Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00414/USCOURTS-caed-2_12-cv-00414-30/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

JOHN PHILIP MONCRIEF, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF 

CORRECTIONS AND 

REHABILITATION, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:12-cv-0414 MCE AC P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. On November 2, 2016, a closed hearing on plaintiff’s counsels’ motion to withdraw was 

held before the undersigned.1

 ECF No. 99. Good cause appearing, the motion to withdraw will 

be granted. As discussed, counsel shall, within twenty-four hours of the hearing, and prior to 

their release from representation, mail plaintiff a letter further explaining the reasons for their 

withdrawal contained in their August 2, 2016 letter to plaintiff. Counsel shall be released from 

their representation of plaintiff forty-eight hours after the hearing, and plaintiff will be given sixty 

days thereafter to retain another attorney to represent him in this case. 

If no notice of appearance is filed by January 3, 2017, plaintiff shall proceed in pro se. 

 

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 Defendants’ counsel was present, but was temporarily excused from the courtroom for 

discussion involving attorney-client communications. 

Case 2:12-cv-00414-MCE-AC Document 100 Filed 11/03/16 Page 1 of 3
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Plaintiff may request an extension of the 60 day period if he is making concrete progress toward 

securing counsel. Any such request should be filed before the deadline expires. A request for 

additional time must specify (1) how much additional time plaintiff wants, (2) what efforts 

plaintiff has made to locate new counsel, and (3) the status of plaintiff’s search and reasons why 

additional time can be expected to result in representation by counsel (i.e. an attorney has 

expressed interest in taking the case, plaintiff and counsel are discussing the terms of 

representation, etc). An extension of time will be granted only if plaintiff appears to be close to 

hiring new counsel. 

 In light of the court’s ruling on the motion to withdraw, defendants’ pending motion for 

summary judgment (ECF No. 81) will be vacated. If counsel appears on plaintiff’s behalf, the 

court will issue an order setting a status conference to set a briefing schedule for a renewed 

motion for summary judgment. If counsel does not appear for plaintiff within the sixty day 

period, and plaintiff does not request an extension of time, an order will issue setting a deadline 

for defendants’ to file a renewed motion for summary judgment and briefing will proceed as set 

forth in Local Rule 230(l). 

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

 1. The motion to withdraw (ECF No. 93) is granted. Plaintiff’s counsel, Kenneth N. 

Frucht and Frederick J. Geonetta of Geonetta & Frucht, LLP, shall be released from their 

representation of plaintiff effective forty-eight hours from the November 2, 2016 hearing. 

 2. Within twenty-four hours of the November 2, 2016 hearing, and prior to their release 

from representation, either Mr. Frucht or Mr. Geonetta shall mail plaintiff a letter further 

explaining the reasons for their withdrawal of representation. 

 3. Plaintiff shall have sixty days to locate and retain a new lawyer. If another attorney 

has not filed a notice of appearance in this case by January 3, 2017, plaintiff shall continue to 

proceed pro se. 

 4. Defendants’ motion for summary judgment (ECF No. 81) is VACATED. A further 

order regarding renewed briefing will issue once the status of plaintiff’s representation is 

resolved. 

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 5. All other deadlines and dates are hereby VACATED. 

6. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve plaintiff with a copy of this order at Richard 

J. Donovan Correctional Facility, 480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179. 

DATED: November 2, 2016 

Case 2:12-cv-00414-MCE-AC Document 100 Filed 11/03/16 Page 3 of 3