Judge: Maurice A. Leiter, Case: 21STCV29162, Date: 2022-09-28 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21STCV29162    Hearing Date: September 28, 2022    Dept: 54

Hearing Date: September 28, 2022

Department 54, Judge Maurice A. Leiter

(2) Motions to Be Relieved as Counsel

Moving Party: Law Offices of Thomas F. Nowland, counsel of record for Defendants 12 0 27 Protective Services, Inc. and Cooper Hagans III

Responding Party: None

T/R:     THE MOTIONS ARE GRANTED. COUNSEL TO FILE PROOF OF SERVICE OF ORDER ON DEFENDANTS WITHIN 5 DAYS OF NOTICE OF RULING. COUNSEL WILL BE RELIEVED UPON FILING OF PROOF OF SERVICE OF ORDER.

COUNSEL TO NOTICE.

The Court considers the moving papers. No opposition has been received.

The Court may issue an order allowing an attorney to withdraw from representation, after notice to the client.  (CCP § 284.)  The attorney may withdraw from representation where the withdrawal would not result in undue prejudice to the client’s interest—that is, counsel cannot withdraw at a critical point in the litigation.  (Ramirez v. Sturdevant (1994) 21 Cal. App. 4th 904, 915; see California Rule of Professional Conduct 3-700.)

The Law Offices of Thomas F. Nowland, counsel of record for Defendants 12 0 27 Protective Services, Inc. and Cooper Hagans III, seeks to withdraw from representation of Defendants. Counsel states that Defendant have been uncooperative with counsel. Trial is set for March 20, 2023; no prejudice will result from counsel’s withdrawal. Counsel has complied with CRC 3.1362.

There is good cause for counsel’s withdrawal. The motions are GRANTED.  The Court sets an OSC re representation of corporate Defendant 12 0 27 Protective Services Inc. on October 26, 2022 at 8:30. The status conference re ADR set for October 7, 2022 is continued to October 26, 2022 at 8:30. Withdrawing counsel to give notice.