Crandle v. Sims, et al.

Filing 19

ORDER denying 18 MOTION for Speedy Trial, Medical Records, Pull Audio/Video of Case & MOTION to Appoint Counsel as set out. Signed by Magistrate Judge P. Bradley Murray on 4/7/2017. Copy mailed to Plaintiff. (srd)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION

JAMES DELESTER CRANDLE,
# 0635209,

:
:

Plaintiff,
:
vs.

CA 16-0550-CG-MU
:

C.O. SIMS, et al.,
:
Defendants.
ORDER
This cause is before the undersigned on plaintiff’s motion seeking appointment of
counsel, as well as a speedy trial, his medical records and any “video[/]audio of this
case[.]” (Doc. 18.)
Turning first to Crandle’s request for counsel, the undersigned recognizes that
“‘[a] plaintiff in a civil case has no constitutional right to counsel.’” McDaniels v. Lee, 405
Fed.Appx. 456, 457 (11th Cir. Dec. 20, 2010), quoting Bass v. Perrin, 170 F.3d 1312,
1320 (11th Cir. 1999). Instead, “[c]ourt appointed counsel in civil cases is warranted
only in ‘exceptional circumstances,’ and whether such circumstances exist is []
committed to district court discretion.” Steele v. Shah, 87 F.3d 1266, 1271 (11th Cir.
1996) (citations omitted). “Exceptional circumstances justifying court appointment of
counsel exist if the facts and legal issues in the plaintiff’s case are so novel or complex
that assistance of a trained practitioner is required.” Sanks v. Williams, 402 Fed.Appx.
409, 411 (11th Cir. Oct. 22, 2010), citing Kilgo v. Ricks, 983 F.2d 189, 193 (11th Cir.
1993). “‘The key is whether the pro se litigant needs help in presenting the essential

merits of his or her position to the court. Where the facts and issues are simple, he or
she usually will not need such help.’” Smith v. Belle, 321 Fed.Appx. 838, 846 (11th Cir.
Mar. 20, 2009), quoting Kilgo, supra, 983 F.2d at 193. Here, Crandle has not
established that his case (factually and/or legally) is too complex for him to prosecute,
Sanks, supra, nor has he established that he is not competent enough to present the
essential merits of his position to this Court, cf. Smith, supra (“Smith points out that the
district court declined to appoint him counsel, arguing that his head injury, caused by
Persac’s assault, impaired him from presenting his case. Smith is correct that any
mental impairment would likely be a relevant consideration in determining whether
counsel should have been appointed. However, the district court correctly found that
Smith did not sufficiently demonstrate such an impairment, as his alleged head injury
occurred back in 2001, which was seven years earlier. In this respect, an examination of
Smith’s filings throughout the litigation reveals that, while he was not schooled in the
law, he was able to present adequately the ‘essential merits’ of his position to the district
court.” (internal citations omitted; emphasis in original)); in fact, the record in this case
establishes the contrary (see, e.g., Docs. 1 & 16).1 Therefore, plaintiff’s motion for
appointment of counsel (Doc. 18) is DENIED. See, e.g., Shaw v. Cowart, 300 Fed.Appx.
640, 643 (11th Cir. Nov. 13, 2008) (“Here, the facts and legal claims are not
complicated, and a review of Shaw’s pleadings and motions demonstrates that he had
an adequate understanding of the issues in this case. Therefore, we conclude that this
case ‘is not so unusual that the district court abused its discretion by refusing to appoint
1

In other words, at all times relevant hereto Crandle has managed to
present his straightforward excessive use of force claim to this Court in a coherent
fashion.

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counsel.’ For the same reasons, we also conclude that Shaw is not entitled to counsel
on appeal.” (internal citation omitted)), cert. denied, 556 U.S. 1189, 129 S.Ct. 1998, 173
L.Ed.2d 1097 (2009).
As for plaintiff’s request for a speedy trial (Doc. 18), the undersigned simply
notes that the right to a speedy trial is guaranteed only to those charged with a criminal
offense, not to those who bring a civil action. U.S. Const. amend. VI (“In all criminal
prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial[.]”
(emphasis supplied)).
To the extent plaintiff seeks the production of the entire cache of his medical
records (Doc. 18), the movant has failed to establish that the defendants did not attach
all relevant medical information to their special report (see Doc. 13, Attachments to
Exhibit 1, Affidavit of Tunglia Hawkins). And, finally, as for “audio[/] video of this case,”
Crandle has not established either that such audio/video of the incident on September
6, 2016 actually exists or the propriety of his receipt of this information. Cf. Howard v.
Memnon, 2013 WL 1175256, *6 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 12, 2013) (noting that videotapes of the
events in question were ordered to be filed with the court under seal), report &
recommendation adopted, 2013 WL 1175253 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 21, 2013), aff’d, 572
Fed.Appx. 692 (11th Cir. Jul. 15, 2014). Accordingly, plaintiff’s April 3, 2017 Motion
(Doc. 18) is DENIED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
DONE and ORDERED this the 7th day of April, 2017.
s/P. BRADLEY MURRAY
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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