Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01147/USCOURTS-casd-3_06-cv-01147-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:271 Patent Infringement

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RPA International Pty Ltd., d/b/a Nurfurn

Pty Ltd.; Nufurn, Inc.; and Dennis

Michael Krawchuk, an individual,

Plaintiffs,

CASE NO. 06cv1147 WQH (AJB)

ORDER

(Docs. # 79, 80)

vs.

Compact International, Inc.; Lee Johnson,

an individual; PRE Sales, Inc.; Eric Segal,

an individual; BZ Global Sdn. Bhd.; BZ

Global (H.K.) Limited; Chee Choon

Cheah, an individual; and Kok Cheong

Soo, an individual,

Defendants.

HAYES, Judge:

Two matters are pending before the Court: (1) the “Request to Proceed as SelfRepresented Litigant” (Doc. # 79), and (2) the “Request to Use CM/ECF to File Documents

with the Court” (Doc. # 80). Both documents were filed by Defendant Kok Cheong Soo

(“Soo”).

Soo is an individual. (Compl. ¶ 20; Am. Answer, Affirmative Defenses and

Counterclaims at 6.) Individuals, as opposed to corporations, “may plead and conduct their

own cases personally.” 28 U.S.C. § 1654 (“In all courts of the United States the parties may

Case 3:06-cv-01147-WQH-AJB Document 81 Filed 07/10/07 Page 1 of 2
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plead and conduct their own cases personally or by counsel as, by the rules of such courts,

respectively, are permitted to manage and conduct causes therein.”); cf. D-Beam Ltd. P’ship

v. Roller Derby Skates, Inc., 366 F.3d 972, 973-74 (9th Cir. 2004) (“Corporations and other

unincorporated associations must appear in court through an attorney.”); S.D. Cal. L.R. 83.3(k)

(same). Therefore, Soo’s “Request to Proceed as Self-Represented Litigant” (Doc. # 79) is

GRANTED.

Soo also “request[s] the Court for authorization to access the filing portion of CM/ECF

to file documents electronically.” (Doc. # 80.) Pursuant to the Southern District of

California’s Electronic Case Filing Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (ECF

Manual), pro se litigants are required to submit and file all documents in paper form. See ECF

Manual, § 2(b). However, after reviewing Soo’s motion, and noting that Soo’s address is in

Malaysia, the Court concludes that it would be in the interest of justice to allow Soo to file

documents electronically. Accordingly, Soo’s “Request to Use CM/ECF to File Documents

with the Court” (Doc. # 80) is GRANTED. Soo is required to follow all local rules related to

electronic filing of court documents. See generally ECF Manual.

DATED: July 10, 2007

WILLIAM Q. HAYES

United States District Judge

Case 3:06-cv-01147-WQH-AJB Document 81 Filed 07/10/07 Page 2 of 2