Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_90-cv-00212/USCOURTS-cand-3_90-cv-00212-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 365
Nature of Suit: Personal Injury - Product Liability
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question: Tort Action

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARIA REYES,

Plaintiff,

 v.

 U.S. NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.,

Defendant. /

No. C 90-00212 SI

ORDER DISMISSING PETITION FOR

RELEASE OF FUNDS AS IMPROPERLY

FILED 

Before the Court is a petition by Maria Reyes asking the Court to order the release of funds from

a bank account held in the name of her son, Daniel Reyes. Daniel received the funds as a minor in 1991,

pursuant to an action brought in this Court. Unfortunately, Daniel has since died intestate, leaving no

spouse or children. His next of kin are his mother, Maria, and his brother, David Reyes. On July 13,

2007, Daniel would have attained the age of 25, at which point the funds in the account would have been

paid out to Daniel under the terms of the compromise. Maria asks this Court to release the funds to her

as his mother, Cal. Probate Code § 6402(a), because the funds do not exceed $100,000 and therefore

may be distributed without the need for probate administration of Daniel’s estate, id. §§ 13100, 13151

& 13154. Although it appears Maria Reyes has met the requirements of California law for this

expedited process, California law also requires the petition to be filed in state court: “the successor of

the decedent . . . may file a petition in the superior court of the county in which the estate of the

decedent may be administered requesting a court order . . . .” Id. § 13151. Accordingly,

notwithstanding the fact that the funds in question were acquired as the result of a proceeding before

Case 3:90-cv-00212-RHS Document 51 Filed 09/28/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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the United States District Court, the Court hereby DENIES the petition for release of funds, without

prejudice to plaintiff’s filing a petition in Superior Court of the county in which Daniel’s estate is

administered.. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 28, 2007 

SUSAN ILLSTON

United States District Judge

Case 3:90-cv-00212-RHS Document 51 Filed 09/28/07 Page 2 of 2