Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00767/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00767-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983cvp Civil Rights (Personal Property)

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19CV767-GPC(WVG)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ERNEST JACKSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY OF SAN DIEGO; COUNTY OF 

SAN DIEGO, and DOES 1-25, inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No.: 19CV767-GPC(WVG)

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW AS PLAINTIFF’S 

COUNSEL

[Dkt. No. 13.]

Before the Court is a motion to withdraw as Plaintiff’s counsel for Plaintiff Ernest 

Jackson. (Dkt. No. 13.) Defendant City of San Diego filed a non-opposition to the 

motion to withdraw. (Dkt. No. 18.) Based on the reasoning below, the Court DENIES 

motion to withdraw as Plaintiff’s counsel. 

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). The trial court has discretion 

whether to grant or deny an attorney’s motion to withdraw in a civil case. See La Grand 

v. Stewart, 133 F.3d 1253, 1269 (9th Cir. 1998); Stewart v. Boeing Co., No. CV 12-5621 

RSWL(AGRx), 2013 WL 3168269, at *1 (C.D. Cal. June 19, 2013). Courts should 

consider the following factors when ruling upon a motion to withdraw as counsel: (1) the 

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19CV767-GPC(WVG)

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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. Curtis v. Illumination 

Arts, Inc., No. C12-0991JLR, 2014 WL 556010, at *4 (W.D. Wash. Feb. 12, 2014); Deal 

v. Countrywide Home Loans, No. C09-01643 SBA, 2010 WL 3702459, at *2 (N.D. Cal. 

Sept. 15, 2010). 

Local Civil Rule 83.3(f)(3) also provides: 

Withdrawals. (a) A notice of motion to withdraw as attorney of record must 

be served on the adverse party and on the moving attorney's client. (b) A 

declaration pertaining to such service must be filed. Failure to make 

service as required by this section or to file the required declaration of 

service will result in a denial of the motion.

Local Civil R. 83.3(f)(3) (emphasis added). Counsel recognizes that a motion to 

withdraw as counsel must be served on the adverse parties and the moving counsel’s 

client, (Dkt. No. 13-1 at 21

), yet counsel did not file a declaration that her client, Plaintiff 

Ernest Jackson, has been served with the motion. Counsel’s declaration and proof of 

service filed with the Court only states that she e-filed the motion through the Court’s 

electronic filing system but her client’s address is not on the docket for this case. (Dkt. 

No. 13-3.) 

Accordingly, the Court DENIES the motion to withdraw for failing to file a 

declaration indicating that her client has been served with the motion in violation of 

Local Civil Rule 83.3(f)(3). The hearing set for November 1, 2019 shall be vacated. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 21, 2019

 

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