Willie A. Norman v. Nofsinger,et al

Filing 15

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman on 07/13/17 ordering plaintiff's 7/05/17 filing is construed as a request for extension of time to amend 13 . Plaintiff's request 13 is granted. Plaintiff is granted 30 days from the date of this order in which to comply with the 05/17/17 order. Plaintiff's request for appointment of counsel 13 is denied without prejudice. (Plummer, M)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

9

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

10
11

WILLIE A. NORMAN,

12

Plaintiff,

13
14

No. 2:17-cv-0998 JAM KJN P

v.

ORDER

NOFSINGER, et al.,

15

Defendants.

16
Plaintiff is a pretrial detainee, presently housed at the Sacramento County Jail. He is

17
18

proceeding in forma pauperis, and without counsel. On June 28, 2017, the undersigned

19

recommended that this action be dismissed based on plaintiff’s failure to file an amended

20

complaint as required by the May 17, 2017 order. On July 5, 2017, plaintiff wrote the

21

undersigned. Plaintiff states his concerns: a conviction, sentence, jail/prison conditions;

22

jail/prison disciplinary issues; medical care; access to the courts; plaintiff’s property; exercise of

23

religion/freedom of speech; excessive force by officers; threats to safety; retaliation; mail

24

tampering; prison conditions such as the failure to provide basic needs, including showers and

25

food; false documents. (ECF No. 13 at 2.) Plaintiff states that in connection with the pending

26

deadline herein, he seeks relief first: “the proper and correct counsel,” citing Faretta,1 and “a

27
28

1

Plaintiff appears to refer to Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 807 (1975).

1

United States District Judge.” (Id.)

2

Initially, the undersigned notes that plaintiff has filed four separate documents declining to

3

proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. (ECF Nos. 8, 10, 11, 14.) On May 30, 2017,

4

following plaintiff’s first declination form, the court assigned United States District Judge John

5

A. Mendez to this case. As plaintiff himself handwrote on his first form, “a Magistrate Judge

6

may not preside over the trial in this case or make dispositive rulings without all parties’ written

7

consent. 28 U.S.C. § 636(c).” (ECF No. 8 at 1.) However, a Magistrate Judge may perform the

8

duties assigned pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Eastern District Local Rule 302. (ECF No. 8

9

at 1.) Thus, the undersigned will continue to address nondispositive motions in this case under 28

10

U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302, and will issue findings and recommendations on

11

dispositive motions. Should the case go to trial, Judge Mendez will preside over any trial.

12

Therefore, to the extent plaintiff believes he can obtain an order assigning his case solely to Judge

13

Mendez by continuing to file forms declining consent to the jurisdiction of a Magistrate Judge,

14

plaintiff is mistaken. Accordingly, plaintiff should refrain from filing such duplicative forms.2

15

Second, despite the guidance and standards provided in the May 17, 2017 screening order,

16

plaintiff appears to again contemplate filing a pleading that raises wholly unrelated factual

17

allegations against multiple unrelated defendants. Plaintiff is cautioned that it is improper to file

18

a “shotgun” pleading, which alleges “that multiple parties did an act, without identifying which

19

party did what specifically,” and advances “multiple claims, [but] does not identify which specific

20

facts are allocated to which claim.” Hughey v. Camocho, 2014 WL 5473184, at *4 (E.D. Cal.

21

Oct. 23, 2014) (citing Magluta v. Samples, 256 F.3d 1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2001)); see George v.

22

Smith, 507 F.3d 605, 607 (7th Cir. 2007); see also Fed. R. Civ. P. 20(a)(2) (joinder of defendants

23

not permitted unless both commonality and same transaction requirements are satisfied). As

24

plaintiff was informed in the screening order, this court is barred from directly interfering with

25

ongoing criminal proceedings in state court, absent extraordinary circumstances not alleged in the

26

2

27
28

Moreover, plaintiff is cautioned that a litigant proceeding in forma pauperis may suffer
restricted access to the court where it is determined that he has filed excessive motions in a
pending action. DeLong v. Hennessey, 912 F.2d 1144 (9th Cir. 1990); see also Tripati v.
Beaman, 878 F.2d 351, 352 (10th Cir. 1989).
2

1

complaint. (ECF No. 6 at 4, citing Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37, 46 (1971); Mann v. Jett, 781

2

F.2d 1448, 1449 (9th Cir. 1986) (“When a state criminal prosecution has begun the Younger rule

3

directly bars a declaratory judgment action” as well as a section 1983 action for damages “where

4

such an action would have a substantially disruptive effect upon ongoing state criminal

5

proceedings.”).

6

Third, plaintiff appears to seek the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff’s reference to

7

Faretta, as well as his status as a pretrial detainee, suggests that plaintiff is seeking counsel (or

8

new counsel) in his underlying criminal proceedings. However, this court does not have

9

jurisdiction to appoint counsel to represent plaintiff in state criminal proceedings. He must

10
11

pursue such requests in his state criminal proceedings.
To the extent plaintiff seeks appointment of counsel in the instant action, such request is

12

premature. District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in

13

section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In

14

exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily represent such a

15

plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991);

16

Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). When determining whether

17

“exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the

18

merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity

19

of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court

20

did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The burden of demonstrating

21

exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances common to most prisoners, such

22

as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional

23

circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel.

24

Here, the court is unable to evaluate plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits of the

25

instant case because his complaint has been dismissed and he has not yet filed a pleading that

26

states a cognizable civil rights claim. Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds

27

that plaintiff has failed to meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting

28

the appointment of counsel at this time.
3

1

Finally, because it appears that plaintiff’s document was written before the findings and

2

recommendations issued, the undersigned will construe his recent filing as a request for extension

3

of time to amend, vacate the findings and recommendations, and grant plaintiff an extension of

4

time in which to file his amended complaint. Plaintiff is cautioned, however, that he must timely

5

file his amended complaint, and the amended complaint must comply with the May 17, 2017

6

order. Failure to do so will result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

7

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

8

1. Plaintiff’s July 5, 2017 filing is construed as a request for extension of time to amend

9

(ECF No. 13);

10

2. Plaintiff’s request (ECF No. 13) is granted;

11

3. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of this order in which to comply with the

12
13

May 17, 2017 order; and
4. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 13) is denied without

14

prejudice.

15

Dated: July 13, 2017

16
17
/cw/norm0998.36

18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
4