Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00273/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00273-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1355 Petition for Return of Property

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- 1 - 07cv0273

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LIZA HOFFMAN,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 07cv0273 WQH (LSP)

ORDER

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

HAYES, Judge:

Pending before the Court is the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record for Plaintiff

Liza Hoffman, filed by Attorney Patrick Q. Hall and the law firm of Seltzer Caplan McMahon

Vitek. (Doc. # 17). 

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,

(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.

According to the declaration of Attorney Hall, Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek

Case 3:07-cv-00273-WQH-LSP Document 21 Filed 10/16/07 Page 1 of 2
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- 2 - 07cv0273

moved to withdraw because Attorney Hall and Ms. Hoffman have reached irreconcilable

differences that have created a conflict of interest in further representation, and because

Ms. Hoffman has failed to pay agreed upon fees. After reviewing the record and the

reasons for withdrawal noted by Attorney Hall, the Court concludes that there is good

cause to grant Attorney Hall’s Motion to Withdraw as Counsel of Record. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel Record is

GRANTED. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Attorney Patrick Hall notify the Court in writing

of Plaintiff Liza Hoffman’s address for service of process no later than Tuesday, October

23, 2007. 

DATED: October 16, 2007

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:07-cv-00273-WQH-LSP Document 21 Filed 10/16/07 Page 2 of 2