Victor L. Solomon, Steve Solomon, Cynthia Solomon, Victorsolomon, Jr., Plaintiffs-appellants, v. Monongalia County Bar Association, Kanawha County Barassociation, West Virginia Supreme Court, Westvirginia State Bar Association, Westvirginia Public Servicecommission,defendants-appellees, 914 F.2d 249 (4th Cir. 1990)

Victor L. Solomon, Sr. appeals from the district court's order dismissing his civil rights suit, without prejudice, for failure to present individual, personal claims. This case was initiated by four plaintiffs, Victor L. Solomon, Sr. and three relatives. Although the notice of appeal was signed by all four plaintiffs, it is timely only in respect to Victor L. Solomon, Sr. Only Solomon, Sr. requested an extension of the period in which to petition to reopen the civil action through the filing of an amended complaint. The district court granted his request and explicitly stated that the extension applied only to Solomon, Sr. Consequently, the notice of appeal for the remaining three plaintiffs relates back to a judgment entered over two months earlier and is, therefore, untimely. See Fed. R. App. P. 4(a).

The claims presented by the plaintiffs all relate to the plaintiffs' family-owned business, Vic's Garage, Inc. Although 28 U.S.C. § 1654 permits parties to conduct their own litigation, it is well settled that a corporation must be represented by an attorney in federal court. See Nat'l Independent Theatre Exhibitors v. Buena Vista Distribution, 748 F.2d 602, 609 (11th Cir. 1984) (corporate officer could not bring pro se action on behalf of corporation), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1056 (1985); Jones v. Niagra Frontier Transp. Authority, 722 F.2d 20, 22 (2d Cir. 1983); Richdel, Inc. v. Sunspool Corp., 699 F.2d 1366 (Fed. Cir. 1983) (expense of attorney does not allow exception to rule that corporation must be represented by attorney).

Because the claims presented allege wrongs committed against the corporation and because Vic's Garage, Inc. is not represented by licensed counsel, the district court correctly dismissed this complaint. Accordingly, we find that this appeal is without merit and affirm on the reasoning of the district court. Solomon v. Monongalia County Bar, CA-86-160-C (N.D.W. Va. Apr. 19, 1990; May 4, 1990; June 7, 1990). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

AFFIRMED.