Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01770/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01770-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

U.S. LEGAL SUPPORT, INC., 

A Texas corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

AMEEN HOFIONI, an individual,

MORGAN ALBANESE, an 

individual, THE LIT GROUP, 

a Nevada corporation, 

HUTCHINGS COURT REPORTERS, 

LLC, a California 

corporation, LITIGATION 

SERVICES, a Nevada 

corporation, 

Defendants. 

No. CIV. S-13-01770 LKK/AC 

ORDER 

Plaintiff U.S. Legal Support, Inc. alleges that defendants 

Ameen Hofioni and Morgan Albanese, its former employees, 

misappropriated certain trade secrets, confidential information, 

and personal property, both for their own benefit and for the 

benefit of their new employer, defendant The LIT Group, and its 

Case 2:13-cv-01770-MCE-AC Document 57 Filed 04/22/14 Page 1 of 3
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affiliated entities, defendants Hutchings Court Reporters, LLC 

and Litigation Services.1 

 Defendants’ attorneys, from the law firm of Squire Sanders 

(US) LLP (“Squire Sanders”), now move to withdraw as counsel for 

defendant Hofioni. (ECF No. 50.) Hofioni opposes the motion, 

which came on for hearing on April 21, 2014. Appearing on behalf 

of Squire Sanders was Stacie D. Yee, a partner with the firm and 

one of defendants’ attorneys of record. Appearing on behalf of 

Hofioni was Daniel L. Baxter of the law firm of Wilke Fleury 

Hoffelt Gould and Birney LLP (“Wilke Fleury”). Plaintiff’s 

counsel did not appear. According to Mr. Baxter, he currently 

represents Hofioni solely for the purposes of this motion. 

 Having reviewed the parties’ filings and considered 

counsels’ arguments at hearing, the court hereby orders as 

follows: 

 No more than fifteen (15) days after docketing of this 

order, Squire Sanders is DIRECTED to file with the court a 

statement indicating whether it will consent to turn over to 

Wilke Fleury copies of all written communications (as well as 

written notes or transcripts of any communications not reduced to 

writing) between Squire Sanders and the Non-Hofioni Defendants 

regarding (i) the circumstances leading up to Squire Sanders’ 

decision to withdraw from representing Hofioni, including, but 

not limited to, settlement discussions with plaintiff, and 

 

1 Hereinafter, the term “Entity Defendants” collectively means The 

LIT Group, Hutchings Court Reporters, LLC, and Litigation 

Services. The term “Non-Hofioni Defendants” collectively means 

Morgan Albanese and the Entity Defendants. 

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efforts to obtain Hofioni’s signature on the Common 

Representation Agreement (a copy of which, the court believes, is 

attached as Exhibit B to Hofioni’s Declaration, ECF No. 53-1), 

and (ii) any agreement to pay the costs of Hofioni’s legal 

representation and/or to indemnify him for damages herein. If 

Squire Sanders agrees to turn over these documents to Wilke 

Fleury, the latter firm will, consonant with Mr. Baxter’s 

representations at hearing, be permitted to use these documents 

solely for the purposes of (i) showing whether or not Squire 

Sanders breached its duty of loyalty to Hofioni and/or 

(ii) establishing Hofioni’s rights to legal representation and/or 

indemnification. If Squire Sanders does not agree to turn over 

the specified documents to Wilke Fleury, the court will infer 

from the totality of the circumstances that Squire Sanders 

colluded with the Entity Defendants to obtain Hofioni’s signature 

on the Common Representation Agreement and thus violated its duty 

of loyalty to Hofioni. Accordingly, it will enter an order 

barring Squire Sanders as counsel for any and all defendants 

herein. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

DATED: April 22, 2014. 

Case 2:13-cv-01770-MCE-AC Document 57 Filed 04/22/14 Page 3 of 3