Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00093/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00093-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Wrongful Death

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

The plaintiffs are the children of Santo Hilario Garcia and Marcelina Garcia Profecto, and assert 

the Government is liable for the wrongful deaths of their parents following a high-speed vehicle chase 

by the United States Department of Homeland Security and its Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Agency. (See generally Doc. 1) Because plaintiffs Ce. H.G., M.H.G., P.H.G. , Ca.H.G., and O.H.G. are 

minors, they are unable to prosecute the claims presented in the complaint and their claims may only be 

brought “by a next friend or a guardian ad litem.” See Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). In addition, pursuant to 

Local Rule 202,

Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of an action by 

or on behalf of a minor or incompetent person, the attorney representing the minor or 

incompetent person shall present (1) appropriate evidence of the appointment of a 

representative for the minor or incompetent person under state law or (2) a motion for the 

appointment of a guardian ad litem by the Court, or, (3) a showing satisfactory to the 

RUFINA HILARIO GARCIA, individually 

and on behalf of Ce. H.G., M.H.G., P.H.G. , 

Ca.H.G., and O.H.G., minors, being the heirs 

of and successors-in-interest to SANTO 

HILARIO GARCIA and MARCELINA 

GARCIA PROFECTO,

 Plaintiffs,

v.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:20-cv-0093-LJO- JLT

ORDER DIRECTING PLAINTIFFS TO FILE A 

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF A 

GUARDIAN AD LITEM 

Case 1:20-cv-00093-DAD-JLT Document 14 Filed 01/30/20 Page 1 of 2
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Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure adequate representation of the 

minor or incompetent person.

Id. (citing Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)). 

The Court’s review of the docket reveals Plaintiffs have not requested appointment of a 

guardian ad litem, there is no evidence identified of the formal appointment of a representative for the 

minor children, and there is no allegation in the complaint that such an appointment is not necessary.

To the contrary, the complaint indicates that Rufina Hilario Garcia “brings this action on behalf of 

herself and her minor siblings, Ce.H.G., M.H.G., P.H.G., Ca.H.G., and O.H.G.,” but Ms. Garcia has 

not requested appointment.

Accordingly, the Court ORDERS: Plaintiffs SHALL file a motion for the appointment of 

Rufina Hilario Garcia as the guardian ad litem no later than February 21, 2020.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 30, 2020 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00093-DAD-JLT Document 14 Filed 01/30/20 Page 2 of 2