Rule 18 Corporate Disclosure; Business Entity in an Appeal; Representation of a Corporation.

If a business is part of an appeal, it has to tell the court some basic facts about itself right away. In the first paper it files with the Supreme Court, the business must say what kind of entity it is, such as a sole proprietorship, corporation, or partnership. It also has to list any trade name it uses and explain any ownership or financial connections it has to other businesses. This helps the court understand who is really involved in the case.

The rule also covers who can speak for a corporation in court. If a corporation is appealing a case or defending itself in one, it cannot represent itself. It must have a licensed attorney who is allowed to practice before the Supreme Court handle the appeal. This means a company owner or employee cannot argue the case on the corporation's behalf, even if they are deeply familiar with the details.