FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

WEST PALM BEACH DIVISION

CASE NO.: 20-cv-81205-RAR

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE 

COMMISSION,

Plaintiff,

v.

COMPLETE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS 

GROUP, INC. d/b/a PAR FUNDING, et al,

Defendants.

 /

FOX ROTHSCHILD LLP’s MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL FOR 

JOSEPH COLE BARLETA, JOSEPH W. LAFORTE, 

LISA MCELHONE AND THE LME 2017 FAMILY TRUST

Pursuant to S.D. Fla. Local Rules 11.1(d)(3)(A), undersigned counsel respectfully requests

the Court enter an order granting the withdrawal of Fox Rothschild LLP, and attorneys Joseph A. 

DeMaria, Robert F. Elgidely, Alex L. Braunstein, and Brett Berman, as counsel for Individual 

Defendants Joseph Cole Barleta, Joseph W. LaForte, Lisa McElhone (“Individual Defendants”) 

and Relief Defendant The LME 2017 Family Trust (“Relief Defendant”), and state as follows:

1. On July 27, 2020, Joseph A. DeMaria, Robert F. Elgidely and Alex L. Braunstein

of Fox Rothschild LLP filed their Notices of Appearance in this case on behalf of Individual 

Defendants and Relief Defendant [ECF No. 16, 17 and 18], as well as on behalf of Corporate 

Defendants Complete Business Solutions Group, Inc. (“CBSG”) and Full Spectrum Processing, 

INc. (“Full Spectrum”). On July 28, 2020, Brett Berman filed a Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice 

Case 9:20-cv-81205-RAR Document 138 Entered on FLSD Docket 08/13/2020 Page 1 of 4
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[ECF No. 37], and an Order Granting that Motion was entered by the Court on July 29, 2020 [ECF 

No. 44].

2. Subsequently, Joseph Cole Barleta, Joseph W. LaForte, Lisa McElhone and The 

LME 2017 Family Trust separately retained counsel.

3. As Individual Defendants and Relief Defendant will continue to be represented by 

other counsel, the withdrawal of this Firm and Messrs. DeMaria, Berman, Elgidely and Braunstein,

LLP will not interfere with their representation and the progress of these proceedings.

4. Pursuant to Local Rule 11.1, notice of this motion to withdraw as counsel was

provided to counsel for Joseph Cole Barleta, Joseph W. LaForte, Lisa McElhone and The LME 

2017 Family Trust, and to opposing counsel. The contact information for Individual Defendants 

and the Relief Defendant will continue to be through their attorneys:

 ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT, JOSEPH COLE BARLETA

Andre G. Raikhelson, Esq.

Law Offices of Andre G. Raikhelson, LLC

301 Yamato Road, Suite 1240 

Boca Raton, FL 33431

Telephone: 954.895.5566

Facsimile: 954.951.0620

Email: arlaw@raikhelsonlaw.com

Bettina Schein, Esq.

Pro Hac Vice Pending

Law Offices of Bettina Schein

565 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Telephone: 212.880.9417

Email: bschein@bettinascheinlaw.com

 ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT, JOSEPH W. LAFORTE

Daniel Scott Fridman, Esq.

Fridman Fels & Solo, PLLC

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 750

Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Telephone: 305.569.7720

Facsimile: 786.627.4145

Email: dfridman@ffslawfirm.com

James R. Froccaro, Esq.

20 Vanderventer Avenue

Suite 103W

Port Washington, NY 11050

Telephone: 561.944.5062

Email: jrfesq61@aol.com

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 ATTORNEYS FOR DEFENDANT, LISA MCELHONE

Alan S. Futerfas, Esq.

The Law Offices of Alan Futerfas

565 Fifth Avenue, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Telephone: 212.684.8400

Facsimile: 212.684.5269

Email: asfuterfas@futerfaslaw.com

Joel Hirschhorn

GrayRobinson

333 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 3200

Miami, Florida 33131

Telephone: 305.416.6880

Facsimile: 305.416.6887

Email: Joel.Hirschhorn@grayrobinson.com

 ATTORNEYS FOR RELIEF DEFENDANT, THE LME 2017 TRUST

Daniel Scott Fridman, Esq.

Fridman Fels & Solo, PLLC

2525 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 750

Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Telephone: 305.569.7720

Facsimile: 786.627.4145

Email: dfridman@ffslawfirm.com

Joel Hirschhorn

GrayRobinson

333 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 3200

Miami, Florida 33131

Telephone: 305.416.6880

Facsimile: 305.416.6887

Email: Joel.Hirschhorn@grayrobinson.com

WHEREFORE, Fox Rothschild LLP and Joseph A. DeMaria, Brett Berman, Robert F. 

Elgidely and Alex L. Braunstein, respectfully request the Court to enter an Order granting their 

withdrawal as counsel in this case on behalf of the Joseph Cole Barleta, Joseph W. LaForte, Lisa 

McElhone and The LME 2017 Family. Undersigned counsel is submitting a proposed Order 

granting this Motion to the Court.

Respectfully submitted,

Fox Rothschild LLP

One Biscayne Tower, Suite 2750

2 South Biscayne Blvd.

Miami, Florida 33131

Telephone: (305) 442-6547

By: /s/Joseph A. DeMaria

Joseph A. DeMaria, B.C.S.

Florida Bar No. 764711

Email: JDeMaria@FoxRothschild.com

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on August 13, 2020, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk 

of the Court using CM/ECF. 

/s/Joseph A. DeMaria 

Joseph A. DeMaria

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