Whitley et al v. The Ritchie Group et al

Filing 10

ORDER re 8 Notice of Appearance filed by Dean Pittenger for Towne or Country Real Estate Inc. To the extent Towne or Country Real Estate, Inc. intends to file a substantive response to the complaint and/or otherwise participate in this proceeding, it must appear through counsel or risk having a default judgment entered against it. Signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (PM) cc: Dean Pittenger and Ti Foltz via the USPS

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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_______________________________________
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JED W. WHITLEY, et al.,
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Plaintiffs,
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v.
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THE RITCHIE GROUP, et al.,
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Defendant.
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_______________________________________)

Case No. C17-0673RSL
ORDER

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This matter comes before the Court sua sponte. Defendant Towne or Country Real Estate,

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Inc., has entered an appearance in this matter through its President, Dean Pittenger. Dkt. # 8.

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“Corporations and other unincorporated associations must appear in court through an attorney.”

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Licht v. Am. W. Airlines, 40 F.3d 1058, 1059 (9th Cir. 1994). See also LCR 83.2(b)(3) (“A

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business entity, except a sole proprietorship, must be represented by counsel.”). Pleadings and

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papers filed by a non-attorney on behalf of a corporation or partnership are not valid. D-Beam

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Ltd. Partnership v. Roller Derby Skates, Inc., 366 F.3d 972, 974 n.1 (9th Cir. 2004).

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There is no indication that Mr. Pittenger is an attorney licensed to practice before this

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Court. The Notice of Appearance filed on June 1, 2017, has been accepted only for the purpose

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of an address to which communications with defendant Towne or Country Real Estate, Inc., can

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be sent. To the extent Towne or Country Real Estate, Inc. intends to file a substantive response

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to the complaint and/or otherwise participate in this proceeding, it must appear through counsel

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or risk having a default judgment entered against it.
ORDER

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Dated this 8th day of June, 2017.

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A
Robert S. Lasnik

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United States District Judge

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ORDER

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