Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alsd-1_15-cv-00642/USCOURTS-alsd-1_15-cv-00642-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 380
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Property Damage
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Contract Dispute

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

MR. GOLF CARTS, INC., )

 )

Plaintiff, )

 )

v. ) CIVIL ACTION 15-0642-WS-N

 )

JOHN TAYLOR, etc., ) 

 )

Defendant. )

 ORDER

The complaint reflects that the plaintiff is a corporation. (Doc. 1 at 1). The 

complaint was filed by “James Eastmead, Pro Se, President Mr. Golf Carts, Inc.” 

(Id. at 3). 

“It has been the law for the better part of two centuries ... that a corporation 

may appear in the federal courts only through licensed counsel.” Rowland v. 

California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201-02 (1993). “The general rule applies 

even where the person seeking to represent the corporation is its president and 

major stockholder.” Palazzo v. Gulf Oil Corp., 764 F.2d 1381, 1385 (11th Cir. 

1985). It is therefore plain that Mr. Eastmead cannot lawfully pursue this action 

on behalf of the corporate plaintiff. 

“The usual course when a litigant not entitled to litigate pro se loses its 

lawyer in the midst of the case is to give it a reasonable opportunity to find a new 

one, [citations omitted], and, if it fails, either to dismiss the case, [citations 

omitted], or enter a default judgment.” United States v. Hagerman, 549 F.3d 536, 

538 (7th Cir. 2008); accord Palazzo, 764 F.2d at 1386 (where the corporate 

plaintiff was given 30 days to obtain substitute counsel but did not obtain counsel 

in over ten months, the trial court properly dismissed its claims for lack of proper 

representation).

Case 1:15-cv-00642-WS-N Document 2 Filed 12/18/15 Page 1 of 2
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For the reasons set forth above, the plaintiff is ordered to obtain licensed 

counsel, who is to file a notice of appearance on or before January 18, 2016, 

failing which the Court will dismiss this action without prejudice and without 

further notice. The Clerk is directed not to issue summons until and unless the 

plaintiff complies with this order. 

 

DONE and ORDERED this 18th day of December, 2015.

s/ WILLIAM H. STEELE

CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 1:15-cv-00642-WS-N Document 2 Filed 12/18/15 Page 2 of 2