Keith DOUGHERTY; Docson Consulting LLC (a single member LLC); Keith Dougherty Insurance and Consulting (sole proprietor); Jean Brady (Partner); Kenneth Brady, 1099 Misc. employee president of CUC of MD Inc., Appellants v. Jonathan SNYDER, individually and in his official capacity as BCO and Zoning Enforcement Officer; Dustin Grove, individually and in his official capacity as Board Member; William Tollinger, individually and in his official capacity as Board Member; Robert Barclay, individually and in his official capacity as Board Member; Kerrie Ebaugh, individually and in her official capacity as Township Secretary/Treasurer; Stephen Linebaugh, individually and in his official capacity as presiding Judge; Pamela S. Lee, individually and in her official capacity as Civil Prothonotary; J. Robert Chuck, Individually and in his official capacity as Court Administrator; John Doe(s) individually and in their official capacity as authors of Per Curiam opinions 553 CD 2007, 317 MD 2007, 1450 CD 2008, 629 CD 2009, 1200 CCD 2009; North Hopewell Township; Unnamed Insurance Carriers; Darell N. Vanormer, Jr.; Melanie R. Brady; Joseph C. Adams; Darrell N. Vanormer, Jr.; Chief Inspector Michael Gensemer.
No. 11-2631.
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
March 21, 2012.
469 Fed. Appx. 71
Submitted on Motions for Summary Action Pursuant to Third Circuit LAR 27.4 and I.O.P. 10.6 Filed By Appellees J. Robert Chuck, John Doe(s), Honorable Stephen P. Linebaugh, Darrell N. VanOrmer, Jr., and Jonathan Snyder Feb. 16, 2012.
Darrell N. Vanormer, Jr., Esq., Elizabethtown, PA, pro se.
Before: SCIRICA, SMITH and CHAGARES, Circuit Judges
OPINION
PER CURIAM.
On December 2, 2011, we granted the motion for summary affirmance filed by defendants/appellees Dustin Grove, William Tollinger, Robert Barclay, Kerrie Ebaugh and North Hopewell Township. Those defendants argued that summary affirmance was appropriate as to all other defendants as well. Three more groups of defendants have since filed their own motions for summary affirmance. The motion filed by defendant Darrell N. Vanormer, Jr., also requests that we summarily affirm the District Court‘s judgment in its entirety. Appellant Keith Dougherty has filed numerous responses to all of these motions.
On consideration of the parties’ filings, we agree that summary affirmance of the District Court‘s judgment is appropriate as to all defendants. Accordingly, we will now affirm the judgment of the District Court in its entirety. We do so primarily for the reasons thoroughly and adequately explained by the District Court in its relevant orders and opinions, including those entered November 5, 2010 (dismissing claims of unrepresented plaintiffs), May 16, 2011 (dismissing the amended complaint), and July 12, 2011 (denying reconsideration).
We write to address only one issue. Appellant Keith Dougherty, who is not a lawyer, purported to assert claims pro se on behalf of his single-member Pennsylvania limited liability company, Docson Consulting LLC (“Docson Consulting“). The District Court dismissed those claims on November 5, 2010, on the ground that Docson Consulting must be represented by counsel in federal court. Dougherty once again purports to represent Docson Consulting pro se on appeal. On August 5, 2011, we issued an order provisionally permitting him to file briefs on Docson Consulting‘s behalf but reserving decision on whether he may properly represent Docson Consulting in this appeal (and thus on whether he should have been permitted to do so in the District Court). We now conclude that he may not.
“It has been the law for the better part of two centuries ... that a corporation may appear in the federal courts only through licensed counsel.” Rowland v. Cal. Men‘s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 201-02, 113 S.Ct. 716, 121 L.Ed.2d 656 (1993); see also Simbraw, Inc. v. United States, 367 F.2d 373, 373-74 (3d Cir.1966) (so holding). The same applies to LLCs, even those with only a single member, because even single-member LLCs have a legal identity separate from their members. See United States v. Hagerman, 545 F.3d 579, 581-82 (7th Cir.2008); Lattanzio v. COMTA, 481 F.3d 137, 140 (2d Cir.2007).
Dougherty argues that such is not the case here because he asked the Internal Revenue Service to disregard Docson Consulting‘s separate legal identity for federal tax purposes. That issue is not determinative. “[T]he right to conduct business in a
For these reasons, we will dismiss the appeal of Docson Consulting and will otherwise affirm the judgment of the District Court. Dougherty has filed a number of motions directed at our order of December 2 summarily affirming in part. To the extent that those motions seek reconsideration of the order, they are denied. To the extent that they seek rehearing of the order, they are premature and no action will be taken on them. If Dougherty wishes, he may seek rehearing of our final judgment in accordance with the applicable rules. Dougherty‘s other requests, including his unwarranted requests for sanctions and a default judgment, are denied as well.