Terry Williams-IIunga v. Andrea Gonzalez et al

Filing 23

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFFS REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF PRO BONO COUNSEL 16 by Judge Dean D. Pregerson. (lc). Modified on 11/15/2012 (lc).

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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TERRY WILLIAMS-ILUNGA,

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Plaintiff,
v.
ANDREA GONZALEZ; ANA TROVBWISNEV; PRODUCER-WRITERS
GUILD OF AMERICA PENSION
PLAN; TRUSTEES OF THE
PRODUCER-WRITERS GUILD OF
AMERICA; WRITERS GUILD OF
AMERICA WEST; WRITERS GUILD
OF AMERICA EAST,

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Defendants.
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___________________________

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Case No. CV 12-08592 DDP (AJWx)
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST
FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
[Dkt. No. 16]

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Plaintiff has filed a Request for Appointment of Pro Bono

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Counsel (“Request”).

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counsel in actions brought in forma pauperis.

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1915(e)(1).

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the court is discretionary rather than mandatory.

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States v. $292,888.04 in U.S. Currency, 54 F.3d 564, 569 (9th Cir.

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1995).

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circumstances.

Federal law allows district courts to appoint
See 28 U.S.C. §

Under section 1915(e)(1), appointment of counsel by
See United

The district court may appoint counsel only in exceptional
See Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th

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Cir. 1991).

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evaluation of two factors: (1) the likelihood of success on the

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merits; and (2) the ability of the litigant to articulate his

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claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues

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involved.

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A finding of exceptional circumstances requires

See id.

As an initial matter, the court notes that it does not appear

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that Plaintiff brought this action in forma pauperis.

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the court has evaluated both the likelihood of Plaintiff’s success

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on the merits and Plaintiff’s ability to articulate her claims pro

Nonetheless,

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se in light of the legal issues involved.

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court does not find that the circumstances of this case are

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sufficiently exceptional to justify granting the Request.

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court therefore DENIES Plaintiff’s Request for Appointment of Pro

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Bono Counsel.

Having done so, the

The

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: November 15, 2012
DEAN D. PREGERSON
United States District Judge

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