Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al.

D. Maine

Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al.

DecidedJanuary 14, 2026

Docket1:25-cv-00420

StatusUnknown

This text of Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al. (Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al., (D. Me. 2026).

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Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE

JOURDEN GRIFFIN, ) individually and on behalf of her five ) minor children, ) ) Plaintiff ) ) v. ) 1:25-cv-00420-SDN ) ) CITY OF PRESQUE ISLE, et al., ) ) Defendants )

ORDER ON MOTION TO APPOINT GUARDIAN Citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(2), Plaintiff Jourden Griffin asks the Court to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of her minor children in this action. (Motion to Appoint Guardian, ECF No. 11.) Rule 17(c)(2) provides: A minor or incompetent person who does not have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The 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.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). The Rule does not require nor contemplate the appointment of a guardian ad litem where a minor’s parent asserts a claim on behalf of the minor. Because Plaintiff, “as a parent, qualifies as a general guardian who may sue on her [children’s] behalf,” there is no need for the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Leonforte v. Regional School Unit 19, No. 1:25-cv-00441-SDN, 2025 WL 3496551, at *1 (D. Me. Dec. 5, 2025) The Court, therefore, denies Plaintiff’s motion to appoint a guardian ad litem for her minor children.

NOTICE

Any objections to this order shall be filed in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72.

/s/ John C. Nivison U.S. Magistrate Judge

Dated this 14th day of January, 2026.

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MAINE

JOURDEN GRIFFIN, ) individually and on behalf of her five ) minor children, ) ) Plaintiff ) ) v. ) 1:25-cv-00420-SDN ) ) CITY OF PRESQUE ISLE, et al., ) ) Defendants )

ORDER ON MOTION TO APPOINT GUARDIAN Citing Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(2), Plaintiff Jourden Griffin asks the Court to appoint a guardian ad litem to represent the interests of her minor children in this action. (Motion to Appoint Guardian, ECF No. 11.) Rule 17(c)(2) provides: A minor or incompetent person who does not have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The 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.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). The Rule does not require nor contemplate the appointment of a guardian ad litem where a minor’s parent asserts a claim on behalf of the minor. Because Plaintiff, “as a parent, qualifies as a general guardian who may sue on her [children’s] behalf,” there is no need for the appointment of a guardian ad litem. Leonforte v. Regional School Unit 19, No. 1:25-cv-00441-SDN, 2025 WL 3496551, at *1 (D. Me. Dec. 5, 2025) The Court, therefore, denies Plaintiff’s motion to appoint a guardian ad litem for her minor children.

NOTICE

Any objections to this order shall be filed in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72.

/s/ John C. Nivison U.S. Magistrate Judge

Dated this 14th day of January, 2026.

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Jourden Griffin, individually and on behalf of her five minor children v. City of Presque Isle, et al., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/jourden-griffin-individually-and-on-behalf-of-her-five-minor-children-v-med-2026.