Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02570/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02570-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 47:0227(b)(3) Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Collette Stark,

Plaintiff,

v.

Project Eco, a California Corporation; 

Simon Poonka, an individual; Poonka 

Enterprises, Inc., a California Corporation; 

Eco Home Solutions, a California 

Corporation,

Defendants.

Case No.: 18-cv-2570-AJB-KSC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR ENTRY OF 

DEFAULT AGAINST SIMON 

POONKA (Doc. No. 13); and

ORDERING DEFENDANT 

CORPORATIONS TO SHOW 

CAUSE AS TO THE REMAINING 

MOTIONS (Doc. Nos. 11, 12, 14)

Stark moved for entry of default against each of the four defendants. (Doc. Nos. 11, 

12, 13, 14.) Summonses of each defendant were returned as executed between November 

9, 2018, and November 13, 2018. (Doc. Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.) Under Federal Rule of Civil 

Procedure 12(a)(1), a party has 21 days to answer after being served. Here, Defendant 

Simon Poonka answered on behalf of all four defendants pro se on November 30, 2018.

(Doc. Nos. 15, 16.) 

Although Poonka’s answer is valid as to himself, he cannot appear on behalf of a 

corporation unless he is an attorney—even if he is an officer or director of the corporation.

CivLR 83.3(b) (“Only a member of the bar of this court may enter appearances for a party, 

sign stipulations or receive payment or enter satisfaction of judgment, decree or order.”);

Case 3:18-cv-02570-AJB-KSC Document 17 Filed 12/14/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 1 of 2
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Thalassinos v. Adair, et al., 13-cv-0187-WS-N, (S.D. Ala. May 9, 2013) (“under clearly 

established law, a corporation or other artificial entity cannot appear in federal court unless 

it is represented by counsel.”). Thus, the answer as to the corporate defendants is deficient

and untimely. Accordingly, the Court ORDERS TO SHOW CAUSE as to why the 

motions for entry of default against Project Eco, (Doc. No. 11), Eco Home Solutions, Inc., 

(Doc. No. 12), and Poonka Enterprises, (Doc. No. 14), should not be granted.

That hearing is set for January 10, 2019, at 2:00 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 14, 2018

Case 3:18-cv-02570-AJB-KSC Document 17 Filed 12/14/18 PageID.<pageID> Page 2 of 2