Eidler v. Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 STACIA STINER, et al., Case No. 17-cv-03962-HSG 8 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR SUBSTITUTION OF DECEASED 9 v. PLAINTIFFS AND ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE UNDER SEAL 10 BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING, INC., et al., Re: Dkt. Nos. 253, 254 11 Defendants. 12 13 Pending before the Court are Plaintiffs’ motion for substitution of deceased plaintiffs and 14 administrative motion to file under seal. Dkt. Nos. 253, 254. On June 1, 2021, Defendants filed a 15 statement of non-opposition to the motion for substitution. Dkt. No. 259. Having considered the 16 parties’ positions and for the following reasons, the Court GRANTS both motions. 17 I. MOTION FOR SUBSTITUTION OF DECEASED PLAINTIFFS 18 “In deciding a motion to substitute under Rule 25(a)(1), a court must consider whether: (1) 19 the motion is timely; (2) the claims pled are extinguished; and (3) the person being substituted is a 20 proper party.” Chalfant v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., No. 15-CV-03577-HSG, 2016 WL 21 4539453, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 31, 2016) (quoting Veliz v. Cintas Corp., No. C 03-1180 RS, 2008 22 WL 2811171, at *1 (N.D. Cal. July 17, 2008)). The substituted party then steps into the same 23 position as the original party. Hilao v. Estate of Marcos, 103 F.3d 762, 766 (9th Cir. 1996). The 24 Court finds that Plaintiffs’ Motion For Substitution of Deceased Plaintiffs has demonstrated that 25 the requirements of Rule 25 are met here. Accordingly, the Court orders the following: 26 1. Ralph Carlson, in his capacity as Trustee of the Beverly E. Carlson and Helen V. 27 Carlson Joint Trust, is substituted for Helen Carlson, by and through her Guardian Ad Litem, Joan 1 2. Michele Lytle, in her capacity as Trustee of the Boris Family Revocable Trust, is 2 substituted for Edward Boris, by and through his Guardian Ad Litem, Michele Lytle, as plaintiff. 3 3. Loresia Vallette, in her capacity as representative of the Lawrence Quinlan Trust, is 4 substituted for Lawrence Quinlan, by and through his Guardian Ad Litem, Loresia Vallette, as 5 plaintiff. 6 4. The party names in the case caption and case docket shall be changed to reflect these 7 substitutions. 8 II. ADMINISTRATIVE MOTION TO FILE UNDER SEAL 9 Pursuant to Northern District Civil Local Rules 79-5 and 7-11, the Court, having reviewed 10 the Administrative Motion to File Under Seal, the Memorandum of Points and Authorities, and the 11 Administrative Declaration of Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld in support thereof, and good cause to seal 12 having been shown, hereby issues the following order: 13 It is hereby ORDERED that the Declaration of Gay Crosthwait Grunfeld in Support of 14 Motion for Substitution of Deceased Plaintiffs (“Grunfeld Substitution Decl.”) and attached 15 exhibits shall be filed in redacted form to remove any personal identifying information of the 16 named Plaintiffs’ family members and any other information the disclosure of which could expose 17 them to embarrassment or annoyance. Plaintiffs’ request to seal has been narrowly tailored to seek 18 sealing of sealable information only. See N.D. Cal. Civ. L.R. 79-5(b). 19 Plaintiffs have also e-filed and lodged an unredacted version of the Grunfeld Substitution 20 Declaration, including exhibits, with the Clerk of the Court and served an electronic copy of all 21 such documents on Defendants’ counsel. 22 A. Information To Be Redacted And Filed Under Seal 23 24 Information Location Identifying information of the deceased Grunfeld Substitution Declaration, Exhibit A – 25 Plaintiff, such as her social security number, Declaration of Ralph Carlson Pursuant to CCP 26 address, place of death, and cause of death. § 377.32, Docket Number 124, filed April 1, 2019, attaching a certified copy of the death 27 certificate of Helen Carlson. I names, birthdates, addresses, real estate Trust Agreement, dated December 26, 1995. owned, assets included in the trusts, amounts 2 allocated to survivors, and end of life health care directives. Certification of the Beverly E. Carlson and 4 Helen V. Carlson Joint Trust Agreement 5 Identifying information of the deceased Grunfeld Substitution Declaration, Exhibit D- Plaintiff, such as his social security number, Declaration of Michele Lytle Pursuant to CCP 6 address, place of death, and cause of death § 377.32, Docket Number 119, filed March 20, 2019, attaching a certified copy of the death 7 certificate of Edward Boris. Identifying information of the named Grunfeld Substitution Declaration, Exhibit E - 8 Plaintiffs’ family members, such as their Boris Family Revocable Trust. 9 names, birthdates, addresses, real estate owned, assets included in the trusts, amounts 10 allocated to survivors, and end of life health care directives. Plaintiffs’ family members, such as their Lawrence D. Quinlan Living Trust. a 12 . names, birthdates, addresses, real estate 13 owned, assets included in the trusts, amounts a allocated to survivors, and end of life health care directives. Identifying information of the deceased Grunfeld Substitution Declaration, Exhibit G - 15 Plaintiff, such as his social security number, Declaration of Loresia Vallette Pursuant to 5 16 address, place of death, and cause of death CCP § 377.32, attaching a certified copy of the death certificate of Lawrence Quinlan. 17 a 18 IT IS SO ORDERED. 19 |) Dated: 6/2/2021 20 Aaepuren f Lh | | 71 HAYWOOD S. GILLIAM, JR. United States District Judge 22 23 24 25 26 27 28