Judge: Theresa M. Traber, Case: 24STCV05150, Date: 2024-09-19 Tentative Ruling

Case Number: 24STCV05150    Hearing Date: September 19, 2024    Dept: 47

Tentative Ruling

Judge Theresa M. Traber, Department 47

HEARING DATE:     September 19, 2024               TRIAL DATE: NOT SET

CASE:                         Iulia Robinson v. Kittrich Corporation, et al.

CASE NO.:                 24STCV05150           

MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL (x2)

MOVING PARTY:               Attorney Cristina M. Saca, counsel for Defendants Kittrich Corporation and Robert Friedland.

RESPONDING PARTY(S): No response on eCourt as of 09/16/24

STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS AND/OR PROCEEDINGS:

            This is an action for employment discrimination and wrongful termination that was filed on February 29, 2024. Plaintiff alleges that she was subjected to pervasive discrimination and harassment based on her gender and medical condition which ultimately forced her to resign her position.

Attorney Cristina M. Saca, counsel for Defendants Kittrich Corporation and Robert Friedland, moves to be relieved as counsel.

TENTATIVE RULING:

Attorney Cristina M. Saca, counsel for Defendants Kittrich Corporation and Robert Friedland, moves to be relieved as counsel.

Moving counsel filed all three required forms (MC-051, -052, and -053) as to both parties and filed proof of service by mail with the Court. However, the attached declarations for both motions state that service was made on the last known address of the individual and corporate Defendants, without establishing how Moving Counsel confirmed that the addresses are current. (See MC-052 ¶ 3.) The motions therefore fail to establish that adequate notice was given on either Defendant Kittrich or Defendant Friedland that their counsel seeks to withdraw from representation.

Accordingly, Attorney Cristina M. Saca’s Motion to be Relieved as Counsel for Defendant Kittrich Corporation is DENIED.

Accordingly, Attorney Cristina M. Saca’s Motion to be Relieved as Counsel for Defendant Robert Friedland is DENIED.

This ruling is without prejudice to a procedurally compliant and properly noticed motion to be relieved as counsel. This ruling is also conditioned on Moving Counsel serving notice to all parties and filing proof of service with the Court.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated:  September 19, 2024                           ___________________________________

                                                                                    Theresa M. Traber

                                                                                    Judge of the Superior Court

            Any party may submit on the tentative ruling by contacting the courtroom via email at Smcdept47@lacourt.org by no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before the hearing. All interested parties must be copied on the email. It should be noted that if you submit on a tentative ruling the court will still conduct a hearing if any party appears. By submitting on the tentative you have, in essence, waived your right to be present at the hearing, and you should be aware that the court may not adopt the tentative, and may issue an order which modifies the tentative ruling in whole or in part.