Before you panic: what franchisees should know about legal threats
Filed: December 28, 2025
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Entity: ZivZo, LLC
If you run a Nautical Bowls shop, here’s why this matters. The ZivZo case touched folks in your franchise system. Maryland tossed the case on procedural grounds, so the judge didn’t wade into the actual franchise beef. What the ruling does give us is a clear line between legitimate claims and off base legal threats.
Individual involved: Benson
Key Court Findings (Quoted, Not Interpreted)
The court’s order is unusually direct. The judge stated (emphasis added):
“The Court has strained to review the poorly organized conglomeration of writings which consists of the present motion.”
“The assemblage of material seems to be lacking in some legal regards.”
“The Court observes that Mr. Fischer is attempting to represent the Plaintiff ZivZo, LLC ‘pro se,’ which is a misnomer.”
“ZivZo, LLC must be represented by a licensed attorney.”
“The entire action is subject to dismissal.”
“This action is therefore dismissed WITHOUT prejudice, with 30 days leave for Plaintiff to reopen if an attorney enters an appearance and a motion is duly made.”
These are not paraphrases. They are the court’s own words.
What the Court Did — and Did Not — Decide
What the court decided:
- An LLC cannot proceed without licensed counsel
- The filings were procedurally defective
- The action could not continue in its current form
- Dismissal was mandatory under basic rules of representation
What the court did NOT decide:
- The merits of any underlying claims
- Factual disputes between parties
- Damages, liability, or defenses
This was a threshold failure, not a close call.
Why This Matters to Franchisees
For franchisees and operators, this ruling illustrates an important but often misunderstood reality:
For Nautical Bowls franchisees specifically, this ruling is a reminder that not every lawsuit or legal threat connected to a franchisor, vendor, or related entity is procedurally sound—or even capable of moving forward in court.
Being sued is not the same thing as facing a legally viable case.
Courts require:
- Proper representation
- Proper standing
- Proper procedure
When those are missing, cases fail before merits are ever reached.
Timeline of Relevant Events (Public Record)
This is a neutral, factual timeline compiled from court records:
- 10/22/2025 – Multiple summonses issued in Maryland
- 11/04/2025 – Additional summonses issued
- 12/28/2025 – Court dismisses the entire action filed by ZivZo, LLC
- Reason: improper pro se representation of an LLC
- Additional concerns: organization and legal sufficiency of filings
- Post-dismissal – Case may only be reopened if licensed counsel enters an appearance within 30 days
This is not an isolated clerical issue. It reflects a fundamental legal requirement.
Pattern Context (Carefully Stated)
In my own situation, this Maryland dismissal aligns with a broader pattern:
Multiple Benson-filed actions against me have already been dismissed, as documented in the public record on Benson J. Fischer
Each court is independent. But patterns matter, especially when the same defects recur across jurisdictions.
Plain-English Explainer
“Why an LLC Cannot Sue ‘Pro Se’”
This is the rule in simple terms:
- A human being can represent themselves in court
- A company is a separate legal entity
- Because a company cannot speak or act on its own, only a licensed attorney may represent it
- When a non-lawyer attempts to do so, courts must dismiss the case
This rule exists to:
- Protect courts from unmanageable filings
- Protect defendants from improper proceedings
- Protect the legal system itself
Courts do not waive this requirement out of sympathy, persistence, or volume of filings.
What Franchisees Should Do If Faced With Similar Filings
If you receive threats, demands, or lawsuits involving an LLC:
- Check who signed the filings
- Confirm whether licensed counsel is involved
- Look for basic procedural compliance
- Do not assume urgency equals legitimacy
- Consult counsel before reacting emotionally or financially
Sometimes the strongest move is not to escalate — but to let the process reveal its own weaknesses.
Why I’m Publishing This
I’m sharing this for one reason only: transparency.
Franchisees often operate under fear when legal threats appear. Public court rulings — especially those using strong judicial language — help replace fear with facts.
This article relies solely on public records and direct quotations from the court.
Because these matters have surfaced in connection with the Nautical Bowls franchise ecosystem, readers may also find it helpful to review related reporting tied to Nautical Bowls franchise disputes and the entities involved, including ZivZo, LLC, across this site.
Final Thought for Franchisees
A lawsuit headline can be loud.
A court order is definitive.
And sometimes, the most important part of a case is not what’s alleged — but whether it can legally exist at all.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.