The Seventh Circuit dismissed an appeal filed on behalf of the plaintiff, an LLC, after finding that the notice of appeal was signed by an individual who was not an attorney and, thus, could not represent any entity other than himself individually. The Seventh Circuit was not persuaded by plaintiff’s argument that under Illinois corporate law any person may represent a corporation, noting that an LLC is not a corporation, the statutory references cited by the plaintiff did not “supersede the norm” that a member of the bar is required to represent a corporation in court, and that federal rules govern the procedures for litigation in federal court and under those rules only a member of the court’s bar can represent another person or entity in litigation. The Seventh Circuit also urged all lawyers to follow the court’s handbook regarding the use of typography. (BRENNAN and SCUDDER, concurring)
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Appellate Jurisdiction