diff --git a/helpdesk/settings.py b/helpdesk/settings.py
index e5a4696c..229b52c0 100644
--- a/helpdesk/settings.py
+++ b/helpdesk/settings.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ if type(DEFAULT_USER_SETTINGS) != type(dict()):
             'tickets_per_page': 25
             }
 
+
+
 ''' generic options - visible on all pages '''
 # redirect to login page instead of the default homepage when users visits "/"?
 HELPDESK_REDIRECT_TO_LOGIN_BY_DEFAULT = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_REDIRECT_TO_LOGIN_BY_DEFAULT', False)
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ HELPDESK_VIEW_A_TICKET_PUBLIC = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_VIEW_A_TICKET_PUBLIC
 HELPDESK_SUBMIT_A_TICKET_PUBLIC = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_SUBMIT_A_TICKET_PUBLIC', True)
 
 
+
 ''' options for update_ticket views '''
 # allow non-staff users to interact with tickets? this will also change how 'staff_member_required' 
 # in staff.py will be defined.
@@ -92,11 +95,19 @@ HELPDESK_SHOW_HOLD_BUTTON_TICKET_TOP = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_SHOW_HOLD_BUT
 HELPDESK_UPDATE_PUBLIC_DEFAULT = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_UPDATE_PUBLIC_DEFAULT', True)
 
 
+
+''' options for staff.create_ticket view '''
+# hide the 'assigned to' / 'Case owner' field from the 'create_ticket' view?
+HELPDESK_CREATE_TICKET_HIDE_ASSIGNED_TO = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_CREATE_TICKET_HIDE_ASSIGNED_TO', False)
+
+
+
 ''' options for dashboard '''
 # show delete button next to unassigned tickets
 HELPDESK_DASHBOARD_SHOW_DELETE_UNASSIGNED = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_DASHBOARD_SHOW_DELETE_UNASSIGNED', True)
 
 
+
 ''' options for footer '''
 # show 'API' link at bottom of page
 HELPDESK_FOOTER_SHOW_API_LINK = getattr(settings, 'HELPDESK_FOOTER_SHOW_API_LINK', True)
diff --git a/helpdesk/views/staff.py b/helpdesk/views/staff.py
index 0361d5b0..5a955f8f 100644
--- a/helpdesk/views/staff.py
+++ b/helpdesk/views/staff.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from django.shortcuts import render_to_response, get_object_or_404
 from django.template import loader, Context, RequestContext
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _
 from django.utils.html import escape
+from django import forms
 
 from helpdesk.forms import TicketForm, UserSettingsForm, EmailIgnoreForm, EditTicketForm, TicketCCForm, EditFollowUpForm, TicketDependencyForm
 from helpdesk.lib import send_templated_mail, query_to_dict, apply_query, safe_template_context
@@ -723,6 +724,8 @@ def create_ticket(request):
         form = TicketForm(initial=initial_data)
         form.fields['queue'].choices = [('', '--------')] + [[q.id, q.title] for q in Queue.objects.all()]
         form.fields['assigned_to'].choices = [('', '--------')] + [[u.id, u.username] for u in User.objects.filter(is_active=True).order_by('username')]
+        if helpdesk_settings.HELPDESK_CREATE_TICKET_HIDE_ASSIGNED_TO:
+            form.fields['assigned_to'].widget = forms.HiddenInput()
 
     return render_to_response('helpdesk/create_ticket.html',
         RequestContext(request, {