Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00458/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-00458-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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- 1 - 08cv458-J (RBB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES BRYANT, an individual,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 08cv0458-J (RBB)

ORDER:

(1) GRANTING ATTORNEY

MARK-ROBERT BLUEMEL’S

MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS

COUNSEL

(2) CONTINUING DEFENDANT’S

MOTION FOR JUDGMENT ON

THE PLEADINGS AND SETTING

BRIEFING SCHEDULE

v.

AMTRAK, a business form unknown; and

DOES 1 through 50, inclusive,

Defendant.

Before the Court is attorney Mark-Robert Bluemel’s motion to withdraw as attorney of record

for Plaintiff James Bryant. This matter has come for hearing before the Court several times

previously. On May 18, 2009, the Court ordered Mr. Bluemel to submit an itemization of costs

incurred related to this case and continued the motion until June 1, 2009. At the June 1 hearing, the

Court found that the accounting Mr. Bluemel provided was inadequate and ordered Mr. Bluemel to

submit a revised accounting of costs. The Court has received and reviewed the revised

accounting and finds that this accounting is once again inadequate. The itemization for

expenses related to the case remains essentially unchanged from the last submission, except

that the figures have increased by $562.47 with no explanation of those increases. The revised

accounting includes an itemization for over $17,000 in attorney’s fees; however, such fees are

not at issue presently because the contingent fee arrangement set out in the Legal Services

Case 3:08-cv-00458-WQH-RBB Document 38 Filed 06/15/09 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 08cv458-J (RBB)

Agreement signed by Mr. Bryant makes the client responsible only for costs and expenses, not

for attorney’s fees. 

Because Mr. Bluemel has not provided the Court with an adequate accounting of costs

and expenses incurred, the Court will GRANT Mr. Bluemel’s motion to be relieved as counsel

only upon the condition that Mr. Bluemel refund Mr. Bryant the $1500 retainer Mr. Bryant

paid for this case. Mr. Bluemel must submit proof of such refund to the Court within two

weeks of today. 

Also before the Court is Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings. The Court

hereby CONTINUES that motion until Monday, July 13, 2009 at 8:30am. If Plaintiff retains

new counsel, he should appear with counsel at the July 13 hearing; otherwise, he may proceed pro se.

Plaintiff’s Opposition to the Motion will be due June 29, 2009, and Defendant’s Reply will

be due July 6, 2009. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: June 15, 2009

HON. NAPOLEON A. JONES, JR.

United States District Judge

cc: All Parties

 Magistrate Judge Brooks

Case 3:08-cv-00458-WQH-RBB Document 38 Filed 06/15/09 Page 2 of 2