1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 PENSON & COMPANY, LLC, Case No. 20-cv-05174-JST
8 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 9 v. WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL AND DENYING MOTION TO STAY 10 CLOUDSTYLE STORE, et al., Re: ECF Nos. 125, 128 Defendants. 11
12 13 Yu-Hao Yao, counsel to Defendants Cloudstyle Store and Hangzhou Yun Duan Import and 14 Export Trade, Co., Ltd. (“Yun Duan”), has moved to withdraw as counsel to Defendants. ECF 15 No. 125. In addition, Defendant Yun Duan has moved to stay the Court’s prior order granting 16 Plaintiff Penson & Company, LLC’s renewed motion for assignment. ECF No. 128. For the 17 reasons set forth below, the Court will deny both motions. 18 I. BACKGROUND 19 Because the facts and procedural history of this action are well-known to the parties, the 20 Court will not elaborate them here. 21 In sum, Penson previously sought an order, under Rule 69(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of 22 Civil Procedure and California Code of Civil Procedure section 708.510(a), that any rights 23 Cloudstyle has to disbursements from the Amazon Payments account for seller ID 24 ABVOXG9QD52NV should be assigned to it. See ECF No. 107. On September 27, 2023, the 25 Court denied that motion on the ground that Penson’s evidence—“a declaration from counsel 26 based on information and belief”—had not established that Cloudstyle had any right to the 27 Amazon Payments account registered to Yun Duan. ECF No. 115 at 2 (internal quotations and 1 present evidence that Cloudstyle has a right to the funds held in the Amazon Payments account for 2 seller ID ABVOXG9QD52NV.” Id. at 3. Penson subsequently filed a renewed motion for 3 assignment, which this Court granted on November 28, 2023. ECF No. 121. 4 Yu-Hao Yao, counsel to Defendants, filed the present motion to withdraw as counsel on 5 November 30, 2023. ECF No. 125. Three days later, Defendant Yun Duan moved to stay the 6 enforcement of the Court’s November 28, 2023 order. ECF No. 128. 7 II. JURISDICTION 8 The Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. 9 III. DISCUSSION 10 A. Motion to Withdraw as Counsel 11 “Counsel may not withdraw from an action until relieved by order of Court after written 12 notice has been given reasonably in advance to the client and to all other parties who have 13 appeared in the case.” Civil Local Rule 11–5(a). Civil Local Rule 11–4(a)(1) requires compliance 14 with the standard of professional conduct required of members of the State Bar of California. See 15 also Nehad v. Mukasey, 535 F.3d 962, 970 (9th Cir. 2008) (applying California Rules of 16 Professional Conduct to attorney withdrawal). 17 “The decision to permit counsel to withdraw is within the sound discretion of the trial 18 court.” BSD, Inc. v. Equilon Enterprises, LLC, No. 10–5223 SBA, 2013 WL 942578, at *1 (N.D. 19 Cal. Mar. 11, 2013) (citing United States v. Carter, 560 F.3d 1107, 1113 (9th Cir. 2009)). 20 “Factors which courts consider in ruling on a motion to withdraw include: (1) the reasons why 21 withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to other litigants; (3) the harm 22 withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; and (4) the degree to which withdrawal 23 will delay the resolution of the case.” Riese v. Cnty. of Del Norte, 12–CV–03723–WHO, 2013 24 WL 6056606, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2013). 25 Here, Yu-Hao Yao—the only attorney who has entered an appearance on behalf of 26 Defendant Cloudstyle—seeks to withdraw as counsel of record for Defendants. Yao’s motion to 27 withdraw avers that “[t]he law firm, Glacier Law LLP, will continue to represent Defendants in 1 motion.” ECF No. 125 at 2. Penson’s counsel, however, objected to Yao’s motion, claiming that 2 their “consent was obtained by falsified statements made by [Yao].” ECF No. 130 at 1–2. 3 Specifically, Penson’s counsel states that they only agreed not to oppose Yao’s withdrawal 4 because they believed that Tianyu Ju—an attorney with Glacier, LLP who represents Yun Duan— 5 would continue to represent both Yuan Duan and Cloudstyle Store. Id. at 2. In subsequent 6 communications, however, Ju informed Penson’s counsel that Glacier, LLP would not represent 7 any entity named Cloudstyle. ECF No. 130-3 at 2. 8 Yao also has not provided the Court with any reason “why withdrawal is sought.” Riese, 9 2013 WL 6056606, at *1. Further, although it is unclear whether Glacier, LLP will continue to 10 represent Cloudstyle, the Court is cognizant that granting Yao’s withdrawal may cause prejudice 11 to other litigants, as there is a possibility that Cloudstyle will no longer have counsel.1 Finally, 12 this case is nearly resolved and granting withdrawal may “delay the resolution of the case.” Id. 13 Therefore, Yao’s motion to withdraw as counsel is denied. If another attorney from 14 Glacier, LLP enters an appearance for Cloudstyle, a notice of substitution of counsel may be filed. 15 See Civ. L.R. 5–1(c)(2)(B) (“If counsel from the same firm replace one another as the 16 representative of a client, a Notice of Substitution of Counsel must be e-filed.”). 17 B. Motion to Stay 18 The Court next turns to address Yun Duan’s motion to stay. As a threshold matter, the 19 parties dispute what legal standard should apply to the current motion. Yun Duan asserts that the 20 Court should be guided by the four-factors outlined in Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 434 (2009). 21 ECF No. 128-1 at 2. Penson, however, claims that the Nken factors only apply to requests to “stay 22 the enforcement of a judgment pending the outcome of an appeal,” Nken, 556 U.S. at 421, and that 23 Yun Duan did not appeal before filing the motion to stay. ECF No. 131 at 2. While it is true that 24 an appeal must be filed, and that Yun Duan had yet to appeal before filing its motion to stay, Yun 25 Duan filed a timely appeal on December 26, 2023. ECF No. 132. Thus, the Court will use the 26 Nken factors in resolving the present motion. 27 1 Under Nken, the Court considers four factors when evaluating whether to issue a stay: “(1) 2 whether the stay [movant] has made a strong showing that [it] is likely to succeed on the merits; 3 (2) whether the [movant] will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay 4 will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and (4) where the public 5 interest lies.” Nken, 556 U.S. at 434. “The first two factors . . . are the most critical.” Id. 6 1. Likelihood of Success on Merits 7 First, the Court examines whether the stay petitioner has made “a strong showing” that it 8 “is likely to succeed on the merits.” Id. Yun Duan argues that Penson has “fail[ed] to prove” that 9 it is entitled to the funds because it has not provided “admissible evidence.” ECF No. 128-1 at 3. 10 As the Court noted in its prior order, even if the evidence Penson provided was inadmissible, 11 “there is nothing in the text of [section] 708.510 which suggests that a showing of a right to 12 payment due or to become due may be made only upon admissible evidence.” ECF No. 121 at 2 13 (citing Legal Additions LLC v. Kowalski, No. C-08-2754 EMC, 2011 WL 3156724, at *2 (N.D. 14 Cal. July 26, 2011)). Accordingly, the emails Penson provided were “sufficient to meet the 15 ‘relatively low’ evidentiary standard of section 708.510.” Id. (quoting at Legal Additions LLC, 16 2011 WL 3156724, at *3). Yun Duan has provided no authority to the contrary, and therefore has 17 not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits on this basis.
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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 PENSON & COMPANY, LLC, Case No. 20-cv-05174-JST
8 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 9 v. WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL AND DENYING MOTION TO STAY 10 CLOUDSTYLE STORE, et al., Re: ECF Nos. 125, 128 Defendants. 11
12 13 Yu-Hao Yao, counsel to Defendants Cloudstyle Store and Hangzhou Yun Duan Import and 14 Export Trade, Co., Ltd. (“Yun Duan”), has moved to withdraw as counsel to Defendants. ECF 15 No. 125. In addition, Defendant Yun Duan has moved to stay the Court’s prior order granting 16 Plaintiff Penson & Company, LLC’s renewed motion for assignment. ECF No. 128. For the 17 reasons set forth below, the Court will deny both motions. 18 I. BACKGROUND 19 Because the facts and procedural history of this action are well-known to the parties, the 20 Court will not elaborate them here. 21 In sum, Penson previously sought an order, under Rule 69(a)(1) of the Federal Rules of 22 Civil Procedure and California Code of Civil Procedure section 708.510(a), that any rights 23 Cloudstyle has to disbursements from the Amazon Payments account for seller ID 24 ABVOXG9QD52NV should be assigned to it. See ECF No. 107. On September 27, 2023, the 25 Court denied that motion on the ground that Penson’s evidence—“a declaration from counsel 26 based on information and belief”—had not established that Cloudstyle had any right to the 27 Amazon Payments account registered to Yun Duan. ECF No. 115 at 2 (internal quotations and 1 present evidence that Cloudstyle has a right to the funds held in the Amazon Payments account for 2 seller ID ABVOXG9QD52NV.” Id. at 3. Penson subsequently filed a renewed motion for 3 assignment, which this Court granted on November 28, 2023. ECF No. 121. 4 Yu-Hao Yao, counsel to Defendants, filed the present motion to withdraw as counsel on 5 November 30, 2023. ECF No. 125. Three days later, Defendant Yun Duan moved to stay the 6 enforcement of the Court’s November 28, 2023 order. ECF No. 128. 7 II. JURISDICTION 8 The Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. 9 III. DISCUSSION 10 A. Motion to Withdraw as Counsel 11 “Counsel may not withdraw from an action until relieved by order of Court after written 12 notice has been given reasonably in advance to the client and to all other parties who have 13 appeared in the case.” Civil Local Rule 11–5(a). Civil Local Rule 11–4(a)(1) requires compliance 14 with the standard of professional conduct required of members of the State Bar of California. See 15 also Nehad v. Mukasey, 535 F.3d 962, 970 (9th Cir. 2008) (applying California Rules of 16 Professional Conduct to attorney withdrawal). 17 “The decision to permit counsel to withdraw is within the sound discretion of the trial 18 court.” BSD, Inc. v. Equilon Enterprises, LLC, No. 10–5223 SBA, 2013 WL 942578, at *1 (N.D. 19 Cal. Mar. 11, 2013) (citing United States v. Carter, 560 F.3d 1107, 1113 (9th Cir. 2009)). 20 “Factors which courts consider in ruling on a motion to withdraw include: (1) the reasons why 21 withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to other litigants; (3) the harm 22 withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; and (4) the degree to which withdrawal 23 will delay the resolution of the case.” Riese v. Cnty. of Del Norte, 12–CV–03723–WHO, 2013 24 WL 6056606, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 14, 2013). 25 Here, Yu-Hao Yao—the only attorney who has entered an appearance on behalf of 26 Defendant Cloudstyle—seeks to withdraw as counsel of record for Defendants. Yao’s motion to 27 withdraw avers that “[t]he law firm, Glacier Law LLP, will continue to represent Defendants in 1 motion.” ECF No. 125 at 2. Penson’s counsel, however, objected to Yao’s motion, claiming that 2 their “consent was obtained by falsified statements made by [Yao].” ECF No. 130 at 1–2. 3 Specifically, Penson’s counsel states that they only agreed not to oppose Yao’s withdrawal 4 because they believed that Tianyu Ju—an attorney with Glacier, LLP who represents Yun Duan— 5 would continue to represent both Yuan Duan and Cloudstyle Store. Id. at 2. In subsequent 6 communications, however, Ju informed Penson’s counsel that Glacier, LLP would not represent 7 any entity named Cloudstyle. ECF No. 130-3 at 2. 8 Yao also has not provided the Court with any reason “why withdrawal is sought.” Riese, 9 2013 WL 6056606, at *1. Further, although it is unclear whether Glacier, LLP will continue to 10 represent Cloudstyle, the Court is cognizant that granting Yao’s withdrawal may cause prejudice 11 to other litigants, as there is a possibility that Cloudstyle will no longer have counsel.1 Finally, 12 this case is nearly resolved and granting withdrawal may “delay the resolution of the case.” Id. 13 Therefore, Yao’s motion to withdraw as counsel is denied. If another attorney from 14 Glacier, LLP enters an appearance for Cloudstyle, a notice of substitution of counsel may be filed. 15 See Civ. L.R. 5–1(c)(2)(B) (“If counsel from the same firm replace one another as the 16 representative of a client, a Notice of Substitution of Counsel must be e-filed.”). 17 B. Motion to Stay 18 The Court next turns to address Yun Duan’s motion to stay. As a threshold matter, the 19 parties dispute what legal standard should apply to the current motion. Yun Duan asserts that the 20 Court should be guided by the four-factors outlined in Nken v. Holder, 556 U.S. 418, 434 (2009). 21 ECF No. 128-1 at 2. Penson, however, claims that the Nken factors only apply to requests to “stay 22 the enforcement of a judgment pending the outcome of an appeal,” Nken, 556 U.S. at 421, and that 23 Yun Duan did not appeal before filing the motion to stay. ECF No. 131 at 2. While it is true that 24 an appeal must be filed, and that Yun Duan had yet to appeal before filing its motion to stay, Yun 25 Duan filed a timely appeal on December 26, 2023. ECF No. 132. Thus, the Court will use the 26 Nken factors in resolving the present motion. 27 1 Under Nken, the Court considers four factors when evaluating whether to issue a stay: “(1) 2 whether the stay [movant] has made a strong showing that [it] is likely to succeed on the merits; 3 (2) whether the [movant] will be irreparably injured absent a stay; (3) whether issuance of the stay 4 will substantially injure the other parties interested in the proceeding; and (4) where the public 5 interest lies.” Nken, 556 U.S. at 434. “The first two factors . . . are the most critical.” Id. 6 1. Likelihood of Success on Merits 7 First, the Court examines whether the stay petitioner has made “a strong showing” that it 8 “is likely to succeed on the merits.” Id. Yun Duan argues that Penson has “fail[ed] to prove” that 9 it is entitled to the funds because it has not provided “admissible evidence.” ECF No. 128-1 at 3. 10 As the Court noted in its prior order, even if the evidence Penson provided was inadmissible, 11 “there is nothing in the text of [section] 708.510 which suggests that a showing of a right to 12 payment due or to become due may be made only upon admissible evidence.” ECF No. 121 at 2 13 (citing Legal Additions LLC v. Kowalski, No. C-08-2754 EMC, 2011 WL 3156724, at *2 (N.D. 14 Cal. July 26, 2011)). Accordingly, the emails Penson provided were “sufficient to meet the 15 ‘relatively low’ evidentiary standard of section 708.510.” Id. (quoting at Legal Additions LLC, 16 2011 WL 3156724, at *3). Yun Duan has provided no authority to the contrary, and therefore has 17 not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits on this basis. 18 In addition, Yun Duan claims that Penson cannot demonstrate that “the funds currently 19 restrained in Yun Duan’s Amazon account [are] the sales proceeds from the Accused Products.” 20 ECF No. 128-1 at 3. In response, Penson states that “[u]nder California law, ‘all property of the 21 judgment debtor is subject to enforcement of a money judgment.’” ECF No. 131 at 3 (quoting 22 Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 695.010(a)). The Court agrees with Penson that it need not demonstrate 23 that the source of the funds “were proceeds from the sale of the Accused Product.” Id. Rather, 24 Penson is entitled to an amount in satisfaction of the default judgment. 25 In sum, neither argument put forth by Yun Duan is sufficient to demonstrate a likelihood 26 of success on the merits. Accordingly, Yun Duan has failed to prove the first factor. 27 2. Irreparable Injury 1 Nken, 556 U.S. at 434. Yun Duan contends that it “would be extremely prejudiced and its 2 business would be killed by this enforcement.” ECF No. 128-1 at 5. Penson responds that Yun 3 Duan has “provided no case law to support its argument that such enforcement constitutes 4 irreparable injury” and that Defendant Cloudstyle “was ordered to pay damages to rectify the 5 irreparable harm it had done to [Penson].” ECF No. 131 at 4. It is well-established that a court 6 asked to impose a stay cannot “simply assume that . . . the balance of hardships will weigh heavily 7 in the [movant’s] favor.” Andreiu v. Ashcroft, 253 F.3d 477, 484 (9th Cir. 2001) (internal 8 quotations omitted). Nonetheless, the Court recognizes that there is a possibility that enforcement 9 of damages may harm Yun Duan’s business (even if said damages were ordered to rectify harm 10 done to Penson). Thus, viewed in the light most favorable to Yun Duan, this factor weighs 11 slightly in favor of Yun Duan. 12 3. Substantial Injury to Other Parties 13 The third factor calls for courts to “assess[] the harm to the opposing party[.]” Nken, 556 14 U.S. at 435. While Yun Duan alleges that “Penson would not suffer any injury because of the 15 stay,” the Court is unconvinced. ECF No. 128-1 at 5. As Penson points out, “Defendant 16 Cloudstyle was ordered to pay damages,” and denying damages by enforcing a stay “would serve 17 only as a continuation of the irreparable harm done to [Penson].” ECF No. 131 at 4. Because Yun 18 Duan cannot demonstrate that substantial injury would not befall Penson if a stay is granted, this 19 factor does not hold in Yun Duan’s favor. 20 4. Public Interest 21 Finally, the Court considers the public interest in granting a stay. Yun Duan asserts, in a 22 somewhat conclusory manner, that the “public interest in the preservation of due process rights 23 weigh[s] in [its] favor.” ECF No. 1281- at 6. Yun Duan is correct that due process affords 24 litigants “the opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner.” Id. 25 (quoting Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 333 (1976)). But Yun Duan has had a full and fair 26 day in Court. Indeed, it has had several such days—this litigation has been ongoing for nearly 27 four years. 1 copyrights and aiding the enforcement of federal law.” ECF No. 131 at 4 (quoting Dish Network 2 || LLC. v. Gonzalez, No. 1:13-CV-00107-LJO, 2013 WL 2991040, *10 (E.D. Cal. June 14, 2013)) 3 || Further, enforcing the assignment order would “discourag[e] future infringers from creating 4 additional confusion in the marketplace.” Jd. Therefore, on these facts, the Court cannot conclude 5 that the public interest favors a stay of the assignment order. 6 Viewing the factors collectively, the Court finds that a stay of the assignment order is not 7 warranted. 8 CONCLUSION 9 In sum, the Court denies Yu-Hao Yao’s motion to withdraw as counsel. ECF No. 125. It 10 || also denies Defendant Yun Duan’s motion to stay the assignment order. ECF No. 128. 11 IT IS SO ORDERED. 12 Dated: February 8, 2024 . Opa: tap JON S. TIGA Y 14 nited States District Judge
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