Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00282/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-00282-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Review Agency Decision

---

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

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GUADALUPE L. GARCIA, et al.,

Plaintiff,

v.

THOMAS J VILSACK, Secretary of 

United States Department of Agriculture,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:16-cv-282 AWI-BAM

ORDER DENYING COUNSEL’S PRO HAC 

VICE APPLICATION

(Doc. 380). 

Before the Court is the Application for Admission of Counsel Pro Hac Vice, filed by 

Attorney Phillip L. Fraas’, seeking to appear on behalf of Plaintiff Gloria Moralez in this matter. 

(Doc. 380). Mr. Fraas’ application seeks leave to appear without associating local counsel. 

Under the pro hac vice rule, an attorney not admitted to practice before this Court, may be 

permitted to do so for a specific action. L.R. 180(b)(2). However, Local Rule 180(b)(2)(ii) 

provides that to be eligible for admission to practice before this court, the attorney shall designate 

in the application a member of the Bar of this Court with whom the Court and opposing counsel 

may readily communicate regarding that attorney’s conduct of the action and upon whom service 

shall be made. The attorney shall submit with such application the name, address, telephone 

number, and consent of such designee. L.R. 180(b)(2)(ii). 

In a supporting declaration, Mr. Fraas provides evidence that he is a licensed attorney 

living in Alexandria, Virginia and he is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the 

Case 1:16-cv-00282-AWI-BAM Document 383 Filed 04/06/16 Page 1 of 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

2

District of Columbia. See Declaration of Phillip L. Fraas (“Fraas Decl.”), ¶ 2 (Doc. 380). Mr. 

Fraas, however, has been unable to locate local counsel willing to support his pro hac vice

admission. Mr. Fraas declares that he has made diligent efforts to locate a local lawyer who is a 

member of the Bar of this Court to serve as local counsel in this matter. Fraas Decl., ¶ 5. While 

he has located attorneys that could serve as local counsel, they have not returned his phone calls 

or emails. He further explains that his client, Ms. Moralez, is indigent and is therefore unable to 

pay the fees of a lawyer who would serve as local counsel. Fraas Decl., ¶ 6. For those reasons, 

Mr. Fraas requests leave to waive local counsel. 

Pursuant to Local Rule 180(b)(2)(ii), in the absence of local co-counsel, Mr. Fraas may 

not appear pro hac vice in this case. The local rule’s requirement that pro hac vice attorneys 

appear alongside local counsel is not an empty formality. It serves as a safeguard thereby 

assuring the Court that pro hac vice attorneys are well-informed of the rules of the United States 

District Court for the Eastern District of California. Moreover, associating with local counsel is 

not an impossible hurdle. By his own declaration, Mr. Fraas has located some attorneys who may 

be willing to serve as local counsel, but he is still awaiting a response. The Court encourages Mr. 

Fraas to continue his efforts to find local counsel willing to endorse his pro hac vice application. 

In the interim, the Court declines to waive the local counsel requirement at this time. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the pro hac vice application of Phillip L. 

Fraas is DENIED without prejudice until he associates with counsel who is actively admitted to 

practice in this Court and submits such application with the required information as required by 

Local Rule 180(b)(2)(ii).

The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to issue a refund of Mr. Fraas’ pro hac vice

admission fee. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 6, 2016 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-00282-AWI-BAM Document 383 Filed 04/06/16 Page 2 of 2