Kilgore v. Mandeville et al

Filing 55

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Dale A. Drozd on 12/15/09 denying 54 Motion to vacate the scheduling order until the court appoints him counsel. (Plummer, M)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 vs. RICHARD MANDEVILLE, et al., Defendants. / Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has filed a motion to vacate the court's scheduling order until the court appoints him counsel. In his motion, he claims that he may be scheduled for surgery in the near future, and in light of his anticipated surgery and recovery, he will be incapable of further litigating this matter without counsel. Plaintiff has not shown good cause to modify the court's scheduling order. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(f); Johnson v. Mammoth Recreations, Inc., 975 F.2d 604, 607-08 (9th Cir. 1992). At this time, plaintiff has not been scheduled for surgery. In fact, according to plaintiff's exhibit, his future course of treatment, including what type of surgery he may need if any, is pending determination following further diagnostic tests. (Pl.'s Ex. C.) ///// 1 ORDER IVAN KILGORE, Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-2485-GEB-DAD P IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
DAD:9 kilg2485.31(2)

In addition, as the court previously advised plaintiff, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the district court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). The test for exceptional circumstances requires the court to evaluate the plaintiff's likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986); Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Circumstances common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional circumstances that would warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel. At this time, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Finally, the court notes that plaintiff is under no current obligation to submit anything to the court. When such an obligation arises in the future, plaintiff is advised that he may submit requests for extensions of time in the event that he needs additional time to respond to either defense counsel's motions or this court's orders. Plaintiff is cautioned, however, that he is required to diligently proceed with this action. If he is unable to do so, he may request that this action be voluntarily dismissed without prejudice and re-file his action at a later date. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 41(b). Accordingly, for the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's December 4, 2009 motion to vacate the scheduling order until the court appoints him counsel (Doc. No. 54) is denied. DATED: December 15, 2009.

2