Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02474/USCOURTS-casd-3_14-cv-02474-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1441in Removal- Insurance Contract

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

STEPHEN T. MUGGLEBEE,

Plaintiff,

v. 

ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, 

Defendant.

Case No.: 14CV2474-MMA (JMA)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S 

ATTORNEY DOUGLAS F. 

WALTERS’ MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL 

[Doc. No. 22] 

 On October 17, 2015, this case was removed from the Superior Court, San Diego 

County. On November 9, 2015, Plaintiff’s attorney Douglas F. Walters (“Walters”) filed 

a motion to withdraw as counsel. [Doc. No. 22.] Defendant Allstate Insurance Company 

(“Defendant Allstate”) does not oppose the motion. [Doc. No. 26.] Plaintiff Stephen T. 

Mugglebee (“Plaintiff Mugglebee”) opposes his attorney’s motion to withdraw. [Doc. 

No. 28.] 

DISCUSSION

 “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); see also S.D. Cal. Civ. R. 

83.3(g). The decision to grant or deny a motion for withdrawal is within the court’s 

sound discretion, and courts consider the following factors: “(1) the reasons why 

withdrawal is sought; (2) the prejudice withdrawal may cause to other litigants; (3) the 

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harm withdrawal might cause to the administration of justice; and (4) the degree to which 

withdrawal will delay the resolution of the case.” Garrett v. Ruiz, No. 11cv2540, 2013 

WL 163420, *2 (S.D. Cal. Jan. 14, 2013). Pursuant to California Rule of Professional 

Conduct 3-700(C)(1)(d), an attorney may seek to withdraw from representation if the 

client “renders it unreasonably difficult for the member to carry out the employment 

effectively.” Further, Rule 3-700(C)(6) allows permissive withdrawal where counsel 

“believes in good faith, in a proceeding pending before a tribunal, that the tribunal will 

find the existence of other good cause for withdrawal.” 

In the declaration accompanying Walters’ motion, Walters states that, “it became 

apparent to me that certain financial conditions to my representation as set out in my 

retainer agreement would not be honored,” and “[t]hat realization has rendered me unable 

to continue my representation as I do not believe I can adequately represent my client.” 

[Doc. No. 22-1, at ¶ 3.] Walters cites other issues that have also arisen, but declines to 

give more detail for the sake of honoring the attorney-client privilege. Plaintiff opposes, 

arguing it would violate various rules of professional conduct for Walters to withdraw. 

[Doc. No. 28.] The crux of Plaintiff’s opposition is that Walters should not have taken 

his case if he did not have the resources to adequately represent him. 

However, Plaintiff Mugglebee’s argument seems to misread Walters’ motion. 

Walters states that it has become apparent recently—not that it was apparent at the outset 

of the attorney-client relationship—that financial requirements set out in their retainer 

agreement would not be honored. This realization has now caused Walters to feel that he 

cannot adequately represent Plaintiff Mugglebee. Walters has declared, under penalty of 

perjury, that he can no longer adequately represent Plaintiff Mugglebee in present 

circumstances. Plaintiff Mugglebee will not be unduly prejudiced if his attorney is 

allowed to withdraw, as his deadline for expert designation was recently extended to 

February 4, 2016, over seven weeks from the date of this Order. [Doc. No. 25.] Further, 

the parties may supplement their expert designations on or before March 3, 2016. [Id.] 

As such, Walters’ withdrawal would also not unduly delay resolution of the case. 

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For the foregoing reasons, the Court finds good cause for Walters’ withdrawal. 

Walters’ motion to withdraw is GRANTED. [Doc. No. 22.] Walters will be terminated 

as counsel of record for Plaintiff concurrent with the filing of this Order. If Plaintiff 

Mugglebee wishes to substitute new counsel, he must notify the Court of substituted 

counsel within 30 days of this Order. The Court advises Plaintiff that until he retains new 

counsel, he is proceeding in this matter pro se, and therefore must provide the Court with 

his current contact information so that the docket of the case may be updated accordingly. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2015

 _____________________________ 

 Hon. Michael M. Anello 

United States District Judge 

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