Cooperative Entertainment, Inc. v. Alibaba Cloud US LLC

Summary

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California denied William P. Ramey III’s application to appear pro hac vice for Plaintiff Cooperative Entertainment, Inc., with prejudice. The court found that Ramey falsely represented the number of prior pro hac vice admissions and cited his alleged unauthorized practice of law and related misconduct. The court ordered Ramey to show cause why monetary and other sanctions should not be imposed and ordered Plaintiff to submit a declaration concerning Ramey’s prior involvement in the case.

Holdings

1. The court denied Ramey's application to appear pro hac vice with prejudice because he falsely represented under penalty of perjury that he had not been granted pro hac vice admission in the preceding twelve months and because his extensive unauthorized practice, false representations, and related misconduct independently warranted denial.
2. The court ordered Ramey to show cause why monetary sanctions of $1,000, referral to the court's Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility, and an order requiring distribution of the sanctions order should not be imposed.
3. Plaintiff was ordered to file a separate declaration by Jennifer Ishimoto stating whether Ramey authored any filings in the action before applying to appear pro hac vice.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Ramey's application to appear pro hac vice should be denied based on a false declaration concerning prior pro hac vice admissions and his extensive unauthorized practice and related misconduct.
2. Whether Ramey should be ordered to show cause why monetary and nonmonetary sanctions should not be imposed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11, the court's inherent authority, or other applicable authority.
3. Whether Plaintiff should be required to submit a declaration concerning whether Ramey authored filings before applying for pro hac vice admission.

Disposition

other