Anderson v. Ameritas Investment Company, LLC

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
United States District Court
Northern District of California
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
JOANNE ANDERSON,
Plaintiff,
v.
AMERITAS INVESTMENT COMPANY,
LLC,
Defendant.
Case No. 25-cv-03839-EMC
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
Docket No. 68
Counsel for Ms. Anderson has moved to withdraw as counsel on the basis that “the
relationship of trust and confidence essential to the representation has ceased to exist and the
client’s conduct has rendered it unreasonably difficult for counsel to effectively carry out the
representation.” Mot. at 2. Counsel gave Ms. Anderson notice of the motion to withdraw as well
as the hearing for the motion, but she did not appear at the hearing. Nor did she otherwise respond
to the motion to withdraw.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Court defers ruling on the motion to withdraw and
issues this order to show cause. Specifically, the Court orders Ms. Anderson to show cause as
to why the Court should not grant her counsel’s motion to withdraw. Ms. Anderson’s
response to this order to show cause shall be filed by November 2, 2026. Ms. Anderson can file
her response with the Court herself, or she can ask her counsel to file her response with the Court.
If Ms. Anderson files a response to the order to show cause, then her counsel shall have an
opportunity to file a reply by November 9, 2026.
The Court forewarns Ms. Anderson that, if she does not file a response by the November 2
deadline, then the Court will (1) grant her counsel’s motion to withdraw and (2) temporarily stay
Case 3:25-cv-03839-EMC Document 75 Filed 10/15/26 Page 1 of 2

2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
United States District Court
Northern District of California
proceedings (for about 60 days) to give her an opportunity to look for and retain new counsel. If
she is unable to find new counsel and have that counsel appear by the deadline specified, then she
will proceed in this case as a pro se (i.e., self-represented) litigant. For Ms. Anderson’s benefit,
the Court notes that the District website has a webpage that has information for pro se litigants.
See https://cand.uscourts.gov/representing-yourself. That webpage includes a link to the Pro Se
Handbook, which is a manual designed to assist pro se litigants. See
https://cand.uscourts.gov/representing-yourself/pro-se-handbook. The District also has a Legal
Help Desk that can provide some assistance to pro se litigants. See
https://cand.uscourts.gov/representing-yourself/free-legal-help-people-without-lawyers.
Counsel for Ms. Anderson is ordered to immediately serve a copy of this order to show
cause on Ms. Anderson – specifically, by mail and by email. Counsel shall also call and text Ms.
Anderson to give her notice that an order to show cause has issued, that she must file a response to
the order to show cause if she opposes counsel’s motion to withdraw, and that she can contact
counsel if she has not received the order to show cause by mail or email. If counsel withdraws
from the case, it shall provide to the Court Ms. Anderson’s contact information.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 15, 2026
______________________________________
EDWARD M. CHEN
United States District Judge
Case 3:25-cv-03839-EMC Document 75 Filed 10/15/26 Page 2 of 2