Nate A. Lindell v. Ashley Suprise

Summary

The court addresses late pretrial filings submitted by a nonparty on behalf of the incarcerated, self-represented plaintiff by email. It declines to accept the filings through the nonparty and email, and orders the plaintiff to mail any pretrial filings and responses by January 29, 2026, while directing defense counsel to provide the order and attachments electronically to prison officials for distribution.

Holdings

1. A nonlawyer may not represent another party in federal court, including by filing motions or other submissions on that party's behalf.
2. The court would not accept plaintiff's pretrial filings submitted by email; plaintiff was required to mail submissions for docketing.
3. Plaintiff was permitted to mail any pretrial filings he wanted the court to consider, along with any response to defendant's pretrial filings, by January 29, 2026.

Questions Presented

1. Whether a nonlawyer may file motions or other submissions in federal court on behalf of a self-represented litigant.
2. Whether the court would accept pretrial submissions transmitted by email rather than filed through an authorized filing method.
3. Whether plaintiff should be permitted to submit his late pretrial filings by mail.

Disposition

other