Ballard et al v. Ziperski et al

Filing 84

ORDER denying 51 Motion for Leave to File Amended Complaint; granting 55 Motion to Appoint guardian ad litem ad Litem. Ellen Brantley appointed as guardian ad litem for R.C.A.; finding as moot 57 Motion for Relief; finding as moot 62 Motion to Appoint guardian ad litem ad Litem. denying 78 Motion for Attorney Fees without prejudice. Signed by Judge D. P. Marshall Jr. on 6/20/13. (kpr)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
M. MELINDA BALLARD and
ELLEN B. BRANTLEY, as
guardian ad litem for R.C.A., a minor

v.

PLAINTIFFS

No. 4:12-cv-637-DPM

DELTA TRUST & BANK, as Trustee, and
ROBYN B. ZIPERSKI, as Trustee

DEFENDANTS

ORDER

The parties have informed the Court of Melinda Ballard's recent and
unexpected death. NQ 82 at 1 n. 1 & NQ 83. The Court extends its condolences
to the families. As stated at the end of the 16 May 2013 hearing, the Court
decides some of the pending motions as follows.
Ziperski's motion to appoint a guardian ad litem for R.C.A., Ng 55, is
granted. The Honorable Ellen B. Brantley, retired Pulaski County Circuit
Judge, is appointed as the guardian of R.C.A.' s estate for the limited purpose
of this case. She has accepted the appointment. Ng 81. The Court directs the
Clerk to substitute Ellen B. Brantley for Marie-Louise Ramsdale as guardian.
The Court would appreciate Judge Brantley's status report on 12 July 2013.
Delta's and Ballard's motions on the guardian issue, Ng 57 & 62, are denied
as moot.

The motion to amend the complaint, NQ 51, is denied without prejudice.
As the Court noted at the hearing, Judge Brantley must be involved in
deciding whether to seek any pleading amendment.
The motion to disqualify Friday, Eldredge & Clark for various specific
reasons, NQ 65, is denied. There is no indication that the firm's representation
of other Ballard family members, the Ballard trusts, or the Birnbach estate
expanded into personal representation of Melinda Ballard.
The new motion for prospective attorney fees, NQ 78, is denied without
prejudice. Whether to seek this relief needs to be decided by the personal
representative of Melinda Ballard's estate, when one is appointed, as part of
the personal representative's evaluation of what to do about this case in
general. The Court is also a bit skeptical about new counsel's proposed
"limited" appearance. Melinda Ballard's estate will have to have counsel to
proceed in the case.
On the suggestion of death: the Court directs Ziperski to double check
the adequacy of service on all parties and all known interested non-parties.
Atkins v. City of Chicago, 547 F.3d 869,873 (7th Cir. 2008) (Posner, J.).

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So Ordered.

D.P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge

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