Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-01962/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-01962-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 31:3729 False Claims Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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NOT FOR CITATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

UNITED STATES ex rel. DONNA M.

McLEAN and THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA 

ex rel DONNA M. McLEAN,

Plaintiffs,

 v.

THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, et al.,

Defendants. /

COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA,

Counter-claimant,

 v.

DONNA M. McLEAN and DOES 1-100,

Counter-defendants. /

No. C05-01962 HRL

ORDER GRANTING RELATOR’S

MOTION TO PERMIT ATTORNEY TO

WITHDRAW

[Re: Docket No. 114]

On February 13, 2008, relator Donna McLean advised that the attorney-client

relationship with her counsel, Michael Millen, has broken down. She requested that Millen be

permitted to withdraw and that she be allowed to proceed pro se until she retained a new

attorney. The next day, attorney William Dresser substituted into the case as lead counsel for

McLean.

The Ninth Circuit recently held that relators may not proceed pro se on behalf of the

*E-FILED 2/26/2008*

Case 5:05-cv-01962-HRL Document 119 Filed 02/26/08 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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government in a False Claims Act case. See United States ex rel Stoner v. Santa Clara County

Office of Education, 502 F.3d 1116, 1126-27 (9th Cir. 2007) (“Because qui tam relators are not

prosecuting only their ‘own case’ but also representing the United States and binding it to any

adverse judgment the relators may obtain, we cannot interpret [28 U.S.C.] § 1654 as authorizing

qui tam relators to proceed pro se in FCA actions.”). Nevertheless, insofar as McLean has

already obtained new counsel who has substituted into the case, her request to permit Millen to

withdraw from this matter is granted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: ________________________________

HOWARD R. LLOYD

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

February 26, 2008

Case 5:05-cv-01962-HRL Document 119 Filed 02/26/08 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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5:05-cv-1962 Notice will be electronically mailed to:

Virginia Stewart Alspaugh Virginia_Alspaugh@cmwlaw.net, Linda_Knobbe@cmwlaw.net,

TheAlspaughs@cox.net 

Orley Brandt Caudill , Jr brandt_caudill@cmwlaw.net, christopher_zopatti@cmwlaw.net 

William C. Dresser loofwcd@aol.com 

Melissa R. Kiniyalocts melissa.kiniyalocts@cco.co.scl.ca.us 

Sara McLean sara.mclean@usdoj.gov 

Michael Millen MikeMillen@aol.com 

Richard Augustus Swenson rsloofwcd@aol.com 

Joan Eve Trimble joan_trimble@cmwlaw.net, patricia_inabnet@cmwlaw.net 

Sara Winslow sara.winslow@usdoj.gov, kathy.terry@usdoj.gov

Counsel are responsible for distributing copies of this document to co-counsel who have

not registered for e-filing under the court’s CM/ECF program.

5:05-cv-1962 Notice will be delivered by other means to:

Julia Clayton

Deputy Attorney General

California Attorney General’s Office

455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000

San Francisco, CA 94102-7004

Case 5:05-cv-01962-HRL Document 119 Filed 02/26/08 Page 3 of 3