Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_11-cv-08140/USCOURTS-azd-3_11-cv-08140-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1441 Petition for Removal- Wrongful Death

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Ruth Bradburn Mitchell; Kenneth

Christopher Mitchell, 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

City of Flagstaff; Roy Taylor, 

Defendants. 

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CV 11-08140-PCT-FJM

ORDER

The court has before it Counsel Lee Phillips' request for clarification of nonrepresentation of plaintiffs (doc. 9). We also have before us defendant City of Flagstaff's

motion to dismiss state law claims (doc. 4). The deadline for plaintiffs to respond to the

motion to dismiss was October 7, 2011. Plaintiffs have not responded.

This case arises out of the death of Kenneth Mitchell. Officer defendant Roy Taylor

responded to a disturbance call on August 25, 2010 that culminated in Officer Taylor

shooting and killing Kenneth Mitchell. Plaintiffs originally filed this action in the Superior

Court of Arizona in Coconino County on August 22, 2011 alleging three claims: (1)

negligence - wrongful death; (2) deprivation of constitutional rights pursuant to 42 U.S.C.

§ 1983; and (3) negligent infliction of emotional distress. At the time, plaintiffs were

represented by Tom Shorall, Jr. and Scott Zerlaut of Shorall McGoldrick Brinkmann. The

Shorall firm filed a motion to withdraw as counsel in the Coconino County court on

Case 3:11-cv-08140-FJM Document 15 Filed 10/14/11 Page 1 of 2
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September 9, 2011. In this motion, the Shorall firm indicated that plaintiffs would continue

to be represented by co-counsel, Lee Phillips. The state court granted the motion on

September 13, 2011. Defendants removed this action on the same day, and defendant City

of Flagstaff filed its motion to dismiss on September 20, 2011.

Lee Phillips, a criminal defense lawyer, filed a request for clarification of nonrepresentation with this court on September 30, 2011. Phillips seeks a confirmation from this

court whether he represents plaintiffs, and if so, time to file a motion to withdraw as counsel.

On October 12, 2011, Michael Pearson and Daniel Riley of Curry, Pearson & Wooten, PLC

entered a notice of appearance as counsel of record on behalf of plaintiffs (doc. 10). We

therefore clarify that Lee Phillips is not representing plaintiffs in this matter. 

We are reluctant to rule on the motion to dismiss without first giving plaintiffs and

new counsel the opportunity to respond. We therefore order sua sponte an extension of time

for plaintiffs to file their response to defendant City of Flagstaff's motion to dismiss. 

IT IS ORDERED THAT plaintiffs shall have to and including November 3, 2011

to file their response to the motion to dismiss. 

The clerk shall update the docket to indicate that Lee Brooke Phillips is no longer

counsel for plaintiffs.

DATED this 13th day of October, 2011.

Case 3:11-cv-08140-FJM Document 15 Filed 10/14/11 Page 2 of 2