Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08099/USCOURTS-azd-3_10-cv-08099-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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NOT FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Jim Kanelos, as a single man,

Plaintiff, 

vs.

County of Mohave, a government entity;

Mohave County Board of Supervisors, an

elected governing body; Mohave County

Attorney, a mandated administrative

division of Mohave County Government;

Mr. Ron Walker, individually and as

Mohave County Manager (an appointed

position); Mr. Matt Smith, individually

and as Mohave County Attorney (an

elected position); Mr. Bill Ekstrom,

individually and as Deputy Mohave

County Attorney (a staff position); Mr.

Buster Johnson, individually and as

Mohave County Supervisor (an elected

position); Mr. Tom Stockwell, individually

and as Mohave County Supervisor (an

elected position); Mr. Gary Watson,

individually and as Mohave County

Supervisor (an elected position); John

Does A-Z and Jane Does A-Z,

Defendants. 

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No. CV-10-8099-PCT-GMS

ORDER

Pending before the Court are Plaintiff’s Motion to Continue (Doc. 9) and Motion to

Change Venue (Doc. 10); and Motion for Join[d]er (Doc. 14) filed by Western States

Constitutionalist Alliance, Inc. (“Western States”).

The proposed Plaintiff Western States being an organization must be represented by

Case 3:10-cv-08099-GMS Document 15 Filed 07/15/10 Page 1 of 2
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counsel. Only licensed attorneys may represent a corporation or other association 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 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.”); United States 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).

Western States’ attempt to file a separate suit and then move for joinder is not possible

until, at minimum, it complies with this and other Rules of Court. Plaintiff Kanelos therefore

provides no basis on which to continue the scheduling conference.

Plaintiff’s Motion to Change Venue will be denied as moot. This action is already

assigned to the Prescott Division. Therefore,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff’s Motion to Continue (Doc. 9) is denied.

2. Plaintiff’s Motion to Change Venue (Doc. 10) is denied as moot.

3. Western States Constitutionalist Alliance, Inc.’s Petition for Join[d]er (Doc.

14) is denied.

DATED this 14th day of July, 2010.

Case 3:10-cv-08099-GMS Document 15 Filed 07/15/10 Page 2 of 2