Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01483/USCOURTS-caed-1_13-cv-01483-22/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE ESTATE OF CECIL ELKINS, JR., et 

al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:13-cv-01483-AWI-SAB

ORDER DENYING PETITION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD 

LITEM WITHOUT PREJUDICE

(ECF Nos. 114, 115)

Currently before the Court are the minor plaintiffs’ motions for appointment of a 

guardian ad litem to represent their interests in this action. 

Pursuant to Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a representative of a minor 

may sue or defend on the minor’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c). This requires the Court to take 

whatever measures it deems appropriate to protect the interests of the individual during the 

litigation. United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat Cty., State 

of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir. 1986). The appointment of the guardian ad litem is more 

than a mere formality. Id. “A guardian ad litem is authorized to act on behalf of his ward and 

may make all appropriate decisions in the course of specific litigation.” Id. A guardian ad litem 

need not possess any special qualifications, but he must “be truly dedicated to the best interests 

of the person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, __ 

Case 1:13-cv-01483-AWI-SAB Document 116 Filed 06/07/16 Page 1 of 2
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F.Supp.3d ___, 2015 WL 6951291, at *9 (E.D. Cal. Nov. 10, 2015). This means that the 

guardian ad litem cannot face an impermissible conflict of interest with the ward and courts 

consider the candidate’s “experience, objectivity, and expertise” or previous relationship with the 

ward. Id. (citations omitted). 

In this instance, the minor Plaintiffs have submitted a declaration stating that their 

grandfather is a competent and responsible person who is fully competent to act as a guardian ad 

litem. However, the minors have been removed from their mother and to the Court’s knowledge 

are still in the care of the County. (ECF No. 113 at ¶ 5.) The declarations submitted do not 

indicate that the grandfather has the “experience, objectivity, and expertise” or previous 

relationship with the ward for the Court to find that he is an appropriate guardian ad litem for the 

minors. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petitions for appointment of a guardian 

ad litem are denied without prejudice. Any further petition must contain a declaration from the 

proposed guardian demonstrating that the individual is truly dedicated to the best interests of the 

minors and has the “experience, objectivity, and expertise” or previous relationship with the 

ward to serve as a guardian ad litem. AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, __ F.Supp.3d ___, 2015 

WL 6951291, at *9.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 7, 2016 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:13-cv-01483-AWI-SAB Document 116 Filed 06/07/16 Page 2 of 2