Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00288/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00288-24/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

---

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MP NEXLEVEL, of California, Inc.,

Plaintiff,

v.

CVIN, LLC, d/b/a VAST NETWORKS, 

CALAVERAS COMMUNICATIONS 

COMPANY, SEBASTIAN 

ENTERPRISES, INC., VOLCANO 

COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, 

STAGELINE COMMUNICATIONS, 

INC., THE PONDEROSA TELEPHONE 

COMPANY, SIERRA TEL 

COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, 

VARNET INC., CAL-ORE TELEPHONE 

COMPANY, THE CORPORATION OF 

EDUCATION NETWORK INITIATIVES

IN CALIFORNIA, and DOES 1 to 500,

DEFENDANTS.

Case No. 1:14-cv-00288-LJO-EPG 

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL

(ECF No. 414)

I. BACKGROUND

On November 3, 2016, attorney Frank James Weiss of the Tonkon Torp, LLP, law firm

(“Tonkon law firm”) filed the instant motion to withdraw as counsel for Defendant/Third-Party 

Defendant Apex Directional Drilling, LLC (“Defendant Apex”). (ECF No. 414.) The Court 

held a hearing on the motion on December 2, 2016. (ECF No. 425.) The motion is unopposed. 

For the following reasons, the motion to withdraw as counsel (ECF No. 414) is GRANTED.

Case 1:14-cv-00288-LJO-EPG Document 426 Filed 12/05/16 Page 1 of 4
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

II. DISCUSSION

The Local Rules of this District provide the following with respect to withdrawal of 

counsel of record:

Withdrawal. Unless otherwise provided herein, an attorney who has appeared 

may not withdraw leaving the client in propria persona without leave of court

upon noticed motion and notice to the client and all other parties who have 

appeared. The attorney shall provide an affidavit stating the current or last 

known address or addresses of the client and the efforts made to notify the client 

of the motion to withdraw. Withdrawal as attorney is governed by the Rules of 

Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California, and the attorney shall 

conform to the requirements of those Rules. The authority and duty of the 

attorney of record shall continue until relieved by order of the Court issued 

hereunder. Leave to withdraw may be granted subject to such appropriate

conditions as the Court deems fit.

CAED-LR 182(d). 

In support of the motion to withdraw, attorney Weiss has submitted two declarations: 1) 

declaration of Frank Weiss, dated November 2, 2016 (“Weis Decl.”, ECF No. 416); and 2) 

declaration of Scott Campbell, dated October 20, 2016 (“Campbell Decl.”, ECF No. 417). 

Campbell is the CEO of Silvies Drilling Co., LLC, which is the majority and controlling 

shareholder of Defendant Apex. (Campbell Decl., ECF No. 417 ¶ 1.)

According to the information provided in support of withdrawal, Defendant Apex “went 

out of business over a year ago, and no longer has any officers, employees, equipment or

facilities and has not pursued or performed work since early 2015. (Id.) While Apex itself no

longer has officers or employees, Campbell has consented to the Tonkon law firm withdrawing 

and is aware that it could result in a default judgment being entered against Defendant Apex. 

(Id. ¶ 2.) Since October 6, 2015, has not, made payments to the Tonkon law firm. (Weis Decl., 

ECF No. 416 ¶ 6.) 

In accordance with Local Rule 182(d), copies of the motion to withdraw have been 

mailed to: (i) Apex's last known business address; (ii) its member and shareholder, and (iii) its 

registered agent for service of process. (Id. ¶ 4.) The last know addresses for Defendant Apex 

are” 8850 SE 76th Drive, Portland, OR 9206; registered agent for service, at 888 SW Fifth

Ave., Portland, OR 97204; and member, Silvies Drilling Co., LLC, at 7610 SE 162nd Ave., 

Case 1:14-cv-00288-LJO-EPG Document 426 Filed 12/05/16 Page 2 of 4
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Portland, OR 97236. (Id.) It also appears that the withdrawal is in compliance with the Rules 

of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California. (ECF No. 415 at 3.)

Given the fact that there has been no opposition to this motion filed and the client 

representative has provided consent, the motion will be granted. However, Defendant Apex is 

advised that a “corporation may appear in federal court only through licensed counsel.” 

Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 202, 113 S.Ct. 716, 721 (1993); United 

States v. High Country Broadcasting Co., Inc., 3 F.3d 1244, 1245 (9th Cir. 1993); see also, 

Osborn v. President of Bank of United States, 9 Wheat. 738, 829, 6 L.Ed. 204 (1824); Turner v. 

American Bar Ass’n, 407 F.Supp. 451, 476 (N.D. Tex. 1975) (citing the “long line of cases” 

from 1824 to the present holding that a corporation may only be represented by licensed 

counsel). All artificial entities must appear in federal court through counsel. Rowland, 506 

U.S. at 202, 113 S.Ct. at 721. Additionally, our Local Rules provide that: “A corporation or 

other entity may appear only by an attorney.” CAED-LR 183(a).

Given the above, Defendant Apex shall obtain counsel within 30 days of the date of this 

order or provide the court with its intention regarding retaining counsel. Defendant is advised 

that failure to obtain counsel may result in the imposition of sanctions including but not limited 

to entry of default judgment.

As discussed on the record, the Court is aware that settlement negotiations are taking 

place in this case. Apex is encouraged to correspond with Plaintiff’s counsel to discuss 

inclusion in any such settlement.

III. CONCLUSION

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that :

1) The Motion to Withdraw as Counsel is GRANTED;

2) The Clerk shall TERMINATE Frank James Weiss of the Tonkon Torp, LLP as 

counsel for Defendant/Third-Party Defendant Apex Directional Drilling, LLC;

3) Counsel, Frank James Weiss, is ordered to serve a copy of this order on Apex 

Directional Drilling, LLC. Counsel shall provide the court with a declaration indicating proof 

Case 1:14-cv-00288-LJO-EPG Document 426 Filed 12/05/16 Page 3 of 4
4

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

of service, or if counsel is unable to execute service, an explanation of the circumstances of 

attempted service;

4) Counsel, Frank James Weiss, is ordered to provide the Court with a revised address 

and contact information for Defendant Apex Directional Drilling, LLC; and

5) Defendant/Third-Party Defendant Apex Directional Drilling, LLC, shall, within 30 

days of the date of this order, retain counsel, or provide the court with a statement regarding its 

intention to obtain counsel.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 5, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00288-LJO-EPG Document 426 Filed 12/05/16 Page 4 of 4