Crofts et al v. Issaquah School District et al

Filing 63

ORDER granting Plaintiffs' 62 Motion to Withdraw as Co-Counsel construed as a Motion to Voluntarily Dismiss Jeremy Sanders's Claims. Signed by Judge James L. Robart. (SWT) (Jeremy Sanders terminated.) (cc: Jeremy Sanders via USPS)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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LAYNA CROFTS,

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CASE NO. C17-1365JLR
Plaintiff,

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ORDER

v.
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ISSAQUAH SCHOOL DISTRICT,

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Defendant.

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The court is in receipt of pro se Plaintiffs Layna Crofts and Jeremy Sanders’s

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(collectively, “Plaintiffs”) motion for permission for Mr. Sanders “to withdraw as

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co-counsel.” (Mot. (Dkt. # 62).) Because Mr. Sanders represents himself pro se, he

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cannot serve as “co-counsel” for Ms. Crofts. See, e.g., Simon v. Hartford Life, Inc., 546

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F.3d 661, 664 (9th Cir. 2008) (“It is well established that the privilege to represent

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oneself pro se . . . is personal to the litigant and does not extend to other parties or

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entities.”). By the same logic, Ms. Crofts cannot serve as counsel for Mr. Sanders. See

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id.

ORDER - 1

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The court thus construes Plaintiffs’ motion as a motion to voluntarily dismiss Mr.

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Sanders’s claims. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(2) provides that, after the

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opposing party has filed an answer or a motion for summary judgment, a plaintiff may

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dismiss an action by court order, on terms that the court considers proper. Fed. R. Civ. P.

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41(a)(2). Here, the court finds dismissal of Mr. Sanders’ claims appropriate. Ms. Crofts’

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claims remain.

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Accordingly, the court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motion for permission for Mr. Sanders

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“to withdraw as co-counsel,” which the court construes as a motion to voluntarily dismiss

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Mr. Sanders’s claims. (Dkt. # 62.) The court DIRECTS the Clerk to terminate Mr.

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Sanders as a plaintiff in this action.
Dated this 29th day of March, 2019.

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A

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The Honorable James L. Robart
U.S. District Court Judge

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ORDER - 2