Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-04820/USCOURTS-azd-2_19-cv-04820-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1121 Trademark Infringement

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

SFM LLC,

Plaintiff,

v. 

Best Roast Coffee LLC, et al.,

Defendants.

No. CV-19-04820-PHX-JAT

ORDER 

Pending before the Court is counsel’s motion to withdraw from representing both 

Defendants. (Doc. 32). The clients have consented to withdrawal. (Id.) Plaintiff opposes 

the motion on the grounds of undue delay. (Doc. 33).

Defendants’ motion to stay and to compel arbitration was denied September 24, 

2019. Thus, Defendants’ answer is due October 8, 2019. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(4)(A). 

An entity cannot appear in federal court without licensed counsel. D-Beam Ltd. 

P'ship v. Roller Derby Skates, Inc., 366 F.3d 972, 973-74 (9th Cir. 2004); see also Rowland 

v. Cal. Mens Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 202 (1993).

This case is set for a Preliminary Injunction hearing on October 16, 2019. The Court 

does not find Defendants’ decision to consent to the withdrawal of their counsel to be a 

basis to continue this hearing.

Based on the foregoing, the Court will permit counsel for Defendants to withdraw. 

If the individual Defendant does not answer by October 8, 2019, Plaintiff may file an 

application for entry of default. If the entity Defendant does not answer by October 8, 2019 
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through licensed counsel, Plaintiff may file an application for entry of default. If default 

is entered against both Defendants, Plaintiff may move for default judgment, including a 

permanent injunction, by October 10, 2019. See In re First T.D. & Inv., Inc., 253 F.3d 520, 

532-33 (9th Cir. 2001) (holding that typically the District Court should not enter default 

judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b) against some defendants if other defendants are 

defending the same allegations/claims). If Plaintiff moves for default judgment, it must 

apply the factors set forth in Eitel v. McCool, 782 F.2d 1470, 1471-72 (9th Cir. 1986).

If either Defendant answers, the Court will proceed with the Preliminary Injunction 

hearing as scheduled. The joint pre-hearing statement (see Doc. 28) remains due October 

2, 2019. Again, the Court does not find Defendants’ decision to consent to the withdrawal 

of their counsel to be a basis to continue this deadline.

Based on the foregoing,

IT IS ORDERED that counsel’s motion to withdraw (Doc. 32) is granted. The 

Clerk of the Court shall update the docket to reflect the contact information for Defendants 

listed in Doc. 32 at page 2.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court must forward a copy of 

this Order to Defendants.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants answer is due by October 8, 2019 

as specified above. If Defendants do not answer by this date, Plaintiff shall apply for entry 

of default. If default is entered against both Defendants, Plaintiff shall move for default 

judgment by October 10, 2019. If either Defendant timely and procedurally correctly 

answers, the Court will proceed with the preliminary injunction hearing. 

Dated this 1st day of October, 2019.