Jacob v. United States of America
- 3:25-cv-07161
- U.S. District Court · Northern District of California
- 3
In Karen Jacob v. United States, the court granted fee waivers, appointed Karen Jacob as guardian, and denied anonymous filing without prejudice.
Karen Jacob and her minor children, M.J. and E.J., received permission to proceed without paying filing fees. Jacob was appointed guardian ad litem for M.J. and E.J. Her request to proceed anonymously was denied without prejudice, and the United States was ordered to be served.
What happened
In Karen Jacob, et al. v. United States of America, Karen Jacob and her two minor children, M.J. and E.J., applied to proceed without paying filing fees. The court found sufficient cause and granted all three applications. It also directed that the summons and complaint be served on the United States.
The court granted Karen Jacob’s petitions to act as guardian for M.J. and E.J., finding her declaration sufficient and no conflict of interest apparent. Jacob also asked to proceed anonymously, citing stress, anxiety, and persecution in her family’s home country.
The court denied the request to proceed anonymously without prejudice because Jacob’s statement was too general, allowing her to renew the request with more facts. The court, acting through the assigned magistrate judge, also continued the initial case-management conference.
The detailed version
- Jacob v. United States of America · No. 3:25-cv-07161
- Nov. 10, 2025
Background
The plaintiffs are Karen Jacob and her two minor children, M.J. and E.J. The order addresses applications to proceed without paying filing fees, petitions to appoint Jacob as guardian ad litem for the children, and Jacob’s request to proceed anonymously.
Rulings on filing-fee applications and service
The court granted the applications of Jacob, M.J., and E.J. to proceed in forma pauperis, meaning without paying the usual filing fees. The court stated that at least some claims did not appear subject to dismissal under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). It noted that any defect in the complaint would be better addressed after the defendant appeared and briefed the issues. The court therefore directed the clerk to issue the summons and directed the U.S. Marshal or the clerk to serve the United States with the summons and complaint.
Guardian ad litem
A guardian ad litem is a person appointed to represent a minor in litigation. The court granted the petitions at ECF Nos. 7 and 8 and appointed Karen Jacob as guardian ad litem for M.J. and E.J. The court relied on Jacob’s statements that she is the children’s mother, that they are minors and parties to the case, and that she was not aware of any actual or potential conflicts of interest between them.
Request to proceed anonymously
Jacob asked to proceed anonymously, stating that public disclosure could cause her family greater suffering, stress, and anxiety and that they had experienced ongoing persecution in their home country, which compelled them to seek asylum. The court denied the request without prejudice because Jacob provided only a conclusory statement and did not supply enough facts to evaluate whether anonymity was justified.
The court stated that a renewed request should include sufficient facts showing a reasonable risk of retaliatory physical or mental harm or that anonymity is necessary to protect privacy in a sensitive and highly personal matter. If Jacob renews the request under seal, the court directed her to follow Civil Local Rule 79-5.
Other case-management order
The initial case-management conference was continued from November 20, 2025, to December 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.
Disposition
The court granted all plaintiffs’ applications to proceed without paying filing fees; granted the petitions to appoint Karen Jacob as guardian ad litem for M.J. and E.J.; and denied Jacob’s request to proceed anonymously without prejudice.
Read the full 3-page opinion on CourtListener, the free public archive maintained by the Free Law Project.