Filed: Dec. 09, 2014
Latest Update: Dec. 09, 2014
Summary: ORDER GRANTING REQUEST TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL; VACATING STATUS CONFERENCE AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, District Judge. The Court, in its November 12, 2014 Order Setting Status Hearing Re: Withdrawal of Counsel or Substitution of Counsel for James C. Castle (Dkt. No. 733), set a status hearing and directed counsel Ann McFarland Draper to file a status report regarding her withdrawal as counsel for defendant and cross-claimant James C. Castle, a.k.a. J. Christopher Castle, ind
Summary: ORDER GRANTING REQUEST TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL; VACATING STATUS CONFERENCE AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, District Judge. The Court, in its November 12, 2014 Order Setting Status Hearing Re: Withdrawal of Counsel or Substitution of Counsel for James C. Castle (Dkt. No. 733), set a status hearing and directed counsel Ann McFarland Draper to file a status report regarding her withdrawal as counsel for defendant and cross-claimant James C. Castle, a.k.a. J. Christopher Castle, indi..
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ORDER GRANTING REQUEST TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL; VACATING STATUS CONFERENCE AND ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS, District Judge.
The Court, in its November 12, 2014 Order Setting Status Hearing Re: Withdrawal of Counsel or Substitution of Counsel for James C. Castle (Dkt. No. 733), set a status hearing and directed counsel Ann McFarland Draper to file a status report regarding her withdrawal as counsel for defendant and cross-claimant James C. Castle, a.k.a. J. Christopher Castle, individually and as trustee of the J. Christopher Castle Irrevocable Trust.
In the interim, as part of Draper's joint letter with plaintiffs' counsel Stephen C. Seto (Dkt. No. 742), Draper indicated that "ethical issues have become apparent" to her and that, after consultation with the State Bar Ethics Hotline, she may have a "mandatory withdrawal" situation that would preclude her from continuing to represent Castle.
Castle has filed a number of documents with the Court, apparently without the assistance of counsel. (See Dkt. No 709-4, "Affidavit of Status of James Christopher Castle: American Freeman;" Dkt. No. 723, "Notice of Indenture" and "Amicus Curiae Affidavit for the Record" of James Christopher Castle.) Those documents include a "Notice of General Appearance," dated October 29, 2014, and filed November 17, 2014 (Dkt. No. 743), as well as a document dated November 10, 2014, and filed on December 2, 2014, in which Castle indicates that he "must terminate the relationship with Ann McFarland Draper...[and] proceed on my own." (Dkt. No. 745.)
Based upon the foregoing, as well as the Motion of Ann McFarland Draper to Be Relieved as Counsel, filed on December 8, 2014, by Draper (Dkt. No. 750), and the declaration submitted in support thereof, the Court ORDERS that:
(1) the Motion of Ann McFarland Draper to Be Relieved as Counsel is GRANTED.
Counsel Ann McFarland Draper is relieved as counsel for defendant and cross-complainant James C. Castle, aka J. Christopher Castle, individually and as Trustee of the J. Christopher Castle Irrevocable Trust effective upon filing proof of service of this Order upon Castle. Based upon information provided by Draper, Castle resides in New Zealand, but receives mail through the following address in the United States:
J. Christopher Castle
P.O. Box 1211
Burlingame, CA 94014
Castle also receives electronic mail at the following email addresses:
chris@oreplex.com and jcristopher@gmail.com
Future notices served on Castle shall be served at each of these addresses.
There are no future hearings scheduled at this time. The next case management conference in this matter is set for Monday, March 16, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. in Courtroom 1, 4th Floor, Oakland, and the case management statement is due by March 9, 2015.
The trial in this action has not yet been set.
1. Castle is hereby notified of the following effects of this order on him:
NOTICE TO CLIENTS
Your present attorney will no longer be representing you. You may not, in most cases, represent yourself if you are one of the parties on the following list:
• A guardian • A conservator • A trustee
• A personal representative • A probate fiduciary • A corporation
• A guardian ad litem • An unincorporated association
If you are one of these parties, YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY SEEK LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION. Failure to retain an attorney may lead to an order striking the pleadings that have been filed on your behalf or to the entry of a default judgment against you.
2. Castle is notified that if he will be representing himself, he shall be solely responsible for the case.
NOTICE TO CLIENT WHO WILL BE UNREPRESENTED
You will not have an attorney representing you. You may wish to seek legal assistance. If you do not have a new attorney to represent you in this action or proceeding, and you are legally permitted to do so, you will be representing yourself. It will be your responsibility to comply with all court rules and applicable laws. If you fail to do so, or fail to appear at hearings, action may be taken against you. You may lose your case.
3. Castle is notified that it is his duty to keep the Court informed at all times of his current address. The Court needs to know how to contact you.
NOTICE TO CLIENT WHO WILL BE UNREPRESENTED
If you do not keep the Court and other parties informed of your current address and telephone number, they will not be able to send you notices of actions that may affect you, including actions that may adversely affect your interests or result in your losing your case.
The status hearing currently set for Thursday, December 11, 2014, is VACATED.
The Court's Order to Show Cause regarding sanctions against Draper or Castle (Dkt. No. 744) is WITHDRAWN AND VACATED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
