Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00622/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-00622-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ZONE SPORTS CENTER, LLC, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

BEN RODRIGUEZ,

Defendant.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:11-cv-00622-SKO

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S 

COUNSEL'S MOTION TO WITHDRAW 

AS COUNSEL OF RECORD

(Doc. 114)

The Court's March 6, 2013, order on Defendants' motion for summary judgment has been 

appealed and is currently pending before the Ninth Circuit. The remainder of the case has been 

stayed pending the outcome of that appeal.

On October 22, 2014, Plaintiffs' counsel filed a motion to withdraw as attorney of record 

due to a conflict of interest that has arisen between Plaintiffs and counsel. Specifically, Plaintiffs 

have filed suit against their counsel in state court related to their counsel's representation of them 

in another action. No opposition to counsel's motion has been filed. Due to the conflict of interest 

with his clients, counsel's request to withdraw is appropriate. California Rules of Prof. Conduct, 

Rule 3-700(C)(d). Moreover, because the underlying case is stayed, the withdrawal will not 

Case 1:11-cv-00622-SKO Document 117 Filed 12/02/14 Page 1 of 2
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prejudice Plaintiffs.1

Plaintiffs' counsel's motion is therefore GRANTED, and the hearing set for December 3, 

2014, is VACATED. Because Plaintiff Zone Sports Center, LLC is an artificial entity, it must 

retain counsel to pursue its claims in this court. Rowland v. Cal. Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 202 

(1993); United States v. High Country Broad. Co., 3 F.3d 1244, 1245 (9th Cir. 1993) (per curiam); 

see also Osborn v. Bank of U.S., 22 U.S. (9 Wheat.) 738, 829 (1824). As such, Plaintiffs are 

ORDERED to retain counsel who shall file a notice of appearance within 30 days of the date of 

this order. 

Additionally, a status report was filed by the parties on November 26, 2014, indicating the 

matter before the appellate court remains pending. As such, the status conference currently set for 

December 3, 2014, is CONTINUED to March 4, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. The parties shall file an 

updated status report within 7 days of a dispositive order from the Ninth Circuit on the pending 

appeal or no later than February 25, 2015, whichever occurs first.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 2, 2014 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

1

Plaintiffs' counsel notes that he also filed a request to withdraw as counsel of record for the pending appeal before 

the Ninth Circuit, which was granted. 

Case 1:11-cv-00622-SKO Document 117 Filed 12/02/14 Page 2 of 2