King et al v. West Morgan-East Lawrence Water and Sewer Authority et al

Filing 134

OPINION AND ORDER: The Court GRANTS the 131 MOTION to Approve Minor Settlement and APPROVES the proposed settlement. Signed by Judge Liles C Burke on 11/17/2022. (AHI)

FILED
2022 Nov-18 AM 09:09
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHEASTERN DIVISION
WILLIE KING, et al.,
Plaintiffs,
v.
WEST MORGAN-EAST
LAWRENCE WATER AND
SEWER AUTHORITY, et al.,
Defendants.

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) CASE NO.: 5:17-cv-01833-LCB
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OPINION & ORDER
Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion to Approve Minor Settlement. (Doc.
131.) The Court held oral argument on November 17, 2022. Counsel and the
parents/legal guardians of the minor, C.R., appeared before the Court. The Court,
having heard from Plaintiffs and counsel, and after conducting an evidentiary
hearing, hereby GRANTS the Motion to Approve Minor Settlement. (Doc. 131.)
Alabama law requires that a court hold a fairness hearing before a minor
plaintiff's case may be settled. Large v. Hayes, 534 So. 2d 1101, 1105 (Ala.
1988). This is a rule of substantive law, which must be applied by federal courts
sitting in diversity. Burke v. Smith, 252 F.3d 1260, 1266 (11th Cir. 2001). In order
for the settlement to be binding on the minor, the hearing must involve

“‘examination or investigation into the facts.’” Abernathy v. Colbert Cnty. Hosp.
Bd., 388 So. 2d 1207, 1209 (Ala. 1980) (quoting 42 Am.Jur.2d Infants § 47 (1978)).
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c)(1) authorizes a “general guardian” to
“sue or defend on behalf of a minor.” Rule 17(c)(2) provides that a minor without “a
duly appointed representative may sue by next friend or by guardian ad litem,” and
that 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.”
Although these rules do not expressly address when the Court should appoint a
guardian ad litem to represent a minor who is already represented by a parent in
litigation, the Eleventh Circuit has held that “unless a conflict of interest exists
between the representative and minor, a district court need not even consider the
question whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed.” Burke, 252 F.3d at 1264.
In Burke, the Eleventh Circuit explained that “when a minor is represented by a
parent who is a party to the lawsuit and who has the same interests as the child there
is no inherent conflict of interest.” Id.
The Court hereby finds that no conflict of interest exists, that the parents/legal
guardians represent the minor child’s best interests, and that no guardian ad litem is
needed. The Court further finds that the settlement as proposed at the hearing on
November 17, 2022, is fair, reasonable, and in the best interest of the minor child.
Thus, the proposed settlement warrants Court approval.
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Accordingly, the Motion to Approve Minor Settlement is GRANTED, and
the proposed settlement is approved. (Doc. 131.)
DONE and ORDERED November 17, 2022.

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LILES C. BURKE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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