Shaw v. Ascension Hospice Inc et al

Filing 33

ORDER directing Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc to retain counsel in this case. ( Status Report due by 7/19/2011.). Signed by Magistrate Judge Paige J Gossett on 6/21/2011. (jpet, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
COLUMBIA DIVISION
Tisheekia Shaw,

)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
Ascension Hospice, Inc. and Glenn Gray,
)
)
Defendants.
)
_____________________________________ )

C/A No. 3:10-2188-MJP-PJG

ORDER

At a motions hearing on June 21, 2011, counsel for the defendants was granted leave to
withdraw as the defendants’ attorney. It appears that Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc. is a
corporation. While Defendant Gray as an individual may appear pro se, a non-attorney individual
cannot represent a corporation in federal court and a corporation cannot appear pro se in federal
court. In Rowland v. California Men’s Colony, Unit II Men’s Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194
(1993), the United States Supreme Court recognized that
[i]t has been the law for the better part of two centuries . . . that a corporation may
appear in the federal courts only through licensed counsel. As the courts have
recognized, the rationale for that rule applies equally to all artificial entities. Thus,
save a few aberrant cases, the lower courts have uniformly held that 28 U.S.C.
§ 1654, providing that “parties may plead and conduct their own cases personally or
by counsel,” does not allow corporations, partnerships, or associations to appear in
federal court otherwise than through a licensed attorney.
Id. at 201-02 (internal citations and footnote omitted). Although 28 U.S.C. § 1654 allows
individuals to “plead and conduct their own cases personally,” the statute does not extend that right
to represent other parties. Therefore, Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc. must obtain legal counsel
to proceed in this action.

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Accordingly, it is hereby
ORDERED that Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc. shall have until July 19, 2011 to retain
counsel in this case. If Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc. fails to retain licensed counsel who enters
a notice of appearance by this date, then Defendant Ascension Hospice, Inc. may be subject to
sanctions, including but not limited to entry of default. It is further
ORDERED that a status conference in this matter is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, 2011
at 10:00 a.m.1 The Clerk of Court is directed to serve a copy of this Order on Defendant Ascension
Hospice, Inc. and Defendant Gray at the address provided in defense counsel’s motion to withdraw.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
_________________________________
Paige J. Gossett
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
June 21, 2011
Columbia, South Carolina

1

Although the court from the bench set the status conference for July 20, 2011, this has been
changed due to a scheduling conflict.
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