The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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VALERIE DOUGHTRY, as attorney in fact for Case No.: 1:20-cv-00216-DAD-BAM
11 WILLIE DOUGHTRY, et al.,
ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD LITEM
12 Plaintiffs,
(Doc. No. 12)
13 v.
ORDER MODIFYING SCHEDULING ORDER
14 ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, et al.,
15 (Doc. No. 11.)
16 Defendants.
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On June 18, 2020, Plaintiff Willie Doughtry (”Plaintiff”) filed an Ex Parte Application for
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appointment of guardian ad litem. (Doc. No. 12.) On July 13, 2020, the Court directed Plaintiffs to
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provide supplemental briefing to their application. (Doc. No. 13.) On August 14, 2020, Plaintiffs filed
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a request for a thirty-day extension of time to file their supplemental materials, which the Court
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granted on August 17, 2020. (Doc. Nos. 14, 15.) Plaintiffs submitted declarations of Valerie Doughtry
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and William J. Brown, III, in support of the application on September 10, 2020. (Doc. Nos. 16-17.)
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Defendant Allstate Insurance Company (“Defendant”) filed a statement of non-opposition to the
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motion on September 22, 2020. (Doc. No. 18.) On November 17, 2020, the Court set this matter for a
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hearing on December 11, 2020. (Doc. 19.) On November 20, 2020, the hearing was advanced to
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December 10, 2020. (Doc. 21.)
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1 On December 10, 2020, the application was heard before the Honorable Barbara A. McAuliffe,
2 United States Magistrate Judge. Counsel William J. Brown, III, appeared by telephone on behalf of
3 Plaintiffs. Counsel Elizabeth Papay appeared by telephone on behalf of Defendant. The parties
4 discussed the Court’s concerns with appointing Ms. Doughtry as guardian ad litem. The parties also
5 discussed modifying the current scheduling order as a result of the delay in resolving the Ex Parte
6 Application to appoint guardian ad litem.
7 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(1) provides that “[t]he court must appoint a guardian ad
8 litem—or issue another appropriate order—to protect a minor or incompetent person who is
9 unrepresented in an action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2).
10 Local Rule 202(a) of this Court further states, in pertinent part:
11 Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in defense of
an action by or on behalf of a minor . . . the attorney representing the
12 minor or incompetent person shall present . . . a motion for the
appointment of a guardian ad litem by the Court, or . . . a showing
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satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is necessary to ensure
14 adequate representation of the minor or incompetent person.
See L.R. 202(a). The decision to appoint a guardian ad litem “must normally be left to the sound
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discretion of the trial court.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, 795 F.2d 796, 804 (9th Cir. 1986).
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By the application, supporting declarations, and discussion with counsel, Plaintiff seeks to
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have the Court appoint Valerie Doughtry as the guardian ad litem for Plaintiff Willie Doughtry on the
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basis that he is an incompetent individual. Ms. Doughtry, Plaintiff Willie Doughtry’s daughter, alleges
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that she is competent and willing to act as guardian ad litem for the purpose of this action. (Doc. No.
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16.) The Court finds that based on the declaration by Ms. Doughtry as to her father’s medical
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condition, including that he is recovering from a stroke, is non-ambulatory, legally blind, has a severe
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atrophy to his hands, is hard of hearing, and has occasional memory loss, it is appropriate to appoint a
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guardian ad litem to represent Plaintiff Willie Doughtry. (Doc. No. 16)
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For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Valerie Doughtry is appointed as
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guardian ad litem for Plaintiff Willie Doughtry in this action.
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1 Based on discussions with counsel, IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that all remaining dates in
2 the scheduling order entered on May 28, 2020 are extended six months and modified as follows:
3 • Expert Disclosure due: October 23, 2021
4 • Supplemental Expert Disclosures due: November 22, 2021
5 • Non-expert Discovery due: October 2, 2021
6 • Expert Discovery due: February 14, 2022
7 • Pretrial Motions due: March 30, 2022
8 • Pretrial Conference set for June 27, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 5 (DAD) before
9 District Judge Dale A. Drozd
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11 IT IS SO ORDERED.
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Dated: December 11, 2020 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _
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UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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