Starrett v. Allenby et al
Filing
14
ORDER Denying Request for Stay 13 , Request for Appointment of Counsel, and Request for Dismissal, signed by Magistrate Judge Michael J. Seng on 7/13/15. 30-Day Deadline. Clerk to Fax Copy of this Order to Litigation Coordinator at Fresno County Jail. (Verduzco, M)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
8
EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
9
10
MIKE STARRETT ,
11
Plaintiff,
12
13
v.
CLIFFORD ALLENBY, et al.,
14
Defendants.
15
CASE NO. 1:14-cv-01498-AWI-MJS (PC)
ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR STAY,
REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT OF
COUNSEL,
AND
REQUEST
FOR
DISMISSAL
(ECF No. 13)
CLERK TO FAX COPY OF THIS ORDER
TO LITIGATION COORDINATOR AT
FRESNO COUNTY JAIL
16
17
THIRTY (30) DAY DEADLINE
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
I.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Plaintiff is a civil detainee proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil
rights action brought pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On April 13, 2015, the Court
screened Plaintiff’s complaint and ordered Plaintiff to file an amended complaint or notify
the Court of his willingness to proceed only on his cognizable claim. (ECF No. 8.)
Plaintiff sought and received an extension of time to respond. (ECF Nos. 11, 12.)
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s June 24, 2015 motion to stay proceedings pending
his release from Fresno County Jail. (ECF No. 13.) It appears Plaintiff presently is
detained at the jail on criminal charges. He states that he does not have access to legal
resources because only individuals representing themselves in criminal actions have
1
1
access to the jail’s “Legal Research Kiosk.” He asks that the Court order one of the
2
following forms of relief: (1) that the action be stayed until his release from jail or for a
3
period of one year, (2) that he be appointed counsel, (3) that the action be dismissed
4
without prejudice, or (4) that the Court order other appropriate relief.
5
II.
ACCESS TO LEGAL RESOURCES
6
Plaintiff’s right of access to the Courts includes access to a law library and a
7
reasonable amount of time to use the law library. Lindquist v. Idaho State Bd. of
8
Corrections, 776 F.2d 851, 858 (9th Cir.1985). The Court suspects that the “Legal
9
Research Kiosk” referred to in Plaintiff’s motion is but one means for jail detainees to
10
access legal resources. Plaintiff likely has other constitutionally adequate means of
11
accessing legal resources at the jail. The Court will direct the Clerk’s Office to fax a copy
12
of this order to the Litigation Coordinator at the jail, and hereby requests the
13
Coordinator’s assistance in resolving Plaintiff’s concerns.
14
III.
REQUEST FOR STAY
15
Plaintiff seeks a stay of up to one year.
16
“The proponent of the stay bears the burden of establishing its need.” Clinton v.
17
Jones, 520 U.S. 681, 706 (1997). Here, Plaintiff has not established his need for a stay.
18
As stated, although Plaintiff may not have access to a “Legal Research Kiosk,” he likely
19
has constitutionally adequate access to legal resources at the jail. Absent a further
20
showing that Plaintiff has attempted to research his claims but was unable to, the Court
21
is unlikely to entertain a request to stay.
22
IV.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
23
Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action,
24
Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an
25
attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1), Mallard v. United
26
States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In
27
certain exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of
28
2
1
counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. However, without a
2
reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek volunteer
3
counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether
4
Aexceptional circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of
5
success of the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in
6
light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.@ Id. (internal quotation marks and
7
citations omitted).
8
In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional
9
circumstances. Even if it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he
10
has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not
11
exceptional. This court is faced with similar cases almost daily. Further, at this early
12
stage in the proceedings, the court cannot make a determination that plaintiff is likely to
13
14
succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does
not find that plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id.
For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff=s motion for the appointment of counsel will be
15
16
17
denied without prejudice.
V.
Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(i), a plaintiff may dismiss an
18
19
20
action without a court order by filing a notice of dismissal before the opposing party
serves either an answer or a motion for summary judgment.
Here, the Court finds Plaintiff’s somewhat equivocal request to dismiss insufficient
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL OF ACTION
under Rule 41(a)(1)(A)(i). However, if Plaintiff wishes to dismiss this action without
prejudice, he may do so at this time by filing a notice of voluntary dismissal.
VI.
EXTENSION OF TIME
In light of the foregoing, the Court will grant Plaintiff an additional thirty days to
either (1) amend his complaint, (2) notify the Court of his willingness to proceed only on
his cognizable claim, or (3) file a notice of voluntary dismissal.
28
3
1
2
VII.
CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
3
1. Plaintiff’s request for stay (ECF No. 13) is DENIED without prejudice;
4
2. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 13) is DENIED
5
without prejudice;
6
3. Plaintiff’s request for dismissal (ECF No. 13) is DENIED without prejudice;
7
4. Within thirty days of the date of this order, Plaintiff shall either (1) file an
8
amended pleading, (2) notify the Court of his willingness to proceed only
9
on his cognizable claim, or (3) file a notice of voluntary dismissal;
10
5. If Plaintiff fails to respond to this order within thirty days, the action will be
11
dismissed, with prejudice, for failure to obey a court order and failure to
12
prosecute;
6. The Clerk’s Office is directed to fax a copy of this order to the Litigation
13
14
Coordinator at the Fresno County Jail; and
15
7. The Court requests that the Litigation Coordinator assist Plaintiff in
16
accessing legal resources that may be available to him at the jail.
17
18
19
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:
July 13, 2015
/s/
20
Michael J. Seng
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?