Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01602/USCOURTS-casd-3_13-cv-01602-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1391 Personal Injury

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KAYNE MCCARTY, a minor, by and

through his Guardian ad Litem,

AMANDA McCARTY,

Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 13cv1602-LAB (JLB)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

WITHDRAW

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al.

Defendants.

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP (LBBS) seeks to withdraw as counsel of record

for Defendant Robertshaw Controls Company. (Docket no. 83.) LBBS explains:

5. There has been a breakdown in the attorney client relationship between

LBBS and Robertshaw. LBBS has been informed that its services are

no longer needed.

6. Robertshaw indicated that it would be substituting LBBS out as its

counsel [of] record.

7. Robertshaw has failed to communicate with LBBS any further on this

matter despite efforts by LBBS.

8. Robertshaw has not yet substituted LBBS from the case . . . .

(Docket no. 83-1 at ¶¶ 5-8.) No opposition has been filed to the motion, or to LBBS' previous

motion to withdraw. (Docket no. 74); (see also Docket no. 81 (explaining that the Court

anticipated granting the withdrawal motion once it was filed publicly.))

/ / /

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Case 3:13-cv-01602-LAB-JLB Document 87 Filed 07/17/15 Page 1 of 2
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"An attorney may not withdraw as counsel except by leave of court." Darby v. City of

Torrance, 810 F.Supp. 275, 276 (C.D. Cal. 1992). Permission to withdraw is discretionary. 

Deal v. Countrywide Home Loans, 2010 WL 3702459, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 15, 2010). 

Courts should consider the following factors when ruling on a motion to withdraw: "(1) the

reasons counsel seeks to withdraw; (2) the possible prejudice that withdrawal may cause to

other litigants; (3) the harm that withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; (4)

and the extent to which withdrawal will delay resolution of the case." Id. at *3. Under the

California Rules of Professional Conduct, an attorney may request a withdrawal if it is

"unreasonably difficult" for counsel to carry out his employment effectively. Cal. R. Prof.

Conduct 3–700(C)(1)(d) & (f). The breakdown in Robertshaw's relationship with LBBS

establishes this grounds for withdrawal. The Court concludes that withdrawal will not

prejudice litigants, harm the administration of justice, or unduly delay the resolution of the

case. LBBS' motion to withdraw is GRANTED. 

Robertshaw is warned that, because it's an entity, it must appear through an attorney. 

D-Beam Ltd. P'ship v. Roller Derby Skates, Inc., 366 F.3d 972, 973-74 (9th Cir. 2004). If

Robertshaw remains a defendant in this case, and isn't represented by counsel, it risks

default judgment. The Court DIRECTS the Clerk of Court to serve a copy of this order on

Defendant Robertshaw at the following address:

Aaron Rachelson, Esq.

Robertshaw Controls Co.

1222 Hamilton Parkway

Itaska, IL 60143

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: July 16, 2015

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

United States District Judge

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