Phillips v. IMS Loans, Inc.

Filing 21

ORDER signed by Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr on 7/15/10 ORDERING that due to pltf's counsel's ineligible status in the State Bar, the court VACATES the pending sanctions orders, Docket #'s 11 and 20 , as collection efforts appear to b e futile. As for deft's 15 Motion for Attorney's Fees, the court directs deft to attempt to personally serve pltf Donna L. Phillips with the motion. Due to the State Bar proceedings, pltf's counsel is effectively without counsel in t his case. The court orders deft to attempt to serve pltf with the motion within 30 days. The hearing on the motion currently scheduled for 7/23/10 is VACATED. The motion hearing will be reset upon receipt of either a proof of service or declaration attesting to the efforts made to locate pltf. The motion is deferred pending further order of the court. (Owen, K)

Phillips v. IMS Loans, Inc.

Doc. 21

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1 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ----oo0oo---DONNA L. PHILLIPS, Plaintiff, v. IMS LOANS, INC., a California corporation, WELLS FARGO BANK, as successor by acquisition to Wachovia Bank and World Savings Bank, a California corporation; and DOES 1 through 10, inclusive, Defendants. ----oo0oo---This matter is before the court on (1) the court's order imposing sanctions and dismissing the case, filed May 11, 2010 (Docket #s 11, 14) and (2) defendant Wachovia Mortgage, a division of Wells Fargo Bank's ("defendant") motion for an award of attorneys' fees (Docket #s 15, 18, 19) and the court's order to show cause ("OSC") to plaintiff's counsel for failure to NO. CIV. S-09-3112 FCD/EFB MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

Dockets.Justia.com

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respond to the motion (Docket #20).1

On May 11, 2010, the court

dismissed this mortgage foreclosure case, under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b), for plaintiff's failure to comply with court orders or otherwise prosecute the case. Defendant now

moves for an award of attorneys' fees based on that order, arguing that as the prevailing party in the case, it is entitled to fees pursuant to its contracts with plaintiff. Defendant originally removed this case to this court on November 6, 2009. Subsequently, on November 13, 2009, it moved (Docket #6.) Plaintiff failed to respond

to dismiss the case.

to the motion, and the court issued an OSC to plaintiff's counsel on February 1, 2010. (Docket #9.) Again, plaintiff failed to

respond, and on March 29, 2010, the court issued an order sanctioning counsel $150.00, and it issued a further OSC to plaintiff's counsel re: imposition of additional monetary sanctions, in the amount of $300.00, and for dismissal of the case for failure to prosecute. (Docket #10.) Counsel did not

respond, and the court issued its May 11 Order dismissing the case and imposing sanctions on counsel in the amount of $450.00. (Docket #11.) Counsel did not timely pay the sanctions, and on

June 4, 2010, the court set the matter for a hearing on July 23, 2010. (Docket #14.) Counsel additionally did not respond to defendant's motion for attorneys' fees, which sought an award of $7,907.50 against plaintiff, personally, pursuant to the terms of the Promissory

Because oral argument will not be of material assistance, the court orders these matters submitted on the briefs. E.D. Cal. L.R. 230(g). 2

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Note and Deed of Trust plaintiff executed with defendant. (Docket #18.) As a result of counsel's failure to respond to

that motion, the court issued another OSC on June 28, 2010 (Docket #20), setting the matter for hearing on July 23, 2010. Again, plaintiff's counsel did not respond to the OSC pertaining to defendant's attorneys' fees motion. Because of plaintiff's counsel's continued failure to comply with the court's orders, the court reviewed counsel's state bar records. On April 9, 2010, a Notice of Disciplinary Charges was

issued to counsel by the State Bar of California, charging counsel with 29 offenses, including among other things: failure to maintain client funds in trust account, moral turpitude misappropriation of funds, failure to cooperate in State Bar investigations, formation of a partnership with a non-lawyer, failure to refund unearned fees, sharing legal fees with a nonlawyer, unauthorized practice of law in another jurisdiction, and failure to perform with competence. (In the Matter of: Stephen

Paul Collette, No. 186439, Case Nos. 09-O-10385, 09-O-12389, 09O-12430, 09-O-12656, 09-O-13415, 09-O-13532, 09-O-14457.) Like his conduct in this court, counsel failed to respond to the charges, and on June 21, 2010, the State Bar Court issued an order, entering default against counsel, which deemed the factual allegations of the charges admitted, and suspended counsel from the practice of law. (In the Matter of Stephen P. Collette, His suspension

Member No. 186439, Case No. 09-O-10385-RAH.)

remains in effect until counsel requests and the Bar Court grants a motion for termination of actual suspension. counsel remains ineligible to practice law. 3 Until then,

(Id.)

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As a result of the State Bar disciplinary proceedings and counsel's present ineligible status, the court HEREBY VACATES, in its discretion, the pending sanctions orders (Docket #s 11, 20) against counsel as further collection efforts appear to be futile. A hearing on these orders is likewise unnecessary.

With respect to defendant's motion for attorneys' fees, the court directs defendant to attempt to personally serve plaintiff Donna L. Phillips with the motion. Due to the State Bar

proceedings, plaintiff is effectively without counsel in this case. Defendant's motion seeks imposition of an award of

attorneys' fees against plaintiff, personally, pursuant to her contracts with defendant. It is not clear whether plaintiff has

any knowledge about the status of her counsel or the pending motion against her. As such, the court orders defendant to

attempt to serve plaintiff with the motion within 30 days. Defendants shall file either a proof of service, indicating how and at what location service was effectuated, or a declaration attesting to the efforts made to locate plaintiff. Upon receipt

of either the proof of service or declaration, the court will reset the motion for attorneys' fees for hearing, providing if plaintiff is located, a time for her to respond to the motion. Accordingly, the hearing on defendant's motion for fees (Docket #15), set for July 23, 2010, is HEREBY VACATED. /// /// /// /// /// 4 The motion is

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deferred pending further order of the court. IT IS SO ORDERED. DATED: July 15, 2010

FRANK C. DAMRELL, JR. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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