Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00673/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-00673-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

----oo0oo----

LEDELLDRA BROOKS, and A.J., a 

minor, by and through her 

guardian ad litem LEDELLDRA 

BROOKS,

Plaintiffs,

v.

FRESNO UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT, THERESA MONPERE, 

CHRISTIE YANG and RON 

BOHIGIAN, and DOES 1-30,

 Defendants.

CIV. NO. 1:15-00673 WBS BAM

ORDER

----oo0oo----

On November 16, 2015, counsel for plaintiffs Ledelldra 

Brooks and her minor daughter A.J. moved for an order approving 

the settlement of A.J.’s claims. “District courts have a special 

duty, derived from Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c), to 

safeguard the interests of litigants who are minors,” which 

“requires a district court to ‘conduct its own inquiry to 

determine whether the settlement serves the best interests of the 

Case 1:15-cv-00673-WBS-BAM Document 36 Filed 12/09/15 Page 1 of 3
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minor.’” Robidoux v. Rosengren, 638 F.3d 1177, 1181 (9th Cir. 

2011) (quoting Dacanay v. Mendoza, 573 F.2d 1075, 1080 (9th Cir.

1978)). Eastern District Local Rule 202(b)(2) governs the 

approval of the settlement of a minor’s claims and identifies the 

information necessary for the court to fulfill its duty.

Local Rule 202(b)(2) specifically states, “If reports 

of physicians or other similar experts have been prepared, such 

reports shall be provided to the Court.” Plaintiffs’ counsel 

indicates he “has retained a child psychologist who has diagnosed 

A.J. as suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)” as 

a result of the treatment giving rise to this case. (Docket No. 

34 at 11:8-11.) Counsel states that the psychologist 

“anticipates that for A.J. to recover from the psychological 

trauma, it could take 2-5 years.” (Id.) The court presumes 

these findings are in a report or other written document that 

could have been filed. 

Because Local Rule 202(b)(2) required the filing of the 

psychologist’s report and the psychologist’s findings would 

assist the court in determining the fairness of the settlement, 

the court will continue the hearing and require counsel to comply 

with Local Rule 202(b)(2). 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the hearing on plaintiffs’ 

motion for approval of the settlement is continued to December 

21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m., and counsel for plaintiffs shall comply 

with the filing requirements of Local Rule 202(b)(2) by December 

15, 2015. 

Dated: December 9, 2015

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