Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00926/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-00926-0/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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PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM; ORDER

Ruiz v. City of Stockton; United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN

Mark E. Merin (State Bar No. 043849)

Paul H. Masuhara (State Bar No. 289805)

LAW OFFICE OF MARK E. MERIN

1010 F Street, Suite 300

Sacramento, California 95814

Telephone: (916) 443-6911

Facsimile: (916) 447-8336

E-Mail: mark@markmerin.com

paul@markmerin.com

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SACRAMENTO DIVISION

JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR., an incompetent 

person, by and through his guardian ad litem, LOURDES RUIZ; JUAN RUIZ, SR.,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

CITY OF STOCKTON; CITY OF STOCKTON

POLICE DEPARTMENT; ERIC JONES, in his 

individual capacity as the Chief of Police for the 

City of Stockton; ALEJANDRO GUERRERO, in his individual capacity as a City of Stockton

Police Officer; THOMAS QUINONES, in his 

individual capacity as a City of Stockton Police 

Officer; and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN

PLAINTIFF JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR.’S 

PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF 

GUARDIAN AD LITEM; ORDER

Pursuant to the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c) and Eastern District of California 

Local Rule 202(a), Plaintiff JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR. moves this Court for the appointment of 

LOURDES RUIZ as his guardian ad litem for all purposes of this action.

Petitioner, JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR., states as follows:

1. I have been diagnosed with and suffer from schizophrenia. Most recently, in 

December 2013, I was found to be “incompetent” by a court-appointed psychiatrist.

2. I have concurrently filed an action in this Court against the named defendants for 

their, and each of their, involvement in an incident occurring on November 5, 2013 which resulted 

in the violation of my federal and state constitutional and statutory rights.

Case 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN Document 14 Filed 05/22/14 Page 1 of 3
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PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM; ORDER

Ruiz v. City of Stockton; United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN

3. I have no general guardian and no previous petition for appointment of a guardian 

ad litem has been filed in this matter.

4. Lourdes Ruiz, my mother, is a competent and responsible person, and fully 

competent to act as my guardian ad litem in this matter.

5. Lourdes Ruiz is willing to act as my guardian ad litem, as appears by her consent 

attached hereto.

WHEREFORE, Petitioner JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR. moves this Court for an order 

appointing LOURDES RUIZ as guardian ad litem of Petitioner for the purpose of bringing this 

action against the named defendants, and each of them, on the claims described herein. 

DATED: April 16, 2014 Respectfully Submitted,

LAW OFFICE OF MARK E. MERIN

/s/ “Mark E. Merin”

By:__________________________________

Mark E. Merin

Attorney for Plaintiffs

CONSENT OF NOMINEE

I, LOURDES RUIZ, the nominee of the Petitioner, consent to act as guardian ad litem for 

the Petitioner in the above-referenced action.

DATED: April 10, 2014 Respectfully Submitted,

/s/ “Lourdes Ruiz”

By:__________________________________

Lourdes Ruiz

Case 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN Document 14 Filed 05/22/14 Page 2 of 3
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PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM; ORDER

Ruiz v. City of Stockton; United States District Court, Eastern District of California, Case No. 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN

ORDER

On April 15, 2014, Plaintiff Juan Antonio Ruiz, Jr. (“Plaintiff”) moved for an order 

appointing his mother, Lourdes Ruiz (“Ruiz”), as guardian ad litem.

1

 Motion, ECF No. 3. Ruiz 

asserts no claims on her own behalf in this action. See Complaint, ECF No. 1. Plaintiff’s Motion 

is currently set for hearing on Thursday, May 29, 2014. ECF No. 12. No opposition was filed. 

See E.D. Cal. Local Rule 230.

Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c) and the above stipulations, the Petition 

for an order appointing LOURDES RUIZ as guardian ad litem for all purposes of this action for 

Petitioner JUAN ANTONIO RUIZ, JR., ECF No. 3, is GRANTED and the May 29, 2014 hearing 

is VACATED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 21, 2014

 1 “Technically, an incompetent plaintiff sues by a prochein ami, or ‘next friend,’ and an incompetent 

defendant defends by a guardian ad litem. Because the duties and powers of both types of representatives are 

identical, the term guardian ad litem is often used to refer to the representative appointed to a plaintiff or defendant.” 

Ferrelli v. River Manor Health Care Ctr., 323 F.3d 196, 198 n. 1 (2d Cir. 2003) (citing Dacanay v. Mendoza, 573 F.2d 

1075, 1076 n. 1 (9th Cir.1978)).

Case 2:14-cv-00926-MCE-KJN Document 14 Filed 05/22/14 Page 3 of 3