Value Stream Commercial Servs. v. Dir.

Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 460
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION I
No. E-16-248
Opinion Delivered October 5, 2016
VALUE STREAM COMMERCIAL APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS
SERVICES, LLC BOARD OF REVIEW
APPELLANT [NO. 2016-BR-00628]
V.
DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF
WORKFORCE SERVICES, AND
DICKIE OHLER
APPELLEES APPEAL DISMISSED
BRANDON J. HARRISON, Judge
Value Stream Commercial Services, LLC, a corporation, appeals from the Arkansas
Board of Review’s 17 May 2016 decision affirming the Appeal Tribunal and finding that
the claimant, Dickie Ohler, was entitled to benefits because he quit with good cause
connected with the work. We dismiss due to lack of jurisdiction.
On 2 June 2016, Value Stream filed its petition for appeal with this court. The
petition was signed by Scott Lybrand, who is not a licensed attorney. It is well settled that
corporations must be represented by licensed attorneys. Smithco Invs. of W. Memphis, Inc. v.
Morgan Keegan & Co., 370 Ark. 477, 261 S.W.3d 454 (2007). Furthermore, our supreme
court has held that when a party not licensed to practice law in this state attempts to represent
the interests of others by submitting himself or herself to the jurisdiction of a court, those
actions, such as the filing of pleadings, are a nullity. Id. Here, Lybrand is not an attorney
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Cite as 2016 Ark. App. 460
and may not represent Value Stream in this case. Our caselaw makes it clear that invoking
the process of a court of law constitutes the practice of law. Stephens Prod. Co. v. Bennett,
2015 Ark. App. 617. Because Lybrand was practicing law when he signed the petition, the
petition is null and void. See id. As a result, we lack jurisdiction and dismiss the appeal.
Appeal dismissed.
ABRAMSON and KINARD, JJ., agree.
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