Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01619/USCOURTS-cand-4_06-cv-01619-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 820
Nature of Suit: Copyright
Cause of Action: 17:501 Copyright Infringement

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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

J. CARLOS FERGUSON,

 Plaintiff.

 v.

ROCKWELL HOPP,

 Defendant.

_____________________________/

No. C 06-1619 SBA (WDB)

INTERIM ORDER PRECEDING

FURTHER DISCOVERY STATUS

CONFERENCE 

At a discovery status conference on August 30, 2006, Mr. Robert Gold, counsel for

Defendant, presented to the Court a copy of a letter sent from Mr. J. Kevin Snyder, Esq., at

Dykema Gossett in Los Angeles, to Plaintiff's counsel, Mr. Aaron Schur. This letter

informed Mr. Schur that Mr. Snyder had been retained to represent Defendant and would

substitute in as counsel to replace Mr. Gold. As such, in its Order Following Discovery

Status Conference filed on August 31, 2006, the Court ordered that, should Mr. Snyder wish

to represent Defendant, he must file a substitution of counsel by no later than September 8,

2006. 

 As of September 11, 2006, no substitution has been filed, and the court independently

confirmed with a telephone call to Mr. Synder that he will not be substituting into the case.

Mr. Gold has not withdrawn and, thus, remains counsel of record. On September 5, 2006,

however, Mr. Gold filed a Notice of Unavailability covering September 9, 2006 through

September 22, 2006, and October 16, 2006 through November 6, 2006, a period that includes

the date of an upcoming status conference set for September 15, 2006. Ms. Joy Chen, an

Case 4:06-cv-01619-WDB Document 41 Filed 09/12/06 Page 1 of 3
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employee in Mr. Gold's law office, confirmed by telephone that Mr. Gold will not be

available to attend the upcoming conference. At this time, therefore, the Court VACATES

the Status Conference set for Friday, September 15, 2006 and enters the following interim

ORDERS as to Defendant Mr. Rockwell Hopp and counsel Mr. Robert Gold: 

1. Order as to Defendant Mr. Rockwell Hopp: As the sole defendant in this

action, Mr. Hopp is responsible for obtaining representation of counsel or for acting as his

own representative. In either case, it is imperative that this representative (either counsel

or Mr. Hopp, should he choose to represent himself), be available on reasonable notice for

the reasonable demands that preparing this action for trial will entail. Accordingly, by no

later than Friday, September 22, 2006, Mr. Hopp must file a written notice with the Court

with the name of his legal representative or, alternatively, a statement that he desires to

represent himself. If the designated representative is someone other than Mr. Gold or Mr.

Hopp, the notice also must include the address and all relevant contact information for new

counsel. New counsel must promptly file a proper substitution. 

2. Order as to counsel Mr. Robert Gold: Because Mr. Gold has not withdrawn

as counsel for Defendant, he remains as counsel of record. Therefore, by no later than

Friday, September 22, 2006, Mr. Gold must file either (1) a formal notice of withdrawal,

if he and Mr. Hopp agree that Mr. Gold should not remain as counsel of record; or (2) a

written statement that Mr. Gold will continue to represent Defendant. If Mr. Gold remains

in the action, he must meet his responsibilities as counsel. These responsibilities include

being available to meet the reasonably foreseeable demands associated with the case and, in

particular, being available in the very near future for the deposition of Mr. Hopp. It is

presumptively unacceptable for counsel to be unavailable for long periods of time without

explanation. Should Mr. Gold fail to comply with this Order, he risks imposition of

sanctions and proceedings for contempt of court. 

Case 4:06-cv-01619-WDB Document 41 Filed 09/12/06 Page 2 of 3
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3. New Date for Status Conference: The Court promptly will set a new date for

a status conference once it has been advised of the status of counsel in this action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 12, 2006 /s/ Wayne D. Brazil

 

WAYNE D. BRAZIL

United States Magistrate Judge

Copies: parties and counsel via ECF, Mr. Rockwell Hopp via US Mail, SBA, WDB, stats

Case 4:06-cv-01619-WDB Document 41 Filed 09/12/06 Page 3 of 3