RMA ENGINEERING S.A.R.L v. USA

Filing 31

REPORTED OPINION. Signed by Judge Susan G. Braden. (pt) Copy to parties.

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
14-1202
Filed: February 2, 2017
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RMA ENGINEERING S.A.R.L. d/b/a/
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RMV ARCHITECTS,
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Plaintiff,
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v.
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THE UNITED STATES,
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Defendant.
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Rules of the United States Court
of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) 41
(Dismissal of Actions), 83.1
(Withdrawing Counsel).

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
On January 11, 2017, Plaintiff’s Counsel filed a Motion To Withdraw Legal
Representation, because his client “fai[ed] substantially to fulfill an obligation to [Counsel]
regarding [Counsel’s] services,” and requested leave to withdraw from representation. ECF No.
25 at 1 (citing ABA MODEL RULES OF PROF’L CONDUCT RULE 1.6). On January 23, 2017, the
Government filed a Response stating that it did not oppose the January 11, 2017 Motion, but
requested that the court stay discovery until Plaintiff retained new counsel. ECF No 26 at 2.
On January 30, 2017, the court issued a Memorandum Opinion and Order, explaining that,
under the Rules of the United States Court of Federal Claims (“RCFC”) the court could not grant
the January 11, 2017 Motion, because: (1) Plaintiff’s Counsel did not provide proof of service of
the January 11, 2017 Motion to Plaintiff, and (2) Plaintiff could not appear in the United States
Court of Federal Claims pro se, because, as a “French limited liability company in partnership,”
Plaintiff is an “entity” that may not appear without counsel. See 1/30/2017 Order, ECF No. 27, at
1–2; see also RCFC 83.1(a)(3)( “An individual who is not an attorney may represent oneself or a
member of one’s immediate family, but may not represent a corporation, an entity, or any other
person in any proceeding before [the] court.”) (emphasis added); Talasila, Inc. v. United States,
240 F.3d 1064, 1066 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“[An entity] must be represented by counsel in order to
pursue its claim against the United States in the Court of Federal Claims.”).
On January 31, 2017, Plaintiff’s Counsel filed a Response To Court’s Opinion Requiring
Proof Of Service, attaching, as Exhibit A, a January 11, 2017 e-mail from Plaintiff’s Counsel to a
representative of Plaintiff containing a copy of the January 11, 2017 Motion. ECF No. 29 Ex A.

Because Plaintiff may not appear in the United States Court of Federal Claims pro se,
Plaintiff is ordered to write a letter to the court, wherein Plaintiff will explain whether it intends to
substitute new counsel or otherwise dismiss the December 15, 2014 Complaint. See RCFC
83.1(a)(3).
If Plaintiff does not retain new counsel within 30 days of this Memorandum Opinion and
Order, the court will dismiss the December 15, 2014 Complaint. See RCFC 41(b) (“If the plaintiff
fails to prosecute or to comply with these rules or a court order, the court may dismiss on its own
motion[.]”); see also Talasila, 240 F.3d at 1067 (affirming the United States Court of Federal
Claims’ dismissal of a complaint filed by a corporation because the corporation could not appear
pro se).
The Clerk’s Office is directed to mail a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order to
Plaintiff.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Susan G. Braden
SUSAN G. BRADEN
Judge

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