Al Hamra Trading Est. . v. Diamondback Tactical, LLLP et al

Filing 82

ORDER granting 77 & 78 Motions to Withdraw as Counsel for Pltf., and Attorneys Thomas M Pohl, Tarek F Abdalla and Edward Louis Bleynat, Jr are terminated; and granting 76 Emergency Motion to Postpone 5/15/2014 Mediation until 6/1/2014. (see Order for further details) Signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell on 5/15/14. (Copy mailed as directed to Pltf at address provided in this Order.) (ejb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
ASHEVILLE DIVISION
1:12cv373
AL HAMRA TRADING EST.,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
DIAMONDBACK TRACTICAL, LLLP, )
et al.
)
)
Defendants.
)
___________________________________ )

ORDER

Pending before the Court are the Motions to Withdraw as Counsel [# 78 &
# 77] and the Emergency Motion to Postpone May 15, 2014 Mediation [# 76].
Attorneys Edward Bleynat, Jr., Tarek Abdalla, and Thomas Pohl move to withdraw
as counsel. In addition, Plaintiff moves to postpone the mediation scheduled in
this case. Plaintiff consents to the withdrawal of its counsel in this case. Upon a
review of the record and the motions of counsel, the Court GRANTS the motions
[# 77 & 78]. The Clerk shall REMOVE Edward Bleynat and the law firm of
Ferikes & Bleynat PLLC and Tarek Abdalla and Thomas Pohl and the law firm of
Reed Smith LLP as attorneys of record in this case. The Clerk shall mail a copy of
this Order to Plaintiff at the following address:

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Gianluca Grillo, Esq.
General Counsel
Al Hamra Trading Est.
P.O. Box 392
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates
In addition, the Court DIRECTS former attorneys of record to serve a copy
of this Order on Plaintiff within five (5) days of the entry of this Order.
The Court DIRECTS Plaintiff to obtain new counsel and have counsel enter an
appearance in this case within ten (10) days of the entry of this Order. As a
corporation, Plaintiff may not proceed pro se in this Court and must be represented
by counsel. If Plaintiff fail to obtain new counsel within ten (10) days of the entry
of this Order, the Court will recommend that the District Court dismiss this case.
Finally, the Court notes that on May 2, 2014, the Court denied the Motion
for Extension of Time. (Order, May 2, 2014.) Mediation is scheduled to occur by
May 15, 2014. Summary Judgment motions are due June 1, 2014. It appears to
the Court that by terminating counsel at such a late date, Plaintiff hopes to force
this Court into accepting the extension of time that it previously refused to grant.
Such tactics, however, will not be rewarded by this Court. In the interest of justice
and the possibility of resolving this case without further litigation, the Court
GRANTS the motion [# 76]. The parties shall have until June 1, 2014, to
complete mediation in this case. The Court will not extend the dispositive motion
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deadline. Plaintiff will have to live with the consequences of terminating its
counsel at such a late date.
Signed: May 15, 2014

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