Stacey Joel Hunt, Jr. vs. Tesla Motors, Inc., et al.

(Alhambra Courthouse: Dept. T) September 11, 2026 DEPARTMENT T LAW AND MOTION RULINGS

Jr. vs. Tesla Motors, Inc., et al. Application for Order Admitting Jake C. Evans Pro Hac Vice Moving Party: Defendants Tesla, Inc. fka Tesla Motors, Inc. and Lawrence Richard Rodriguez Responding Party: None Tentative Ruling: Grant BACKGROUND On August 13, 2026, Defendants Tesla, Inc. fka Tesla Motors, Inc. and Lawrence Richard Rodriguez ("Defendants") moved for an order granting the application for appearance pro hac vice by Jake C. Evans ("Evans"). No opposition was filed. ANALYSIS I.

Legal Standard

California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40 provides that an attorney in good standing in another jurisdiction may apply to appear as counsel pro hac vice in the State of California by filing a verified application together with proof of service by mail of a copy of the application and notice of hearing on all parties who have appeared in the case and on the State Bar of California at its San Francisco office, with payment of an application fee, so long as that attorney is not a resident of the State of California, and is not employed or regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities, in the State of California.

An active licensee of the State Bar of California must also be associated as attorney of record. The application must state: (1) the applicant's residence and office addresses; (2) the courts to which the applicant has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission; (3) that the applicant is a member in good standing in those courts; (4) that the applicant is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; (5) the title of each court and cause in which the applicant has filed an application to appear as counsel pro hac vice in this state in the preceding two years, the date of each application, and whether or not it was granted; and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of the active member of the State Bar of California who is attorney of record in the local action. (Cal.

Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d).) II.

Discussion

Applications to appear as counsel pro hac vice must contain the facts specified in California Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d). Evans's verified application contains the following information: 1. His office and residential addresses. (Evans

Decl. P.P. 2-3.)

2. The courts to which he has been admitted: United States District Court for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Georgia, United States District Court for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and all state courts within the State of Georgia and the State of Florida. (Id. P. 7.)

3. Evidence that he is a member in good standing of these courts. (Id. P. 6; id. P. 8, Exh. A; id. P. 9, Exh. B.)

4. Evidence that he is not suspended or disbarred in any state. (Id. P.P. 8-10.)

5. Evans submitted four pro hac vice applications in the State of California in the preceding two years. Of these four applications, the first was withdrawn, the second was granted, the third is pending, and the fourth was never heard due to settlement and dismissal of the case. (Id. P. 11.) Wang v. Tesla, Inc. (C25-01992). (Id. P. 11a.) Beagle Labs, Inc. v. Appfolio, Inc. (2:25-cv-12248-JFW-SSC2). (Id. P. 11b.) Conroy v. Tesla, Inc. (37-2022-00043670-CU-BC-NC). (Id. P. 11c.) Sanchez v. Tesla (22STCV04765). (Id. P. 11d.)6. The name, address, and telephone number of Todd A. Pickles, the associated California attorney in this matter. (Id. P. 12.)

6. The name, address, and telephone number of Todd A. Pickles, the associated California attorney in this matter. (Id. P. 12.) In compliance with California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40(a)'s eligibility requirements, Evans's declaration further states that he resides in the State of Georgia and that he is not regularly employed or engaged in the practice of law or any substantial business, professional, or other activities, in the State of California. (Evans Decl. P.P. 2, 6.) In compliance with California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40(c)'s service requirements, Pickles attests that the State Bar of California has been served with this application. (Pickles Decl.

P. 2.) In addition, Pickles attaches to his declaration a copy of the fee payment receipt to the California State Bar for $615.00. (See Pickles Decl.) Moreover, the proofs of service reflect service on all remaining parties who have appeared in the action. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 9.40(c)(1).)

Therefore, the application is granted. RULING Defendants Tesla, Inc. fka Tesla Motors, Inc. and Lawrence Richard Rodriguez's Application for Order Admitting Jake C. Evans Pro Hac Vice is GRANTED. Stacey Joel Hunt, Jr. vs. Tesla Motors, Inc., et al. Application for Order Admitting Brady Herman Pro Hac Vice Moving Party: Defendants Tesla, Inc. fka Tesla Motors, Inc. and Lawrence Richard Rodriguez Responding Party: None Tentative Ruling: Grant BACKGROUND On August 13, 2026, Defendants Tesla, Inc. fka Tesla Motors, Inc. and Lawrence Richard Rodriguez ("Defendants") moved for an order granting the application for appearance pro hac vice by Brady Herman ("Herman"). No opposition was filed. ANALYSIS I.

Legal Standard

California Rules of Court, Rule 9.40 provides that an attorney in good standing in another jurisdiction may apply to appear as counsel pro hac vice in the State of California by filing a verified application together with proof of service by mail of a copy of the application and notice of hearing on all parties who have appeared in the case and on the State Bar of California at its San Francisco office, with payment of an application fee, so long as that attorney is not a resident of the State of California, and is not employed or regularly engaged in substantial business, professional, or other activities, in the State of California.

An active licensee of the State Bar of California must also be associated as attorney of record. The application must state: (1) the applicant's residence and office addresses; (2) the courts to which the applicant has been admitted to practice and the dates of admission; (3) that the applicant is a member in good standing in those courts; (4) that the applicant is not currently suspended or disbarred in any court; (5) the title of each court and cause in which the applicant has filed an application to appear as counsel pro hac vice in this state in the preceding two years, the date of each application, and whether or not it was granted; and (6) the name, address, and telephone number of the active member of the State Bar of California who is attorney of record in the local action. (Cal.

Rules of Court, rule 9.40(d).) II.

Discussion

Applications to appear as