Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. v. United States District Court, Central District of California, James L. Kemper, Real Party in Interest

REINHARDT, Circuit Judge:

This case arises on a petition for a writ of mandamus. Petitioners, the defendants in the underlying litigation, challenge the district court’s denial of their motion to disqualify attorney Joel Bennett from representing plaintiff James Kemper. Petitioners seek disqualification primarily because of Bennett’s alleged connection with John Scholl, who previously represented petitioner Merle Norman Cosmetics while a partner in a law firm with Elwood Kendrick and George Netter. Scholl was the attorney chiefly responsible for the Merle Norman account, and when he left the…