Trout v. County of Madera ( 2022 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 KEITH TROUT, as the proposed guardian ad Case No. 1:22-cv-00867-DAD-SAB litem of minors D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3, 12 ORDER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING Plaintiffs, IN SUPPORT OF PETITION TO APPOINT 13 KEITH TROUT AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM v. FOR PLAINTIFFS D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, AND 14 J.G.3 COUNTY OF MADERA, et al., 15 (ECF No. 3) Defendants. 16 DEADLINE: AUGUST 19, 2022 17 18 On July 13, 2022, Keith Trout (“Petitioner”), as the proposed guardian ad litem for minor 19 Plaintiffs D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3 filed a complaint in this action solely on the minors’ 20 behalf (collectively, “Plaintiffs” or the “Minors”). (ECF No. 1.) The complaint seeks to assert 21 claims for constitutional violations and state claims of negligence and gross negligence, 22 wrongful death, privacy violations, and fraudulent conveyance, arising from the murder of the 23 Minors’ mother, Calley Jean Garay, by her estranged husband, Julio L. Garay, Sr. Petitioner is 24 the maternal grandfather of the Minors, and father to the decedent Calley Garay. (Trout Decl. ¶¶ 25 1–3, ECF No. 3 at 4–5.) 26 Concurrently with the complaint, Petitioner filed a motion to be appointed guardian ad 27 litem for minors D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3 (ECF No. 3), which is before the Court. For the reasons discussed herein, the Court shall require supplemental briefing in support of the petition. 1 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17 provides that a suit by a minor may be brought or 2 defended by “(A) a general guardian; (B) a committee; (C) a conservator; or (D) a like 3 fiduciary.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(1). A minor who does not have a duly appointed representative 4 may sue by next friend or a guardian ad litem. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). 5 The appointment of the guardian ad litem is more than a mere formality. U.S. v. 30.64 6 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat Cnty., State of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th 7 Cir. 1986). Rather, Rule 17 requires the Court to take whatever measures it deems appropriate to 8 protect the interests of the individual during the litigation. Id. “A guardian ad litem is appointed 9 as a representative of the court to act for the [ward] . . . , with authority to engage counsel, file 10 suit, and to prosecute, control and direct the litigation. As an officer of the court, the guardian ad 11 litem has full responsibility to assist the court to secure a just, speedy and inexpensive 12 determination of the action.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, 143 F. Supp. 3d 1042, 1053 13 (E.D. Cal. 2015) (internal quotations and citations omitted) (discussing the differences between a 14 “general guardian” and a “guardian ad litem”). A guardian ad litem need not possess any special 15 qualifications, but he must “be truly dedicated to the best interests of the person on whose behalf 16 he seeks to litigate.” Id. at 1053–54. This means that the guardian ad litem cannot face an 17 impermissible conflict of interest with the ward and courts consider the candidate’s “experience, 18 objectivity, and expertise . . . or previous relationship with the ward.” Id. at 1054 (citations 19 omitted). In short, the Court “is under a ‘legal obligation’ to consider whether the [ward] is 20 adequately protected.” Id. at 1049. 21 Further, the Local Rules of the Eastern District of California state: 22 Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of an action by or on behalf of a minor or incompetent 23 person, the attorney representing the minor or incompetent person shall present (1) appropriate evidence of the appointment of a 24 representative for the minor or incompetent person under state law or (2) a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the 25 Court, or, (3) a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure adequate representation of the 26 minor or incompetent person. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c). 27 E.D. Cal. L.R. 202(a). 1 insufficient information and evidence has been presented to appoint Petitioner as guardian ad 2 litem for Minors D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3. For example, Petitioner asserts he is authorized 3 to act on behalf of the Minors pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.11. (Trout 4 Decl. ¶ 7.) This assertion, however, is conclusory. Section 377.11 refers to the probate code for 5 purposes of intestate succession and survival claims, but it is not apparent from the face of the 6 statute that its application extends to petitions for guardians ad litem. That is, the 7 aforementioned statute may support a finding that the Minors have standing to bring survival 8 claims against the named Defendants, but it is less clear that the statute supports a finding that a 9 biological relative with no other demonstrated relation to a party with standing to sue is entitled 10 by law to represent that party as a guardian ad litem. Neither the memorandum of points and 11 authorities nor the supporting declaration identifies legal authority—let alone on-point legal 12 authority—for this proposition, nor facts demonstrating the applicability of § 377.11 to the 13 instant petition. 14 Nor does Petitioner provide facts adequately describing his relationship with the Minors. 15 Petitioner’s declaration indicates Minor D.A. is in the care of her father Fernando Alvarado and 16 resides in Tennessee. (Trout. Decl. ¶ 10.) Thus, it appears Mr. Alvarado is D.A.’s actual 17 guardian. Similarly, the declaration notes Minors J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3 are “in the temporary 18 care of their half-brother Julio Garay, Jr. and reside in California. (Id. at ¶ 11.) In fact, the 19 complaint indicates Child Welfare Services placed J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3 under custody of Julio 20 Garay, Jr., which suggests he is currently their actual guardian.1 (ECF No. 1 at 33.) Thus, it 21 appears Petitioner is not the legal or actual guardian of any of the Minors; indeed, the nature and 22 extent of Petitioner’s relationship and involvement in the Minors’ lives—beyond being their 23 biological grandfather—is unclear. As such, Petitioner has not submitted sufficient information 24 1 The Court notes Petitioner seeks to sue Mr. Garay, Jr., on behalf of the Minors, for personal injury damages arising 25 from allegations of physical abuse against J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3. (See ECF No. 1 at 33–34.) An obvious issue this appears to raise is whether it is truly in J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3’s best interests to antagonize through protracted litigation their adult guardian, upon whom they are currently dependent for care and support, and how Petitioner 26 intends to maintain a sufficient relationship with J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3 hereafter in order to effectively ascertain and represent their best interests through civil litigation. Moreover, the Court questions whether, if the allegations 27 are accepted as true, Petitioner has availed himself of any other legal remedies, such as the criminal or family court arenas, to seek to safeguard the best interests of the Minors, and how Petitioner maintains his relationships with the 1 and evidence to establish he is a “general guardian,” a “conservator,” or “a like fiduciary,” as 2 required of any representative of a minor under Rule 17(c)(1). 3 Nor does the application or supporting declaration provide any other facts for this Court 4 to consider with respect to Petitioner’s “experience, objectivity, and expertise . . . or previous 5 relationship” with the Minors to satisfy the “dedicated to best interests” consideration. AT&T 6 Mobility, LLC, 143 F. Supp. 3d at 1054; see also Coal. of Clergy, Laws., and Professors v. Bush, 7 310 F.3d 1153, 1159, 1161–62 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Whitmore v. Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 8 163–64 (1990)) (noting a “next friend” must “be truly dedicated to the best interests of the 9 person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate,” and “have some significant relationship with the 10 real party in interest”; and that the more attenuated the relationship, the less likely a petitioner 11 can know the best interests of the party). Indeed, it appears Petitioner resides in North Dakota 12 (see ECF No. 1 ¶ 10(a)), and it is unclear whether Petitioner has any contact with the Minors 13 whatsoever. In short, the Court lacks any context of the current situation between Petitioner and 14 the Minors to be able to ascertain whether Petitioner is in a sufficient position to know and 15 represent the best interests of each of the identified Minors. Coal. of Clergy, Laws., and 16 Professors, 310 F.3d at 1161–62. Therefore, in addressing the Court’s order for supplemental 17 briefing, Petitioner should provide information describing in detail the extent and nature of his 18 relationship with each Minor for whom he seeks to be appointed as guardian ad litem, including 19 what role or involvement he plays in each Minor’s life, the frequency and manner of Petitioner’s 20 contacts with each Minor, what financial or other support, if any, Petitioner provides for each 21 Minor, and/or any other facts demonstrating Petitioner has the requisite “significant relationship” 22 with each Minor. See id. at 1159 (“The burden is on the ‘next friend’ clearly to establish the 23 propriety of his status and thereby justify the jurisdiction of the court.”). 24 Finally, the Court notes Petitioner appears to suggest that the instant petition should be 25 granted because he was appointed guardian ad litem of the minors in the “parallel” case filed in 26 the Northern District, he “continues to serve as the court-approved guardian ad litem” here. 27 (ECF No. 3 at 3; Trout Decl. ¶ 15); see Trout v. County of Madera (Trout I), No. 21-cv-06061- 1 | District, nor has it been consolidated with or related to the other matter. Rather, Plaintiffs’ prior 2 | case was dismissed in the Northern District for improper venue, with no review of the merits of 3 | the litigation, and without prejudice to refiling as a new action in the Eastern District. See Trout 4 | lat ECF No. 124 (N.D. Cal. May 6, 2022). This argument is therefore unavailing. 5 In sum, without further information or evidence, the Court cannot conclude Petitioner has 6 | sufficiently satisfied the requirements of Rule 17 or the Local Rules in establishing he should be 7 | appointed guardian ad litem for minors D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3. Therefore, Petitioner shall 8 | be required to submit supplemental information and/or evidence to address the issues raised 9 | herein. 10 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that, no later than August 19, 2022, Petitioner 11 | shall submit supplemental briefing, including any appropriate evidentiary support, in support of 12 | his petition to be appointed guardian ad litem for minor Plaintiffs D.A., J.G.1, J.G.2, and J.G.3. 13 14 IT IS SO ORDERED. DAM Le 15 | Dated: _ July 29, 2022 ; 16 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28