Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01259/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01259-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 15:1692 Fair Debt Collection Act

---

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

- 1 - 06cv1259

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CRYSTAL AGUILAR,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 06-CV-1259-H (LSP)

ORDER:

(1) STRIKING ANSWER

FILED IN PRO PER BY

DEFENDANTS CALFIN

HOLDINGS, LLC AND THE

LAW OFFICES OF CURTIS

O. BARNES (DOC. NO. 7);

(2) REQUIRING ROBERT T.

BARNES, ESQ. TO SHOW

CAUSE

vs.

CALFIN HOLDINGS, LLC; THE

LAW OFFICES OF CURTIS O.

BARNES, a professional corporation;

PETER VU, an individual; VIJAY

DESAI, an individual; and DOES 1

through 10, inclusive,

Defendant.

Plaintiffs filed this action on June 15, 2006, asserting claims arising out of

alleged unfair debt collection practices. (Doc. No. 1.) On August 28, 2006, Robert T.

Barnes, Esq. signed and filed an answer as attorney for Defendants Calfin Holdings,

LLC (“Calfin”) and The Law Offices of Curtis O. Barnes, a professional corporation

(“LOCOB”). (Doc. No. 5.) On September 1, 2006, Defendants Calfin and LOCOB

filed an answer in pro per, signed by Robert T. Barnes as authorized agent for Calfin

and LOCOB.

According to the Clerk of the Court’s records, Robert T. Barnes is not admitted

to practice in the Southern District of California. Moreover, corporations and limited

Case 3:06-cv-01259-H-LSP Document 13 Filed 10/24/06 Page 1 of 3
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

- 2 - 06cv1259

liability companies may not represent themselves, but must appear through a licensed

attorney. See, e.g., In re Highley, 459 F.2d 554, 555 (9th Cir. 1972) (corporation may

only appear in a court proceeding through an attorney); Foley v. Allied Interstate, Inc.,

312 F. Supp. 2d 1279, 1283 (C.D. Cal. 2004) (“It is well established that corporations

may appear in federal court only through licensed counsel.”); In re America West

Airlines, 40 F.3d 1058, 1059 (9th Cir. 1994) (“Corporations and other unincorporated

associations must appear in court through an attorney.”); see also In re ICLNDS notes

Acquisition, LLC, 259 B.R. 289, 294 (N.D. Ohio 2001) (limited liability company does

not have capacity to represent itself). Accordingly, the Court STRIKES the answer

filed in pro per by Robert T. Barnes as authorized agent for Calfin and LOCOB. (Doc.

No. 7.)

Regarding the answer filed by Robert T. Barnes as attorney for Calfin and

LOCOB, (Doc. No. 5), Robert T. Barnes shall respond to this order on or before

October 27, 2006 to show cause why the Court should not strike the answer because

he is not admitted to practice before the Southern District of California. The Court will

hold a show cause hearing on Monday, October 30, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. If, however,

Robert T. Barnes files the appropriate paperwork with the Clerk of Court, pays the

required fee, and gains admission to the Southern District of California before October

27, 2006, he may notify the Court, and the Court may vacate the show cause hearing

and keep the answer on the docket. 

Finally, the Court notes that the correct case number for this action is 06-CV1259-H(LSP), not 06-CV-1529-H (LSP) as Defendants Calfin and LOCOB have

erroneously indicated on their filings.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: October 24, 2006

MARILYN L. HUFF, District Judge

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case 3:06-cv-01259-H-LSP Document 13 Filed 10/24/06 Page 2 of 3
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

- 3 - 06cv1259

Copies To:

Eric F. Fagan

Jeremy Golden

Law Offices of Eric Fagan

2220 Otay Lakes Rd., #502-84

Chula Vista, CA 91915

Robert T. Barnes

Vijay S. Desai

Law Office of Curtis O. Barnes

390 West Cerritos Ave.

Anaheim, CA 92805

Case 3:06-cv-01259-H-LSP Document 13 Filed 10/24/06 Page 3 of 3