Judge: Stephen P. Pfahler, Case: 22CHCV00377, Date: 2022-09-02 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22CHCV00377    Hearing Date: September 2, 2022    Dept: F49

Dept. F-49

Date: 9-2-22

Case #22CHCV00377

Trial Date: N/A

 

PRO HAC VICE

 

MOVING PARTY: Defendant, William Corbett, et al.

RESPONDING PARTY: Unopposed/Plaintiff, Jan Minkovich

 

RELIEF REQUESTED

Motion for Pro Hac Vice Admission

 

SUMMARY OF ACTION

On January 21, 2020, Plaintiff Jan Minkovich executed a written Executive Employment Agreement, whereby Plaintiff was to be employed as Senior Vice President of Operations and Acquisitions from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2023 for Defendant Innovative Payment Solutions, Inc. On December 18, 2020, Plaintiff alleges termination of employment by Defendant William Corbet and Innovative Payment Solutions, Inc.

 

On May 26, 2022, Plaintiff filed a complaint for Breach of Contract, Nonpayment of Wages, Waiting Time Penalties, Failure to Indemnify Expenses, Violation of Business and Professions Code section 17200, and Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy.

 

RULING: Granted

Defendants William Corbett and Innovative Payment Solutions, Inc. moves for pro hac vice admission of attorney Paul Rooney.

 

Pro hac vice admission in California is governed by California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40.  To be admitted pro hac vice, one must be “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, territory, or insular possession of the United States.”  (California Rules of Court, rule 9.40(a).)  However, in no case shall an attorney appear pro hac vice if the attorney is a resident of California, regularly employed in California, or “regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities in the State of California.”

 

An attorney seeking pro hac vice admission must file a verified application in both court and the State Bar of California establishing:

 

(1) [t]he applicant's residence and office address; (2)[t]he courts to which the applicant has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission; (3)[t]hat the applicant is a member in good standing in those courts; (4)[t]hat the applicant is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; (5)[t]he 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)[t]he name, address, and telephone number of the active member of the State Bar of California who is attorney of record.

 

(California Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d).)

 

The application complies with California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40. The subject application constitutes the third application for pro hac vice admission in the state of California. The court finds the prior number of applications does not constitute repeated appearances, and therefore a basis for denial of the application under rule 9.140(b). (See Golba v. Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc. (2015) 238 Cal.App.4th 1251, 1258.) Moving party represents proof of service the application on the State Bar of California, and as well as payment of the $50 fee. [Declaration of Owen Weaver.] The court accepts the representation of counsel.

 

The application for pro hac vice admission is granted.

 

Demurrer and motion to compel arbitration set for October 4 and November 8, 2022, respectively.

 

Plaintiff to give notice.