Judge Lee S. Arian, Case Number: 22STCV29900, Date: 2024-11-12 Tentative Ruling

Judge: Lee S. Arian, Case: 22STCV29900, Date: 2024-11-12 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STCV29900 Hearing Date: November 12, 2024 Dept: 27

Hon. Lee S. Arian, Dept 27

MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL

Hearing Date: 11/12/24 at 1:30 p.m.

CASE NO./NAME: 22STCV29900 SALOMY LEE vs KEVIN ALFRDO ESPINOZA, et al.

Moving Party: Plaintiff’s Counsel Gary Dordick

Responding Party: Unopposed

Notice: Sufficient

Ruling: COURT WILL HEAR FROM PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL RE MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AND OSC RE DEFAULT.

Background

Attorney Gary Dordick represents Plaintiff. Dordick moves to be relieved as counsel, citing an irremediable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. No opposition has been filed.

Legal Standard¿

The Court has discretion to allow an attorney to withdraw, and such a motion should be granted provided that there is no prejudice to the client and it does not disrupt the orderly process of justice. (See Ramirez v. Sturdevant (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 904, 915; People v. Prince (1968) 268 Cal.App.2d 398, 403-407.)

A motion to be relieved as counsel must be made on Judicial Council Form MC-051 (Notice of Motion and Motion), MC-052 (Declaration), and MC-053 (Proposed Order). (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362, subds. (a), (c), (e).) The requisite forms must be served “on the client and on all parties that have appeared in the case.” (Cal. Rules of Court, Rule 3.1362, subd. (d).)

Analysis and Conclusion¿

Dordick has filed Judicial Council Form MC-051 (Notice of Motion and Motion), MC-052 (Declaration), and MC-053 (Proposed Order). Dordick seeks to be relieved as counsel for Plaintiff on the grounds that there has been a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship. The Court finds this to be proper grounds for withdrawal. (See Estate of Falco (1987) 188 Cal.App.3d 1004, 1014 (a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship is grounds for allowing the attorney to withdraw). Further, within the past 30 days, Plaintiff’s address was confirmed as current by counsel via phone call.

The next scheduled hearing date is an OSC re Entry of Default set for November 14, 2024. The Court hereby advances that OSC to today and will consider that OSC and hear from the parties re this motion at 1:30 p.m.