Opinion
Civil Action 3:21-CV-00458-KDB-DSC
02-11-2022
TREX PROPERTIES LLC, Plaintiff, v. 25TH STREET HOLDING COMPANY INC. et. al., Defendants.
ORDER
David S. Cayer, United States Magistrate Judge
THIS MATTER is before the Court on “Plaintiff's Motion to Strike the Pro Se Answer of James W. Thomas, Inc.” (document #976).
On January 24, 2022, Defendant filed a pro se Answer (document #946).
Taking judicial notice of official documents attached to Plaintiff's Motion, it is clear that Defendant is a corporation.
“It has been the law for the better part of two centuries ... that a corporation may appear in federal courts only through licensed counsel.” Rowland v. California Men's Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201-02 (1993). Accord Gilley v. Shoffner, 345 F.Supp.2d 563, 566 (M.D. N.C. 2004) (dismissing complaint of pro se corporate plaintiff); Microsoft Corp. v. Computer Serv. & Repair, Inc., 312 F.Supp.2d 779, 780 (E.D. N.C. 2004) (same); Lexis-Nexis v. TraviShan Corp., 155 N.C.App. 205, 208, 573 S.E.2d 547, 549 (2002) (same).
Accordingly, “Plaintiff's Motion to Strike the Pro Se Answer of James W. Thomas, Inc.” (document #976) is granted.
The Court warns Defendant that it must immediately retain counsel. Defendant is granted a thirty-day extension of time to retain counsel who shall appear and file an answer on Defendant's behalf. Failure to retain counsel may result in entry of default and default judgment.
THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. “Plaintiff s Motion to Strike the Pro Se Answer of James W. Thomas, Inc.” (document #976) is GRANTED and Defendant's pro se Answer (document #946) is STRICKEN.
2. Defendant shall retain counsel who shall appear and file an answer within thirty days of this Order.
3. The Clerk is directed to send copies of this Order to pro se Defendant, counsel for the parties and to the Honorable Kenneth D. Bell.
SO ORDERED.