Simmons Bank v. UFOTJENJU, LLC et al

Filing 67

ORDER Granting 65 Motion to Dismiss Party TD Bank, and TD Bank is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. It is further ORDERED that the Clerk shall separately enter Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC's DEFAULT under Rule 55(a). Signed by Honorable P. K. Holmes III on November 18, 2022. (lgd)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION
SIMMONS BANK
v.

PLAINTIFF
No. 5:22-cv-05004

UFOTJENJU LLC, et. al

DEFENDANTS
ORDER

Before the Court is Defendant TD Bank, N.A.’s motion (Doc. 65) to dismiss and brief in
support (Doc. 66). No responses have been filed, but no responses are necessary. For the reasons
stated below, the motion will be GRANTED. Additionally, the Clerk shall separately enter
defendant Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC’s DEFAULT.
I.

Dismissal of TD Bank
TD Bank’s motion to dismiss expressly disclaims any interest in the funds that plaintiff

Simmons Bank deposited to the Court’s registry and requests dismissal with prejudice. The Court
previously granted separate defendant Trustmark National Bank’s motion to dismiss for the same
reason. (Doc. 64). “Normally, when a defendant in an interpleader action files a declaration
disclaiming any interest in the funds deposited in court by the complainant, that defendant has no
further interest or legal standing in the action.” Oakley Grains, Inc. v. Shumate, No. 4:17-cv00717, 2018 WL 4568596, at *3 (E.D. Ark. Sept. 24, 2018) (quotations and citation omitted).
Because TD Bank has disclaimed any interest, the Court finds TD Bank has no claim to the funds
and will grant TD Bank’s motion to dismiss with prejudice.
II.

Entry of Default
On August 1, 2022, the Court entered an order (Doc. 61) directing separate defendant

Goldman Gruder & Woods, LLC to obtain counsel and have counsel enter an appearance on or

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before August 12, 2022. Goldman cannot represent itself pro se because it is a limited liability
company. See Ackra Direct Mktg. Corp. v. Fingerhut Corp., 86 F.3d 852, 857 (8th Cir. 1996)
(“the law does not allow a corporation to proceed pro se”); see also City of Kansas City v. Hous.
& Econ. Dev. Fin. Corp., 366 F. App’x 723, 723–24 (8th Cir. 2010) (“artificial entities may appear
in federal courts only through licensed attorneys”) (citing Rowland v. Cal. Men’s Colony, 506 U.S.
194, 202–03 (1993)). A corporation or artificial entity is in default when not represented by
licensed counsel. Ackra Direct Mktg. Corp., 86 F.3d at 857. The Court previously cautioned
Goldman that failing to obtain counsel would result in a default judgment. See Doc. 61. Due to
Goldman’s failure to obtain counsel before the August 12th deadline and its ongoing failure to
obtain counsel for the last three months, the Clerk is directed to enter Goldman’s default under
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a).
III.

Conclusion
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that TD Banks’s motion (Doc. 65) to dismiss is

GRANTED and TD Bank is DISMISSED from this action WITH PREJUDICE.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk shall separately enter Goldman Gruder &
Woods, LLC’s DEFAULT under Rule 55(a).
IT IS SO ORDERED on this 18th day of November, 2022.

/s/P. K. Holmes, III
P.K. HOLMES, III
U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

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