Moody v. Inspire Summits LLC ( 2020 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DOC #: _________________ SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DATE FILED: 12/14/2020 ------------------------------------------------------------------- X B. MOODY and K. O’BRIEN, : : Plaintiffs, : -against- : 1:20-cv-05834-GHW : INSPIRE SUMMITS LLC and CHRISTOPHER P. : ORDER SKROUPA, : : Defendants. : ------------------------------------------------------------------- X GREGORY H. WOODS, United States District Judge: On December 14, 2020, the Court received an ex parte communication from Defendant Christopher P. Skroupa, requesting an extension of time for Defendants to retain counsel and work on settling the case. The parties are reminded that ex parte communications are not permitted, and that except as otherwise provided in the Court’s Individual Rules of Practice in Civil Cases, communications with the Court must be made by letter and filed on the docket. Accordingly, the Court will file Mr. Skroupa’s December 14, 2020 email on the docket. Mr. Skroupa’s request for an extension is denied without prejudice. On December 8, 2020, the Court denied the parties’ request for Defendants to answer or otherwise respond to the complaint. Dkt. No. 15. As stated in the Court’s December 8, 2020 order, the law is well-settled in this Circuit that corporate defendants cannot represent themselves in court. Id.; see also Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. v. Cont’l Record Co., 386 F.2d 426, 427 (2d Cir. 1967) (per curiam); Rosario v. Mis Hijos Deli Corp., No. 15-CV-6049 (JSR), 2020 WL 5810210, at *3 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2020). Therefore, any requests made on behalf of Defendant Inspire Summits LLC must be submitted through counsel. Plaintiffs are directed to serve a copy of this order on all defendants in this action and to retain proof of service. SO ORDERED. Dated: December 14, 2020 GRE . WOODS United States District Judge