(SS) Santiago v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 LETICIA SANTIAGO, on behalf of minors CASE NO.: 1:24-cv-01391-HBK 12 J.C. and R.S.B., 13 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PETITION TO 14 v. APPOINT GUARDIAN AD LITEM 15 MARTIN O’MALLEY, COMMISSIONER (Doc. No. 2) OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 16 Defendant. 17 18 19 On November 13, 2024, Leticia Santiago initiated this action on behalf of minor 20 Plaintiffs J.C. and R.S.B., seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of 21 Social Security denying their deceased mother’s application for disability insurance benefits 22 under the Social Security Act. (Doc. No. 1). On the same day, Leticia Santiago, through 23 counsel, filed a Petition for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem. (Doc. No. 2, “Petition”). 24 Petitioner seeks appointment of Leticia Santiago as guardian ad litem for J.C. and R.S.B. For the 25 reasons set forth below, the Court grants the Petition. 26 27 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17 provides for a representative of a minor or an 28 incompetent person to sue or defend on a minor or an incompetent’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 1 17(c). Similarly, this Court’s Local Rule 202(a) in pertinent part, states: 2 Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of an action by or on behalf of a minor ... the attorney representing the minor or 3 incompetent person shall present ... a motion for the appointment of a guardian ad 4 litem by the Court, or ... a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure adequate representation of the minor or 5 incompetent person. 6 Appointment of a guardian ad litem is not a mere formality because the guardian “is 7 || authorized to act on behalf of his ward and may make all appropriate decisions in the course of 8 || specific litigation.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat 9 || Cty., State of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir. 1986). A “guardian ad litem need not possess 10 || any special qualifications,” but must “be truly dedicated to the best interests of the person on 11 || whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, 143 F.Supp.3d 1042, 1053- 12 || 54(E.D. Cal. 2015) (citations omitted). The Court has considered the application of Leticia 13 || Santiago for appointment as guardian ad litem for J.C. an R.S.B., who are minors. Leticia 14 || Santiago is not a party to the instant action. (See generally Doc. No. 1). She is the grandmother 15 || of J.C. and R.S.B.; and they are in her custody and live with her. (Doc No. 2 at 4 P 2). The 16 || Court does not find any apparent conflict of interest or any other factors that demonstrate such 17 || appointment is not in the best interests of the minor Plaintiffs. 18 Accordingly, it is ORDERED: 19 1. The Petition for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem (Doc. No. 2) is GRANTED. 20 2. Leticia Santiago is appointed as guardian ad litem for J.C. and R.S.B., and is 21 authorized to prosecute this action on their behalf. 22 || Dated: _ November 25, 2024 Moby ov. Th Poareh Bact 4 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE 25 JUDGE 26 27 28