Judge: Randy Rhodes, Case: 21CHCV00544, Date: 2023-03-17 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 21CHCV00544    Hearing Date: March 17, 2023    Dept: F51

Dept. F-51¿ 

Date: 3/17/23 

Case #21CHCV00544

MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL

Motion filed: 2/27/23 

MOVING ATTORNEY: Hameid Soleimanian (“Counsel”)

CLIENT: Defendant Sina Maher (“Defendant”) 

NOTICE: OK

RELIEF REQUESTED: An order relieving Counsel as attorney of record for Defendant. 

TENTATIVE RULING: The motion is continued. 

In a civil action, an attorney may move to be relieved as counsel at any time during the proceedings after giving notice to his client. (Code Civ. Proc. § 284.) The moving attorney shall file with his motion: (1) a notice of the motion, directed to the client using Judicial Council form MC-051; (2) a declaration in support of the motion using Judicial Council form MC-052; and (3) a proposed order granting the motion; all to be served on the client and all other parties who have appeared in the case. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362.) If the notice is served on the client by mail, the motion must also be supported by a declaration “stating facts showing that either: (A) The service address is the current residence or business address of the client; or (B) The service address is the last known residence or business address of the client and the attorney has been unable to locate a more current address after making reasonable efforts to do so within 30 days before the filing of the motion to be relieved..” (Id., subd. (d)(1).) 

In his declaration, the moving attorney is required to state “in general terms, and without compromising the confidentiality of the attorney-client relationship why a motion under Code of Civil Procedure section 284(2) is brought instead of filing a consent under Code of Civil Procedure section 284(1).” (Id., subd. (c).) The client must be provided no less than five days’ notice before hearing on the motion. An attorney may withdraw from a case when it can be accomplished without undue prejudice to the client’s interests. (Ramirez v. Sturdevant (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 904, 915.) On the other hand, if the attorney withdraws at a critical point in the action, thereby prejudicing his client, he has violated his ethical duties. (Ibid.)

Here, Counsel properly filed a notice of the motion using MC-051, a declaration in support of his motion using form MC-052, and a proposed order granting the motion. In his MC-052 declaration, Counsel cited a “breakdown communication and financial inability of client” as the reason for the instant motion. (Soleimanian Decl., ¶ 2.) The next hearing in this action is a mandatory settlement conference scheduled for 5/4/23. Therefore, Counsel’s withdrawal does not raise the risk of unduly prejudicing his client.

Counsel filed and served this motion to be relieved as counsel for Defendant on 2/27/23. Counsel served his client by mail, and has filed a declaration stating that the client’s mailing address was verified by both telephone and conversation. (Decl. of Hameid Soleimanian, ¶ 3b.) Counsel also filed a proof of service showing that the requisite documents were served on both Plaintiff’s counsel and Defendant on 2/22/23. However, it appears that counsel has not served all parties who have appeared in the case, as his proof of service does not show service on co-defendant Wesco Insurance Company.

Accordingly, and Counsel’s motion to be relieved as counsel for defendant Sina Maher is continued pending service on all parties who have appeared in the action. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362.)