Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00717/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-00717-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
T. A.
Plaintiff
County of Kern
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff T.A. initiated this action by filing a complaint on May 12, 2014, and petitioned the 

Court to appoint Maria Guerrero as his guardian ad litem in this action. (Doc. 2) 

Pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, “[a] minor . . . who does not have a duly 

appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). 

In addition, a court “must appoint a guardian ad litem - or issue another appropriate order - to protect a 

minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action.” Id. The capacity of an individual to 

sue is determined “by the law of the individual’s domicile.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(b). Here, Plaintiff

resides in Kern County, California (Doc. 2 at 2), and the law of the state governs. Under California 

law, an individual under the age of eighteen is a minor, and a minor may bring suit as long as a 

guardian conducts the proceedings. Cal. Fam. Code §§ 6502, 6601. A guardian ad litem may be 

appointed to represent the minor’s interests. Cal. Code Civ. P. § 372(a). 

T.A.,

 Plaintiff,

v.

COUNTY OF KERN,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:13-cv-00717 - --- - JLT 

ORDER GRANTING PETITION TO APPOINT 

MARIA GUERRERO AS GUARDIAN AD LITEM 

FOR MINOR PLAINTIFF T.A.

(Doc. 2)

Case 1:14-cv-00717-LJO-JLT Document 6 Filed 05/14/14 Page 1 of 2
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In determining whether to appoint a particular guardian ad litem, the court must consider 

whether the minor and the guardian have divergent interests. Cal. Code Civ. P. § 372(b)(1). “When 

there is a potential conflict between a perceived parental responsibility and an obligation to assist the 

court in achieving a just and speedy determination of the action, a court has the right to select a 

guardian ad litem who is not a parent if that guardian would best protect the child’s interests.” Williams 

v. Super. Ct., 147 Cal. App. 4th 36, 38 (Cal. Ct. App. 4th 2007) (internal quotation marks and citation 

omitted). The decision whether to appoint a guardian ad litem is “normally left to the sound discretion 

of the trial court.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, etc., 795 F.2d 796, 804 (9th Cir. 1986). 

Plaintiff is the great-grandson of Maria Guerrero, and was born in 2004. (Doc. 2 at 2). Because 

Plaintiff is under the age of eighteen, he is a minor under California law. See Cal. Fam. Code § 6502. 

Consequently, as a minor, his ability to bring suit is contingent upon the Court’s appointment of a 

guardian ad litem. Upon review of the Complaint, it does not appear Ms. Guerrero has any interests 

that are adverse to the child’s. Accordingly, Ms. Guerrero’s appointment as guardian ad litem for her 

great-grandson is appropriate. 

Based upon the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. The petition for appointment of Maria Guerrero as guardian ad litem for Plaintiff T.A.

(Doc. 2) is GRANTED; and 

2. Maria Guerrero is appointed to act as guardian ad litem for T.A. in this action and is 

authorized to prosecute it on his behalf.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 14, 2014 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-00717-LJO-JLT Document 6 Filed 05/14/14 Page 2 of 2