Maldonado Rosete v. Aangan of India LLC

Background

CSM Legal P.C. asked permission to withdraw as counsel for Plaintiff Eligio Candido. In a declaration, CSM attorney Ramsha Ansari stated that Candido had stopped communicating with CSM, making it impossible for the firm to diligently represent him. CSM served Candido with the motion.

Plaintiffs also requested more time to file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law concerning damages as to several defendants. The court granted that extension request on April 10, 2023, and ordered Candido to respond to CSM’s withdrawal motion by April 24, 2023. The court warned that failure to comply could result in a recommendation that his claims be dismissed for failing to prosecute the case. CSM served Candido with that order.

Court’s Ruling

Candido did not respond to the motion, comply with the April 10 order, or otherwise communicate with the court. The court therefore granted CSM’s motion to withdraw and directed the clerk to terminate CSM as Candido’s counsel.

By June 16, 2023, Candido must notify the court whether he intends to obtain legal representation or proceed without a lawyer. The court stated that he may satisfy this requirement by filing the damages submission. It warned that failure to comply will result in a recommendation of dismissal of his claims for failure to prosecute; the order itself did not dismiss those claims. The court also directed CSM to serve Candido with the order and file proof of service, and advised him to notify the court promptly if the mailing address provided by CSM is not current. A separate order will set the deadline for the other plaintiffs’ damages submission.