Baker v. Beam et al

Filing 15

ORDER DENYING Plaintiff's 14 Motion for Appointment of Attorney signed by Magistrate Judge Barbara A. McAuliffe on 6/5/2017. (Sant Agata, S)

1
2
3
4
5
6

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

7

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

8
9

MIKE BAKER,
Plaintiff,

10
11

v.

12

E. BEAM, et al.,

13
14
15

Defendants.

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

Case No.: 1:16-cv-01737-AWI-BAM (PC)
ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR
APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY
(ECF No. 14)

Plaintiff Mike Baker (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in

16

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter was referred to a United States

17

Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.

18

Currently before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel, filed June 1,

19

2017. (ECF No. 14.) Plaintiff states that he was injured in an incident on April 19, 2017, causing nerve

20

damage in numbness in his right arm and hand, which is the hand he uses for writing. His medical

21

provides say his nerves may heal, but the estimated time is not known. Plaintiff also had his

22

prescription eyeglasses confiscated, and he expects a new pair will take 2-3 months to be provided.

23

In support of his motion, Plaintiff attaches a declaration from an inmate stating that the inmate

24

wrote Plaintiff’s motion, but Plaintiff signed the motion himself. Plaintiff also attaches a chrono dated

25

April 27, 2017 discussing that Plaintiff was placed in ASU due to being a victim in an incident on

26

April 19, 2017, and was transported to an outside medical facility for treatment for his injuries.

27
28

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v.
Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), rev’d in part on other grounds, 154 F.3d 952, 954 n.1
1

1

(9th Cir. 1998), and the court cannot require an attorney to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

2

§ 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. U.S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist. of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However,

3

in certain exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel

4

pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. Without a reasonable method of securing and

5

compensating counsel, the court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional

6

cases. In determining whether “exceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the

7

likelihood of success on the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in

8

light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and citations

9

omitted).

10

Here, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances for the appointment of

11

counsel. The legal issues in this case are not complex, and the record reflects that Plaintiff is able to

12

adequately articulate his claims. Furthermore, this case is at the screening stage, the Court having most

13

recently found that Plaintiff’s first amended complaint has stated some cognizable claims. At this early

14

stage in the litigation, the Court cannot find that this action is likely to succeed on the merits.

15

Finally, although Plaintiff’s medical condition may require reasonable accommodations, the

16

Court does not find that Plaintiff’s current medical issues are a sufficient basis for appointing counsel

17

under these circumstances. Plaintiff may request an extension of time to meet deadlines in this matter

18

if necessary by filing a motion before the deadline expires, supported by good cause. Plaintiff may

19

also continue seeking the assistance of other inmates as he has done in filing this motion.

20
21

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request for counsel, filed June 1, 2017 (ECF No. 14), is HEREBY
DENIED, without prejudice.

22
23
24
25

IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

/s/ Barbara

June 5, 2017

A. McAuliffe

_

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

26
27
28
2