Judge: Lynne M. Hobbs, Case: 24STCV28237, Date: 2025-04-11 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV28237    Hearing Date: April 11, 2025    Dept: 61

BONNIE REYES vs SARAYA USA, INC.

Tentative

I. PRO HAC VICE

“A person who is not a member of the State Bar of California but who is a member in good standing of and eligible to practice before the bar of any United States court or the highest court in any state . . . and who has been retained to appear in a particular cause pending in a court of this state, may in the discretion of such court be permitted upon written application to appear as counsel pro hac vice, provided that an active member of the State Bar of California is associated as attorney of record.” (Cal. Rules of Court (“CRC”) Rule 9.40(a).) An applicant may not be a resident of the State of California, regularly employed in the State of California, or regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities in the State of California. (CRC 9.40(a)(1–3.)

“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 by mail in accordance with Code of Civil Procedure section 1013a of a copy of the application and of the notice of hearing of the application on all parties who have appeared in the cause and on the State Bar of California at its San Francisco office.” (CRC 9.40(c)(1).) Notice must be given sixteen days before the hearing.

“The application must state; (1) The applicant's residence and office address; (2) The courts to which the applicant has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission; (3) That the applicant is a member in good standing in those courts; (4) That the applicant is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; (5) The title of 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, the date of each application, and whether or not it was granted; and (6) The name, address, and telephone number of the active member of the State Bar of California who is attorney of record.” (CRC 9.40(d)(1–6.) Additionally, a $50 must be paid to the California Bar. (CRC 9.40(e).)

Defendant Saraya USA, Inc. applies to admit attorneys Stephanie H. Chipley and Juliette P. White, as counsel pro hac vice. Both applicants are residents of Salt Lake City with their offices in Salt Lake city, and both admitted to the State Bar of Utah. (Chipley Decl. ¶¶ 1–3; White Decl. ¶¶ 1–3.) Neither are suspended or disbarred in any court. (Chipley Decl. ¶ 6; White Decl. ¶ 5.) Chipley has been admitted as pro hac vice counsel in California within the past two years in two cases, while White has been admitted in California once within the same time, although other applications were granted in other jurisdictions. (Chipley Decl. ¶ 5; White Decl. ¶ 7.) These applications and the associated application fee have been sent to the State Bar of California. (Rothschild Decl. ¶¶ 8, 11.)

The applications are GRANTED.