Order: Julio Mondragon, Maria Del Carmen De La Cruz v. Rongos Inc

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                                CIRCUIT AND SUPERIOR COURTS
                                    38TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
                                   ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA

JULIO MONDRAGON and                           )      CAUSE N0. 02D03-2301-CT-59
MARIA DEL CARMEN DE LA CRUZ                   )
GONZALEZ, As Co-Personal                      )
Representatives of THE ESTATE OF              )
REBECA GARCIA SALAZAR,                        )
       Plaintiffs,                            )
                                              )
       vs.                                    )                 ,
                                              )
RONGOS, INC.,                                 )
       Defendant.                             )
                                              )

                                          DISCLOSURE
       Jennifer L. DeGroote, Judge of Allen Superior Coun 3, is now the presiding judge in this

case. It has come to the Court's attention that this disclosure needs to be made on the record in

this case regarding how Judge DeGroote may not be seen as impartial and the parties need to be

advised of this issue. Judge DeGroote needs to advise the parties of the following:

       l)    Counsel for Rongos, Inc. are attomeys with the law film Hunt Suedhoff Kearney,

             LLP (hereinafter "I-ISK").

       2) Timothy W. DeGroote is, at present, the managing partner of HSK.

       3) Timothy W. DeGroote is the spouse of Judge Jennifer L. DeGroote.

       4) Timothy W. DeGroote is not presently acting, nor has he ever acted, as a lawyer in

             this proceeding.

       5) Rongos, Inc. is not a specific client of Timothy W. DeGroote.

       6) The Court does not find Timothy W. DeGroote's interest as a partner in HSK to be

             substantially affected by this proceeding.
       Judge DeGroote believes she can put aside the existence of a professional relationship

between her spouse and attorneys of record in this case from     HSK and still be fair and impartial.

Judge DeGroote also understands that any of the parties may not see it that way and she will

disqualify herself; unless she is asked to remain in the case. The Court understands that a

disqualification will create delay and frustration that the parties may wish to avoid.

       Judge DeGroote is required to provide the patties the opportunity to discuss this with

their counsel to determine if. parties wish to waive this issue and move forward. With this

Disclosure, the Court will provide a waiver form the patties will need to complete and file with

the court within thirty (30) days of filing   of this Disclosure. If any party does not agree to the

waiver, parties may submit a stipulation for appointment of Special judge within thirty (30) days.

If, after thirty (30) days, not all waivers have been filed and no stipulation for appointment of a

special judge has been filed, selection of a special judge will be through appointment by the

Clerk in accordance with LROZ—TR79—23.




DATED: March 6 2023                                                                   #00 'k
                                                         Ennifer I/Dléflroote Judge
                                                        Allen S      or Court 3