Lloyd De Leon v. Nissan North America, Inc.

(Stanley Mosk Courthouse: Dept. 730) August 19, 2026 DEPARTMENT 730 LAW AND MOTION RULINGS

California County of Los Angeles Department 730 LLOYD DE LEON., Plaintiff, vs. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC., Defendant. | Case No.: |

| Hearing Date: | August 19, 2026 | | | [TENTATIVE] ORDER GRANTING UNOPPOSED MOTION TO BE RELIEVED AS COUNSEL |

I. BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Lloyd De Leon ("De Leon") entered into a warranty contract with Defendant Nissan North America, Inc. ("Nissan") regarding a 2022 Nissan Frontier ("subject vehicle"). The subject vehicle allegedly has defects and nonconformities making the car effectively worthless. Nissan failed to replace the vehicle or reimburse De Leon. De Leon sued Nissan for five causes of action including fraudulent inducement - concealment.

On July 14, 2026, De Leon's attorney, Strategic Legal Practices, APC, filed the instant motion to be relieved as counsel for De Leon. No opposition has been filed to date.

II. LEGAL STANDARD

A Motion to Be Relieved as Counsel requires (1) notice of motion and motion to be directed to the client (made on the Notice of Motion and Motion to be Relieved as Counsel--Civil form (MC-051)); (2) a declaration stating in general terms and without compromising the confidentiality of the attorney-client relationship why a motion under Code of Civil Procedure section 284(2) is brought instead of filing a consent under Code of Civil Procedure section 284(1) (made on the Declaration in Support of Attorney's Motion to Be Relieved as Counsel--Civil form (MC-052)); (3) service of the notice of motion and motion and declaration on all other parties who have appeared in the case; and (4) the proposed order relieving counsel (prepared on the Order Granting Attorney's Motion to Be Relieved as Counsel--Civil form (MC-053)).

The court has discretion to allow an attorney to withdraw, and such a motion should be granted provided that there is no prejudice to the client, and it does not disrupt the orderly process of justice. (Ramirez v. Sturdevant (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 904, 915.)

III. DISCUSSION

Counsel submitted completed MC-051, MC-052 and MC-053 forms in compliance with the California Rules of Court rule 3.1362 requirements. Counsel submitted a declaration stating that there has been irreconcilable breakdown in the attorney-client relationship (MC-052, P. 2.) Counsel asserts counsel served De Leon at his last known address via mail with return receipt requested. (MC-052 P. 3(a)(2) and (b)(1)(a).) Counsel served all parties who have appeared in this action, including De Leon, with this motion.

There is no indication of undue prejudice to De Leon from the Court granting this motion. Trial is set for October; De Leon has sufficient time to find new counsel, if De Leon wishes, and properly prepare for trial.

IV. CONCLUSION

De Leon's Counsel's Motion to Be Relieved as Counsel is therefore GRANTED. Counsel will be relieved upon filing proof of service upon the client of the Order Granting Attorney's Motion to Be Relieved as Counsel--Civil (Judicial Council form MC-053). Counsel is ordered to give notice.

DATED: August 19, 2026 __________________________ Hon. Alexander C.D. Giza Judge of the Superior Court

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE:

* Parties are encouraged to meet and confer after reading this tentative ruling to see if they can reach an agreement.

* If a party intends to submit on this tentative ruling, the party must send an email to the court at [email protected] with the Subject line "SUBMIT" followed by the case number. The body of the email must include the hearing date and time, counsel's contact information, and the identity of the party submitting.

* Unless all parties submit by email to this tentative ruling, the parties should arrange to appear remotely (encouraged) or in person for oral argument. You should assume that others may appear at the hearing to argue.

* If the parties neither submit nor appear at hearing, the Court may take the motion off calendar or adopt the tentative ruling as the order of the Court. After the Court has issued a tentative ruling, the Court may prohibit the withdrawal of the subject motion without leave. | Home -->)" -->