Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01058/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-01058-24/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ST VENTURES, a Utah Corporation, and 

WORLDWIDE INVESTMENT, INC, a 

California Corporation,

 Plaintiffs, 

 v. 

BEN M. PENFIELD, an individual, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:12-cv-01058 LJO SMS

ORDER RE: ALONZO GRADFORD’S 

MOTION TO WITHDRAW (Doc. 154)

On July 27, 2015, this Court granted Defendants KBA Assets’ and Ben Penfield’s motion for 

involuntary dismissal pursuant to Rule 41. Doc. 151. Judgment was entered the same day. Doc. 152. On 

August 3, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration. Doc. 153. The Court denied this motion on 

August 11, 2015. Doc. 155. Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on August 28, 2015. Doc. 156.

On August 4, 2015, Alonzo Gradford, Attorney of Record for KBA Assets and Ben Penfield, 

filed a motion to withdraw as counsel, with a hearing date set for September 10, 2015. Doc 154. 1

In compliance with L.R. 182(d), Counsel has submitted an affidavit stating that he has discussed the 

matter with his clients. Id. He has also provided their last known addresses. Id. The deadline for filing an 

 

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“As a general rule, the filing of a notice of appeal divests a district court of jurisdiction over those aspects of the case 

involved in the appeal. Stein v. Wood, 127 F.3d 1187, 1189 (9th Cir. 1997). This general rule, however, a rule of judicial 

economy and does not strip the district court of subject matter jurisdiction. California Dep't of Toxic Substances Control v. 

Commercial Realty Projects, Inc., 309 F.3d 1113, 1120-21 (9th Cir. 2002). Because this motion does not present an issue that 

will be simultaneously before the appeals court, this Court finds that judicial economy will be best served by retaining 

jurisdiction over the case for this limited purpose. See Kern Oil & Ref. Co. v. Tenneco Oil Co., 840 F.2d 730, 734 (9th Cir. 

1988). (holding that divestment of appellate jurisdiction “should not be employed to defeat its purposes nor to induce 

needless paper shuffling.”). 

Case 1:12-cv-01058-LJO-SMS Document 159 Filed 09/04/15 Page 1 of 2
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opposition has passed and no party has opposed his motion. In light of these facts, the Court GRANTS 

Mr. Gradford’s request. He is hereby withdrawn as attorney of record in this case. Accordingly, the clerk 

of court is directed to take the September 10, 2015 hearing off calendar.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 3, 2015 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:12-cv-01058-LJO-SMS Document 159 Filed 09/04/15 Page 2 of 2