Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-3_07-cv-08076/USCOURTS-azd-3_07-cv-08076-18/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Wrongful Death

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

DIANA RAUSE, surviving natural

mother of JOHNNY MENDOZA,

JR., deceased, individually and on

behalf of all wrongful death

beneficiaries; GABRIEL

RODRIGUEZ, a single man,

Plaintiffs, 

v.

PAPERCHINE, INC., a foreign

corporation; ABITIBI

CONSOLIDATED SALES

CORPORATION, a foreign

corporation; DOES I-X; BLACK

CORPORATIONS I-X; and WHITE

PARTNERSHIPS I-X,

Defendants. 

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No. CV-07-8076-PCT-SMM

ORDER

On October 19, 2009, the Court held a status hearing in this case. At the status

hearing, the Court was advised that Johnny Mendoza, Sr., the natural father of the decedent

Johnny Mendoza, Jr., has a technical right to pursue a claim for the decedent’s wrongful

death pursuant to A.R.S. § 12-611, et. seq. However, the Court was also advised by

Plaintiff’s counsel that given Johnny Mendoza, Sr.’s involvement in his son’s employment

activities on the date of the subject accident, and the conflict of interest that it creates

between Plaintiff’s claims in this action and any claim advanced by Johnny Mendoza, Sr.,

Plaintiff’s counsel is unable to represent Johnny Mendoza, Sr. or pursue any claim on his

behalf. 

Case 3:07-cv-08076-SMM Document 134 Filed 10/23/09 Page 1 of 3
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Plaintiff’s counsel reported that he had spoken to Johnny Mendoza, Sr. and that he had

expressed a desire not to bring a claim or otherwise participate in the present suit. Although

Plaintiff’s counsel has sent multiple waivers to Johnny Mendoza, Sr. requesting that such

waivers be executed if he does not intend to pursue a claim, no waiver had been returned by

Johnny Mendoza, Sr. to date. Furthermore, Johnny Mendoza Sr. has not returned any of

counsel’s telephone calls requesting an update of Johnny Mendoza Sr.’s intentions relative

to this case. 

The parties are entitled to conduct discovery with respect to the opposing parties to

a lawsuit. As a result, any party intending to pursue a claim must submit to the jurisdiction

of this Court and comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 

Accordingly, the Court will order that if Johnny Mendoza, Sr. intends to pursue a

claim arising out of the wrongful death of Johnny Mendoza, Jr. in this action, he must notify

this Court and the parties to this action and appear either through a licensed attorney or in

propria persona, by no later than November 30, 2009. Should Johnny Mendoza Sr. fail to

notify the Court and the parties of his intentions and appear either through counsel or in pro

per by that date, the Court will issue an Order to Show Cause why any claim by Johnny

Mendoza, Sr. should not be dismissed with prejudice. 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that no later than November 30, 2009, Johnny

Mendoza, Sr. shall appear through a licensed attorney or in propria persona and notify the

Court of his intention to pursue a claim in this case. Notice shall also be given by Johnny

Mendoza, Sr. to each of the parties in the present case. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court shall send a copy of this Order

to Johnny Mendoza, Sr. at the following two addresses: 

Johnny Mendoza, Sr. 

503 Richardson Street

Bald Knob, AR 72010

Case 3:07-cv-08076-SMM Document 134 Filed 10/23/09 Page 2 of 3
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Johnny Mendoza, Sr.

189 Cooks Landing Road

Many, LA 71449

DATED this 23rd day of October, 2009.

Case 3:07-cv-08076-SMM Document 134 Filed 10/23/09 Page 3 of 3