Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05022/USCOURTS-cand-5_07-cv-05022-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 380
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Property Damage
Cause of Action: 28:1442 Petition for Removal

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28 1 The holding of this court is limited to the facts and the particular circumstances

underlying the present motion.

ORDER, page 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

JAGUAR ASSOCIATES GROUP,

Plaintiff,

v.

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE,

Defendants. __________________________________

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Case No.: C-07-5022 PVT

ORDER CONTINUING HEARING

DATE AND REQUIRING

DECLARATION FROM PLAINTIFF

 In this action, Mr. Richard France filed a Complaint in Small Claims court on behalf of

Plaintiff Jaguar Associates Group (“JAG”).1 On September 28, 2007, the USPS removed the

case to this Court. Defendant United States Postal Service (“USPS”) has filed a motion to

dismiss based on lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The motion is currently set for hearing on

Tuesday, November 20, 2007. On November 15, 2007, USPS filed a supplemental brief seeking

dismissal on the basis that Plaintiff Jaguar Associates Group (“JAG”) may not appear pro se in

this court. Civil Local Rule 3-9(b) provides: “A corporation, unincorporated association,

partnership or other such entity may appear only through a member of the bar of this Court.” 

Mr. France filed the Opposition to the Motion to dismiss and has told defense counsel, Ms. 

Case 5:07-cv-05022-PVT Document 12 Filed 11/16/07 Page 1 of 3
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ORDER, page 2

Melissa K. Brown, that he is not an attorney and does not intend to bring an attorney to the

hearing on the motion to dismiss. (Brown Decl. ¶¶ 3, 5). Accordingly, because a corporation

may not appear without counsel, if the claim is brought on behalf of JAG, JAG must appear

through an attorney in order to prosecute this case. 

The supplemental brief raises substantial questions about Mr. France’s ability to bring

this suit on behalf of JAG and the validity of Mr. France’s consent to the undersigned

Magistrate. The Court must have additional information to determine whether the suit can go

forward and whether the consent is valid. Accordingly, It Is Hereby Ordered that:

1. The November 20, 2007 hearing on the Motion to Dismiss is Continued

to December 11, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.; and

2. No later than November 27, 2007, Mr. France shall file a declaration

clarifying the nature of the claim. Mr. France shall explain whether the

claim is brought on his own behalf or on the behalf of the JAG. If the

claim is on behalf of JAG, Mr. France shall state whether JAG will

appear through counsel. 

IT IS SO ORDERED

Dated: November 16, 2007

____________________________

PATRICIA V. TRUMBULL

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:07-cv-05022-PVT Document 12 Filed 11/16/07 Page 2 of 3
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ORDER, page 3

copies mailed on 11/16/07 to:

Jaguar Associate Group 

c/o Richard H. France 

22860 Old Santa Cruz Highway 

Los Gatos, CA 95033 

/s/ Carolyn Frantz for 

 _______________________________ CORINNE LEW

 Courtroom Deputy 

Case 5:07-cv-05022-PVT Document 12 Filed 11/16/07 Page 3 of 3