Palmer v. Dollar Tree

Filing 6

WRITTEN Opinion Signed by the Honorable Robert M. Dow, Jr on 11/18/2010: For the reasons stated below, Plaintiffs application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis 4 is granted and the Court requests that the U.S. Marshals office effect service of Plaintiffs complaint 1 . Plaintiffs motion for appointment of counsel 5 is denied without prejudice. Mailed notice (For further details see Opinion) (nf, )

Order Form (01/2005)

United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Name of Assigned Judge or Magistrate Judge

Robert M. Dow, Jr 10 C 7340

Sitting Judge if Other than Assigned Judge

CASE NUMBER CASE TITLE
DOCKET ENTRY TEXT

DATE Palmer vs. Dollar Tree

11/18/2010

For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff's application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] is granted and the Court requests that the U.S. Marshal's office effect service of Plaintiff's complaint [1]. Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice.

O[ For further details see text below.]

Docketing to mail notices.Notices mailed by Judicial staff.

STATEMENT Along with a complaint, [1], Plaintiff LaTanya Palmer has filed an application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] and a motion for appointment of counsel [5]. In her application and financial affidavit, Plaintiff avers that she is currently employed and earns a monthly salary of $900 to $1,200, lacks substantial assets, and has received in the past year a modest amount of additional financial support from social security and food stamps. Based on those representations, the Court grants Plaintiff's application for leave to proceed in forma pauperis [4] and requests that the U.S. Marshals Service effect service of Plaintiff's complaint [1] on Defendant. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i)(2). Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [5] is denied without prejudice. Indigent parties in civil rights actions who are unable to obtain an attorney may apply to the court for appointment of counsel under 28 U.S.C.§ 1915(e)(1). However, civil litigants have no constitutional or statutory right to counsel in federal court. See Lewis v. Sullivan, 279 F.3d 526, 529 (7th Cir. 2002); Merritt v. Faulkner, 697 F. 2d 761, 763 (7th Cir. 1983). Nevertheless, a district court may, in its discretion, "request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel." Gil v. Reed, 381 F.3d 649, 656 (7th Cir. 2004) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1)); Luttrell v. Nickel, 129 F.3d 933, 936 (7th Cir. 1997). In deciding whether to appoint counsel, the court must "first determine if the indigent has made reasonable efforts to retain counsel and was unsuccessful or that the indigent was effectively precluded from making such efforts." Gil, 381 F.3d at 656 (quoting Jackson v. County of McLean, 953 F.2d 1070, 1072 (7th Cir. 1992)). If so, the Court must consider: (1) whether, given the degree of difficulty of the case, the plaintiff appears competent to try it himself or herself; and (2) whether the assistance of counsel would provide a substantial benefit to the court or the parties, potentially affecting the outcome of the case. Gil, 381 F.3d at 656 (relying on Farmer v. Haas, 990 F.2d 319, 322 (7th Cir. 1993)). The Court should consider the capabilities of Plaintiff to litigate his or her own case in deciding whether or not to appoint counsel. Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007)
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STATEMENT (en banc). It also should be noted that the Court grants pro se litigants wide latitude in the handling of their lawsuits. After considering the pertinent factors, the Court concludes that appointment of counsel is not warranted at this time. It appears that Plaintiff has inquired about legal representation through at least two organizations, so she has made some reasonable efforts to obtain counsel on her own. However, the Court cannot yet determine at this early stage of the case whether Plaintiff would be capable of litigating this case or whether assistance of counsel would provide a substantial benefit to the Court or the parties. Therefore, Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [4] is denied without prejudice. Plaintiff may renew the motion ­ and, indeed, the Court may reconsider the issue of appointment of counsel on its own motion ­ after Defendant files a responsive pleading or at any later stage of the case if it appears that the standards set forth in Pruitt and Gil are satisfied.

10C7340 Palmer vs. Dollar Tree

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