Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00023/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-00023-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
County of Fresno
Defendant
Darren Hise
Plaintiff
Ivana Muldrew
Plaintiff
Kenneth Taniguichi
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IVANA MULDREW, et al., )

)

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

COUNTY OF FRESNO, et al., )

)

)

Defendants. )

)

 )

1:09cv0023 OWW DLB

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO

WITHDRAW AS ATTORNEY OF RECORD

FOR PLAINTIFF IVANA MULDREW

(Document 21)

ORDER VACATING SCHEDULING ORDER

AS TO PLAINTIFF MULDREW

ORDER SETTING STATUS CONFERENCE

On May 20, 2010, Rayma Church, of the law firm Emerson, Corey, Sorensen, Church &

Libke, counsel for both Plaintiff Ivana Muldrew and Darren Hise, filed the instant motion to

withdraw as counsel of record for Plaintiff Muldrew. The matter was heard on June 25, 2010,

before the Honorable Dennis L. Beck, United States Magistrate Judge. Ms. Church and Ms.

Muldrew appeared. Michael Woods appeared on behalf of Defendants County of Fresno

Kenneth Taniguichi.1

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs filed this discrimination action on January 6, 2009. 

The pre-trial conference is currently set for August 23, 2010, and trial is set for

September 28, 2010. Defendants filed motions for summary judgment, which are set to be heard

on June 28, 2010. 

Mr. Woods was present only during the portion of the hearing that was not held in camera.

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On May 20, 2010, Ms. Church, filed the instant motion to withdraw. Ms. Muldrew did

not respond to the motion, but appeared at the hearing. During the hearing, Defendants indicated

that they did not object to the motion to withdraw but hoped to retain the September 28, 2010,

trial date, at least with respect to Plaintiff Hise. Defendants acknowledged that if Ms. Church is

relieved as counsel for Ms. Muldrew, a continuance will be necessary.

DISCUSSION

Local Rule 182(d) provides:

Unless otherwise provided herein, an attorney who has appeared may not

withdraw leaving the client in propria persona without leave of court upon noticed

motion and notice to the client and all other parties who have appeared. The

attorney shall provide an affidavit stating the current or last known address or

addresses of the client and the efforts made to notify the client of the motion to

withdraw. Withdrawal as attorney is governed by the Rules of Professional

Conduct of the State Bar of California, and the attorney shall conform to the

requirements of those Rules. The authority and duty of the attorney of record

shall continue until relieved by order of the Court issued hereunder. Leave to

withdraw may be granted subject to such appropriate conditions as the Court

deems fit.

See also Cal. Rules of Prof’l Conduct R. 3-700.

Ms. Church requests that she be relieved as counsel based on her belief that an

irreconcilable conflict has arisen between her and Ms. Muldrew. 

Following an in camera hearing and inspection of documents, the motion to withdraw as

counsel of record is GRANTED. The Clerk of the Court is ORDERED to RELIEVE Rayma

Church and the law firm of Emerson, Corey, Sorensen, Church & Libke as counsel of record for

Ms. Muldrew and SUBSTITUTE Plaintiff Muldrew, appearing pro se. 

The Court further VACATES the dates contained in the April 10, 2009, Scheduling

Conference Order as to Plaintiff Muldrew ONLY. The dates SHALL remain applicable to

Plaintiff Hise. 

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A status conference is SCHEDULED for August 30, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., in Courtroom 9. 

Plaintiff Muldrew shall file a written status report no later than July 23, 2010, regarding efforts to

obtain substitute counsel.

It is FURTHER ORDERED that Ms. Church serve a copy of this order on Plaintiff

Muldrew. 

Plaintiff Muldrew’s address for service is:

Ivana Muldrew

4648 East Dakota Avenue

Fresno, CA 93726 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: June 29, 2010 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3b142a UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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