Lee Darnell Watson v. City of San Jose (San Jose Police Department) et al

Filing 126

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE: Re: Dkt. No. 121 . Mr. Sehat and Ms. Cliff must file a joint statement clarifying who represents Mr. Watson 12/5/2017. Signed by Judge Nathanael Cousins on 11/30/2017. (lmh, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/30/2017)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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LEE DARNELL WATSON,
Plaintiff,

United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Case No. 15-cv-04054-NC
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

v.

Re: Dkt. No. 121
CITY OF SAN JOSE (SAN JOSE
POLICE DEPARTMENT), et al.,
Defendants.

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This order to show cause is directed at the plaintiff, Mr. Lee Darnell Watson;

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plaintiff’s counsel before and during trial, Mr. Cameron Sehat; and plaintiff’s recently

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acquired counsel, Ms. Julie Cliff. The Court needs to know who represents Mr. Watson.

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Civil Local Rule 11-5(a) dictates that “[c]ounsel may not withdraw from an action until

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relieved by order of Court after written notice has been given reasonably in advance to the

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client and to all other parties who have appeared in the case.” This includes when, as here,

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one firm replaces another as counsel. See Civ. L.R. 5-1(c)(2)(E). Mr. Sehat has not

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requested, and the Court has not granted, his withdrawal from the case, so no formal

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change of counsel has occurred, regardless of the agreement Mr. Watson and Mr. Sehat

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reached by retainer.

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By December 5, 2017, one day before the Court hears Mr. Watson’s ex parte

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application to extend time for appeal, Mr. Sehat and Ms. Cliff must file a joint statement

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clarifying who represents Mr. Watson. If Mr. Sehat wishes to withdraw, he must give

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notice and file a motion to that end. Civ. L.R. 11-5.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: November 30, 2017

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_____________________________________
NATHANAEL M. COUSINS
United States Magistrate Judge

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Case No.:15-cv-04054-NC

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