Opinion ID: 1159059
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: lay representation of partnership interests

Text: Approximately a year before trial, the DeBrys moved to disqualify Del Bartel and Dale Thurgood from representing Cascade Enterprises and Cascade Construction on the ground that because those partnerships were not natural persons, Thurgood and Bartel, who are not attorneys, could not represent them. The trial court granted the motion but ruled that Bartel and Thurgood could represent themselves and their respective partnership interests. Notice of the ruling was sent to Lee Bartel, the third partner in Cascade Construction. At trial Thurgood and Del and Lee Bartel represented themselves and their respective partnership interests, and no attorney appeared on behalf of the two partnership entities. On appeal, the DeBrys argue that the practical effect of the trial court's ruling was that Thurgood and Del Bartel continued to represent themselves and the two partnerships. They assert that this amounted to the unauthorized practice of law and that the appropriate remedy is to set aside any judgment rendered in favor of the partnership. A nonlawyer may not undertake legal representation of a corporate litigant. Tracy-Burke v. Department of Employment Sec., 699 P.2d 687, 688 (Utah 1985); Tuttle v. Hi-Land Dairyman's Assoc., 10 Utah 2d 195, 197-98, 350 P.2d 616, 617-18 (1960). A partner who is not a lawyer may not act as agent for the partnership and represent the partnership in legal proceedings. National Bank v. First Wis. Nat'l Bank, 53 Ill.App.3d 482, 10 Ill.Dec. 633, 639, 368 N.E.2d 119, 125 (1977); see also Hunt Inv. Co. v. Eliot, 154 Ariz. 357, 602, 742 P.2d 858, 863 (Ct.App. 1987). Nevertheless, a layperson can represent his own partnership interest. Hunt, 154 Ariz. at 602, 742 P.2d at 863. Thurgood and the Bartels argue that they represented only themselves as individuals but did not represent the partnership entities. Cascade Enterprises was the seller of the building, and its only partners were Del Bartel and Dale Thurgood. Cascade Construction's only partners were Dale Thurgood, Del Bartel, and Lee Bartel, all of whom appeared at trial. Thurgood and Bartel were the payees on the promissory note on which they sued the DeBrys and were entitled to represent themselves on that issue. The DeBrys' claim for defects in the building was asserted against Cascade Enterprises, Cascade Construction, and all the general partners individually. Because all the partners in each partnership were before the court, their individual interests encompassed all interests that the partnership had. [5] We have reviewed all other issues raised by the DeBrys and find them to be without merit. [6]