Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00465/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-00465-9/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Steve Burgamy
Defendant
Kenya Darrick Caldwell
Plaintiff
City of Selma
Defendant
Ever Jean Kelley
Plaintiff
Thomas Whiteside
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KENYA DARRICK CALDWELL,

Plaintiff,

v.

CITY OF SELMA, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:13-cv-00465-SAB

ORDER GRANTING MILTON GREG 

MULLANAX’ MOTION TO WITHDRAW

AS ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF AND 

GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ REQUEST TO 

ALLOW INDEPENDENT MEDICAL 

EXAMINATION OF PLAINTIFF

(ECF Nos. 55, 58, 61)

THIRTY-DAY DEADLINE

This action was filed on March 28, 2013, by Ever Jean Kelley as conservator for Plaintiff 

Kenya Darrick Caldwell. The complaint alleged the City of Selma, Thomas Whiteside, and 

Steve Burgamy violated Plaintiff’s right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, due 

process or law, excessive force, equal protection, and freedom of interference with Plaintiff’s 

zone of privacy for an incident in which Plaintiff was shot. Defendants moved for summary 

judgment on the Fourth Amendment claims on July 25, 2014. On August 29, 2014, an order 

issued granting Plaintiff’s partial motion for summary judgment. 

On October 30, 2014, Plaintiff’s counsel filed a motion to withdraw as Plaintiff’s 

attorney of record. (ECF No. 55.) On November 5, 2014, Defendants filed a motion to modify 

the scheduling order to bring a second motion for summary judgment and to allow an 

independent psychological examination of Plaintiff. (ECF No. 58.) Defendants filed a statement 

Case 1:13-cv-00465-SAB Document 66 Filed 12/10/14 Page 1 of 4
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of non-opposition to the motion to withdraw on November 21, 2014. (ECF No. 61.) An order 

granting the motion to amend the scheduling order issued on December 2, 2014, reserving a 

ruling on the request for an independent psychological examination of Plaintiff. (ECF No. 63.) 

On December 5, 2014, Plaintiff filed a statement of non-opposition to the request for an 

independent psychological examination. (ECF No. 64.)

A hearing was held on December 10, 2014, on the motion to withdraw. Counsel Milton 

Greg Mullanax appeared for Plaintiff, and counsel David M. Overstreet appeared for Defendants. 

Also present was Plaintiff’s conservator, Ever Jean Kelley. A break was taken during the 

hearing for Mr. Mullanax and Ms. Kelley to determine if they could resolve the issue of 

continued representation. Following the meeting, Mr. Mullanax reported that he and Ms. Kelley 

have irreconcilable differences regarding the way this action should be handled. 

Mr. Mullanax seeks to withdraw as counsel for Plaintiff because he has been discharged 

by Ms. Kelley. Defendant does not oppose the motion as long as Plaintiff has new counsel to act 

on his behalf. 

An attorney may generally withdraw from representation at the request of the client. The 

Local Rules of the Eastern District of California provide that “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.” L.R. 182(d). “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.” Id. An attorney may withdraw from 

representing a client where “[t]he client knowingly and freely assents to termination of 

employment[.]” Cal. R. P. C. 3–700(C)(5). 

The decision to grant counsel’s motion to withdraw is within the discretion of the trial 

court. Canandaiqua Wine Co., Inc. v. Moldauer, No. 1:12-cv-06599, 2009 WL 89141 *1 (E.D. 

Cal. Jan. 13, 2009). “In ruling on a motion to withdraw, some courts have looked to the 

following factors: 1) the reasons why withdrawal is sought; 2) the prejudice withdrawal may 

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

4) the degree to which withdrawal will delay the resolution of the case.” Id. 

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In this instance, counsel seeks to withdraw because he has been discharged by his client. 

(Decl. of M. Greg Mullanax ¶¶ 7-10.) The Court has recently amended the scheduling order to 

allow a second motion for summary judgment to be filed by February 6, 2015. Should Plaintiff 

wish to obtain substitute counsel, this is sufficient time for Plaintiff to obtain such counsel and 

allow counsel to review the record prior to having to file an opposition to the motion for 

summary judgment. Allowing counsel to withdraw will not prejudice the parties in this action, 

nor should it result in delay of the resolution of the remaining claims. Finally, given the limited 

claims that are remaining in this action, the Court finds that there will be no harm to the 

administration of justice by granting the motion to withdraw.

Plaintiff shall be required to advise the Court whether he has obtained a new attorney or 

intends to proceed in this action in propria persona. Plaintiff is advised that should Ms. Kelley 

decide to proceed in propria persona in this action, the Court will require her to file a resume 

demonstrating that she meets basic standards of competence to protect the interests of Plaintiff. 

If the issue of self-representation arises, the Court will set a hearing on the competence issue. 

Further, Plaintiff is advised that the Court is not inclined to grant continuances on any motion for 

summary judgment filed.

Based on the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Counsel’s motion to withdraw, filed October 30, 2014, is GRANTED;

2. Defendants’ request for an independent psychological examination is GRANTED

and the independent psychological examination shall be conducted within ninety

(90) days from the date of service of this order;

3. Plaintiff shall notify the Court within thirty (30) days of the date of service of this 

order of the identify of new counsel or his intent to proceed in propria persona in 

this action; 

4. The Clerk of the Court shall terminate Minton Greg Mullanax as counsel of 

record for Plaintiff; and 

///

///

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5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to update the docket with the contact 

information of Ever Jean Kelley which shall be filed separately from this order. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 10, 2014 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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