1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 TWINS SPECIAL CO., LTD., a private Case No.: 23-cv-223-JO-DDL limited company organized under the Related Case No.: 21-cv-221-JO-DDL 12 laws of Thailand, 13 ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO Plaintiff, WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL 14 v. 15 [Dkt. No. 163] TWINS SPECIAL, LLC, NICHOLAS 16 MECHLING, an individual, CHRISTOPHER MECHLING, an 17 individual, TWINS SPECIAL, an 18 unincorporated general partnership, and DOES 1-10, inclusive, 19
20 Defendants. 21
22 I. 23 BACKGROUND 24 On March 19, 2024, counsel for Defendants at the Law Offices of Rodney L. 25 Donohoo, APC (“Donohoo APC”) filed a Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record 26 (“Motion to Withdraw”). Dkt. No. 163. Plaintiff filed a response to the Motion to 27 Withdraw, and Donohoo APC filed a reply brief. Dkt. Nos. 164, 168. On April 2, 2024, 28 the Court held a motion hearing, during which Defendants reported that they had not 1 retained new counsel and continue to meet with prospective attorneys. Having considered 2 the Motion to Withdraw and the parties’ statements at the hearing, the Court GRANTS the 3 Motion to Withdraw. 4 II. 5 LEGAL STANDARD 6 “An attorney may not withdraw as counsel except by leave of court.” P.I.C. Int’l, 7 Inc. v. Gooper Hermetic, Ltd., No. 3:19-CV-00734-BEN-LL, 2020 WL 2992194, at *1 8 (S.D. Cal. June 4, 2020) (citation omitted). “The trial court has discretion whether to grant 9 or deny an attorney’s motion to withdraw in a civil case.” Osgood v. Main Streat Mktg., 10 LLC, No. 16CV2415-GPC(BGS), 2017 WL 7362740, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2017). 11 Under this District’s Civil Local Rules, “corporations, partnerships and other legal entities, 12 may appear in court only through an attorney permitted to practice pursuant to Civil Local 13 Rule 83.3.” S.D. Cal. CivLR 83.3(j); see also Laskowitz v. Shellenberger, 107 F. Supp. 14 397, 398 (S.D. Cal. 1952) (“Since a corporation cannot practice law, and can only act 15 through the agency of natural persons, it follows that it can appear in court on its own 16 behalf only through a licensed attorney.”). 17 “In ruling on a motion to withdraw as counsel, courts consider: (1) the reasons why 18 withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to other litigants; (3) the 19 harm withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; and (4) the degree to which 20 withdrawal will delay the resolution of the case.” Leatt Corp. v. Innovative Safety Tech., 21 LLC, No. 09-CV-1301-IEG POR, 2010 WL 444708, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 2, 2010). For 22 example, courts have held that “[f]ailure to pay attorney’s fees can be a valid ground for 23 withdrawal.” Id. at *2. Moreover, there is no danger of prejudice, harm to the 24 administration of justice, or undue delay where there are no immediately scheduled 25 hearings, the case is still in early stages, and the relevant party has had sufficient notice of 26 the intent to withdraw. See Gurvey v. Legend Films, Inc., No. 09-CV-942-IEG (BGS), 27 2010 WL 2756944, at *1 (S.D. Cal. July 12, 2010). Additionally, the California Rules of 28 Professional Conduct permit a lawyer to withdraw from representing a client if the client’s 1 conduct makes it unreasonably difficult for the lawyer to carry out the representation 2 effectively or if the client breaches a material term of an agreement with the lawyer relating 3 to the representation, and the lawyer has given the client a reasonable warning after the 4 breach that he or she will withdraw unless the client complies with the agreement. Cal. 5 Rule of Pro. Conduct R. 1.16(b)(4) and (5) (Cal. State Bar 2020). 6 Under this District’s Local Rules, a motion to withdraw must (1) be served on the 7 adverse party and moving attorney’s client and (2) include a declaration regarding service 8 of the motion on those parties. CivLR 83.3(f)(3). “Failure to make [service] as 9 required . . . or to file the required declaration of service will result in a denial of the 10 motion.” CivLR 83.3(f)(3)(b). 11 III. 12 DISCUSSION 13 As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that Donohoo APC has met the 14 requirements of Civil Local Rule 83.3(f)(3) by providing a declaration and proof of service 15 indicating that it served its clients and counsel for all adverse parties with the Motion to 16 Withdraw via email on March 19, 2024. Dkt. Nos. 173, 173-1. The Court turns next to 17 the merits of the Motion to Withdraw. 18 A. Valid Cause for Withdrawal 19 Donohoo APC asserts that withdrawal is warranted under California Rule of 20 Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(4) because “Donohoo APC has been unable to meaningfully 21 communicate with Defendants,” and “[w]ithout proper communication between Donohoo 22 APC and Defendants, it has become unreasonably difficult for Donohoo APC to continue 23 to represent Defendants effectively.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 3-4. The declaration of Donohoo 24 APC attorney Kevin T. Rhine (“Rhine Declaration”) states that the firm has not been able 25 to obtain meaningful input from Defendants regarding discovery and settlement matters 26 “for approximately the last month prior to filing the instant motion.” Dkt. No. 163-2 at 27 ¶ 2. Additionally, Donohoo APC seeks withdrawal under California Rule of Professional 28 Conduct 1.16(b)(5) because “Defendants have been unable to fulfill their obligations 1 pursuant to the terms of the Fee Agreement.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 4. The Rhine Declaration 2 explains that “Defendants first breached the fee agreement on November 30, 2023 and have 3 remained in breach of the fee agreement ever since November 30, 2023.” Dkt. No. 163-2 4 at ¶ 3. Moreover, the Rhine Declaration provides that Donohoo APC “first notified 5 Defendants of [its] intent to withdraw in mid-December 2023,” and that it “has continued 6 to inform Defendants of [its] intent to withdraw on an approximately weekly basis since 7 mid-December.” Id. at ¶ 4. 8 Donohoo APC contends that no litigants in the action will be prejudiced if the 9 Motion to Withdraw is granted. Specifically, Donohoo APC asserts Plaintiff will not be 10 prejudiced by Donohoo APC’s withdrawal “as a trial date has not been set,” and because 11 the pretrial conference is “six months from now,” which “provides ample time for 12 Defendants to engage new counsel and prepare for trial.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 5. Donohoo 13 APC further states that Defendants will not be prejudiced because “Donohoo APC began 14 informing Defendants of its intent to withdraw in mid-December, and therefore Defendants 15 have had three months to find new counsel.” Id. Moreover, Donohoo APC contends that 16 its withdrawal will not harm the administration of justice or delay resolution of the case 17 because “no trial date has been set, and the parties have now completed the discovery 18 process,” and “[t]he final pretrial conference is not set to take place until September 2024.” 19 Id. at 5. These circumstances, Donohoo APC asserts, signify that “ample time exists for 20 Defendants to obtain new counsel without any delay to the proceedings in this case and 21 with the ability to meet all upcoming deadlines.” Id. at 6. 22 The Court finds that withdrawal by Donohoo APC is appropriate on this record. 23 First, Defendants have not meaningfully communicated with Donohoo APC and have not 24 provided input on time-sensitive discovery and settlement matters. See Cal. Rule of Pro. 25 Conduct R. 1.16(b)(4); see also Mehri v. Lowe’s Home Center, LLC, No. 22cv545-LL- 26 MMP, 2023 WL 7030547, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 25, 2023) (granting motion to withdraw as 27 counsel under California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(4) based on counsel’s 28 representation that its clients “repeatedly failed to communicate with their counsel, despite 1 repeated attempts, and have thereby rendered it unreasonably difficult for counsel to 2 effectively carry out their representation”).
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 TWINS SPECIAL CO., LTD., a private Case No.: 23-cv-223-JO-DDL limited company organized under the Related Case No.: 21-cv-221-JO-DDL 12 laws of Thailand, 13 ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO Plaintiff, WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL 14 v. 15 [Dkt. No. 163] TWINS SPECIAL, LLC, NICHOLAS 16 MECHLING, an individual, CHRISTOPHER MECHLING, an 17 individual, TWINS SPECIAL, an 18 unincorporated general partnership, and DOES 1-10, inclusive, 19
20 Defendants. 21
22 I. 23 BACKGROUND 24 On March 19, 2024, counsel for Defendants at the Law Offices of Rodney L. 25 Donohoo, APC (“Donohoo APC”) filed a Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record 26 (“Motion to Withdraw”). Dkt. No. 163. Plaintiff filed a response to the Motion to 27 Withdraw, and Donohoo APC filed a reply brief. Dkt. Nos. 164, 168. On April 2, 2024, 28 the Court held a motion hearing, during which Defendants reported that they had not 1 retained new counsel and continue to meet with prospective attorneys. Having considered 2 the Motion to Withdraw and the parties’ statements at the hearing, the Court GRANTS the 3 Motion to Withdraw. 4 II. 5 LEGAL STANDARD 6 “An attorney may not withdraw as counsel except by leave of court.” P.I.C. Int’l, 7 Inc. v. Gooper Hermetic, Ltd., No. 3:19-CV-00734-BEN-LL, 2020 WL 2992194, at *1 8 (S.D. Cal. June 4, 2020) (citation omitted). “The trial court has discretion whether to grant 9 or deny an attorney’s motion to withdraw in a civil case.” Osgood v. Main Streat Mktg., 10 LLC, No. 16CV2415-GPC(BGS), 2017 WL 7362740, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 27, 2017). 11 Under this District’s Civil Local Rules, “corporations, partnerships and other legal entities, 12 may appear in court only through an attorney permitted to practice pursuant to Civil Local 13 Rule 83.3.” S.D. Cal. CivLR 83.3(j); see also Laskowitz v. Shellenberger, 107 F. Supp. 14 397, 398 (S.D. Cal. 1952) (“Since a corporation cannot practice law, and can only act 15 through the agency of natural persons, it follows that it can appear in court on its own 16 behalf only through a licensed attorney.”). 17 “In ruling on a motion to withdraw as counsel, courts consider: (1) the reasons why 18 withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to other litigants; (3) the 19 harm withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; and (4) the degree to which 20 withdrawal will delay the resolution of the case.” Leatt Corp. v. Innovative Safety Tech., 21 LLC, No. 09-CV-1301-IEG POR, 2010 WL 444708, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Feb. 2, 2010). For 22 example, courts have held that “[f]ailure to pay attorney’s fees can be a valid ground for 23 withdrawal.” Id. at *2. Moreover, there is no danger of prejudice, harm to the 24 administration of justice, or undue delay where there are no immediately scheduled 25 hearings, the case is still in early stages, and the relevant party has had sufficient notice of 26 the intent to withdraw. See Gurvey v. Legend Films, Inc., No. 09-CV-942-IEG (BGS), 27 2010 WL 2756944, at *1 (S.D. Cal. July 12, 2010). Additionally, the California Rules of 28 Professional Conduct permit a lawyer to withdraw from representing a client if the client’s 1 conduct makes it unreasonably difficult for the lawyer to carry out the representation 2 effectively or if the client breaches a material term of an agreement with the lawyer relating 3 to the representation, and the lawyer has given the client a reasonable warning after the 4 breach that he or she will withdraw unless the client complies with the agreement. Cal. 5 Rule of Pro. Conduct R. 1.16(b)(4) and (5) (Cal. State Bar 2020). 6 Under this District’s Local Rules, a motion to withdraw must (1) be served on the 7 adverse party and moving attorney’s client and (2) include a declaration regarding service 8 of the motion on those parties. CivLR 83.3(f)(3). “Failure to make [service] as 9 required . . . or to file the required declaration of service will result in a denial of the 10 motion.” CivLR 83.3(f)(3)(b). 11 III. 12 DISCUSSION 13 As a preliminary matter, the Court notes that Donohoo APC has met the 14 requirements of Civil Local Rule 83.3(f)(3) by providing a declaration and proof of service 15 indicating that it served its clients and counsel for all adverse parties with the Motion to 16 Withdraw via email on March 19, 2024. Dkt. Nos. 173, 173-1. The Court turns next to 17 the merits of the Motion to Withdraw. 18 A. Valid Cause for Withdrawal 19 Donohoo APC asserts that withdrawal is warranted under California Rule of 20 Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(4) because “Donohoo APC has been unable to meaningfully 21 communicate with Defendants,” and “[w]ithout proper communication between Donohoo 22 APC and Defendants, it has become unreasonably difficult for Donohoo APC to continue 23 to represent Defendants effectively.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 3-4. The declaration of Donohoo 24 APC attorney Kevin T. Rhine (“Rhine Declaration”) states that the firm has not been able 25 to obtain meaningful input from Defendants regarding discovery and settlement matters 26 “for approximately the last month prior to filing the instant motion.” Dkt. No. 163-2 at 27 ¶ 2. Additionally, Donohoo APC seeks withdrawal under California Rule of Professional 28 Conduct 1.16(b)(5) because “Defendants have been unable to fulfill their obligations 1 pursuant to the terms of the Fee Agreement.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 4. The Rhine Declaration 2 explains that “Defendants first breached the fee agreement on November 30, 2023 and have 3 remained in breach of the fee agreement ever since November 30, 2023.” Dkt. No. 163-2 4 at ¶ 3. Moreover, the Rhine Declaration provides that Donohoo APC “first notified 5 Defendants of [its] intent to withdraw in mid-December 2023,” and that it “has continued 6 to inform Defendants of [its] intent to withdraw on an approximately weekly basis since 7 mid-December.” Id. at ¶ 4. 8 Donohoo APC contends that no litigants in the action will be prejudiced if the 9 Motion to Withdraw is granted. Specifically, Donohoo APC asserts Plaintiff will not be 10 prejudiced by Donohoo APC’s withdrawal “as a trial date has not been set,” and because 11 the pretrial conference is “six months from now,” which “provides ample time for 12 Defendants to engage new counsel and prepare for trial.” Dkt. No. 163-1 at 5. Donohoo 13 APC further states that Defendants will not be prejudiced because “Donohoo APC began 14 informing Defendants of its intent to withdraw in mid-December, and therefore Defendants 15 have had three months to find new counsel.” Id. Moreover, Donohoo APC contends that 16 its withdrawal will not harm the administration of justice or delay resolution of the case 17 because “no trial date has been set, and the parties have now completed the discovery 18 process,” and “[t]he final pretrial conference is not set to take place until September 2024.” 19 Id. at 5. These circumstances, Donohoo APC asserts, signify that “ample time exists for 20 Defendants to obtain new counsel without any delay to the proceedings in this case and 21 with the ability to meet all upcoming deadlines.” Id. at 6. 22 The Court finds that withdrawal by Donohoo APC is appropriate on this record. 23 First, Defendants have not meaningfully communicated with Donohoo APC and have not 24 provided input on time-sensitive discovery and settlement matters. See Cal. Rule of Pro. 25 Conduct R. 1.16(b)(4); see also Mehri v. Lowe’s Home Center, LLC, No. 22cv545-LL- 26 MMP, 2023 WL 7030547, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 25, 2023) (granting motion to withdraw as 27 counsel under California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(4) based on counsel’s 28 representation that its clients “repeatedly failed to communicate with their counsel, despite 1 repeated attempts, and have thereby rendered it unreasonably difficult for counsel to 2 effectively carry out their representation”). Second, Defendants’ failure to pay fees owed 3 to Donohoo APC for legal services rendered is a breach of a material term of the Fee 4 Agreement. Under California Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(5), such a breach 5 represents an independent ground upon which to grant Donohoo APC’s Motion to 6 Withdraw. See Leatt Corp., 2010 WL 444708, at *2. 7 The Court concludes that Defendants will not be prejudiced by Donohoo APC’s 8 withdrawal where they received notice of counsel’s intent to withdraw and have been 9 actively seeking new counsel. In particular, Defendant Twins Special LLC will not be 10 prejudiced as an entity who must be represented by counsel where the Court grants 11 sufficient time to retain new counsel. 12 Finally, the Court is mindful that this is the second motion to withdraw filed by 13 Defendants’ counsel. Resolution of the first motion to withdraw filed by Defendants’ 14 initial counsel necessitated delays in this case between September and November 2023, 15 and granting the current request will necessitate changes to the current pretrial schedule. 16 Dkt. No. 159. Plaintiff has continually asserted its desire to resolve this case expeditiously, 17 and Plaintiff asserts that outstanding discovery issues remain to be resolved. Dkt. No. 164 18 at 4-5. Balancing these concerns against the reasons why Donahoo APC seeks to withdraw, 19 the Court concludes that withdrawal is warranted and that a short continuance of the pretrial 20 schedule also is warranted. However, the Court will not grant further continuances of the 21 pretrial schedule absent a showing of exceptional circumstances. 22 B. Defendant Twins Special LLC Must Retain New Counsel or Risk Default 23 Proceedings 24 Under Civil Local Rule 83.3(j), Defendant Twins Special LLC may only appear in 25 court through an attorney.1 The Court recognizes that granting the Motion to Withdraw 26
27 1 On March 4, 2024, the Clerk entered a default as to defendant Twins Special, an 28 1 will leave Twins Special LLC without counsel. However, Rule 83.3(j) is not offended 2 where a court orders an unrepresented entity to find substitute counsel and provides time 3 to do this on the condition that failure to do so will expose the defendant to default 4 proceedings. See, e.g., Osgood, 2017 WL 7362740, at *2 (granting counsel’s motion to 5 withdraw from representing a business entity defendant; ordering the defendant to obtain 6 new counsel within thirty days and requiring counsel to file a notice of appearance within 7 that timeframe; and warning the defendant of the risk of default judgment upon its failure 8 to retain new counsel); see also United States v. High Country Broad Co., Inc., 3 F.3d 9 1244, 1245 (9th Cir. 1993) (affirming a default judgment against a corporate defendant that 10 failed to comply with the court’s order requiring it to retain new counsel). 11 IV. 12 CONCLUSION 13 For the foregoing reasons, the Court hereby ORDERS as follows: 14 1. Donohoo APC’s Motion to Withdraw as counsel for Defendants is 15 GRANTED. 16 2. By not later than April 8, 2024, Donohoo APC shall (a) serve a copy of this 17 Order on Defendants and file proof of service with the Court; (b) inform 18 Defendants of the contents of this Order by phone, text message, and email; 19 and (c) submit a declaration of having done so. 20 3. By not later than May 3, 2024, Defendant Twins Special LLC must retain 21 counsel. By the same deadline, counsel must file a notice of appearance or 22 Twins Special LLC will be subject to default proceedings filed by Plaintiff 23 pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55. 24 4. Defendants Nicholas Mechling and Christopher Mechling may proceed pro se 25 (without counsel). By not later than May 3, 2024, Defendants must provide 26 their contact information (mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and email 27 addresses) to the Court pursuant to Civil Local Rule 83.11(b). 28 / / / 1 The Court will issue a separate order amending the current pretrial scheduling order. 2 IT IS SO ORDERED. 3 ||Dated: April 5, 2024 _— 4 Tb Lh we
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