Sutherland v. City of Stockton ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 KAREN SUTHERLAND, as mother of No. 2:21-cv-01855 WBS AC PS decedent; ERICA BELATTI, Guardian Ad 12 Litem for S.A.S., JR. son of decedent, and as a successor in interest to the deceased; 13 and D.J.S., daughter of decedent, and as a ORDER successor in interest to the deceased, 14 Plaintiff, 15 v. 16 CITY OF STOCKTON; OFFICER 17 RONALD ZALUNARDO, in his individual and official capacity; OFFICER 18 JOHN AFANASIEV, in his individual and official capacity; CHIEFERIC JONES, in 19 his individual, and official capacity; and DOES 1-5, inclusive, 20 Defendants. 21 22 23 Before the court is the ex parte Petition for the Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem (ECF 24 No. 10), which was referred to the undersigned by District Judge William B. Shubb (ECF No. 25 12). The undersigned previously requested additional documentation before considering the 26 petition on the merits. ECF No. 13. That additional documentation has now been provided, as 27 discussed below. ECF No. 14. 28 //// 1 Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(2), “[a] minor or an incompetent person who 2 does not have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad 3 litem.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). Local Rule 202 provides the following additional requirements: 4 (a) Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of an action by or on behalf of a minor or incompetent 5 person, the attorney representing the minor or incompetent person shall present (1) appropriate evidence of the appointment of a 6 representative for the minor or incompetent person under state law or (2) a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the 7 Court, or, (3) a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure adequate representation of the 8 minor or incompetent person. 9 ... 10 (c) Disclosure of Attorney’s Interest. When the minor or incompetent is represented by an attorney, it shall be disclosed to the Court by 11 whom and the terms under which the attorney was employed; whether the attorney became involved in the application at the 12 instance of the party against whom the causes of action are asserted, directly or indirectly; whether the attorney stands in any relationship 13 to that party; and whether the attorney has received or expects to receive any compensation, from whom, and the amount. 14 15 E.D. Cal. L.R. 202. 16 The Ninth Circuit has held that “[a]lthough the [district] court has broad discretion and 17 need not appoint a guardian ad litem if it determines the person is or can be otherwise adequately 18 protected, it is under a legal obligation to consider whether the person is adequately protected.” 19 United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat County, State of Wash., 20 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir.1986). Fit parents are presumed to act in the best interests of their 21 children. Troxel v. Granville, 530 U.S. 57, 66 (2000); Doe v. Heck, 327 F.3d 492, 521 (7th Cir. 22 2003). 23 Here, plaintiffs ask that Erica Rae Belatti be appointed guardian ad litem for her minor 24 children, plaintiffs S.A.S. Jr. and D.J.S., as they act as successors in interest to their father Shayne 25 Sutherland, who is deceased. ECF No. 11 at 2. Plaintiffs provided proof of SAS Jr. and D.J.S.’s 26 status as minors, Ms. Belatti’s parental relationship to them, and Mr. Sutherland’s death. Id. at 3- 27 7. Plaintiffs complied with Local Rule 202(c) and disclosed their attorney’s interest. ECF No. 28 14. ] Upon examination, the undersigned finds that the appointment of Ms. Belatti as guardian 2 || ad litem for her minor children, plaintiffs S.A.S. Jr. and D.J.S., is appropriate. It is therefore 3 | ORDERED that the petition, ECF No. 10, is GRANTED. 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 || DATED: March 1, 2022 ~ 6 Htttenr— Lhor—e_ ALLISON CLAIRE 7 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 8 9 10 1] 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28