Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01444/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01444-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Personal Injury

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ORDER RELIEVING PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL; NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE AND OSC 

Stanley K. Jacobs, Esq., SBN 30363

Thomas F. Borcher, Esq., SBN 110255

JACOBS, JACOBS & EISFELDER, LLP

11755 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 2150

Los Angeles, California 90025

Telephone: (310) 473-9211/(310) 820-4500

Fax: (310) 473-6811/(310) 826-0683

Attorneys for Plaintiff

GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – FRESNO DIVISION

GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

vs.

BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA

FE CORPORATION; BURLINGTON

NORTHERN AND SANTA FE

RAILWAY COMPANY; BNSF

RAILWAY COMPANY; NATIONAL

RAILROAD PASSENGER

CORPORATION (AMTRAK);

ERNEST MARTINEZ; STATE OF

CALIFORNIA, DEPARTMENT OF

TRANSPORTATION, CALTRANS;

FRESNO CITY COLLEGE; STATE

CENTER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

DISTRICT; COUNTY OF FRESNO;

CITY OF FRESNO; CLARDY LEE

MULLIN, JR.; DOES 1 through 500,

inclusive,

Defendants.

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CASE NO. 1:05-CV-01444 OWW DLB

Judge: Hon. Oliver W. Wanger

Crtrm: 3

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

COUNSEL’S MOTION TO BE

RELIEVED OF COUNSEL;

FINDINGS OF FACT;

and,

NOTICE OF STATUS

CONFERENCE AND ORDER TO

SHOW CAUSE HEARING

Status Conf/OSC: 2/14/07

Time: 8:45 a.m.

Ctrm: 3

Plaintiff’s Counsel’s Motion to Be Relieved of Counsel for Plaintiff came on for a

hearing on January 22, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the United States District

Court for the Eastern District of California, the Honorable Oliver W. Wanger, Judge

Presiding. Plaintiff’s counsel, Thomas F. Borcher, was present as was counsel for the

Case 1:05-cv-01444-OWW -DLB Document 43 Filed 01/30/07 Page 1 of 4
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ORDER RELIEVING PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL; NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE AND OSC 

City of Fresno, State Center Community College District, BNSF and the National

Railroad Passenger Corporation and BNSF Railway Company. There was no appearance

by Plaintiff GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS.

Plaintiff’s counsel advised the Court at the time of the hearing that counsel had

received the signed certified mail receipt that was attached to the motion that was sent to

the Plaintiff indicating that the Plaintiff had received the motion.

Plaintiff’s counsel also advised the Court at the time of the hearing that counsel

had not had any communication with the Plaintiff since writing to her prior to the filing

of the Motion to Be Relieved and, therefore, counsel did not know whether or not MS.

THOMAS had attempted to contact new counsel.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Based upon the record before it, the Court makes the following Findings of Fact:

(1) Plaintiff GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS has not opposed or in any

way responded to her attorney’s Motion to Be Relieved of Counsel.

(2) Plaintiff’s counsel has made certain recommendations to Ms. THOMAS as

to how this matter ought to proceed, however, Ms. THOMAS disagrees with those

recommendations and has not authorized her attorney to proceed in the manner that the

attorneys feel is most appropriate under the circumstances.

(3) Due to the counsel’s obligations of confidentiality, the exact nature of the

disagreement between Plaintiff’s counsel and the client have not been set forth in detail.

However, based on counsel’s Declaration and the fact that Ms. THOMAS has not

challenged counsel’s representations, the Court accepts the representations of counsel as

to the presence of an irreparable dispute between client and counsel. 

(4) The circumstances as set forth in the moving papers provides a basis for

granting counsel’s motion pursuant to Rule 3-700(C)(1) of the California Rules of

Professional Conduct.

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ORDER RELIEVING PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL; NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE AND OSC 

(5) Plaintiff’s counsel has complied with Local Rule 83-182(d) of Local Rules

for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California which addresses

the withdrawal of counsel in a pending matter.

(6) Plaintiff’s counsel has stated that his firm is willing to waive any attorney

fees as an accommodation to the client as it may assist her in more easily retaining new

counsel.

ORDER

Good cause having been shown for granting Plaintiff’s counsel’s Motion to Be

Relieved of Counsel,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND ADJUDGED:

(1) The law firm of Jacobs, Jacobs & Eisfelder is hereby relieved of further

obligation for representing Plaintiff GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS in the action

after giving notice to all parties and to Plaintiff GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS of

this Court’s ruling;

(2) Plaintiff’s counsel’s request to continue the trial date and all trial related

dates is denied at this time;

(3) All parties are ordered to appear for a Status Conference and an Order to

Show Cause Hearing in Re: Continuing the Trial Date and Trial Related on February 14,

2007, at 8:45 a.m. in Courtroom 3 of the United States District Court, Eastern District

located at 2500 Tulare Street, Fresno, California;

(4) Plaintiff GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS is ordered to keep all

counsel advised of her residence address and telephone number so as to permit counsel to

effectively communicate with her about this action;

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ORDER RELIEVING PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL; NOTICE OF STATUS CONFERENCE AND OSC 

(5) Moving party is ordered to notify all counsel by mail concurrently with the

lodging of this Order of GEORGINA SHANTELL THOMAS’ residence address and

telephone number.IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 29, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-01444-OWW -DLB Document 43 Filed 01/30/07 Page 4 of 4