MAXINE M. CHESNEY, District Judge.
Before the Court is Diedre Kellog Ketroser's ("Ms. Kellogg Ketroser") "Motion to Substitute," filed February 7, 2020. Defendants have filed opposition, to which Ms. Kellogg Ketroser has replied. Having read and considered the papers filed in support of and in opposition to the motion, the Court deems the matters appropriate for determination on the written submissions, VACATES the hearing scheduled for March 20, 2020, and rules as follows:
On August 21, 2019, plaintiff David B. Ketroser ("Dr. Ketroser") filed a complaint consisting of five causes of action. On November 7, 2019, Dr. Ketroser passed away, and on November 25, 2019, a statement noting his death was filed. Thereafter, on February 7, 2020, Ms. Kellogg Ketroser, Dr. Ketroser's widow and the personal representative of his estate, filed the instant motion, whereby she seeks an order substituting herself as plaintiff in the Second Cause of Action, which asserts a claim for damages under the California Disabled Persons Act, and the Fourth Cause of Action, which asserts a claim for damages under the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Under Rule 25 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, "[i]f a party dies and the claim is not extinguished, the court may order substitution of the proper party." Fed. R. Civ. P. 25(a)(1). Here, Dr. Ketroser's Second and Fourth Causes of Action were not extinguished by his death,
As to the remaining causes of action, it is undisputed that those claims were extinguished upon Dr. Ketroser's death.
Lastly, defendants, noting the First Cause of Action, Dr. Ketroser's sole federal claim, has been extinguished, argue the Court should decline to exercise supplemental jurisdiction over the state law claims and, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c), dismiss the entirety of the instant action in favor of its proceeding in state court. In response, Ms. Kellogg Ketroser states that if she is allowed to substitute as plaintiff, she will move to file an amended complaint asserting her own federal claim based on essentially the same circumstances as those giving rise to Dr. Ketroser's claims. In light of Ms. Kellogg Ketroser's anticipated motion, the Court will defer deciding whether it should retain jurisdiction over the currently pending state law claims. Causes of Action, which seek only injunctive relief.
For the reasons stated above:
1. Ms. Kellogg Ketroser's motion to substitute as plaintiff is hereby GRANTED. No later than March 23, 2020, Ms. Kellogg Ketroser shall file an amended complaint reflecting said substitution and making no other changes.
2. The First, Third, and Fifth Causes of Action are hereby DISMISSED as moot.
3. If Ms. Kellogg Ketroser elects to bring her own claims, she shall, after filing the above-referenced amended complaint and no later than April 2, 2020, move to file an amended complaint in which she asserts those additional causes of action.