Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-00726/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-00726-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 443
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights Accommodations
Cause of Action: 42:405 Fair Housing Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

CHARLES LARSON, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

KIM MATTOS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 16-cv-00726-BLF 

ORDER REQUESTING FILING OF 

PROOFS OF SERVICE

Before the Court is an unopposed motion by Charles A. Larson, Jr. to be substituted in as a 

party in place of his deceased father, Charles Larson, Sr. ECF 23. Mr. Charles A. Larson, Sr. was 

the plaintiff in this matter concerning alleged violations of both state and federal fair housing laws 

and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Compl. 1. The parties reached an agreement to settle 

this case after mediation on July 14, 2016. Zito Decl. ¶ 4. Mr. Charles Larson was not present at 

the mediation but gave his counsel, Mr. Thomas Zito, the authority to agree to the terms of an 

agreement on his behalf. Id. ¶ 5. For reasons unrelated to the settlement or negotiations, Mr. 

Larson was not able to sign the agreement before he passed away on August 14, 2016. Id. ¶¶ 2, 6. 

Charles Larson, Jr. and Alex Larson are Mr. Larson’s two sons and sole heirs, both of whom have 

executed a declaration for collection of personal property pursuant to Cal. Prob. Code section 

13100. Ex. 1. Because Mr. Larson has passed away, Charles Larson, Jr. signed the Stipulation of 

Settlement of this action on behalf of himself and the heirs of Mr. Larson. Mot. 2.

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(a) governs the substitution of a party due to death. 

Specifically, this provision provides, in relevant part:

(1) Substitution if the Claim is Not Extinguished. If a party dies and 

the claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of the 

proper party. A motion for substitution may be made by any party or

Case 5:16-cv-00726-BLF Document 25 Filed 12/13/16 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

by the decedent’s successor or representative. If the motion is not 

made within 90 days after service of a statement noting the death, the 

action by or against the decedent must be dismissed. . . . 

(3) Service. A motion to substitute, together with a notice of hearing, 

must be served on the parties as provided in Rule 5 and on nonparties

as provided in Rule 4. A statement noting death must be served in the 

same manner. Service may be made in any judicial district.

The Ninth Circuit in Barlow v. Ground held that Rule 25(a) requires two steps. 39 F.3d 

231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994). First, a suggestion of death of the party must be “filed upon the record.” 

Id.; Johnson v. Bay Area Rapid Transit Dist., No. 09-0901-EMC, 2014 WL 1395749, at *2 (N.D. 

Cal. Apr. 10, 2014). Second, “the suggesting party must serve other parties and nonparty 

successors or representatives of the deceased with a suggestion of death in the same manner as 

required for service of the motion to substitute.” Barlow, 39 F.3d at 233. Here, a suggestion of 

death has been filed by Mr. Zito. ECF 22. However, Mr. Zito has provided no proof of service of

the suggestion of death and the motion to substitute. Although Mr. Zito represents to the Court 

that he is counsel for Charles Larson, Jr. and Alex Larson, the Rule requires service of the 

suggestion of death and the motion to substitute in accordance with Rule 4 on the non-party 

successors. Mot. 3. Without the proofs of such service, this motion to substitute may be 

defective. Barlow, 39 F.3d at 233 (9th Cir. 1994) (noting that “non-party successors or 

representatives of the deceased party must be served the suggestion of death in the manner 

provided by Rule 4 for the service of a summons”).

Accordingly, the Court requests the filing of proofs of service on Charles Larson, Jr. and 

Alex Larson in accordance with Rule 4, on or before December 23, 2016. Absent proofs of 

service, the Court may deny the motion.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 13, 2016

 ______________________________________

BETH LABSON FREEMAN

United States District Judge

Case 5:16-cv-00726-BLF Document 25 Filed 12/13/16 Page 2 of 2