Ittle Rock Plastic Surgery, P.A. v. Director, Division of Workforce Services; And Bathsheba McCall

2026 Ark. App. 43

• Court: Court of Appeals of Arkansas
• Decided: January 21, 2026
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cite as 2026 Ark. App. 43 ARKANSAS COURT OF APPEALS DIVISION IV No. E-25-122

Opinion Delivered January 21, 2026

LITTLE ROCK PLASTIC SURGERY, APPEAL FROM THE ARKANSAS P.A. BOARD OF REVIEW APPELLANT

V. [NO. 2025-BR-00486]

DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF WORKFORCE SERVICES; AND BATHSHEBA MCCALL APPELLEES DISMISSED

CINDY GRACE THYER, Judge

Appellant Little Rock Plastic Surgery, P.A. (“LRPS”), appeals from the Arkansas

Board of Review’s September 2, 2025 decision affirming the Appeal Tribunal and finding

that the claimant, Bathsheba McCall, was entitled to unemployment benefits. The Board

concluded that LRPS failed to meet its burden of proving that McCall engaged in

misconduct in connection with her work. We dismiss due to lack of jurisdiction.

On October 1, 2025, LRPS filed its petition for review with this court. The petition

reflected that LRPS is a corporation and represented by counsel, Danny Crabtree. However,

the petition was signed by Kristy Spann, LRPS’s business manager. It is well settled that

corporations must be represented by licensed attorneys. CFO Network, LLC v. Dir., 2023 Ark.

App. 303; see also IHOP #1914 v. Dir., 2023 Ark. App. 102 (holding that when a party not licensed to practice law in this state attempts to represent the interests of others by submitting

himself or herself to the jurisdiction of a court, those actions, such as the filing of pleadings,

are rendered a nullity).

In the instant case, Spann is a business manager, not an attorney, and may not

represent LRPS. Invoking the process of a court of law constitutes the practice of law. IHOP

#1914, 2023 Ark. App. 102, at 2. Because Spann was practicing law when she signed the

petition, the petition is null and void. As a result, we lack jurisdiction and dismiss this

appeal.

Dismissed.

VIRDEN and BARRETT, JJ., agree.

Kristy Spann, pro se appellant.

Cynthia L. Uhrynowycz, for appellee.