Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-03577/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-03577-1/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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For the Northern District of California

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28 1 The holding of this court is limited to the facts and the particular circumstances

underlying the present motion.

ORDER, page 1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

EVELYN ROSA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CITY OF SEASIDE, et al.,

Defendants.

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Case No.: C 05-3577 PVT

ORDER RE APPLICATION OF DAVID ROSA

FOR APPOINTMENT AS GUARDIAN AD

LITEM; AND SETTING DEADLINE FOR

PLAINTIFFS TO FILE DECLARATION

REGARDING PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE

OF MICHAEL ROBERT ROSA

On October 17, 2005, Plaintiffs filed an Application of David Rosa for Appointment as

Guardian Ad Litem.1 This court issued an interim order requesting supplemental briefing. Plaintiffs

have now submitted the requested supplemental briefing. Based on the brief and declarations

submitted, and the file herein, 

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that David Rosa’s application for appointment as guardian ad

litem is DENIED. No later than December 15, 2005, Plaintiffs shall file and serve an amended

complaint substituting Tamatha Hike, H.R.’s mother, as the guardian for H.R. 

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 17(c) provides that:

“Whenever an infant or incompetent person has a representative, such

as a general guardian, committee, conservator, or other like fiduciary,

Case 5:05-cv-03577-JF Document 19 Filed 11/23/05 Page 1 of 2
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ORDER, page 2

the representative may sue or defend on behalf of the infant or

incompetent person. An infant or incompetent person who does not

have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a

guardian ad litem. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for an

infant or incompetent person not otherwise represented in an action or

shall make such other order as it deems proper for the protection of the

infant or incompetent person.” (Emphasis added). 

Generally, appointment of someone other than a minor’s general representative (usually a

parent) as guardian ad litem is only appropriate where the general representative has been shown

either to be inadequate or to have a conflict of interest with the minor. See T.W. and M.W. by Enk v.

Brophy, et al., 124 F.3d 893, 895-96 (7th Cir. 1997). In the instant case, there has been no showing

that H.R.’s mother is inadequate or has any conflict of interest. On the contrary, counsel for

Plaintiffs represents that it would be relatively simple to substitute H.R.’s mother for her uncle in the

complaint. Further, it appears that David Rosa’s interest in being appointed as guardian ad litem is

primarily motivated by his own feelings about his brother’s death. While the court does not question

Mr. Rosa’s good faith, under all the circumstances the court is not inclined to appoint H.R.’s uncle to

act on H.R.’s behalf in lieu of her mother.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the amended complaint shall name the appropriate person

as the personal representative of Michael Robert Rosa. Along with the amended complaint,

Plaintiffs shall file a declaration setting forth facts showing that the person so named is the proper

personal representative under California law. From the declaration filed by Plaintiffs’ counsel, it

appears that Evelyn and Robert Rosa are not the proper personal representatives because their son

did not die “without issue” as previously attested.

Dated: 11/23/05

 

PATRICIA V. TRUMBULL

United States Magistrate Judge

Case 5:05-cv-03577-JF Document 19 Filed 11/23/05 Page 2 of 2