Valencia v. Kokor
Filing
46
ORDER DENYING 45 Motion to Appoint Counsel signed by Magistrate Judge Dennis L. Beck on 4/10/2015. (Jessen, A)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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1:13-cv-01391-LJO-DLB (PC)
DANIEL G. VALENCIA,
Plaintiff,
ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
v.
(Document# 45)
WINFRED KOKOR, M.D.,
Defendant.
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On March 30, 2015, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff
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does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113
F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the Court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff
pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern
District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). However, in certain
exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to
section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525.
Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek
volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether
“exceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success
of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the
complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
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In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Even
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if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations
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which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is faced with
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similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make
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a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the
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record in this case, the Court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims.
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Id.
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Plaintiff also requests counsel because of his medical condition and says that he “can’t
continue.” ECF No. 45, at 1. It appears that Plaintiff has an issue with his right hand. However,
a medical condition, alone, does not warrant counsel.
For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff=s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY
DENIED, without prejudice.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
/s/ Dennis
April 10, 2015
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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L. Beck
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