Opinion
CASE NO. 1:18-cv-2957
04-19-2019
DIRECTORS OF THE OHIO CONFERENCE OF PLASTERERS & CEMENT MASONS COMBINED FUNDS, INC. Plaintiff, v. 21ST CENTURY CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION INC., Defendant.
OPINION & ORDER
[Resolving Doc. 12] :
In this employee benefits case, Defendant 21st Century Concrete Construction, Inc.'s attorney seeks to withdraw. He claims, inter alia, that Defendant has failed substantially to fulfill certain obligations and has made its representation unreasonably difficult.
Doc. 12.
Id.
However, a corporation is not permitted to proceed pro se in federal court. Put differently, Defendant needs an attorney. Accordingly, the Court DENIES defense counsel's motion to withdraw until Defendant has substitute counsel.
E.g., Bass v. Leatherwood, 788 F.3d 228, 230-31 (6th Cir. 2015) ("[U]nder longstanding tradition, a corporation can only appear by attorney." (internal quotation marks and emphasis omitted)). See also 28 U.S.C. § 1654. --------
IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: April 19, 2019
s/ James S . Gwin
JAMES S. GWIN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE