Hawecker et al v. Sorensen

Filing 144

ORDER APPOINTING COUNSEL signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 5/25/2012. David C. Kiernan Appointed as Counsel. (Sant Agata, S)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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CARRIE HAWECKER, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,

RAWLAND LEON SORENSON,
Defendant.

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/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

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ORDER APPOINTING COUNSEL

vs.

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Case No.: 1:10-cv-0085-AWI-JLT

Plaintiff,
vs.
RAWLAND LEON SORENSON,
Defendant.
/
Defendant Rawland Leon Sorenson is proceeding pro se in this action after the Court

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granted his former attorneys’ motion to withdraw. (Doc. 123) At a hearing held on May 25, 2012,

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Mr. Sorenson appeared and represented himself. At that hearing, Mr. Sorenson explained that he

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had been unable to obtain agreement by any local attorney to represent him given that he was
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being sued by the United States of America. Moreover, Mr. Sorenson explained that he was

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“broke” which the Court took to mean that he had minimal liquid assets. Indeed, in attempting to

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obtain Mr. Sorenson’s comments on the matters before the Court, it became clear that he was

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unable to explain his position in a linear and coherent fashion and the Court has little doubt that

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he would be unable to present even a rudimentary defense of the case at trial.

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Based upon these factors and the burden on the Court posed by a litigant who is unable to

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meaningfully participate in trial preparation and trial, the Court finds that appointment of counsel

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for Defendant is warranted. David C. Kiernan is hereby appointed and he has accepted the

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appointment. Should Mr. Sorenson wish to reject this appointment, he may do so by alerting the

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Court of this fact in writing, within 21 days of service of this order.

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Based upon the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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1.

David C. Kiernan is appointed as counsel in the above entitled matter;

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2.

David C. Kiernan shall contact the Court’s ADR Coordinator, Sujean Park, at

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[phone] or via email at [e-mail], if he has any questions related to the

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appointment;

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3.

The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order upon David C.

Kiernan, Jones Day, 555 California Street, 26th Floor, San Francisco, California 94104;
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Mr. Sorenson may reject this appointment by providing written notification to the

Court of his rejection, within 21 days of service of this order.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: May 25, 2012
9j7khi

/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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