Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02772/USCOURTS-cand-3_03-cv-02772-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 190
Nature of Suit: Other Contract Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract

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For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FCI CONSTRUCTORS, INC./CLEVELAND

BRIDGE CALIFORNIA, INC., a Joint

Venture,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CHONGQING WANQIAO CABLE CO.,

LTD.,

Defendant.

 /

No. C 03-2772 JSW

ORDER GRANTING

PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO

STRIKE DEFENDANT’S

ANSWER

Now before the Court is the motion filed Plaintiff FCI Constructors, Inc./Cleveland

Bridge California, Inc to strike the answer filed by Defendant Chongqing Wanqiao Cable Co.,

Ltd. and enter default. Defendant has not filed any opposition. The Court finds the motion

suitable for disposition without oral argument. N.D. Civ. L.R. 7-1(b). Accordingly, the hearing

set for October 28, 2005, is HEREBY VACATED. 

On June 7, 2005, Defendant filed an answer. Defendant’s answer was signed by its

“representative,” Wan Kaiyun. It is unclear whether Kaiyun is an attorney. Regardless, Kaiyun

is not a member of the State Bar of California and has not been admitted to practice before this

Court. (Declaration of Marissa A. Bejarano, ¶¶ 2, 4, Ex. 1.) Artificial entities may appear in the

federal courts only through licensed counsel. Rowland v. California Men's Colony, Unit II

Men's Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 202 (1993). The Civil Local Rules provide that: “A

corporation, unincorporated association, partnership or other such entity may appear only

Case 3:03-cv-02772-JSW Document 28 Filed 10/24/05 Page 1 of 2
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through a member of the bar of this Court.” See Civ. L.R. 3-9. Thus, Plaintiff moves to strike

Defendant’s answer as improper.

Local Civil Rule 3-11 provides further support for striking Defendant’s answer. Civil

Local Rule 3-11(b) authorizes the Court to strike an answer without prejudice when “(1) Mail

directed to the attorney or pro se party by the Court has been returned as not deliverable; and (2)

The Court fails to receive within 60 days of this return a written communication from the

attorney or pro se party indicating a current address.” On October 15, 2005, mail sent to Kaiyun

by the Court was returned as undeliverable. Kaiyun has not informed the Court of a current

address and more than sixty days has passed since the mail was returned as undeliverable. 

Accordingly, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 3-11(b), the Court STRIKES the answer without

prejudice.

Defendant shall have until November 14, 2005 to file a proper answer. If Defendant

does not file an answer by this date, the Court will enter default against it.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 24, 2005 

JEFFREY S. WHITE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:03-cv-02772-JSW Document 28 Filed 10/24/05 Page 2 of 2