Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04837/USCOURTS-cand-3_06-cv-04837-6/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GORDON SIMPSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

OFFICER A. McNACK, et al.,

Defendants.

___________________________________/

No. C-06-4837 EMC

CORRECTED ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFF’S ATTORNEY’S MOTION

TO WITHDRAW; AND SETTING CASE

MANAGEMENT DEADLINES

(Docket No. 37)

Dates previously listed in 11/26/07 Order of

January 21, 2007; January 30, 2007; and

January 23, 2007 corrected to 2008, as

indicated in bold and underlined format

Guy Odom, the attorney for Plaintiff Gordon Simpson, has filed a motion to withdraw as

counsel for Mr. Simpson. Mr. Simpson has not filed any opposition to the motion to withdraw. Nor

did he appear at the hearing on the motion to withdraw, which was held on November 21, 2007. 

Having considered the motion to withdraw as well as the representations of counsel made at the

November 21 hearing, the Court hereby GRANTS the motion.

“In the Northern District of California, the conduct of counsel is governed by the standards

of professional conduct required of members of the State Bar of California, including the Rules of

Professional Conduct of the State Bar of California.” Hill Design Group v. Wang, No. C 04-521 JF

(RS), 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93449, at *11 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 11, 2006). Under California Rule of

Professional Conduct 3-700, counsel may withdraw from representation if, inter alia, the client’s

“conduct renders it unreasonably difficult for the [attorney] to carry out the employment

effectively.” Cal. R. Prof. Conduct 3-700(C)(1)(d). In the instant case, the Court finds that Mr.

Odom can no longer effectively represent Mr. Simpson because the latter has “been unwilling or

unable to communicate or cooperate with [counsel].” Id. at *12-13 (granting motion to withdraw as

Case 3:06-cv-04837-EMC Document 45 Filed 12/20/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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 The last known telephone number for Mr. Simpson is (510) 887-0394. As above, the Court

will use this number, if needed, to communicate with Mr. Simpson unless he notifies the Court

otherwise.

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counsel on that basis). This finding is based on both the declaration of Mr. Odom and

representations made by counsel at the in camera hearing held herein. Mr. Simpson did not file any

opposition to the motion nor did he appear at the hearing.

Accordingly, the motion to withdraw is granted. Effective immediately, Mr. Simpson shall

proceed as a pro se litigant unless he finds counsel to represent him and counsel makes an

appearance with this Court. All papers and pleadings shall be served on Mr. Simpson at the last

known address provided by counsel -- which is 1090 B Street, #139, Hayward, California 94546 --

unless Mr. Simpson notifies the Court that a different address should be used.1

The Court shall give Mr. Simpson until January 21, 2008, to locate counsel to represent him

in this matter and have that counsel file an appearance in this case. The case is stayed until said

date. If no appearance is made by that time, the case shall proceed and Mr. Simpson shall continue

with this case as a pro se litigant. On January 30, 2008, at 2:30 p.m., the Court shall hold a further

case management conference. The parties should file a joint case management conference statement

by January 23, 2008, to provide the Court with an update on the case and to propose new case

management deadlines. All previous case management deadlines, as set forth in the Court’s case

management scheduling order of July 26, 2007, see Docket No. 34, are hereby VACATED.

In the interim, the Court shall refer this case for settlement conference before a Magistrate

Judge. 

Upon receipt, Mr. Odom is directed to serve this Order on Mr. Simpson and shall file a

Proof/Certificate of Service with this Court. 

This order disposes of Docket No. 37. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 20, 2007

_________________________ EDWARD M. CHEN

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 3:06-cv-04837-EMC Document 45 Filed 12/20/07 Page 2 of 2