Opinion ID: 402425
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to grant a continuance after substitution of counsel

Text: 25 R. M. Tanaka and J. M. Tanaka were originally represented by the same attorney, Kinji Kanazawa. When the case failed to settle prior to hearing, Kanazawa withdrew from his representation of R. M. Tanaka and that corporation substituted new counsel. Its request for a continuance in order to prepare for trial was denied by the ALJ. 26 Grant or denial of a continuance is within the ALJ's discretion. NLRB v. Pan Scape Corp., 607 F.2d 198, 201 (7th Cir. 1979); NLRB v. Interboro Contractors, Inc., 432 F.2d 854, 860 (2d Cir. 1970). Abuse of discretion justifying reversal requires that the ruling is demonstrated to clearly prejudice the appealing party. NLRB v. Pan Scape Corp., 607 F.2d at 201; Electromec Design & Development Co. v. NLRB, 409 F.2d 631, 635 (9th Cir. 1969). In this case, the focus of the hearing was R. M. Tanaka's status as an alter ego, thus the relevant facts should have been within its own knowledge. Further, R. M. Tanaka's original counsel should have foreseen that the parties' failure to settle before trial might necessitate his withdrawal from the representation of one of the parties. Under these circumstances, we find no abuse of discretion in the refusal to continue the proceedings. See NLRB v. Interboro Contractors, Inc., 432 F.2d at 860. 27 R. M. Tanaka also charged that the ALJ's over-concern with dispatch compromised the parties' right to a fair hearing. This is simply not supported by the record. All parties were permitted to present their case fully.