Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01137/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01137-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ROY D. TAYLOR, on behalf of himself 

and all others similarly situated,

Plaintiff,

v.

FEDEX FREIGHT, INC., an Arkansas 

corporation; DOES 1 through 10, inclusive,

Defendants.

No. 1:13-cv-01137-DAD-BAM

ORDER GRANTING MARILYN SMITH’S 

MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL

(Doc. No. 80)

On August 26, 2016, Nancy A. Underwood (formerly Westrup) filed a notice of lien, 

regarding attorneys’ fees awarded to plaintiff’s attorney R. Duane Westrup, and related entities, 

in this class action. (Doc. No. 59.) Attorney Marilyn Smith appeared as counsel of record for the 

creditor, Ms. Underwood. However, on August 27, 2016, Ms. Underwood passed away. 

Courtney Finney, the daughter of Ms. Underwood and Mr. Westrup, was appointed successor in 

interest for Ms. Underwood in the relevant marital proceeding. (Doc. No. 81-1 at 4, 16-17.) She 

is also the sole beneficiary to the Nancy Ann Westrup Family Trust, dated October 15, 2015, 

which became irrevocable at the time of Ms. Underwood’s death. (Doc. No. 81-1 at 3.) On 

September 22, 2016, Finney filed a notice with this court representing that she has consulted an 

attorney and wishes to withdraw the previously filed lien. (Doc. No. 81-1 at 2–9.) Accordingly, on 

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Case 1:13-cv-01137-DAD-BAM Document 84 Filed 10/13/16 Page 1 of 2
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October 12, 2016, in granting final approval of a class action settlement, the court ordered that the lien 

be released. (Doc. No. 83.)

Before the court is attorney Smith’s motion to withdraw as counsel of record for Ms.

Underwood, filed on September 14, 2016. (Doc. No. 80.) As a general rule, the authority of an 

attorney to act for his or her client ends with the client’s death. Vapnek et al., California Practice 

Guide: Professional Responsibility (The Rutter Group 2016), at ¶ 10:192. See also, Cal. Civ. 

Code § 2356. Therefore, pursuant to Local Rule 182 and the California Rules of Professional 

Conduct, Smith’s motion to withdraw as counsel is hereby granted.

Accordingly,

1) Marilyn Smith’s motion to withdraw as counsel (Doc. No. 80) is granted;

2) The Clerk of the Court is directed to terminate attorney Smith as the counsel of record 

for judgment creditor Nancy A. Underwood on the docket of this action; and

3) The hearing on the motion to withdraw currently scheduled for October 18, 2016, at 

9:30 a.m., is vacated.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 13, 2016 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01137-DAD-BAM Document 84 Filed 10/13/16 Page 2 of 2