Opinion
23-CV-1246 (LTS)
02-21-2023
ORDER
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN, Chief United States District Judge
Sean Finnegan (“Finnegan”), who is barred from proceeding in forma pauperis (“IFP”) in this court, see Finnegan v. Dist. of Columbia Sup. Ct., ECF 1:21-CV-10946, 6 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 7, 2022), filed this action in the name of Liam Alexander (“Alexander”) and Liam Alexander PR. In this new action, Finnegan filed an IFP application, listing Alexander and “Liam Alexander PR” as the plaintiffs. He signed the IFP application in the name of Alexander. As set forth below, the Court dismisses this action under the bar order issued in 21-CV-10946 (the “Finnegan bar order”).
DISCUSSION
The is the sixth such action the court has received from Finnegan in Alexander's name.On July 18, 2022, in Alexander v. NYPD, No. 22-CV-4610 (LTS), the Court issued an order finding that Finnegan, in an apparent attempt to avoid the Finnegan bar order, brought the action in Alexander's name and directed Finnegan to show cause, within 30 days, why the action should not be dismissed under the Finnegan bar order. On August 24, 2022, the Court dismissed that action without prejudice because Finnegan had not responded.ECF 1:22-CV-4610, 5.
Finnegan has filed the following actions in Alexander's name: Alexander v. IRS, No. 23-CV-1245 (LTS) (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 21, 2023) (dismissed under the Finnegan Bar order); Alexander v. BRC, No. 23-CV-0218 (LTS) (S.D.N.Y. Jan. 13, 2023) (dismissed under the Finnegan bar order); Alexander v. Dep't of Homeless Servs., No. 22-CV-10160 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2022) (dismissed after Finnegan failed to respond to order finding he was bringing claims under Alexander's name); Alexander v. Dep't of Homeless Servs., No. 22-CV-10187 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 6, 2022) (dismissed as duplicative of the case under docket number 22-CV-10160 (LTS)); Alexander v.
On August 2, 2022, the order was returned to the court as undeliverable. On August 30, 2022, the court received two motions in Alexander's name, a motion for a 60-day extension of time to comply with the July 18, 2022, order, and a motion to compel the New York City Police Department to return plaintiff's property and to provide the court with a copy of plaintiff's identification. That same day, the Court denied the motions, noting that the action was dismissed without prejudice to Alexander filing a new action with information indicating that the action was actually being filed by an individual whose legal name is Liam Alexander rather than Finnegan. ECF 1:22-CV-4610, 9. That order was also returned as undeliverable.
In Alexander v. Dep't of Homeless Servs., ECF 1:22-CV-10160, 3 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 9, 2022), after finding that Finnegan brought the action in Alexander's name,the Court provided Finnegan 14 days to challenge the Court's conclusion that he brought that action. Finnegan did not respond to that order.
The Court compared addresses, handwriting, and claims to determine that Finnegan filed the action, not Alexander.
Here, Finnegan has again filed an action in Alexander's name. Accordingly, the Court dismisses the action under the Finnegan bar order.
Finnegan also lists as a plaintiff “Liam Alexander PR,” which appears to be a corporation. However, corporations, nonprofit organization, and other artificial entities cannot proceed pro se. Rowland v. California Men's Colony, Unit II Men's Advisory Council, 506 U.S. 194, 202 (1993) (noting that “lower courts have uniformly held that 28 U.S.C. § 1654, providing that “parties may plead and conduct their own cases personally or by counsel,” does not allow corporations, partnerships, or associations to appear in federal court otherwise than through a licensed attorney”) (citations omitted); see also Jones v. Niagara Frontier Transp. Auth., 722 F.2d 20, 22 (2d Cir. 1983) (noting that “it is established that a corporation, which is an artificial entity that can only act through agents, cannot proceed pro se”). Because Finnegan is not a lawyer, he cannot bring pro se claims on behalf of a corporation.
CONCLUSION
The Court concludes that Sean Finnegan, who is barred from bringing a new action IFP without leave of Court, has brought this action in the name of Liam Alexander and Liam Alexander PR, and has sought leave to proceed IFP in Alexander's name. Because Finnegan did not comply with the prefiling injunction, the Court dismisses this action without prejudice under the Finnegan bar order. Finnegan, ECF 1:21-CV-10946, 6.
The Court certifies, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3), that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore IFP status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States, 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).
The Court directs the Clerk of Court to enter judgment.
SO ORDERED.