Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02722/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-02722-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

TIMOTHY DEMARTINI, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

MICHAEL DEMARTINI, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:14-cv-2722 JAM CKD PS

ORDER

Pending before the court is defendants’ motion for disqualification of counsel. The matter 

was submitted on the papers. Upon review of the documents in support and opposition, THE 

COURT FINDS AS FOLLOWS:

Defendants move to disqualify plaintiffs’ counsel on the grounds that plaintiffs’ counsel 

are potential witnesses in this case and that plaintiffs’ counsel should be presumed to be tainted 

because they have acted as co-counsel with Susan McGuire. Defendants’ contentions are 

meritless. The court finds no basis for disqualification of plaintiffs’ counsel. See California Rule 

of Professional Conduct 5-210 (Member as Witness); Local Rule 180(e) (“Rules of Professional 

Conduct of the State Bar of California adopted as standards of professional conduct in this Court);

see also Optyl Eyewear Fashion Int’l Corp. v. Style Companies, Ltd., 760 F.2d 1045, 1050 (9th 

Cir. 1985) (disqualification motions subjected to “particularly strict judicial scrutiny”). 

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Case 2:14-cv-02722-DJC-CKD Document 98 Filed 12/01/15 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the motion to disqualify counsel (ECF No. 

87) is denied. 

Dated: December 1, 2015

4 demartini2722.disq

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:14-cv-02722-DJC-CKD Document 98 Filed 12/01/15 Page 2 of 2