Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00765/USCOURTS-cand-3_05-cv-00765-7/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
IATSE Local 16
Defendant
Charlotte Laughon
Plaintiff

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States District C

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For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Charlotte Laughon,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

IATSE Local 16,

 Defendant(s).

_____________________________/

No. C 05-0765 WDB

AMENDED

ORDER FOLLOWING HEARING ON

PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL'S MOTION

FOR LEAVE TO WITHDRAW AS

COUNSEL

AND

ORDER OF RECUSAL

On February 1, 2006, the undersigned Magistrate Judge conducted a hearing on

plaintiff's counsel's motion for leave to withdraw as counsel. Plaintiff's counsel Dan Siegel

and plaintiff Charlotte Laughon attended the entirety of the motion hearing. William Sokol,

Esq. (counsel for defendant) also made an appearance, however, at my direction Mr. Sokol

left the courtroom during the portion of the proceedings during which I discussed matters

protected by the attorney-client privilege with plaintiff and her attorney.

Plaintiff's Counsel's Motion to Withdraw

After carefully considering the papers submitted by the parties and all of the argument

presented at the hearing, I have come to the conclusion that plaintiff and her attorney

disagree on matters fundamental to the further litigation of her case. I also believe that the

relationship between Ms. Laughon and Mr. Siegel has deteriorated to the point that he can
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no longer effectively represent her interests in this lawsuit. Accordingly, I hereby GRANT

plaintiff's counsel's motion for leave to withdraw as counsel. Ms. Laughon will represent

herself in pro per unless and until she retains a new attorney.

Recusal

In connection with her opposition to plaintiff's counsel's motion to withdraw, plaintiff

submitted to the Court a substantial number of documents that are protected by the attorneyclient privilege. Some of these documents reference and discuss the merits of plaintiff's case.

Given my exposure to attorney-client communications regarding (in part) the merits of

plaintiff's case, I do not believe it is appropriate for me to continue as the judge assigned to

this matter. Accordingly, I hereby RECUSE myself from this case, and request that the

Clerk's Office immediately reassign this matter to another judge.

As discussed at the hearing, if the case is reassigned to another Magistrate Judge,

plaintiff and defendant may either elect to consent to the jurisdiction of that judge or request

reassignment to a District Judge. 

Record of These Proceedings 

1. Transcript

The transcript of the hearing conducted on plaintiff's counsel's motion to withdraw

will not be placed in the public docket. Plaintiff Charlotte Laughon and plaintiff's former

counsel, Dan Siegel, ARE permitted to obtain a copy of the transcript from the attending

court reporter. The court reporter may not release a copy of this transcript to any other

person or entity (whether or not a party in this case) without a prior order signed by the court.

In addition, any person (including Ms. Laughon or Mr. Siegel) who obtains a copy of the

transcript must keep its contents confidential unless and until they obtain a court order

allowing them to reveal some or all of its contents.
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2. Plaintiff's Declaration and Opposition to Reasons for Plaintiff's Counsel's

 Motion to Withdraw

On January 18, 2006, plaintiff's "Declaration and Opposition to Reasons for Plaintiff's

Counsel's Motion to Withdraw" was filed under seal. This document shall remain under

seal.

3. Documents Submitted As Exhibits to Plaintiff's Opposition and

Declaration

On January 18, 2006, the documents submitted as exhibits to plaintiff's opposition and

declaration also were filed under seal. Upon further consideration, and given the sensitive

nature of these documents, I hereby WITHDRAW these documents from the docket in this

case. These documents will instead be lodged in my chambers, where they will remain until

this case is resolved.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 6, 2006 ___________________________

WAYNE D. BRAZIL

United States Magistrate Judge

Copies to:

Parties, WDB, Dan Siegel, Esq.,

Raynee Mercado (Court Reporter)