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MSIG Mingtai Ins. Co. v. WAC Express, Inc.

United States District Court, Central District of California
Jun 10, 2024
CV 24-4682-GW-KSx (C.D. Cal. Jun. 10, 2024)

Opinion

CV 24-4682-GW-KSx

06-10-2024

MSIG Mingtai Insurance Company, Ltd. v. WAC Express, Inc.


Present The Honorable GEORGE H. WU, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL

PROCEEDINGS: IN CHAMBERS - ORDER

On May 31, 2024, Plaintiff MSIG Mingtai Insurance Company, LTD (“MSIG,” a purported Taiwanese corporation), filed a complaint (ECF No. 1) against Defendant WAC Express, Inc. concerning lost and/or stolen cargo. The last page of the complaint is executed as follows: “CHUN WEI INTERNATIONAL LAW LTD [“Chun Wei”] for and on behalf of MSIG MINGTAl INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD. by Jim Cheng” whose address is listed as “Room6-2(B), No. 6 Minquan 2nd Rd., Kaohsiung, Taiwan.” On the same day, the Clerk's Office issued a notice of deficiency because “Per local rule 83-2.2.2 Only individuals may represent themselves pro se.” ECF No. 3.

A corporation (or similar business entity) cannot appear in federal court pro se (i.e. representing itself). See Rowland v. California Men's Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201-02 (1993); see also C.D. Cal. L.R. 83-2.2.2. Likewise, only a licensed attorney can appear for a corporation and not a non-lawyer corporate officer or other individual. See Rowland, 506 U.S. at 202.

Here, MSIG cannot lawfully file its own complaint; nor can Chun Wei. Further, there is no indication that Jim Cheng is a licensed attorney. Thus, it appears that the complaint in this case has been improperly filed. Therefore, the Court sets an Order to Show Cause (“OSC”) hearing for July 11, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. Plaintiff shall have its complaint filed by a licensed attorney by July 9, 2024. If the Plaintiff fails to do, the Court will dismiss this action.


Summaries of

MSIG Mingtai Ins. Co. v. WAC Express, Inc.

United States District Court, Central District of California
Jun 10, 2024
CV 24-4682-GW-KSx (C.D. Cal. Jun. 10, 2024)
Case details for

MSIG Mingtai Ins. Co. v. WAC Express, Inc.

Case Details

Full title:MSIG Mingtai Insurance Company, Ltd. v. WAC Express, Inc.

Court:United States District Court, Central District of California

Date published: Jun 10, 2024

Citations

CV 24-4682-GW-KSx (C.D. Cal. Jun. 10, 2024)