Opinion
Civil Action No. 5:16-cv-00007
07-14-2017
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA For the use and benefit of VT MILCOM, INC., Plaintiff, v. PAT USA, INC., et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REGARDING MOTION TO WITHDRAW
Before the court is counsel for defendants' motion to withdraw as attorney for defendant Gerald Dinkins, Sr. (Mot. Withdraw, Dkt. No. 48.) In support of its motion, counsel noted that, despite continuing efforts on their part, defendants' attorneys had been unable to communicate with Mr. Dinkins, and he has refused to provide information in the preparation of discovery responses. Counsel included an affidavit from James Rayis, PAT USA's general counsel, which asserted that he has made numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact Dinkins. (Rayis Aff., Dkt. No. 49-1.) At the hearing on this motion, counsel represented that, since filing the motion, he had been in contact with Dinkins and that Dinkins did not want the firm to withdraw from his representation. (Transcript 53, Dkt. 68.)
This court's applicable local rule states, "No attorney of record shall withdraw from any cause pending in this Court, except with the consent of the Court for good cause shown." W.D. Va. Gen. R. 6(i). Whether to allow an attorney to withdraw is committed to the district court's discretion. See United States v. Blackledge, 751 F.3d 188, 193 (4th Cir. 2014). In exercising that discretion, the court considers "the disruptive impact that granting the motion to withdraw would have on the client, her prosecution of the case, and the effective administration of justice." Clayton v. Dickens, No. 7:08-cv-592, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118259, at *3-4 (W.D. Va. Dec. 18, 2009) (citing Patterson v. Gemini Org., Ltd., No. 99-1537, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 29505, at *2 (4th Cir. 2000) (unpublished), and Towns v. Morris, No. 93-1295, 1995 U.S. App. LEXIS 5798, at *5-6 (4th Cir. 1995) (unpublished)).
In its brief, counsel cited to Local Rule 7(l) and noted that the court applies the rules in the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility as a first step in deciding the issue of leave to withdraw. The reference is mistaken, and the applicable rule does not refer to the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility. Moreover, the Virginia Code of Professional Responsibility and the disciplinary rules referred to in the brief were replaced by the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct, which became effective January 1, 2000. --------
Considering the status of this case and Dinkins' desire to have counsel continue to represent him, the court finds that granting the motion to withdraw would have a disruptive effect on the case, the client, the opposing party, and the effective administration of justice.
For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED that counsel for defendants' motion to withdraw as counsel for defendant Dinkins (Dkt. No. 48) is DENIED.
Entered: July 14, 2017.
/s/
Elizabeth K. Dillon
United States District Judge