Opinion ID: 1892985
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: D'Ambrosio's Motion to Withdraw

Text: The plaintiff next challenges the hearing justice's grant of D'Ambrosio's motion to withdraw as her counsel. When ruling on an attorney's motion to withdraw, the hearing justice, in his or her sound discretion, should consider the reasons necessitating the withdrawal, the efficient and proper operation of the court, and the effect that granting or denying the motion will have on the parties to the litigation. Carter v. Dworkin, 561 A.2d 389, 391 (R.I.1989) (per curiam). This Court will not disturb the hearing justice's ruling on such a motion absent an abuse of discretion. See id. At the hearing on D'Ambrosio's motion to withdraw, the hearing justice read from a letter that plaintiff wrote to D'Ambrosio, which said: This is a formal request to ask for your withdrawal on my case.    I completely agree with your motion to withdraw. Based on this letter and others expressing similar sentiments, the hearing justice concluded that there was an irreparable breakdown in the relationship between plaintiff and D'Ambrosio. Although plaintiff believed their relationship had been patched up by the time of the hearing, D'Ambrosio's comments proved otherwise. D'Ambrosio alleged that plaintiff had threatened to report him to the Supreme Court Disciplinary Board and had repeatedly questioned his competence. It is clear that to force D'Ambrosio to continue representing plaintiff under these circumstances would be damaging to both and that his desire to withdraw was warranted. At the time of the hearing, there were no additional motions pending before the court in this matter. Thus, the decision to allow D'Ambrosio to withdraw did not significantly affect the proper operation of the court. Further, plaintiff retained new counsel approximately one week after D'Ambrosio withdrew. There is no reason to believe that the decision to allow D'Ambrosio to withdraw negatively affected plaintiff. Accordingly, the hearing justice did not abuse her discretion in granting the motion.