Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-00902/USCOURTS-caed-2_17-cv-00902-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

1 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

RICHARD TERFLINGER, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

B. WILEY, et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:17-cv-0902 AC P 

ORDER 

 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding through limited appointment counsel with a civil 

rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On January 30, 2020, this matter came before the 

court for a status conference regarding the appointment of a guardian ad litem for plaintiff for 

purposes of further settlement proceedings. In closed session, with counsel for both plaintiff and 

defendant present, the undersigned heard from the proposed guardian ad litem regarding his 

safety concerns and request to be identified as John Doe. Having made a sufficient showing, and 

counsel for both parties being aware of the potential guardian ad litem’s identity and having no 

objections, the request to be identified as John Doe was granted. In open court, Mr. Doe advised 

that he understood the responsibilities of a guardian ad litem and was both willing and able to 

take on those responsibilities for the purpose of further settlement proceedings in this case. 

In appointing a guardian ad litem, the court is required to take into account “all factors 

relevant to the protection of the [incompetent’s] interests when selecting a guardian ad litem, but 

Case 2:17-cv-00902-AC Document 55 Filed 01/31/20 Page 1 of 2
1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

2 

need not look to the procedures specified in the state law.” Gibbs ex rel. Gibbs v. Carnival Cruise 

Lines, 314 F.3d 125, 129 (3rd Cir. 2002). Having already found appointment of a guardian ad 

litem to be warranted, ECF No. 52, and considering the procedural posture and history of this 

case, as well as the willingness and suitability of Mr. Doe to serve, the undersigned finds good 

cause to appoint John Doe as plaintiff’s guardian ad litem for purposes of a settlement 

conference. Since a non-attorney guardian ad litem must be represented by counsel in this action, 

Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 876-77 (9th Cir. 1997) (citations omitted), as 

previously ordered, Lori Rifkin’s limited purpose appointment shall include representing Mr. Doe 

at the settlement conference that will be set before Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman. 

As guardian ad litem, Mr. Doe has the authority to receive medical information related to 

Mr. Terflinger from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In order to 

protect his John Doe designation, such information shall be sent through or communicated to his 

attorney, Lori Rifkin. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. The request that the guardian ad litem be identified as John Doe and his identity kept 

confidential is granted. 

2. John Doe is appointed to serve as guardian ad litem on plaintiff’s behalf and may be 

contacted through counsel, Lori Rifkin. 

3. This case will be set for a settlement conference before Magistrate Judge Kendall J. 

Newman. The court will contact the parties regarding the scheduling of the settlement 

conference. 

4. The stay in this action is extended through completion of a settlement conference. 

DATED: January 30, 2020 

Case 2:17-cv-00902-AC Document 55 Filed 01/31/20 Page 2 of 2