Jones v. Atlantic Records

Background

Denise Jones, who was representing herself, submitted numerous filings seeking default against the defendants. The court stated that the submissions were unmeritorious. It explained that all defendants had either appeared, acknowledged receipt of the complaint and were seeking counsel, or had not been served.

Rulings on Default

The court ordered Jones not to seek default before first receiving leave from the court. It also directed the clerk to vacate the certificates of default.

Leave to File Motions to Dismiss

The court granted Atlantic Recording Corporation, Warner Music Group Corp., 300 Entertainment LLC, Craig Kallman, Stephen Cooper, Kevin Liles, Carl Crawford, and 1501 Entertainment LLC leave to move to dismiss Jones’s complaint. The defendants had to file their motions by November 1, 2022. Jones had to submit one opposition to both motions by November 29, 2022, and any replies were due by December 13, 2022.

Representation of Carl Crawford and 1501 Entertainment LLC

By November 1, 2022, Carl Crawford and 1501 Entertainment LLC had to retain new counsel. The court allowed Crawford to instead inform the court whether he intended to represent himself. If Crawford proceeded without a lawyer, he had to provide his mailing address, telephone number, and email address. Otherwise, Crawford’s counsel had to file an appearance. The court explained that a corporation and a limited liability company cannot appear in federal court without a licensed attorney.

Disposition

Judge Andrew L. Carter, Jr. ordered that Jones could not seek default without prior court permission, granted the listed defendants leave to file motions to dismiss, imposed the stated filing deadlines, and directed the clerk to vacate the certificates of default. The order did not decide whether the complaint should ultimately be dismissed.