Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-01451/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-01451-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BARRY BROWN, JENNIFER BROWN, 

JANE DOE 1, and JANE DOE 2,

 Plaintiffs,

 v.

JON ALEXANDER, DEAN WILSON, ED 

FLESHMAN, and COUNTY OF DEL 

NORTE,

 Defendants.

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Case No. 13-cv-01451-SC

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW

Now before the Court is Plaintiffs' counsel's motion to 

withdraw. ECF No. 80 ("Mot."). The motion is unopposed, and the 

Court finds it suitable for disposition without oral argument 

pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7-1(b). The motion is DENIED.

Civil Local Rule 11-5(a) prohibits counsel from withdrawing 

from an action until (1) the Court has issued an order permitting 

the withdrawal, and (2) written notice has been given reasonably in 

advance to the client and to all other parties. Attorneys Thomas 

N. Petersen and Seth L. Goldstein currently represent all four 

plaintiffs: Jennifer Brown, Barry Brown, and Jane Does 1 and 2. 

Case 3:13-cv-01451-RS Document 84 Filed 05/12/15 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

Jane Does 1 and 2 are Ms. Brown's minor children. Mr. Petersen and 

Mr. Goldstein seek only to withdraw as counsel for Ms. Brown and 

Jane Does 1 and 2; they will remain as counsel for Mr. Brown. Mr. 

Petersen and Mr. Goldstein have apparently reached an impasse with 

Ms. Brown regarding the prosecution of this case. Mot. at 1.

Mr. Petersen and Mr. Goldstein have given Ms. Brown oral and 

written notice of their intention to withdraw. Id. at 2. They 

have also provided case files to another attorney prepared to 

represent Ms. Brown and her children. See id. at 2. However, no 

other attorney has appeared in this case to represent Ms. Brown or 

her children, and there is no indication that they have agreed to 

proceed pro se. Especially given the fact that two of the 

plaintiffs are minor children, the Court finds it inappropriate for 

Mr. Petersen and Mr. Goldstein to withdraw until substitute counsel 

has appeared. The motion to withdraw is therefore DENIED. Mr. 

Petersen and Mr. Goldstein may file a Notice of Change in Counsel 

once substitute counsel has appeared to represent Ms. Brown and 

Jane Does 1 and 2.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 12, 2015

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:13-cv-01451-RS Document 84 Filed 05/12/15 Page 2 of 2