(PC) Turner v. Adams ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 ROBERT C. TURNER, No. 2:18-cv-2672 MCE DB P 12 Plaintiff, 13 v. ORDER 14 CA DEPT. CORRS. AND REAHB., et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 18 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff claims defendants violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment. 19 Presently before the court is non-party Dolores Johnson’s motion for electronic filing access 20 (ECF No. 58), motion for an extension of time to file an opposition to defendants’ motion for 21 summary judgment (ECF No. 59), defendants’ opposition to that motion (ECF No. 60), and Ms. 22 Johnson’s reply (ECF No. 61). 23 RELEVANT BACKGROUND 24 On February 11, 2021, defendants filed a request for an extension of time to file their 25 motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 53.) In support of their motion that stated, they 26 attempted to take plaintiff’s deposition on December 2, 2020 but had to stop because of plaintiff’s 27 medical condition. (ECF No. 53.) Thereafter, they discovered that plaintiff had been medically 28 paroled in late 2020 to a skilled nursing facility where he is receiving palliative care for end-stage 1 renal disease and other serious medical conditions. (Id. at 4.) The court granted a thirty-day 2 extension of time and gave plaintiff an opportunity to file a statement indicating his opposition or 3 non-opposition to a longer extension of the dispositive motion deadline. Plaintiff did not respond 4 to the court’s order and defendants filed a motion for summary judgment on April 8, 2021. 5 On May 17, 2021 Ms. Johnson filed a motion seeking access to the court’s e-filing system 6 and a motion seeking an extension of time to file an opposition to defendants’ motion for 7 summary judgment. (ECF Nos. 58, 59.) 8 MOTION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME 9 I. Ms. Johnson’s Motion 10 Ms. Johnson filed a motion for an extension of time to file an opposition to defendants’ 11 motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 59.) She stated that she is plaintiff’s “authorized agent 12 or Power of Attorney on the life, medical and legal matters pertaining to plaintiff” and is 13 responding on his behalf. (Id. at 1-2.) Her motion indicated that she wished to notify the court of 14 her presence and requested to be notified “on any and all legal proceedings pertaining to the 15 plaintiff while [he] is recovering from his mental incapacitation.” (Id. at 1.) 16 Ms. Johnson states that she received the court’s February 17, 2021 order on April 14, 17 2021 when she discovered that plaintiff had received mail at the Asbury Park Nursing Facility 18 where plaintiff presently presides. (Id. at 1-2.) She further indicates that plaintiff’s address 19 alternates between the Asbury Park Nursing Facility and Mercy General Medical Hospital in 20 Sacramento, CA. (Id. at 2.) Ms. Johnson states plaintiff is “receiving palliative care for 21 numerous MRSA infections, sepsis, end-stage renal disease, strokes, a massive heart attack and 22 other serious medical conditions where he has been under a mental incapacitation state 23 throughout most of the time.” (Id. at 2.) 24 Ms. Johnson requests more time to respond to defendants’ motion so that she can gather 25 documents and information. She further requests the court appoint pro bono legal counsel. She 26 also does not have access to or knowledge of the Discovery and Scheduling Order (ECF No. 31) 27 or relevant deadlines in this action. She further seeks an extension of the discovery deadline, or 28 to reopen discovery. She states the discovery needed consists of “medical and staff records, 1 affidavits, depositions, interrogatory answers, admissions, or other documents relied upon that 2 opposes” defendants’ motion for summary judgment. Additionally, she asks that because it is 3 difficult for plaintiff to send and receive mail that the address of record for plaintiff be updated. 4 A power of attorney for health care decisions is attached as an exhibit to Ms. Johnson’s motion. 5 (ECF No. 59 at 5-12.) 6 II. Defendants’ Objection and Motion to Strike 7 Defendants’ request the pleading be stricken because Ms. Johnson has no standing, is not 8 an attorney or party in this case, the pleading is untimely, and it is unsigned. (ECF No. 60 at 1-2.) 9 They further argue that the exhibit attached to Ms. Johnson’s pleading shows that she has power 10 of attorney over plaintiff’s health care decisions, but that document does not give her 11 authorization to act on his behalf in this action. (Id. at 2.) 12 Defendants also argue that Ms. Johnson’s request to review and gather documents to 13 oppose their motion for summary judgment is unorthodox and improper because she is not a 14 licensed attorney, counsel of record, a party to this action, and her power of attorney relates only 15 to plaintiff’s medical care. (Id. at 3.) 16 Finally, defendants note that plaintiff failed to file an opposition or a request for additional 17 time to file an opposition by the May 3, 2021 deadline. They indicate they are amenable to 18 granting plaintiff a thirty-day extension of time to file an opposition but oppose the reopening of 19 discovery. (Id. at 4.) 20 III. Ms. Johnson’s Reply 21 Ms. Johnson’s reply reiterates arguments made in the motion for an extension of time and 22 indicates that she has legal authority to act on plaintiff’s behalf based on “the signed copy of 23 durable power of attorney document” attached as an exhibit to her reply. (ECF No. 61 at 1; 6-15.) 24 IV. Discussion 25 A. Power of Attorney Does Not Confer Standing 26 While a non-attorney may appear pro se on his or her own behalf, he or she “has no 27 authority to appear as an attorney for others that himself.” C.E. Pope Equity Trust v. United 28 States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987); see also E.D. Cal. Local Rule 183(a) (“Any individual 1 who is representing himself or herself without an attorney must appear personally . . . and may 2 not delegate that duty to any other individual, including husband or wife.”). A power of attorney 3 does not confer standing to assert another party’s constitutional claims or authority to represent 4 another party in court.” Wayne v. Johnson, 48 Fed.Appx. 679 (9th Cir. 2002) (citing Johns v. 5 County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 876 (9th Cir. 1997)). 6 “California prohibits the unauthorized practice of law in order ‘to afford protection against 7 persons who are not qualified to practice the profession.’” Lomax v. City of Antioch Police 8 Officers, No. C 11-02858 CRB, 2011 WL 4345057 at *3 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 14, 2011) (quoting 9 Gerhard v. Stephens, 68 Cal.2d 864, 918 (1968)). While California law recognizes power of 10 attorney, “California courts have clearly rejected the proposition that the statute confers upon one 11 holding a power of attorney the authority to provide legal representation to others.” Lomax, 2011 12 WL 4345057 at *3. Accordingly, the power of attorney forms presented in Ms. Johnson’s filings 13 do not confer standing or authorize Ms. Johnson to act on plaintiff’s behalf in this action. 14 Because Ms. Johnson does not have standing the court will deny her motion for an 15 extension of time to respond to defendants’ motion for summary judgment without prejudice. 16 B. Questions Regarding Plaintiff’s Competence 17 Ms. Johnson’s filings, plaintiff’s status on medical parole, and plaintiff’s failure to 18 respond to the court’s February 17, 2021 order, have raised a question regarding plaintiff’s 19 competency. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c) requires a court to appoint a guardian ad 20 litem or take “whatever measures it deems proper to protect an incompetent person during 21 litigation.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat Cnty., State 22 of Washl (Acres), 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir. 1986). In a non-habeas civil action, the Ninth 23 Circuit has “held that if an ‘incompetent person is unrepresented, the court should not enter a 24 judgment which operates as a judgment on the merits without complying with Rule 17(c).’” 25 Allen v. Calderon, 408 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005) (quoting Krain v. Smallwood, 880 F.2d 26 1119, 1121 (9th Cir. 1989)). The court may raise the issue sua sponte. Id. at 805. 27 The Ninth Circuit has held that when there is a “substantial question” regarding the mental 28 competence of a party proceeding without counsel, the “preferred procedure” is a hearing to 1 determine whether the party is competent. Krain v. Smallwood, 880 F.2d 1119, 1121 (9th Cir. 2 1989). Plaintiff’s capacity to sue is governed by the law of his domicile, here California. Fed. R. 3 Civ. P. 17(b)(1). “In California, a party is incompetent if he or she lacks the capacity to 4 understand the nature or consequences of the proceeding, is unable to assist counsel in 5 preparation of the case.” Golden Gate Way, LLC v. Stewart, No. 09-04458, 2012 WL 4482053, 6 at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 28, 2012) (citing In re Jessica G., 93 Cal.App. 4th 1180, 1186 (2001); Cal. 7 Civ. Proc. Code § 372; and In re Sara D., 87 Cal.App. 4th 661, 666-67 (2001)); see also Shankar 8 v. United States Dep’t of Homeland Sec., No. 13-01490, 2014 WL 523960, at *14 (N.D. Cal. 9 Feb. 6, 2014) (same); Elder-Evins v. Casey, No. 09-05775, 2012 WL 2577589, at *2 (N.D. Cal. 10 July 3, 2012) (same). The court may appoint a guardian ad litem for an unrepresented person 11 only if he consents or upon notice and a hearing. Golden Gate Way, 2012 WL 4482053, at *2; 12 Shankar, 2014 WL 523960, at *14; Elder-Evins, 2012 WL 2577589, at *2; Jessica G., 93 13 Cal.App. 4th at 1187-88. 14 Because it appears that plaintiff’s medical condition may be affecting his ability to 15 proceed with this action, the court will grant plaintiff an opportunity to respond to this order and 16 indicate whether he would consent to the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Should plaintiff fail 17 to respond or indicate he is unwilling to consent, the court will hold a hearing to evaluate 18 plaintiff’s competency. 19 MOTION FOR ELECTRONIC FILING 20 Ms. Johnson also filed a motion seeking access to the e-filing through the Electronic Court 21 Filing (ECF) system as plaintiff’s “authorized agent or Power of Attorney on the life, medical, 22 legal, and financial matters concerning plaintiff’s legal proceedings.” (ECF No. 58 at 1.) She 23 further indicates that it is difficult for plaintiff to receive legal documents from defendants and the 24 court because of his “current medical state and situation.” (Id.) 25 The Local Rules generally require pro se parties to file and serve paper documents. See 26 E.D. Cal. Local Rule 133(a). However, a pro se litigant may request an exception by filing a 27 “motion [] setting out an explanation of reasons for the exception.” E.D. Cal. Local Rule 28 133(b)(2), (3). As set forth above, the court has determined that Ms. Johnson does not have 1 | standing to act on plaintiff's behalf in this action. Accordingly, the court will deny the motion for 2 | ECF Access. 3 CONCLUSION 4 For the reasons set forth above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 5 1. Ms. Johnson’s motion for an extension of time to respond to defendants’ motion for 6 | summary judgment (ECF No. 59) is denied without prejudice. 7 2. Ms. Johnson’s motion for e-filing access (ECF No. 58) is denied. 8 3. Within sixty days from the date of this order plaintiff shall file and serve a statement 9 | indicating whether he is willing to consent to the appointment of a guardian ad litem. 10 | Dated: June 28, 2021 11 12 13 ORAH BARNES UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 14 15 16 17 18 19 | DLB:12 DB/prisoner-civil rights/turn2672.eot.msj.p 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28