Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-01021/USCOURTS-casd-3_05-cv-01021-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 470
Nature of Suit: Civil (Rico)
Cause of Action: 18:1962 Racketeering (RICO) Act

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- 1 - 05-CV-1021

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRANK WHITTY and TAZU

WHITTY,

Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 05-CV-1021 H

(BLM)

ORDER DENYING WITHOUT

PREJUDICE PLAINTIFFS’

MOTION TO (1) DISQUALIFY

MARTIN McGUINN AS

ATTORNEY FOR ANY

DEFENDANT; OR IN THE

ALTERNATIVE (2) ALLOW

PLAINTIFFS TO CALL

MARTIN McGUINN AS A

WITNESS 

[Doc. No. 29]

vs.

FIRST NATIONWIDE MORTGAGE

CORPORATION, CITIMORTGAGE

INC., CITIGROUP INC., CHASE

MANHATTAN BANK, N.Y.,

WILLIAM WHEELER, SALLIE

KRAWCHECK, and DOES 1

THROUGH 80,

Defendants.

On May 11, 2005, pro se Plaintiffs Frank and Tazu Whitty (“Plaintiffs”) brought

this suit alleging twenty-five causes of action arising from the foreclosure of their real

property and the subsequent related legal proceedings. On August 22, 2006, Plaintiffs

filed a Second Amended Complaint, alleging fifteen causes of action against Defendants

First Nationwide Mortgage Corporation (“FNMC”), CitiMortgage Inc. (“CMI”),

CitiGroup Inc. (“CGI”), Sallie Krawcheck, William Wheeler, and Does 1-80. Martin T.

McGuinn is the lead attorney for Defendants FNMC, CMI, CGI, Krawcheck, and

Case 3:05-cv-01021-H-BLM Document 44 Filed 11/13/06 Page 1 of 3
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 This motion was given a notice hearing date of November 13, 2006. Therefore,

Plaintiffs failed to file or serve this motion at least 28 calendar days prior to the date the motion was noticed, in violation of Local Rule 7.1(e)(1). Although the Court exercises its discretion to decide this motion, Plaintiffs are cautioned that the Court will likely

decline to hear subsequent untimely motions. 

- 2 - 05-CV-1021

Wheeler (“Defendants”). On October 18, 2006, Plaintiffs filed and served this motion

seeking to disqualify McGuinn from representing any Defendant in this suit, or in the

alternative to allow Plaintiffs to call McGuinn as a witness.1

 (Doc. No. 29.) On

November 1, 2006 Defendants filed an opposition. (Doc. No. 38.)

The parties point out that some of the facts underlying the claims in this suit may

be related to those underlying the suit that Plaintiffs brought against FNMC in San

Diego Superior Court, Case No. GIC 789369 (“the State Case”). A jury ruled against

Plaintiffs in the State Case, and the case is currently on appeal to Division One of the

Fourth District California Court of Appeal (case number D045303). Oral argument is

scheduled on November 14, 2006. Plaintiffs assert that McGuinn, who was also

opposing counsel in the State Case, might be called as a witness in this suit, and

therefore should be disqualified from serving as an attorney in this suit. Defendants

strongly disagree on the merits of the motion, but also contend that it is premature to

attempt to disqualify McGuinn. Given the speculative nature and procedural posture of

this suit, the Court agrees that a motion attempting to disqualify McGuinn is premature.

Therefore, the Court exercises its discretion to decide this motion on the moving

papers, pursuant to Civil Local Rule 7.1(d)(1), and DENIES the motion as premature,

without prejudice regarding Plaintiffs’ ability to bring a similar motion after sufficient

discovery is taken to allow the Court to rule on the motion. The Court further ORDERS

that any request for a deposition of McGuinn must be made to the

/ / / 

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Case 3:05-cv-01021-H-BLM Document 44 Filed 11/13/06 Page 2 of 3
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- 3 - 05-CV-1021

District Court, rather than to the Magistrate Judge, and good cause must be shown why

such discovery should be allowed. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: November 13, 2006

MARILYN L. HUFF, District Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

 

COPIES TO:

Frank Whitty 

12721 Coachman Court 

Poway, CA 92064 

Tazu Whitty 

12721 Coachman Court 

Poway, CA 92064 

Martin T McGuinn 

Hovey and Kirby 

600 B Street 

Suite 1950 

San Diego, CA 92101-4515 

Sung-Min C Yoo 

Alvarado Smith and Sanchez 

4 Park Plaza 

Suite 1200 

Irvine, CA 92614 

Case 3:05-cv-01021-H-BLM Document 44 Filed 11/13/06 Page 3 of 3