On June 27, 2007, Appellee Morgan Keegan & Co., Inc. (Morgan Keegan), filed a motion to dismiss the appeal of Appellants Smithco Investments of West Memphis, Inc. and Smithco of Fort Smith, Inc. (Smithco) with our court. Morgan Keegan argues that Smithco’s appeal should be dismissed because the notice of appeal was signed by Smithco’s CEO who is not an attorney. We grant the motion to dismiss appeal.
On May 4, 2007, the Sebastian County Circuit Court entered a judgment in favor of Morgan Keegan. On June 4, 2007, Smithco filed a notice of appeal. Attorney Paul Johnson represented Smithco during the trial in the circuit court. However, the notice of appeal was not signed by an attorney, but rather it was signed by Smithco’s CEO, Phil Smith. Morgan Keegan argues that the notice of appeal is a nullity because it was not signed by an attorney, and requests that we dismiss the appeal.
We have held that corporations must be represented by licensed attorneys. See McAdams v. Pulaski County Circuit Court,
Here, Phil Smith is not an attorney and may not represent Smithco in this case. See Abel v. Kowalsksi,
Motion granted.
