Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00266/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00266-0/pdf.json

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

Document Text:

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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

S.W.,

Plaintiff,

v.

TURLOCK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT,

Defendant.

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

ORDER REQUIRING SUPPLEMENTAL 

BRIEFING ON PETITION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD 

LITEM AND DIRECTING MEDICAL 

EVIDENCE TO BE FILED UNDER SEAL

FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE

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., alleged to be an 

incompetent adult. (ECF Nos. 1, 3.) 

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 

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 

Case 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB Document 6 Filed 02/25/20 Page 1 of 4
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

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). 

Capacity to sue or be sued is determined by the law of the individual’s domicile. Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 17(b)(1). Under California law, “[t]he test for incompetence . . . is whether the party has 

the capacity to understand the nature or consequences of the proceeding, and is able to assist 

counsel in preparation of the case.” Lee v. Retail Store Employee Bldg. Corp., No. 15-CV04768-LHK, 2017 WL 565710, at *3 (N.D. Cal. Feb. 13, 2017) (quoting In re Jessica G., 93 Cal. 

App. 4th 1180, 1186 (2001)); A.A. on behalf of A.A. v. Clovis Unified Sch. Dist., No. 

113CV01043AWIMJS, 2018 WL 1167927, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2018), report and 

recommendation adopted sub nom. A.A. v. Clovis Unified Sch. Dist., No. 

113CV01043AWIMJS, 2018 WL 1453243 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 23, 2018). Appointment of a 

guardian ad litem implicates due process concerns because an incompetency finding and the 

subsequent appointment of a guardian ad litem deprives a litigant of the right to control the 

litigation and subjects the litigant to possible stigmatization. Gibson v. Hagerty Ins. Agency, No. 

1:16-CV-00677-DAD-BAM, 2017 WL 1022792, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 16, 2017) (citing Ferrelli 

v. River Manor Health Care Ctr., 323 F.3d 196, 203 (2d Cir. 2003) and Thomas v. Humfield, 916 

F.2d 1032, 1034 (5th Cir. 1990)). 

“In most cases, a guardian will not be appointed for an adult unless the person gives 

consent or upon notice and a hearing.” Jurgens v. Dubendorf, No. 2:14-CV-2780-KJM-DAD, 

2015 WL 6163464, at *3 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 19, 2015); Gibson, 2017 WL 1022792, at *2. The 

Ninth Circuit has indicated that in considering a litigant’s competency the court may consider 

sworn declarations from the allegedly incompetent litigant, sworn declarations or letters from 

treating medical providers, and medical records. See Allen v. Calderon, 408 F.3d 1150, 1151-53 

Case 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB Document 6 Filed 02/25/20 Page 2 of 4
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

3

(9th Cir. 2005); Gibson, No. 2017 WL 1022792, at *2. 

The petition signed only by counsel for Plaintiff, states that Plaintiff S.W. alleges: (1) 

S.W. is an incompetent adult with severe developmental disabilities that impact all aspects of 

life; S.W. has Autism and communicates mostly through echolalic speech, gestures, and 

behavior; (2) S.W. has no general guardian1and no previous petition for appointment of a 

guardian ad litem has been filed in this matter; (3) Sanda Drumonde is S.W.’s mother, primary 

caretaker, and education rights holder; and (4) Mrs. Drumonde resides in Turlock, California, 

and is fully competent to act as S.W.’s guardian ad litem; Mrs. Drumonde does not have any 

interest adverse to S.W. and is not connected in business with the proposed adverse party; and 

Mrs. Drumonde is fully competent and responsible to prosecute the proposed action for S.W. 

(ECF No. 3 at 1.) 

No declaration by the proposed guardian ad litem Mrs. Drumonde (“Petitioner”), by 

Plaintiff, or medical evidence has been submitted in support of the petition. Therefore, the Court 

shall require the submission of medical evidence addressing the diagnosis and competency of 

S.W. The Court is unable to make a determination as to S.W.’s competency without the 

submission of such evidence. S.W. has a legitimate privacy interest in the medical records and 

finds good cause to order such documents to be filed under seal. The Court shall also require a 

declaration from the Petitioner addressing these issues and her ability to represent S.W. as 

guardian ad litem. 

///

///

///

///

///

///

///

 

1

 The Court notes that the filed complaint states Sandra Drumonde is the legal guardian of S.W. (ECF No. 1 at 2.) 

Case 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB Document 6 Filed 02/25/20 Page 3 of 4
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

4

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Within fourteen (14) days of the date of entry of this order, Plaintiff shall submit 

supplemental briefing in support of the petition for appointment of guardian ad 

litem as discussed herein, including medical records and a declaration from 

Petitioner Sanda Drumonde; and

2. To protect S.W.’s confidential medical information, Plaintiff shall file the 

required medical evidence, declarations, or letters addressing medical issues 

under seal. Plaintiff is directed to Local Rule 141(e)(2)(i) for the procedure to

submit documents to be sealed. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 25, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00266-DAD-SAB Document 6 Filed 02/25/20 Page 4 of 4