Martinez v. Davey et al

Filing 51

ORDER Denying 50 Motion for Reconsideration, signed by Chief Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill on 11/20/17. (Gonzalez, R)

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RICARDO MARTINEZ, 12 13 14 Plaintiff, Case No. 1:16-cv-00084-LJO-BAM (PC) ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION v. (ECF No. 50) D. DAVEY, et al., 15 Defendants. 16 17 I. 18 Plaintiff Ricardo Martinez (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma 19 20 Background pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On July 11, 2017, the Court dismissed the first amended complaint with leave to amend 21 within thirty days after service. (ECF No. 42). Plaintiff was expressly warned that if he failed to 22 file a second amended complaint in compliance with the Court’s order, this action would be 23 dismissed for failure to state a claim and failure to obey a court order. (Id. at 10.) On August 25, 24 2017, Plaintiff was granted a thirty-day extension of time to amend his complaint. (ECF No. 46.) 25 Plaintiff did not file a second amended complaint. 26 Accordingly, on October 4, 2017, the Magistrate Judge issued Findings and 27 Recommendations that this action be dismissed, with prejudice, based on Plaintiff’s failure to 28 state a claim, failure to obey a court order, and failure to prosecute. The Findings and 1 1 Recommendations were served on Plaintiff and contained notice that any objections were to be 2 filed within fourteen (14) days after service. (ECF No. 47.) No objections were filed. 3 Thereafter, on October 30, 2017, the undersigned adopted the Findings and Recommendations in 4 full and dismissed this action, with prejudice, based on Plaintiff’s failure to state a claim, failure 5 to obey a court order, and failure to prosecute. (ECF No. 48.) Judgment was entered the same 6 date. (ECF No. 49.) 7 On November 13, 2017, Plaintiff filed the instant motion for reconsideration, which the 8 Court construes as a motion for reconsideration of the order dismissing this action and entry of 9 judgment. (ECF No. 50.) 10 II. 11 A motion for reconsideration, such as that filed by Plaintiff, is treated as a motion to alter 12 or amend judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59(e) if it is filed within 28 days after 13 the entry of judgment. United States v. Nutri-cology, Inc., 982 F.2d 394, 397 (9th Cir.1992); Fed. 14 R. Civ. P. 59(e). Plaintiff filed his motion 14 days after entry of judgment. 15 Motion for Reconsideration Relief pursuant to Rule 59(e) is appropriate when there are highly unusual circumstances, 16 the district court is presented with newly discovered evidence, the district court committed clear 17 error, or a change in controlling law intervenes. Sch. Dist. No. 1J, Multnomah Cty., Or. v. 18 AcandS, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1263 (9th Cir.1993). To avoid being frivolous, such a motion must 19 provide a valid ground for reconsideration. See MGIC Indem. Corp. v. Weisman, 803 F.2d 500, 20 505 (9th Cir.1986). 21 Plaintiff states that he originally mailed his objections to the Magistrate Judge’s Findings 22 and Recommendations on October 11, 2017, but they were returned to him on November 6, 2017. 23 Plaintiff mailed the documents again on November 7, 2017. Plaintiff’s filing includes a motion 24 for appointment of counsel and a proposed second amended complaint. Plaintiff’s October 11, 25 2017 objections states that it includes a motion letter requesting an additional thirty day extension 26 of time, but no such motion is included. 27 28 Here, Plaintiff appears to claim that reconsideration is warranted because he originally mailed his objections, second amended complaint, and motion for appointment of counsel on 2 1 October 11, before the October 23, 2017 deadline for filing objections to the Findings and 2 Recommendations. Plaintiff does not otherwise state why reconsideration is warranted, but 3 requests that the Court accept his second amended complaint. (ECF No. 50.) 4 The Court has considered Plaintiff’s moving papers, but does not find that they support 5 relief under Rule 59(e) due to highly unusual circumstances. Although Plaintiff asserts that he 6 timely mailed his objections to the Findings and Recommendations, this assertion does not 7 explain Plaintiff’s failure to file a second amended complaint, which was due on or before 8 September 27, 2017. Plaintiff sought and was granted a thirty-day extension of time to file his 9 second amended complaint, but Plaintiff did not otherwise attempt to communicate with the 10 Court regarding his complaint until he received the Findings and Recommendations 11 recommending dismissal of this action. Plaintiff provides no explanation for his failure to do so. 12 Although Plaintiff states that he mailed a motion letter requesting an additional 30 days to address 13 court deadlines, no motion was ever received by the Court, and Plaintiff fails to provide good 14 cause for such an extension of time. Furthermore, it is clear from Plaintiff’s motion that he is seeking an opportunity to file his 15 16 untimely second amended complaint. Upon review of the proposed second amended complaint, 17 the Court finds no grounds to reconsider its final order and judgment dismissing this action for 18 failure to state a claim, failure to obey a court order, and failure to prosecute. Plaintiff’s second 19 amended complaint fails to cure the deficiencies identified by the Court’s July 11, 2017 screening 20 order. Plaintiff again provides conclusory allegations that fail to describe specific actions or 21 inactions by the defendants, fails to link Defendants Davey, Lewis, or the Court-Appointed 22 Receiver to any constitutional violation, and attempts to bring unrelated claims against unrelated 23 defendants. In addition, Plaintiff again seeks to hold Defendants Davey and Lewis liable for the 24 actions or omissions of their subordinates, based only upon their supervisory positions. 25 The allegations in Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, even if considered and construed 26 in the light most favorable to Plaintiff, do not support reconsideration of the Court’s dismissal of 27 this action. 28 /// 3 1 III. 2 Plaintiff includes a motion for appointment of counsel with his motion for reconsideration. Motion for Appointment of Counsel 3 Plaintiff states that he is unable to afford counsel, he cannot read or write English very well, and 4 the issues in this case are particularly complex. Plaintiff attaches a copy of his accommodation 5 history. 6 As Plaintiff has been informed, he does not have a constitutional right to appointed 7 counsel in this action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), rev’d in part on 8 other grounds, 154 F.3d 952, 954 n.1 (9th Cir. 1998), and the court cannot require an attorney to 9 represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist. 10 of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However, in certain exceptional circumstances the court may 11 request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 12 1525. 13 Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek 14 volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 15 “exceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success on 16 the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the 17 complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 18 The Court has considered Plaintiff’s motion, but again does not find the required 19 exceptional circumstances. Even if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and 20 that he has made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not 21 exceptional. This Court is faced with similar cases filed by prisoners proceeding pro se and in 22 forma pauperis almost daily. These prisoners also must conduct legal research and prosecute 23 claims without the assistance of counsel. 24 Plaintiff’s assertions regarding his need for language accommodations have been taken 25 into consideration. Although Plaintiff believes that he has been unable to articulate the merits of 26 his case, a review of the record indicates that Plaintiff has submitted documents to the Court for 27 consideration without the assistance of counsel. (See, e.g., ECF Nos. 19, 22, 45.) These 28 submissions demonstrate that Plaintiff is able to prepare and file documents that clearly set forth 4 1 2 his contentions without any assistance. Furthermore, the Court cannot make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on 3 the merits. This action was closed for Plaintiff’s failure to state a claim, failure to obey a court 4 order, and failure to prosecute. As discussed, the Court has reviewed the proposed second 5 amended complaint, and finds that Plaintiff has failed to cure the deficiencies identified in the 6 first amended complaint. 7 IV. 8 For the reasons stated, Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration, filed on November 13, 2017, 9 Conclusion and Order (ECF No. 50), is HEREBY DENIED. 10 11 12 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill _____ November 20, 2017 UNITED STATES CHIEF DISTRICT JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 5

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