Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_17-cv-00134/USCOURTS-cand-5_17-cv-00134-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 376
Nature of Suit: other
Cause of Action: 31:3729 False Claims Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

HCA HEALTHCARE, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

Case No.17-cv-00134-VKD 

ORDER STAYING CASE 

Re: Dkt. Nos. 30, 31, 32

On February 13, 2019, the Court ordered that the complaints in this action be unsealed and 

served upon defendants pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4. Dkt. No. 29. On February 

19, 2019, plaintiff-relator Zuri Lazard’s counsel filed a motion to withdraw as her attorney, citing 

a “breakdown of the attorney-client relationship” and requesting 90 days for Ms. Lazard to find 

new counsel and to serve the defendants. Dkt. No. 30. Ms. Lazard’s counsel advises the Court 

that neither the United States nor the State of California object to his motion to withdraw. Dkt. 

No. 30-1 ¶ 11. On February 20, 2019, Ms. Lazard, on her own behalf, filed motions requesting a 

hearing on her counsel’s motion to withdraw and for an “informative hearing.” Dkt. Nos. 31, 32. 

A pro se relator may not prosecute a qui tam False Claims Act action on behalf of the 

United States. Stoner v. Santa Clara Cty. Office of Educ., 502 F.3d 1116, 1125–28 (9th Cir. 

2007). Accordingly, the Court will not act on the motion to withdraw at this time, but instead 

stays this action for 30 days to allow Ms. Lazard to identify new counsel. Ms. Lazard’s current 

counsel may not withdraw until the Court orders otherwise. Civ. L.R. 11-5(a); Cal. R. Prof. 

Conduct 1.16(c).

Ms. Lazard shall file a status report on or before March 24, 2019 advising the Court on her 

efforts to find new counsel. If she is unable to find substitute counsel, the Court will be required 

Case 5:17-cv-00134-VKD Document 34 Filed 02/22/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

to dismiss this action without prejudice to the United States and the State of California. Stoner, 

502 F.3d at 1128.

Ms. Lazard’s requests for hearings are denied at this time. She is further advised that she 

may not communicate directly with the Court by filing submissions herself; instead, she should do 

so through her attorney of record until the Court orders otherwise. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 22, 2019

VIRGINIA K. DEMARCHI

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:17-cv-00134-VKD Document 34 Filed 02/22/19 Page 2 of 2