Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-00730/USCOURTS-cand-3_19-cv-00730-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 448
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights - Education
Cause of Action: 20:1400 Civil Rights of Handicapped Child

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AUSTINN ANTHONY PETERS, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

SIERRA PLUMAS JOINT UNIFIED 

SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-cv-00730-KAW 

ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD 

LITEM; DENYING APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN PAUPERIS

Re: Dkt. Nos. 5, 7

On February 9, 2019, Plaintiffs Austinn Anthony Peters and Kalika Nicole Peters filed the 

instant suit against Defendants. (Compl., Dkt. No. 1.) Plaintiffs are minor children with sensory, 

emotional, physical, cognitive, developmental, or language disabilities who tried to obtain special 

education and related services from Defendant Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District. 

(Compl. ¶ 8.)

On February 12, 2019, Plaintiffs filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP 

application"). (IFP App., Dkt. No. 5.) The IFP application was signed by Plaintiffs' mother, 

Caitlin Peters, and only listed the assets of Plaintiffs. That same day, Plaintiffs filed a petition to 

appoint Ms. Peters as guardian ad litem. (Dkt. No. 7.)

The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs' petition to appoint Ms. Peters as guardian ad litem for 

Plaintiffs. Ms. Peters has attested that she has agreed to act as guardian ad litem in this proceeding 

and has no conflicting interest in the outcome. (Dkt. No. 7 at 2.)

The Court, however, DENIES Plaintiffs' IFP application without prejudice. "28 U.S.C. § 

1915(a) requires that a party seeking to proceed in forma pauperis submit an application declaring 

that 'he is unable to pay' Court costs." Doe v. Gill, Case No. 11-cv-4759-JCS, 2011 U.S. Dist. 

LEXIS 113691, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Oct. 3, 2011.) Here, the minor Plaintiffs have submitted a 

Case 3:19-cv-00730-CRB Document 8 Filed 02/20/19 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

declaration about their inability to pay, but the guardian ad litem has not submitted any evidence 

of her inability to pay. "[W]here leave to proceed in forma pauperis is sought to vindicate the 

alleged substantive rights of a minor, the financial resources of both the minor and the . . . 

guardian ad litem should be considered in determining ability to pay the costs of litigation." 

Cottingham v. Bd. of Educ., Case No. 93-cv-DLJ, 1993 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 21865, at *2 (N.D. Cal. 

Mar. 15, 1993) (internal quotation omitted); see also Doe, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 113691, at *2. 

Accordingly, Plaintiffs shall file a new IFP application providing Ms. Peters's financial 

information. The IFP application must also provide Plaintiffs' complete financial information.1 

The new IFP application shall be filed by March 1, 2019.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 20, 2019

__________________________________

KANDIS A. WESTMORE

United States Magistrate Judge

 

1 For example, the IFP application states that Plaintiff Austinn Peters "receive[s] Federal 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as well as other means tested benefits that may apply," but 

does not state the amount received from each. (See IFP App. at 2.)

Case 3:19-cv-00730-CRB Document 8 Filed 02/20/19 Page 2 of 2