Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-00675/USCOURTS-caed-2_23-cv-00675-3/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

J.A.,

Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF SHASTA, et al.

Defendants.

No. 2:23-cv-00675-DC-DMC 

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO APPOINT 

A GUARDIAN AD LITEM AS MOOT AND 

ORDER FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BRIEFING 

ON MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF 

SETTLEMENT OF A MINOR

(Doc. No. 31)

This matter is before the court on Plaintiff J.A.’s motion to appoint a guardian ad litem

and motion for approval of settlement of a minor. (Doc. No. 31.) Defendants County of Shasta 

and Isaac Lockwood (hereinafter collectively “Defendants”) filed a statement of non-opposition 

to the motion. (Doc. No. 32.) Having reviewed the motion, the court finds it suitable for a 

decision on the papers. Accordingly, the court vacates the hearing on the pending motion 

scheduled for February 7, 2025. For the reasons explained below, the court denies the motion to 

appoint a guardian ad litem as moot and will order Plaintiff to provide supplemental briefing on 

the motion for approval of settlement of a minor.

This court has a duty to protect the interests of minors participating in litigation before it.

Salmeron v. United States, 724 F.2d 1357, 1363 (9th Cir. 1983); see Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2) 

(requiring the court “appoint a guardian ad litem—or issue another appropriate order—to protect 

a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action.”). This duty requires a district 

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court to “conduct its own inquiry to determine whether the settlement serves the best interests of 

the minor.” Robidoux v. Rosengren, 638 F.3d 1177, 1181 (9th Cir. 2011) (quoting Dacanay v. 

Mendoza, 573 F.2d 1075, 1080 (9th Cir. 1978)). In examining the fairness of a settlement of a 

minor’s claims, the Ninth Circuit has held that a district court should focus on “whether the net 

amount distributed to each minor plaintiff in the settlement is fair and reasonable, in light of the 

facts of the case, the minor’s specific claim, and recovery in similar cases.” Robidoux, 638 F.3d at 

1181–82.1 

In addition, the Local Rules of this court require a motion for approval of a proposed 

minor’s compromise to disclose, among other things: (1) the age and sex of the minor; (2) the 

nature of the causes of action to be settled or compromised; (3) the facts and circumstances out of 

which the causes of action arose, including the time, place, and persons involved; (4) the manner 

in which the compromise amount or other consideration was determined, including such 

additional information as may be required to enable the court to determine the fairness of the 

settlement or compromise amount; and (5) if the minor has a personal injury claim, the nature and 

extent of the injury with sufficient particularity to inform the court whether the injury is 

temporary or permanent. See L.R. 202(b)(2).

Under Local Rule 202(c), “[w]hen the minor or incompetent is represented by an attorney, 

it shall be disclosed to the [c]ourt by whom and the terms under which the attorney was 

employed; whether the attorney became involved in the application at the instance of the party 

against whom the causes of action are asserted, directly or indirectly; whether the attorney stands 

in any relationship to that party; and whether the attorney has received or expects to receive any 

compensation, from whom, and the amount.” Local Rule 202 also provides guidelines regarding 

the disbursement of money to minors. L.R. 202(e). Money or property recovered on behalf of a 

minor will be: (1) disbursed to the representative pursuant to state law upon a showing that the 

1 Plaintiff brings four state law claims against Defendants. (Doc. 12 at 1–2, 16–23.) Although the 

Ninth Circuit expressly limited its holding to “cases involving the settlement of a minor’s federal 

claims,” Robidoux, 638 F.3d at 1179 n.2, where as here, a court is exercising supplemental 

jurisdiction over state law claims, courts apply the Robidoux standard to all of the claims. See 

A.G.A. v. Cnty. of Riverside, No. 19-cv-00077-VAP-SP, 2019 WL 2871160, at *3 n. 1 (C.D. Cal. 

Apr. 26, 2019) (collecting cases). 

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representative is duly qualified under state law, (2) disbursed otherwise pursuant to state law, or 

(3) disbursed pursuant to such other order as the court deems proper for the protection of the 

minor. (Id.) 

Plaintiff requests the appointment of his mother, Ms. Adelman as guardian ad litem. (Doc. 

No. 31.) However, the court already appointed Ms. Adelman as guardian ad litem for Plaintiff on 

April 12, 2023. (Doc. No. 6.) Accordingly, the court will deny Plaintiff’s motion to appoint a 

guardian ad litem as moot.

Turning to Plaintiff’s motion for approval of settlement of a minor, the court requires 

additional information to ensure Plaintiff has complied with the applicable local rules relating to 

the motion for approval of settlement of a minor.

The supporting declaration does not satisfy the requirements of Local Rule 202(c). Here, 

the motion specifies Barr & Mudford, a personal injury law firm, was retained on April 20, 2022, 

to represent Plaintiff by guardian ad litem. (Doc. No. 31-1 at 7.) Plaintiff’s counsel Estee Lewis, a 

Counsel at Barr & Mudford, declares her office works on a contingency-fee basis and the fee Ms. 

Adelman agreed to in this case is 25% of the minor’s net settlement after costs have been 

deducted. (Doc. No. 31-2 at ¶¶ 7–8.) However, Attorney Lewis does not indicate if she has any 

relationship with any of the opposing parties or attorneys in this lawsuit, as required by Local 

Rule 202(c). Thus, the court will direct Plaintiff to file a supplemental declaration to provide this 

information.

In addition, the court must consider whether Plaintiff’s net recovery of $67,584.40 is fair 

and reasonable “in light of the facts of the case, the minor’s specific claim and recovery in similar 

cases.” Robidoux, 638 F.3d at 1181-82. Here, Plaintiff asserts the settlement is fair and reasonable 

because it “is consistent with amounts awarded in cases where a Plaintiff experiences temporary 

emotional distress but shows significant improvement over time.” (Doc. No. 31-1 at 6.) However, 

Plaintiff fails to cite any examples of recoveries in similar cases demonstrating the suitability of 

the settlement amount here, as contemplated by the court in Robidoux. Thus, the court will direct 

Plaintiff to file supplemental briefing to provide the court with authority that supports his position 

that the proposed compromise is fair and reasonable in light of recovery in analogous cases.

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CONCLUSION

For the reasons explained above:

1. Plaintiff’s motion to appoint Gayle Adelman as guardian ad litem (Doc. No. 31) is 

denied as moot;

2. Plaintiff’s motion for approval of a minor’s settlement (Doc. No. 31) remains 

pending; 

3. Within fourteen (14) days of the date of entry of this order, Plaintiff shall file a 

supplemental brief and declaration addressing the deficiencies identified in this 

order; and

4. The motion hearing set for February 7, 2025, is vacated, to be reset at a later date 

if the court determines that oral argument is needed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 14, 2025 ___________________________

Dena Coggins

United States District Judge

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