Opinion
20 Civ. 6208 (JPC)
09-15-2021
FRATELLI BVBA, Plaintiff, v. APM MUSIC SERVICES LLC, et al., Defendants.
ORDER
JOHN P. CRONAN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Defendant/Cross-Claimant Glenn Stone is appearing pro se in this matter. Although allegations drafted by pro se plaintiffs are generally held “to less stringent standards than formal pleadings drafted by lawyers, ” Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972); accord Bertin v. United States, 478 F.3d 489, 491 (2d Cir. 2007), pro se attorneys cannot claim the “special consideration, . . . customarily grant[ed] to pro se parties, ” Harbulak v. Suffolk Cty., 654 F.2d 194, 198 (2d Cir. 1981); see also Banker v. Banker, 744 Fed.Appx. 24, 24 n.1 (2d Cir. 2018) (holding that a lawyer representing himself pro se “does not receive the benefit of [the] general practice of liberally construing pro se briefs to raise the strongest argument they suggest because he is an attorney”).
In his motion to dismiss, Defendant/Cross-Claim Defendant Maurice Keizer alleged that “Stone is a licensed attorney in New York.” Dkt. 50-1 at 1. Stone responded that Keizer failed to “establish[] that Stone is actually practicing as a litigator.” Dkt. 57 at 3-4. Stone is ORDERED to advise the Court by September 20, 2021 on whether he is an attorney and, if so, where he is barred to practice law. If Stone does not respond by September 20, 2021, the Court will assume that he is a licensed attorney.
SO ORDERED.