Judge: Steven A. Ellis, Case: 22STC19757, Date: 2024-04-03 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 22STC19757    Hearing Date: April 3, 2024    Dept: 29

Motion to be Relieved as Counsel, filed by Plaintiff’s Counsel Nathan Samooha.

Tentative

The motion is granted, subject to an updating of the proposed order (MC-053) to reflect a continuance ordered after this motion and the proposed order were filed.

Background

On June 16, 2022, Maria Becerra (“Plaintiff”) filed a complaint against MV Transportation, Inc., LADOT Transit, City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, and Does 1 to 100 for motor vehicle negligence and general negligence causes of action arising from bus traffic collision occurring on July 2, 2021. No Defendant has made an appearance in this matter.

On March 7, 2024, Nathan Samooha of B&D Law Group, APLC (“Counsel”) filed this motion to be relieved as counsel. No opposition has been filed.

Legal Standard

The court may order that an attorney be changed or substituted at any time before or after judgment or final determination upon request by either client or attorney and after notice from one to the other. (Code of Civ. Proc., § 284(b).) An attorney is permitted to withdraw where conflicts between the attorney and client make it unreasonable to continue the representation. (See Cal. Rules of Prof. Conduct 3-700(C)(1).) “The determination whether to grant or deny a motion to withdraw as counsel lies within the sound discretion of the trial court.” (Manfredi & Levine v. Superior Court (1998) 66 Cal.App.4th 1128, 1133.)   

An application to be relieved as counsel must be made on Judicial Counsel Form MC-051 (Notice of Motion and Motion) (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362(a)), MC-052 (Declaration) (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.136(c)), and MC-053 (Proposed Order) (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362(e)).   

Further, the requisite forms must be served on the client and all other parties who have appeared in the case. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362(d).) The court may delay effective date of the order relieving counsel until proof of service of a copy of the signed order on the client has been filed with the court. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 3.1362(e).) 

Discussion

Counsel has filed the Notice, Declaration and Order to be Relieved as Counsel. On the Declaration, Counsel states there has been a breakdown of the attorney-client relationship. Counsel has attempted to confirmed Plaintiff’s last known address by contacting Plaintiff’s aunt and conducting a TLO search. (Decl., No. 3.b.(2)(c)&(d).)  

No Defendant has made an appearance in this action. Counsel includes the hearing date on the declaration and order for OSC, however, this date was continued after this motion was filed.

The Court finds Counsel has shown good cause to be relieved as counsel due to the breakdown in attorney-client relationship.  All substantive and procedural requirements are satisfied.

Accordingly, the motion is GRANTED.

Conclusion

The motion to be relieved as counsel is GRANTED.

Moving counsel is ordered to file a revised proposed order to update the information is paragraphs 7 and 8.

The order is effective upon the filing with the Court of a proof of service showing service of the signed order (not the minute order) on the client.

Moving counsel to give notice.