Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-00740/USCOURTS-azd-2_10-cv-00740-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 840
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1125 Trademark Infringement (Lanham Act)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Best Western International, Inc., 

Plaintiff, 

vs.

Fish Creek Holdings, LLC, et al., 

Defendant.

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No. CV10-0740 PHX DGC

ORDER

On April 2, 2010, Plaintiff Best Western International, Inc. filed a complaint against

Defendants Fish Creek Holdings, LLC and Sue Martinsen. Dkt. #1. On June 3, 2010, Sue

Martinsen and non-party Henry C. Martinsen filed a pro se answer on behalf of Sue

Martinsen and Fish Creek Holdings. Dkt. #12. On June 4, 2010, Best Western filed a

motion requesting the Court to strike the answer to the extent it was filed on behalf of Fish

Creek Holdings, on the ground that a corporation may appear in federal court only through

licensed counsel. Dkt. #13. Defendants have failed to respond to the motion.

Best Western is correct that only licensed attorneys may represent a corporation or

other entity in federal court. Rowland v. Cal. Men’s Colony, Unit II Men’s Advisory

Counsel, 506 U.S. 194, 201-202 (1993) (“It has been the law for the better part of two

centuries . . . that a corporation may appear in federal courts only through licensed counsel.”)

(citing Osborn v. President of Bank of U.S., 9 Wheat. 738, 829, 6 L.Ed. 204 (1824)); D-Beam

Ltd. P’ship v. Roller Derby Skates, Inc., 366 F.3d 972, 973-74 (9th Cir. 2004) (“It is a

longstanding rule that ‘corporations and other unincorporated associations must appear in

Case 2:10-cv-00740-DGC Document 17 Filed 07/14/10 Page 1 of 2
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court through an attorney.’”) (alteration and citation omitted); In re Am. W. Airlines, 40 F.3d

1058, 1059 (9th Cir. 1994) (“Corporations and other unincorporated associations must appear

in court through an attorney.”); U.S. v. High Country Broad. Co., 3 F.3d 1244, 1245 (9th Cir.

1993) (holding that a corporation’s president and sole shareholder could not make an “end

run around” the counsel requirement by intervening pro se rather than retaining counsel to

represent the corporation) (citing 28 U.S.C. 1654). Based on the affidavit of Michelle Swan,

it appears that neither Sue Martinsen nor Henry C. Martinsen is an attorney. Dkt. #13-1 at

3-4. As a result, the Court will grant Best Western’s motion to strike the answer to the extent

it was made on behalf of Fish Creek Holdings.

IT IS ORDERED that Best Western’s motion to strike (Dkt. #13) is granted.

DATED this 14th day of July, 2010.

Case 2:10-cv-00740-DGC Document 17 Filed 07/14/10 Page 2 of 2