Farmers and Ranchers Cooperative Association Inc v. Department of Agriculture
Filing
7
ORDER giving plaintiff until November 26, 2012 to retain counsel in this matter. Signed by Judge Kristine G. Baker on 10/24/12. (kpr)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
FARMERS AND RANCHERS
COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION, INC.
v.
PLAINTIFF
No. 4:12-cv-00409 KGB
TOM VILSACK, SECRETARY
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
DEFENDANT
ORDER
Plaintiff Farmers and Ranchers Cooperative Association, Inc., filed this action against the
United States Department of Agriculture in the Circuit Court of Lonoke County, Arkansas, on June
1, 2012. Plaintiff’s complaint is signed by Dwight E. Brooks, a nonlawyer. Defendant removed the
action to this Court and, on July 12, 2012, filed a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s pro se complaint (Dkt.
No. 4). Plaintiff did not respond to defendant’s motion. To date, no attorney has appeared on behalf
of plaintiff.
Corporations and other business entities cannot proceed pro se. Ackra Direct Marketing
Corp. v. Fingerhut Corp., 86 F.3d 852, 857 (8th Cir. 1996). Plaintiff shall have until November 26,
2012 to retain counsel to represent it in this matter. If plaintiff fails to retain counsel by that time,
this action will be dismissed.1
SO ORDERED this 24th day of October, 2012.
____________________________________
Kristine G. Baker
United States District Judge
1
Also pending is plaintiff’s motion for disqualification (Dkt. No. 6). That motion was
filed by Mr. Brooks, a nonlawyer, purportedly on behalf of plaintiff. The Court will hold that
motion in abeyance until plaintiff obtains counsel.
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