Z.M.
Z.M. v. Kern High School District
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Z.M., Case No. 1:24-cv-01273-CDB
Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN AD LITEM OF
v. MINOR Z.M.
KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, (Doc. 13)
Defendant.
Pending before the Court is the motion of minor Plaintiff Z.M. to appoint his father, A.M., as
guardian ad litem, filed November 8, 2024. (Doc. 13). Legal Standard Pursuant to Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a representative of a minor or incompetent person may sue or defend on the minor or incompetent person’s behalf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c). 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)(1). Under California law, an individual under the age of 18 is a minor, and a minor may bring suit if a…