Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01575/USCOURTS-caed-1_23-cv-01575-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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Kevin G. Little, SBN 149818

Michelle Tostenrude, SBN 290121

Law Office of Kevin G. Little

Post Office Box 8656

Fresno, CA 93721

Tel. (559) 342-5800

Fax: (559) 242-2400

E-Mail: kevin@kevinglittle.com

Attorneys for Plaintiffs Martha Zepeda Olivares, individually and on behalf of the Estate of 

Maximiliano Sosa, Jr. and Maximiliano Sosa, Sr.

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA – FRESNO DIVISION

MARTHA ZEPEDA OLIVARES, 

individually and on behalf of the ESTATE OF 

MAXIMILIANO SOSA, JR.; 

MAXIMILIANO SOSA, SR.,

 Plaintiffs,

 v.

CITY OF FRESNO; UNKNOWN LAW 

ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, and DOES 1-

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CASE NO. 1:23-cv-01575 JLT SAB

[PROPOSED] MODIFIED1 ORDER RE:

PLAINTIFF’S EMERGENCY EX 

PARTE APPLICATION FOR ORDER 

ALLOWING PRIVATE AUTOPSY 

PRIOR TO EMBALMING OR 

FUNERAL

This matter is before the Court on the emergency ex parte application of the plaintiffs 

Martha Zepeda Olivares, individually and on behalf of the Estate of Maximiliano Sosa, Jr. and 

Maximiliano Sosa, Sr., for an order permitting them to do a private autopsy prior to decedent’s 

corpse being embalmed and prior to his funeral being held. 

Upon reviewing the ex parte application, the Court agrees that emergency ex parte relief 

is necessary, and the Court further finds good cause to grant the application. Specifically, the 

Court orders as follows:

1. Wallin Funeral Home, Ms. Sosa and the defendants in this action will have five 

1 The Court has included the City of Fresno as a party who may object to this order. The Plaintiff SHALL serve this 

order on the City of Fresno.

Case 1:23-cv-01575-JLT-SAB Document 6 Filed 11/08/23 Page 1 of 3
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court days from service of this order to file any objections.

2 Wallin Funeral 

Home and Ms. Sosa may retain their own lawyer to file objections, or they may 

file their objections without a lawyer.

2. Absent the lodging of any timely and meritorious objection, plaintiffs are authorized 

to perform a private autopsy on the decedent’s corpse prior to any embalming and 

prior to any funeral being held. Wallin Funeral Home, Ms. Sosa or the City of 

Fresno SHALL NOT to take any steps to embalm the decedent or conduct funeral 

proceedings that would precede the private autopsy or otherwise be inconsistent with 

this order.

3. Plaintiffs will be responsible for arranging and bearing the costs of round-trip 

transportation for the private autopsy, as well as any other costs related to the private 

autopsy itself. 

4. Plaintiffs SHALL promptly inform the Court, Wallin Funeral Home, Ms. Sosa and 

the City of Fresno, of the identity of the pathologist(s) performing the autopsy as 

soon as a retention decision is made, and of the intended date(s) on which the 

decedent’s corpse will have to be away from Wallin Funeral Home in connection 

with said autopsy. The time allotted for completion of the autopsy, from pick up to 

return of the decedent’s corpse, shall not exceed 72 hours. 

5. Copies of this order shall be served immediately--no later than the close of business 

today—on Wallin Funeral Home, located at 1524 9th Street, Sanger, CA 93657, 

(559) 875-6555, Ms. Maria Sosa, the decedent’s spouse and the City of Fresno.

Given the urgency involved, service may be effectuated in the most expedient 

manner possible, either personal, electronic, or via facsimile.

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2 The Court will serve the objections, if any, to the plaintiffs electronically, so neither Wallin Funeral Home nor 

Ms. Sosa are obligated to serve their objections on the plaintiffs.

Case 1:23-cv-01575-JLT-SAB Document 6 Filed 11/08/23 Page 2 of 3
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6. Plaintiffs shall file proofs of service of this order with the Court the next business 

day after service is made.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 8, 2023 

Case 1:23-cv-01575-JLT-SAB Document 6 Filed 11/08/23 Page 3 of 3