Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00714/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00714-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 448
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights - Education
Cause of Action: 28:1441dea Removal - Disabilities Education Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SHILOH ANGEL BENTACOURT,

Plaintiff,

vs.

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF 

LAW, et al.,

Defendants.

CASE NO. 19cv714-LAB (MDD)

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW [Dkt. 13]

Attorney Maria Hinayon has moved ex parte to withdraw as counsel of record for 

Plaintiff Shiloh Bentacourt. Dkt. 13. The Court instructed any party opposing that motion 

to file a formal opposition July 5, 2019, but none was filed.1 

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 grant or denial of an attorney's

motion to withdraw in a civil case is a matter addressed to the discretion of the trial court.” 

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 counsel seeks to withdraw; (2) the possible prejudice that withdrawal may cause 

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

and (4) the extent to which withdrawal will delay resolution of the case. Deal v. 

 

1 Ms. Bentacourt submitted an ex parte letter to the Court on June 26, 2019. The Court 

rejected this document for filing but invited her to file a formal opposition by July 5, 2019. 

Dkt. 16. She did not file an opposition. 

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Countrywide Home Loans, 2010 WL 3702459 at *2 (N.D. Cal. 2010). After reviewing the 

record and the reasons for withdrawal noted in the motion—which include an 

irreconcilable breakdown of the attorney-client relationship and that Ms. Bentacourt has 

discharged Ms. Hinayon as her attorney—the Court concludes that there is good cause 

to grant the motion to withdraw as counsel. The Court further concludes that the 

withdrawal will not prejudice litigants, harm the administration of justice, or unduly delay 

resolution of the case.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Ms. Hinayon’s Motion to Withdraw as Attorney is 

GRANTED. Dkt. 13. Maria Hinayon is no longer attorney of record for Plaintiff Shiloh 

Bentacourt in this action. Civil Local Rule 83.3 provides, in part:

Whenever a party has appeared by an attorney, the party may 

not afterwards appear or act in the party’s own behalf in the 

action, or take any step in that action, unless an order of 

substitution has first have been made by the court, after notice 

to the attorney of such party, and to the opposite party . . . . 

When an attorney of record for any person ceases to act for a 

party, such party must appear in person or appoint another 

attorney by a written substitution of attorney signed by the 

party, the attorney ceasing to act, and the newly appointed 

attorney, or by a written designation filed in the case and 

served upon the attorney ceasing to act . . . .

S.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 83.3(f)(1), (f)(2). IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, no later than sixty

(60) days from the date of this Order, Plaintiff Shiloh Bentacourt must file a motion for 

substitution pursuant to Local Rule 83.3, requesting an order of substitution and indicating 

whether she will represent herself or have new counsel to represent her in this action. If 

no motion for substitution is filed within sixty (60) days from the date of this Order, 

Plaintiff’s claims against the Defendants will be dismissed without prejudice. Ms. Hinayon 

is ORDERED to serve a copy of this Order on Ms. Bentacourt and to file a notice with the 

/ / /

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Court after she has done so. Once she has served Ms. Bentacourt and filed the required 

notice, Ms. Hinayon’s obligations related to this case are terminated. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 15, 2019

HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS

Chief United States District Judge

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