Gonzalez v. County of Stanislaus ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 MARIA TERESA GONZALES, Case No. 1:21-cv-01091-DAD-HBK individually and H.G., a minor, by and 12 through her guardian ad litem, Lillian ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO APPOINT Tegio, GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR MINOR 13 PLAINTIFF H.G. Plaintiffs, 14 (Doc. No. 11) v. 15 COUNTY OF STANISLAUS, et al., 16 17 Defendants. 18 19 Plaintiffs proceed in this matter on their complaint filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on 20 July 14, 2021. (Doc. No. 1). Pending before the Court is Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint Lillian 21 Tegio as the guardian ad litem for Plaintiff H.G., who is a minor. (Doc. No. 11). 22 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17 provides for a representative of a minor to sue or 23 defend on a minor’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c). That representative, called guardian ad litem, 24 carries the authority to act on the minor’s behalf and “make all appropriate decisions in the course 25 of specific litigation.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in 26 Klickitat Cty., State of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir. 1986). The “guardian ad litem 27 need not possess any special qualifications,” but must “be truly dedicated to the best interests of 28 the person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, 143 F.Supp.3d 1 | 1042, 1053-54 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (citations omitted). “[W]hen a parent brings an action on behalf 2 | of achild, and it is evident that the interests of each are the same, no need exists for someone 3 | other than the parent to represent the child’s interests under Rule 17(c).” Gonzalez v. Reno, 86 4 | F.Supp.2d 1167, 1185 (S.D. Fla.), aff'd sub nom. Gonzalez v. Reno, 212 F.3d 1338 (11th Cir. 5 | 2000). While a parent is generally appointed as guardian ad litem, there are situations where the 6 | best interests of the minor and the interests of the parent conflict. Anthem Life Ins. Co. v. Olguin, 7 | No. 1:06-CV-01165 AWINEW, 2007 WL 1390672 at *2 (E.D. Cal. May 9, 2007). A parent is 8 | therefore not entitled as a matter of right to act as guardian ad litem for their child. Jd. 9 This action arises out of an incident that occurred on September 27, 2020 that resulted in 10 | the death of the minor-Plaintiff H.G’s father, Eloy Gonzalez, Jr. (See generally Doc. No. 1). 11 | Lillian Tegio is the mother of the minor-Plaintiff H.G. (Doc. No. 11). Tegio attests she “has no 12 || interest adverse to that of the minor.” (/d. at 2). The Court does not discern any apparent conflict 13 | of interest or any other factors demonstrating Tegio’s appointment is not in the minor-Plaintiff 14 | H.G.’s best interest. 15 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 16 1. Plaintiffs’ motion for guardian ad litem (Doc. No. 11) is GRANTED. 17 2. Lillian Tegio is appointed guardian ad litem for the minor-Plaintiff H.G. 18 | Dated: _ September 13, 2021 Mihaw. Wh. foareh Zaskth 20 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA 1 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 28