Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-02599/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-02599-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JASON DAVIS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE, LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:16-cv-2599 KJM CKD PS

ORDER

During the December 7, 2016 hearing on defendants’ motions to dismiss and for judgment 

on the pleadings, plaintiffs represented that they had been receiving paid legal assistance in this 

matter from an individual named Alan M. Davis, a Los Angeles-based attorney working with the 

firm Professional Law Assist, LLC (“PLA”). More specifically, plaintiffs represented that they 

had paid Alan M. Davis roughly $6,000 to date for his professional services and that he has 

prepared certain documents for plaintiffs in connection with this action and communicated with 

counsel for some of the defendants named in this action

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on plaintiffs’ behalf regarding plaintiffs’

 

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The defendants presently named in this action are Nationstar Mortgage, LLC, Barrett Daffin 

Frappier Treder & Weiss, LLP, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., Ocwen Loan 

Servicing, LLC, and Indymac Bank, F.S.B.

Case 2:16-cv-02599-KJM-CKD Document 28 Filed 12/09/16 Page 1 of 4
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mortgage loan at issue in this action.2 Plaintiffs also provided the court with an Internet address 

for PLA, www.plassist.com, which they represented they used to initially contact and obtain 

assistance from Alan M. Davis. Counsel for several of the defendants confirmed that a person 

named Alan M. Davis had contacted them on plaintiffs’ behalf regarding both this action and, 

more generally, plaintiffs’ recent negotiations and other dealings with defendants regarding the 

mortgage loan at issue in this action. After the hearing, the court accessed the website plaintiffs 

provided and used the California State Bar website’s attorney search function in an attempt to 

determine whether Alan M. Davis was permitted to practice law in this jurisdiction. The court 

was unable to make such a determination as PLA’s website does not provide a list of attorneys or 

other staff associated with that firm, and the court’s search on the California State Bar website did 

not show that someone with the name Alan M. Davis was licensed to practice law in California.3

Given the court’s grave concerns about Alan M. Davis’s and PLA’s apparent paid, 

behind-the-scenes involvement in this action and the fact that their further off-the-record 

involvement in plaintiffs’ dealings with defendants may frustrate the proper administration of 

justice in this action,4the court finds it appropriate, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1651, to have PLA 

provide a declaration regarding its involvement in assisting plaintiffs in this action.

The All-Writs Act gives federal courts the authority to issue “all writs necessary or 

appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of 

law.” 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a). It is meant to aid the court in the exercise and preservation of its 

jurisdiction. Plum Creek Lumber Company v. Hutton, 608 F.2d 1283, 1289 (9th Cir. 1979). 

 

2 As alleged in the complaint, the mortgage at issue is on the real property located at 106 

Riverview Court, Winters, California 95694. The Deed of Trust for this mortgage was recorded 

on January 2, 2008, in the Yolo County Recorder’s Office as Instrument No.: 2008-0000023-00.

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The court also searched using variations on the name Alan M. Davis and did not obtain any 

results that reliably demonstrate that there exists such an individual licensed to practice law in 

California and/or associated with PLA.

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In particular, the court is concerned that Alan M. Davis may be engaging in the unauthorized 

practice of law if he is not an attorney licensed to practice in this jurisdiction, or may need to 

make an appearance in this action as plaintiffs’ counsel of record if he is an attorney properly 

licensed to appear in this court.

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Federal courts “ha[ve] wide latitude under the All-Writs Act to construct any remedy necessary to 

‘achieve justice.’” United States v. Javanmard, 767 F. Supp. 1109, 1111 (D. Kan. 1991). The 

United States Supreme Court has authorized the use of the All-Writs Act in appropriate 

circumstances against persons who, “though not parties to the original action or engaged in 

wrongdoing, are in a position to frustrate the implementation of a court order or the proper 

administration of justice.” United States v. New York Telephone Co., 434 U.S. 159, 174 (1977).

Based on the parties’ representations set forth above, the court is concerned that the proper 

administration of justice in this action will be frustrated without further clarification from PLA 

and Alan M. Davis regarding their purported involvement in assisting plaintiffs regarding this 

matter.

Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Based on the parties’ representations set forth above, and pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 

1651(a), PLA is directed to file with the court a declaration of its knowledge, if any, 

regarding Alan M. Davis’s and its own involvement with the plaintiffs with regard to 

this action and in dealing with defendants regarding plaintiffs’ mortgage loan on the 

real property located at106 Riverview Court, Winters, California 95694 that is at issue 

in this action. This declaration should include a description of what work, if any, Alan 

M. Davis and/or another representative of PLA have done on plaintiffs’ behalf with 

regard to this action or, more generally, the mortgage loan on the real property located 

at106 Riverview Court, Winters, California 95694 that is at issue in this action. The 

declaration should also include a description of any contact Alan M. Davis and/or 

PLA have made on plaintiffs’ behalf with defendants or any counsel representing any 

defendants in this action with regard to this action or the mortgage loan at issue. 5

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Ideally, if Alan M. Davis is associated with PLA, he should be the one to provide the declaration 

on PLA’s behalf.

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2. If Alan M. Davis is not associated with PLA, either as an attorney or in some other 

capacity, PLA shall state as much in its declaration and identify any other of its 

employees, contractors, or other represantatives who have assisted plaintiffs with 

regard to this action or, more generally, the mortgage loan at issue.6

3. If Alan M. Davis is an employee of/contractor for PLA, is licensed to practice law in 

this or another jurisdiction, and is assisting plaintiffs regarding this matter, PLA shall 

show cause why Alan M. Davis should not be ordered to appear in this action as 

plaintiffs’ counsel of record. Similarly, if another attorney associated with PLA is 

assisting plaintiffs in this matter, PLA shall show cause in a similar fashion with 

regard to that individual.

4. If Alan M. Davis is an employee of/contractor for PLA and is not licensed to practice 

law in this or another jurisdiction, PLA shall show cause why Alan M. Davis’s 

apparent paid, off-the-record representation of plaintiffs in this matter does not 

constitute the unlawful practice of law and should not be referred to the appropriate 

authorities as such. Similarly, if another non-attorney employee of/contractor for PLA 

is assisting plaintiffs in this matter, PLA shall show cause in a similar fashion with 

regard to that individual.

5. PLA shall file on the docket in this action its declaration addressing the matters set 

forth above within 30 days of the date of this order.

6. In addition to serving the parties to this action, the Clerk of the Court is also directed 

to serve this order by mail upon Professional Law Assist, LLC, 4032 Wilshire Blv.,

Suite 311, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

Dated: December 9, 2016

11 davis2599.allwritsorder

 

6 Of course, if PLA honestly believes that nobody associated with it has assisted plaintiffs in the 

manner set forth above, it shall provide in its declaration a statement to that effect.

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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