Estate of Ezekiel Rivera v. Kern County Sheriff's Department

[7] 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT [9] EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA [10] 11 ESTATE OF EZEKIEL RIVERA, et al. Case No. 1:24-cv-00176-JLT-CDB 12 Plaintiffs, ORDER DENYING WITHOUT PREJUDICE PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN 13 v. AD LITEM OF MINOR E.R. 14 KERN COUNTY SHERIFF’S (Doc. 3) DEPARTMENT, et al. [15] Defendants. [17] 18 Pending before the Court is Plaintiff E.R.’s petition to appoint Josephina Villareal as his 19 guardian ad litem, filed February 7, 2024. (Doc. 3). Because the petition does not comply with Local 20 Rule 202, the Court will deny the petition without prejudice. 21 Legal Standard 22 Pursuant to Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a representative of a minor or 23 incompetent person may sue or defend on the minor or incompetent person’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 24 17(c). A court “must appoint a guardian ad litem—or issue another appropriate order—to protect a 25 minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action.” Id. The capacity of an individual to 26 sue is determined “by the law of the individual’s domicile.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(b)(1). 27 Under California law, an individual under the age of 18 is a minor, and a minor may bring suit 28 if a guardian conducts the proceedings. Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6502 , 6601. The Court may appoint a 1 guardian ad litem to represents the minor’s interests. Cal. Code Civ. P. § 372(a). To evaluate whether 2 to appoint a particular guardian ad litem, the Court must consider whether the minor and the guardian 3 have divergent interests. Cal. Code Civ. P. § 372(b)(1). 4 The appointment of the guardian ad litem is more than a mere formality. United States v. 5 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat Cty., State of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th 6 Cir. 1986). A Court shall take whatever measures it deems appropriate to protect the interests of the 7 induvial during the litigation. See id. (noting, “[a] guardian ad litem is authorized to act on behalf of 8 his ward and may make all appropriate decisions in the course of specific litigation.”). The guardian 9 need not possess any special qualifications, but she must “be truly dedicated to the best interests of the 10 person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, 143 F. Supp.3d 1042, 11 1054 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (quoting Whitmore v. Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 163-64 (1990)). This means that 12 the guardian cannot face an impermissible conflict of interest with the ward, and courts consider the 13 candidate’s “experience, objectivity and expertise” or previous relationship with the ward. Id. 14 (citations omitted). 15 Further, the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California provide: 16 (a) Appointment of Representative or Guardian. Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of an action by or on behalf of a minor or incompetent 17 person, the attorney representing the minor or incompetent person shall present (1) appropriate evidence of the appointment of a representative for the minor or incompetent [18] person under state law or (2) a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the 19 Court, or (3) a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure adequate representation of the minor or incompetent person. See Fed. R. Civ. 20 P. 17 (c); [21] . . . . [22] (c) Disclosure of Attorney’s Interest. When the minor or incompetent is represented by an 23 attorney, it shall be disclosed to the Court by whom and the terms under which the attorney was employed; whether the attorney became involved in the [24] application at the instance of the party against whom the causes of action are asserted, 25 directly or indirectly; whether the attorney stands in any relationship to that party; and whether the attorney has received or expects to receive any compensation, from whom, 26 and the amount. (E.D. Cal. Local Rule 202). [28] 1 The decision to appoint a guardian ad litem “must normally be left to the sound discretion of 2 || the trial court.” 30.64 Acres of Land, 795 F.2d at 804 . 3 || Discussion 4 Plaintiffs petition represents that Plaintiff E.R. is four years old. (Doc. 3). No previous 5 || motion for appointment of guardian ad litem has been filed in this matter.! The proposed guardian ac 6 || litem, Josephina Villareal, the biological aunt of E.R., declares she has no interests adverse to the 7 ||interest of E.R. Jd. at 3. Ms. Villareal notes she was informed by counsel and understands that the 8 || appointment of a guardian ad litem is necessary under the applicable state and federal rules. Jd. Ms. 9 || Villareal represents she is competent to testify and is willing to serve as guardian ad litem for E.R. in 10 |} this action. Id. 11 Plaintiffs petition does not comply with Local Rule 202(c). Although Plaintiff E.R. has 12 || appeared through counsel in this matter, the petition does not disclose the terms under which the 13 || attorney was employed; whether the attorney became involved in the application at the insistence of 14 || any Defendants, directly or indirectly; whether the attorney stands in any relationship to Defendants; 15 || and whether the attorney has received or expects to receive any compensation, from whom, and the 16 |}amount. See E.D. Cal. Local Rule 202(c). The Court will therefore deny the petitioner without 17 || prejudice to refiling a petition that complies with Local Rule 202(c). 18 || Conclusion and Order 19 For the foregoing reasons, it is HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff E.R.’s petition to appoint 20 || Josephina Villareal as guardian ad litem (Doc. 3) is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 21 IS SO ORDERED. 2 aarD Rr Dated: _ February 9, 2024 23 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE [25] 2, || os4>4}_VVWVRe ' Local Rule 202 requires upon commencement of an action, the attorney representing the 27 || minor must present (1) appropriate evidence of the appointment of a representative for the minor or incompetent person under state law or (2) a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the 28 || Court or, (3) a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary. E.D. Cal. Local Rule 202(a).