Bouri v. Stonebrae Homeowners Association ( 2024 )

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 TINA BOURI, et al., Case No. 24-cv-06869-LJC 8 Plaintiffs, ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR 9 v. APPOINTMENT OF LUAY BOURI AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR 10 STONEBRAE HOMEOWNERS PLAINTIFF BANDALI BOURI ASSOCIATION, et al., 11 Re: Dkt. No. 4 Defendants. 12 13 Pending before the Court is a Petition for Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem filed on 14 October 14, 2024, seeking the appointment of Luay Bouri as guardian ad litem for Plaintiff 15 Bandali Bouri. ECF No. 4. On November 1, 2024, the Court directed Plaintiffs to file further 16 briefing and evidence in support of the petition and set a hearing on the petition. Plaintiffs filed a 17 supplemental brief, and three supporting declarations by Luay Bouri, Samer Bouri, and Tina 18 Bouri. ECF Nos. 14, 14-1, 14-2, 14-3. Luay’s declaration attached a true and correct copy of a 19 letter from Bandali’s nurse practitioner, dated August 13, 2024, explaining his patient’s diagnosis 20 of Down syndrome and his communicative and cognitive impairments, and a 2008 document from 21 San Mateo County Health authorizing him to receive Bandali’s medical information. Tina’s 22 declaration explained, among other things, that she cared for Bandali for three years while he was 23 living in her home. She shared that Bandali is unable to cook, live independently, or make safe 24 decisions without adult supervision, and requires constant oversight. Tina opined, based on her 25 extensive experience caring for Bandali, that in her view he has the mental capacity of a four-year 26 old child, his disability severely impacts his ability to comprehend important matters, and he is 27 unable to understand the concept of legal proceedings. 1 At the hearing, Plaintiffs’ counsel represented to the Court that Bandali had no appointed 2 conservator or general guardian. The Court found good cause to take testimony through a remote 3 court appearance, see Fed. R. Civ. P. 43, and Luay Bouri and Tina Bouri were placed under oath 4 to answer follow-up questions regarding their declarations. Luay testified that Bandali currently 5 lives in a boarding house in Foster City, while he lives in Elk Grove, California, but he sees 6 Bandali on a regular basis—weekly and sometimes twice weekly. With regard to the management 7 of Bandali’s financial affairs, Luay testified that he is the representative payee for Bandali’s 8 payments from the Social Security Administration. He also testified that Bandali recently had a 9 hip replacement and struggles with dementia. Tina Bouri testified that while Bandali lived in her 10 home, she saw him on a daily basis and she regularly dropped him off at a school for 11 developmentally disabled adults. Bandali Bouri and Samer Bouri also attended the hearing and 12 were visible on Zoom, though they were not questioned. The Court observed Bandali throughout 13 the proceeding. 14 Pursuant to Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 17(c)(2), “[a] minor or an incompetent 15 person who does not have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a 16 guardian ad litem. The court must appoint a guardian ad litem—or issue another appropriate 17 order—to protect a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action.” Fed. R. Civ. 18 P. 17(c)(2). Under California law, “a party is incompetent if he or she lacks the capacity to 19 understand the nature or consequences of the proceeding, or is unable to assist counsel in the 20 preparation of the case.” Golden Gate Way, LLC v. Stewart, No. C 09-04458, 2012 WL 4482053, 21 at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 28, 2012). Courts may consider a broad “range of evidence […] when 22 determining a party's competency, including sworn declarations from those who know the 23 allegedly incompetent person, the representations of counsel, medical records or diagnoses, a 24 report of mental disability by a government agency, and the court's own observations, interactions, 25 and direct questioning of the party.” Shiflett v. City of San Leandro, No. 21-cv-07802, 2023 WL 26 2815357, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 6, 2023). A finding that an individual is incompetent must be 27 supported by a preponderance of the evidence. Id. Courts may appoint a guardian ad litem for an 1 hearing.” Golden Gate Way, 2012 WL 4482053, at *2. 2 Having considered the petition, the relevant legal authorities, and the record, the petition is 3 GRANTED. Given the written and oral testimony from Bandali’s close family members, and the 4 attached medical documentation, it is evident that he lacks the capacity to understand the nature of 5 || the proceedings in this action. Furthermore, Bandali’s brother Luay has been a longstanding 6 source of support in managing his financial and health affairs, and therefore he is an appropriate 7 person to protect Bandali’s interests in this litigation. Good cause appearing, pursuant to Rule 8 17(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Luay Bouri is appointed as a Guardian ad Litem 9 || for Plaintiff Bandali Bouri in this action. 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 Dated: November 26, 2024 12 YA J. CISNEROS ited States Magistrate Judge 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28