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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS

SAN ANTONIO DIVISION

DENISE LEAL SANCHEZ,

 Plaintiff,

vs.

CITY OF POTEET, TEXAS, ERIC A. 

JIMINEZ, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY 

AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR OF THE 

CITY OF POTEET; AND BRUCE 

HICKMAN, IN HIS OFFICIAL 

CAPACITY AS CHIEF OF POLICE OF 

THE CITY OF POTEET;

 Defendants.

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SA-20-CV-00618-ESC

ORDER

Before the Court in the above-styled cause of action is the Motion to Withdraw as 

Counsel for Plaintiff filed by Adrian A. Spears, II, Art Martinez de Vara, and Charles H. Sierra 

of the Martinez de Vara Law Firm, PLLC [#56]. Movants have supplemented their motion as 

directed by the Court with the signature of Plaintiff, demonstrating her consent to their 

withdrawal [#59]. The Court will grant the motion and give the Plaintiff the requested 21 days to 

secure new counsel and file a response to Defendants’ pending motion to dismiss. If Plaintiff is 

unable to find substitute counsel, she is responsible for filing her own pro se response to the 

motion to dismiss or risk the motion being granted as unopposed. See W.D. Tex. Loc. R. CV7(e). 

In the event that Plaintiff ultimately represents herself in this case, the Court directs her to 

the following resources to assist her in prosecuting her case: 

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• The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, available at: www.uscourts.gov/file/rulescivil-procedure

• This Court’s Local Rules, available at https://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/courtinformation/lcr-civil-rules/

• The “Complete Pro Se Manual” which is available on the Court’s website at:

https://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/filing-without-an-attorney/.

Plaintiff is directed to familiarize herself with these resources. Also, although pro se

litigants are held to a less stringent standard, they are nevertheless required to follow the rules

that govern all litigants in federal court. Grant v. Cuellar, 59 F.3d 524, 524 (5th Cir. 1995).

These rules include but are not limited to the rules and Court orders regarding conference with

opposing counsel, following deadlines imposed by the rules and the Court’s Scheduling Order,

observing the response times for motions as set forth in Local Rule CV-7, and keeping the Court

updated with a current address to ensure all filings are received.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the Motion to Withdraw as Counsel for Plaintiff 

filed by Adrian A. Spears, II, Art Martinez de Vara, and Charles H. Sierra of the Martinez de 

Vara Law Firm, PLLC [#56] is GRANTED.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Mr. Spears, Mr. Martinez de Vara, and Mr. Sierra 

are hereby WITHDRAWN as counsel for Plaintiff.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this case is STAYED for 21 days, until June 17, 

2022, to allow for the appearance of new counsel.

IT IS FINALLY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s response to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss 

[#54] is due on or before June 17, 2022.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

SIGNED this 27th day of May, 2022.

ELIZABETH S. ("BETSY") CHESTNEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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