Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00696/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00696-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SCOTT JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

SAEED ZARAKANI, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-0696-MCE-KJN

ORDER

On December 29, 2014, the court issued an order to show cause (“OSC”) directing 

defendant’s counsel of record, William Bernheim, to show cause in writing why the court should 

not impose sanctions against him personally “for his failure to respond to plaintiff’s discovery 

requests, failure to file a request for withdrawal of counsel or substitution of counsel with the 

court, and failure to appear on behalf of his clients at the December 18, 2014 hearing.” (ECF No. 

20 at 2.) The OSC required Mr. Bernheim to provide his written response by no later than 

January 7, 2015. However, Mr. Bernheim failed to respond to that order.

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In light of Mr. Bernheim’s failure to respond, and in light of defendant Saeed Zarakani’s 

statement made during the December 18, 2014 hearing on plaintiff’s motion to compel that he 

had been notified that Mr. Bernheim intends to withdraw from his representation of defendants in 

 

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In a separate order to be issued concurrently with the present order, the court is imposing

monetary sanctions on Mr. Bernheim for his failure to respond to the court’s OSC.

Case 2:14-cv-00696-MCE-KJN Document 21 Filed 01/15/15 Page 1 of 2
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this matter, and Mr. Zarakani’s representation that defendants are seeking new counsel, the court 

directs Mr. Zarakani to provide the court with a written statement informing the court of whether 

defendants have retained new counsel, and if not, whether they are currently seeking to obtain 

new counsel in this matter. Alternatively, if defendants have already retained new counsel, new 

counsel shall file a substitution of attorney form signed by both new counsel and defendants’ 

current counsel of record, William Bernheim, in conformance with the requirements of Local 

Rule 182(g).

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that within fourteen (14) days of 

this order, defendant Saeed Zarakani shall provide the court with a written statement

informing the court of whether defendants have retained new counsel, and if not, whether they are 

currently seeking to obtain new counsel in this matter. If defendants have already retained new 

counsel, new counsel shall file a substitution of attorney form signed by both new counsel and 

defendants’ current counsel of record, William Bernheim, in conformance with the requirements 

of Local Rule 182(g).

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 14, 2015

Case 2:14-cv-00696-MCE-KJN Document 21 Filed 01/15/15 Page 2 of 2