Somadhi

BACKGROUND

In February 2017, appellant filed an action against the City of Los Angeles (City) for wrongful termination. In June 2017, a jury trial was scheduled for December 3, 2018. In March 2018, appellant’s counsel was relieved as counsel, and appellant retained new counsel. In August 2018, the trial court granted the City’s motion for summary adjudication as to part of appellant’s claim. In October 2018, appellant’s second attorney filed a motion to be relieved as counsel, which was granted. Appellant filed an ex parte application to continue the jury trial that was scheduled to begin on December 3, 2018, which the trial court denied. On December 3, 2018, counsel for the City appeared for the jury trial, but appellant handed him a notice of removal to federal court. The trial court stayed the case and scheduled a status conference for March 4, 2019. On March 4, 2019, appellant filed a statement to disqualify the trial court judge for cause. On March 13, 2019, the trial court ordered appellant’s statement stricken because it contained no legal grounds for disqualification. Counsel for the City told the court that the federal court had remanded the matter, but he later filed a…