Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00239/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00239-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 446
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Other
Cause of Action: 42:12101 Americans with Disabilities Act

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM SCHROEDER, No. 2:16-CV-0239-MCE-CMK

Plaintiff, 

vs. ORDER

GILL PETROLEUM, INC., et al.,

Defendants.

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Plaintiff, who is proceeding with retained counsel, brings this civil action. 

Pending before the court is plaintiff’s motion to strike (Doc. 19). The matter is referred to the

undersigned pursuant to Eastern District of California Local Rule 302(c)(21) because defendant

Gill Petroleum, Inc., appeared in the action without counsel. A hearing was scheduled for June

22, 2016, before the undersigned in Redding, California, but the matter was submitted without

oral argument after defendants failed to file any response to plaintiff’s motion. 

The relevant facts, as outlined by plaintiff, are apparent from the docket:

Plaintiff filed this action alleging violations of the Americans with

Disabilities Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act on February 7, 2016. 

ECF-1. Plaintiff filed his First Amended Complaint on April 6, 2016. 

ECF-14. On April 27, 2016, Mr. Jake Albright filed an Answer with the

Court on behalf of Defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc. ECF-17. Mr. Albright

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is the property manager of the Oaks Shopping Center, which is owned by

Defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc., and where the subject business, the

Lakeside Market, is located. See ECFs 14 and 17. As of this date, no

attorney has appeared on behalf of Defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc., and Mr.

Albright does not appear to be an attorney licensed to practice law in the

State of California. . . .

Plaintiff seeks an order striking the April 27, 2016, filing, which is a letter addressed to the

“United States Courthouse” and captioned “RE: First Amended Complaint For Damages and

Injunctive Relief.” The court agrees with plaintiff that the filing is improper because a

corporation or other entity may appear only by an attorney. See Local Rule 183(a); see also

Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194 (1993). 

A review of the docket reflects other improper filings by Mr. Albright purportedly

on behalf of defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc. (see Docs. 10, 11, and 16). These filings will also be

stricken. If no proper appearances are made on behalf of defendants within 30 days of the date of

this order, plaintiff will be free to pursue whatever relief is available based on the defaults which

have been entered against both named defendants (see Docs. 7 and 9).1 

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1 Kevin Sweeney, Esq., filed an answer on behalf of defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc.,

on July 8, 2016. This filing was made, however, in the absence of any order setting aside the

default entered against defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc., on March 24, 2016 (Doc. 7). 

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to strike (Doc. 19) is granted; 

2. The April 27, 2016, filing (Doc. 17) is stricken;

3. The April 1, 2016, filings (Docs. 10 and 11) are stricken;

4. The April 11, 2016, filing (Doc. 16) is stricken; and

5. The Clerk of the Court is directed to update the docket to reflect that no

appearance has been made for defendant Gill Petroleum, Inc.

DATED: July 20, 2016

______________________________________

CRAIG M. KELLISON

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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