KJC Trust v. Redacted
- Vernon Broderick
- 1:25-cv-05805
- U.S. District Court · Southern District of New York
- 1
In KJC Trust v. Redacted, Judge Broderick stayed the action for 30 days so the trust could obtain counsel.
KJC Trust and the continuation of its federal action are affected. The action is stayed for 30 days while KJC Trust seeks counsel; the court stated that it will dismiss the action if counsel is not obtained.
What happened
In KJC Trust v. Redacted Respondents, KJC Trust filed a petition seeking injunctive and other relief while representing itself. The filing said the trust was acting to protect trust property and related interests.
The court explained that a trust cannot represent itself in federal court, and a nonlawyer cannot represent a trust. The court therefore gave KJC Trust 30 days to obtain a lawyer.
Judge Broderick stayed the action rather than dismissing it. The court stated that it would dismiss the action if KJC Trust did not obtain counsel within 30 days.
The detailed version
- KJC Trust v. Redacted · No. 1:25-cv-05805
- Vernon Broderick
- July 18, 2025
Background
On July 15, 2025, KJC Trust filed a submission titled “Verified Petition for Injunctive Relief, Temporary Restraining Order, Writ of Habeas Corpus, and Other Equitable Relief” against “Redacted Respondents.” The filing stated that KJC Trust was proceeding in its private sovereign capacity to protect the trust corpus, minor beneficiaries, trustees, private financial instruments, and trust property. The opinion identifies KJC Trust as proceeding without a lawyer.
Court’s analysis
The court held that an artificial entity, such as a trust, cannot represent itself without a lawyer in federal court. It also explained that a natural person who is not a lawyer cannot bring claims on behalf of an artificial entity.
Ruling
The court stayed the action for 30 days and gave KJC Trust leave to obtain counsel. The court stated that it would dismiss the action if KJC Trust failed to obtain counsel within that period. The opinion does not state that the court reached the merits of the requested relief or entered a dismissal.
Read the full 1-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.