Global Mills, Inc. v. Granger
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Cite as 2010 Ark. App. 463
ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS
DIVISION I
No. CA09-1408
GLOBAL MILLS, INC.
Opinion Delivered JUNE 2, 2010
APPELLANT
V.
CARLA J. GRANGER
APPELLEE
APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
COMMISSION
[NO. F613171]
DISMISSED
ROBERT J. GLADWIN, Judge
This appeal follows the July 28, 2009 decision of the Workers’ Compensation
Commission (Commission) affirming and adopting the March 6, 2009 opinion of the
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), finding in favor of appellee Carla Granger. Mr. Kelly
Anderson, President of appellant Global Mills, Inc., filed this appeal on behalf of the
corporation, arguing that the Commission erred in finding that appellee’s injury falls within
the Arkansas workers’ compensation laws.
Regardless of whether Mr. Anderson had the ability to properly appear before the
Commission because the Commission is an administrative forum and not a court, it was not
proper for him to attempt to represent a corporate appellant, in effect pro se, in the
prosecution of this appeal. By the acts of filing the notice of appeal, lodging the record, and
Cite as 2010 Ark. App. 463
filing a brief with this court, Mr. Anderson sought judicial review of the Commission’s
decision and thereby attempted to invoke the use of the appellate court mechanism in
Arkansas.
Our supreme court has repeatedly held that when a person not licensed to practice law
in this state attempts to represent the interests of another by submitting himself or herself to
the jurisdiction of a court, the pleadings filed by that person are rendered a nullity. Clarendon
America Ins. Co. v. Hickok, 370 Ark. 41, 47, 257 S.W.3d 43, 47 (2007) (citing Preston v.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 354 Ark. 666, 128 S.W.3d 430 (2003); Davenport v.
Lee, 348 Ark. 148, 72 S.W.3d 85 (2002); and McKenzie v. Burris, 255 Ark. 330, 500 S.W.2d
357 (1973)). Accordingly, the notice of appeal that Mr. Anderson filed on behalf of appellant
must be deemed a nullity. Because the notice of appeal is a nullity and the deadline for filing
an appeal under Arkansas Code Annotated section 11-9-711(b) (Supp. 2009) has lapsed, we
dismiss the instant appeal with prejudice.
Appeal dismissed.
PITTMAN and GLOVER, JJ., agree.
-2-
CA09-1408
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