Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01071/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-01071-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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- 1 - 07cv1071 WQH (WMc)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

STEVE KASSAB,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07cv1071 WQH (WMc)

ORDER

vs.

SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, a

municipal corporation, et al.,

Defendants.

HAYES, Judge:

On December 26, 2007, Attorney John G. Nowakowski filed a Motion to Withdraw as

Counsel of Record for Plaintiff Steve Kassab. (Doc. # 33). John G. Nowakowski declares that he

moves to withdraw because “good grounds for withdrawal exists under one of [sic] more of the

grounds specified in both the California Code of Professional Responsibility and the American Bar

Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct.” Mot. to Withdraw, p. 2. 

Defendants do not oppose the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel. 

An attorney may not withdraw as counsel except by leave of court. Darby v. City of

Torrance, 810 F.Supp. 275, 276 (C.D. Cal. 1992). “The decision to grant or deny counsel’s

motion to withdraw is committed to the discretion of the trial court.” Irwin v. Mascott, 2004 U.S.

Dist. LEXIS 28264 (N.D. Cal. December 1, 2004), citing Washington v. Sherwin Real Estate, Inc.,

694 F.2d 1081, 1087 (7th Cir. 1982). Among other things, courts ruling upon motions to withdraw

as counsel have considered,

Case 3:07-cv-01071-BAS-JLB Document 40 Filed 01/29/08 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 07cv1071 WQH (WMc)

(1) the reasons why withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to

other litigants; (3) the harm withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice;

and (4) the degree to which withdrawal will delay the resolution of the case.

Irwin, 2004 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 28264 at 4.

After reviewing the record and the reasons for withdrawal noted by Attorney John G.

Nowakowski, the Court concludes that there is good cause to grant John G. Nowakowski’s Motion

to Withdraw as Counsel. The Court further concludes that the withdrawal will not prejudice

justice or unduly delay resolution of the case. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record (Doc. #

33), filed by John G. Nowakowski, is GRANTED. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff has until Friday, February 29, 2008 to obtain

new counsel. If Plaintiff does not respond to this Order by Friday, February 29, 2008, the Court

will deem Plaintiff as proceeding pro se. 

The Court directs the Clerk of the Court to serve Plaintiff Steve Kassab with a copy of this

Order by mail at the following address:

4101 Market Street

San Diego, CA 92102

DATED: January 29, 2008

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-01071-BAS-JLB Document 40 Filed 01/29/08 Page 2 of 2