Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-03983/USCOURTS-cand-5_16-cv-03983-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 448
Nature of Suit: Civil Rights - Education
Cause of Action: 28:794 Rehabilitation Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

F. E., et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

MORELAND UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 16-cv-03983-BLF 

ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR 

THE APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN 

AD LITEM

[Re: ECF 13]

Before the Court is Plaintiff’s petition to appoint Mr. Fritz Eberly as guardian ad litem for 

Plaintiff F.E., a minor. ECF 13. When a minor is a litigant, “[t]he Court has a duty to ensure that 

[the] minor’s interest[s] are protected.” Brown v. Alexander, No. 13-CV-01451-RS, 2015 WL 

7350183, at *1 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 20, 2015) (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)). “A guardian ad litem is 

like the minor's agent whose purpose is to protect the minor's interests in the litigation. While a 

guardian ad litem ‘may make tactical and even fundamental decisions affecting the litigation,’ he 

or she must make those decisions ‘always with the interest of the guardian's charge in mind.’” Id. 

(quoting Williams v. Superior Court, 147 Cal. App. 4th 36, 47 (2007)).

Mr. Eberly is F.E.’s father, and declares that he has no interests adverse to F.E., and that 

the appointment is intended for this litigation only. See ECF 13-1. Having considered Plaintiff’s 

submissions, the Court finds that Mr. Eberly a suitable representative for F.E.’s interests in this 

action. Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the petition to appoint guardian ad litem for the 

purposes of this action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 29, 2016

 ______________________________________

BETH LABSON FREEMAN

United States District Judge

Case 5:16-cv-03983-BLF Document 14 Filed 11/29/16 Page 1 of 1