant attorney has been admitted and dates of admission; (3) representation that the attorney applicant is a member in good standing in the courts of admission and is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; (4) the title of each court and action in which the applicant attorney has appeared pro hac vice in this State in the preceding two years, if any; and (5) the name, address, and telephone number of the active California State Bar member who is counsel of record in the local action.¿ (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d).)¿ 

Discussion

            This Application is made on the grounds that Michelle M. Sloss is a member of the New York bar and meets the conditions for admission in this case as counsel pro hac vice.

            Sloss’s Application indicates that she has been admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York since May 3, 2022 and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York since May 18, 2022. (Sloss Decl. ¶ 3.) Furthermore, Sloss declares she is a member in good standing with the New York State Bar and never been suspended or disbarred in any court. (Id. ¶¶ 3-4.) Sloss also declares that in the past two years she has not applied to appear and have not appeared, as pro hac vice counsel in a California Court. (Id. ¶ 7.) Moreover, Sloss provides her residential and office addresses, and telephone number. (Id. ¶¶ 5-6.) Similarly, Sloss provides the address and telephone number for Michael E. Papas of Lesnick Prince & Pappas LLP, who is the active California State Bar member who is counsel of record in this action. (Id.) Additionally, the proof of service attached to the application indicates that all interest parties and the California State Bar in San Francisco were provided notice. Lastly, Pappas declares that Sloss paid the $50.00 fee to the California State Bar for this application. (Pappas Decl. ¶ 4.)

            The Court finds that Michelle M. Sloss’s application complies with the requirements of California Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d).

            In light of the foregoing, the application to appear pro hac vice is GRANTED. 

Dated:  April 2, 2024

Hon. Jon R. Takasugi

Judge of the Superior Court

Parties who intend to submit on this tentative must send an email to the court at smcdept17@lacourt.org by 4 p.m. the day prior as directed by the instructions provided on the court website at www.lacourt.org.  If a party submits on the tentative, the party’s email must include the case number and must identify the party submitting on the tentative.  If all parties to a motion submit, the court will adopt this tentative as the final order.  If the department does not receive an email indicating the parties are submitting on the tentative and there are no appearances at the hearing, the motion may be placed off calendar.  For more information, please contact the court clerk at (213) 633-0517.