Fierman Produce Exchange, Inc.; Coosemans New York Inc.; and C and J Brothers, Inc. v. Havana Produce Inc.; Perez Distribution, LLC; Peter L. Perez; and Pedro H. Perez a/k/a Peter Perez

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

FIERMAN PRODUCE EXCHANGE, INC.; COOSEMANS NEW YORK INC.; and C AND J BROTHERS, INC., Plaintiffs, Case No. 1:26-cv-00279 (JLR) -against- ORDER HAVANA PRODUCE INC.; PEREZ DISTRIBUTION, LLC; PETER L. PEREZ; and PEDRO H. PEREZ a/k/a PETER PEREZ, Defendants.

JENNIFER L. ROCHON, United States District Judge: The Court is in receipt of Defendant Pedro H. Perez’s request for a 30-day extension of the deadline to answer or otherwise respond to Plaintiffs’ Complaint. Dkt. 19. In light of “the Second Circuit’s ‘strong preference for resolving disputes on the merits’ rather than by default,” Icon Int’l, Inc. v. Elevation Health LLC, 347 F.R.D. 274, 294 (S.D.N.Y. 2024) (quoting New York v. Green, 420 F.3d 99, 104 (2d Cir. 2005)), the Court shall extend the deadline for all Defendants to respond to the Complaint to April 9, 2026. Defendants are reminded that while individuals may proceed pro se, corporate entities cannot do so. See Rowland v. Cal. Men’s Colony, 506 U.S. 194, 202 (1993). In light of the above, the parties’ Initial Pretrial Conference shall be adjourned from April 3, 2026 to April 28, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. Pursuant to the Court’s Individual Rule 2.D, the parties shall file a proposed Civil Case Management Plan and Scheduling Order and a joint letter at least ten days before the revised conference date. Dated: March 11, 2026 New York, New York SO ORDERED.

United States District Judge