Larson et al v. Mattos et al

Filing 29

ORDER GRANTING 23 MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE PARTY. Signed by Judge Beth Labson Freeman on 12/21/2016. (blflc4S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 12/21/2016)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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SAN JOSE DIVISION

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CHARLES LARSON, et al.,

Case No. 16-cv-00726-BLF

Plaintiffs,
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v.

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO
SUBSTITUTE PARTY

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KIM MATTOS, et al.,
Defendants.

United States District Court
Northern District of California

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Before the Court is an unopposed motion by Charles A. Larson, Jr. to be substituted in as a

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party in place of his deceased father, Charles Larson, Sr. ECF 23. Mr. Charles Larson, Sr. was

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the plaintiff in this matter concerning alleged violations of both state and federal fair housing laws

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and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Compl. 1. The parties reached an agreement to settle

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this case after mediation but Mr. Larson passed away before he could sign the agreement. Zito

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Decl. ¶ 2, 4-6. Plaintiff seeks to substitute Charles A. Larson, Jr., one of Mr. Larson’s two sons

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and sole heirs, in place of Mr. Larson to “sign the release of claims required by paragraph 3 of the

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Stipulation for Settlement, and to authorize a filing of a Notice of Settlement and Stipulation of

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Dismissal on behalf of the estate of the deceased.” Ex. 1; Zito Decl. ¶ 8.

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Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(a) governs the substitution of a party due to death.
Specifically, this provision provides, in relevant part:
(1) Substitution if the Claim is Not Extinguished. If a party dies and
the claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of the
proper party. A motion for substitution may be made by any party or
by the decedent’s successor or representative. If the motion is not
made within 90 days after service of a statement noting the death, the
action by or against the decedent must be dismissed. . . .
(3) Service. A motion to substitute, together with a notice of hearing,
must be served on the parties as provided in Rule 5 and on nonparties
as provided in Rule 4. A statement noting death must be served in the

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United States District Court
Northern District of California

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same manner. Service may be made in any judicial district.
The Ninth Circuit in Barlow v. Ground held that Rule 25(a) requires two steps. 39 F.3d
231, 233 (9th Cir. 1994). First, a suggestion of death of the party must be “filed upon the record.”
Id.; Johnson v. Bay Area Rapid Transit Dist., No. 09-0901-EMC, 2014 WL 1395749, at *2 (N.D.
Cal. Apr. 10, 2014). Second, “the suggesting party must serve other parties and nonparty
successors or representatives of the deceased with a suggestion of death in the same manner as
required for service of the motion to substitute.” Barlow, 39 F.3d at 233.
The Court notes that Plaintiff has filed a suggestion of death and pursuant to a prior court
order, has also filed proofs of service on nonparty successors of Mr. Larson, Charles Larson, Jr.
and Alex Larson. ECF 22, 25, 27, 28. Given that this motion is unopposed and that Plaintiff has
complied with Fed. R. Civ. Proc. 25(a), the Court GRANTS the motion to substitute Charles A.
Larson, Jr. as Plaintiff in this action.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: December 21, 2016
______________________________________
BETH LABSON FREEMAN
United States District Judge

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