Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00266/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00266-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Sandra Drumonde
Plaintiff
Turlock Unified School District
Defendant
S. W.
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

S.W.,

Plaintiff,

v.

TURLOCK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB

ORDER GRANTING PETITION AND 

APPOINTING SANDRA DRUMONDE AS 

GUARDIAN AD LITEM FOR PLAINTIFF 

S.W. 

(ECF Nos. 3, 7, 8) 

On February 21, 2020, a complaint in this action was filed along with a petition for 

appointment of Sandra Drumonde as guardian ad litem for Plaintiff S.W., proffered to be an 

incompetent adult. (ECF Nos. 1, 3.) On February 25, 2020, the Court ordered supplemental 

briefing to be filed to support the petition for appointment of guardian ad litem. (ECF No. 6.) 

On March 3, 2020, Plaintiff’s counsel filed supplemental briefing and declarations under seal in 

support of the petition. (ECF Nos. 7, 8.) 

Pursuant to Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a representative of a minor 

or an incompetent person may sue or defend on the incompetent person’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 

17(c)(1). If the minor or incompetent person “does not have a duly appointed representative,” 

they “may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). “The court 

must appoint a guardian ad litem—or issue another appropriate order—to protect a minor or 

incompetent person who is unrepresented in the action.” Id. This requires the Court to take 

Case 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB Document 9 Filed 03/04/20 Page 1 of 2
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whatever measures it deems appropriate to protect the interests of the individual during the 

litigation. United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, More or Less, Situated in Klickitat Cty., State 

of Wash., 795 F.2d 796, 805 (9th Cir. 1986). The appointment of the guardian ad litem is more 

than a mere formality. Id. “A guardian ad litem is authorized to act on behalf of his ward and 

may make all appropriate decisions in the course of specific litigation.” Id. A guardian ad litem 

need not possess any special qualifications, but he must “be truly dedicated to the best interests 

of the person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” AT&T Mobility, LLC v. Yeager, 143 

F.Supp.3d 1042, 9 (E.D. Cal. 2015). This means that the guardian ad litem cannot face an 

impermissible conflict of interest with the ward and courts consider the candidate’s “experience, 

objectivity, and expertise” or previous relationship with the ward. Id. (citations omitted). 

The Court has reviewed the petition of Sandra Drumonde for appointment as guardian ad 

litem, the supplemental briefing in support of the petition, the declarations of Dr. Randal G. Ball, 

Sandra Drumonde, Daniel R. Shaw, and the exhibits attached thereto. (ECF Nos. 3, 7, 8.) The 

Court finds that Sandra Drumonde, the mother and caretaker of Plaintiff S.W., is an appropriate 

guardian ad litem, and that no apparent conflict would preclude her from serving as a guardian 

ad litem for Plaintiff S.W. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that SANDRA DRUMONDE is appointed 

Guardian ad Litem for Plaintiff S.W.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 4, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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