Shehadeh v. Cox et al

Filing 100

ORDER APPOINTING COUNSEL. Attorney George O. Suggs appointed to represent Jamal Shehadeh. Granting 99 MOTION to Withdraw as Attorney. Attorney Adam Brooke Rucker terminated. Signed by Magistrate Judge Donald G. Wilkerson on 6/25/2012. (hbs)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
JAMAL SHEHADEH ,

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Plaintiff,
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v.
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WARDEN JOHN COX, LT. GLENN
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HOWARD, LT. BRETT CAMPBELL,
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NORMAN SUITS, AND CHARLES BATES, )
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Defendants.
)

Case No. 3:10-cv-985-DGW

ORDER APPOINTING COUNSEL
WILKERSON, Magistrate Judge:
This matter comes before the Court on Attorney Adam B. Rucker’s Motion to Withdraw as
Attorney from Appointment Due to Conflict of Interest (Doc. 99). This motion is GRANTED.
The Court now APPOINTS Attorney George O. Suggs of the firm Schuchat, Cook &
Werner to represent Plaintiff for all further proceedings in this Court. 1 Attorney Suggs is
encouraged to share his responsibilities with an associate who is also admitted to practice in this
district court. Attorney Suggs shall enter his appearance on or before July 9, 2012.
Plaintiff is cautioned to consult with his counsel in this matter and to understand that it is
Attorney Suggs who is the legal professional in this relationship. Without commenting on the
validity of the matter in litigation, counsel is reminded and plaintiff is advised that counsel, even
though appointed by the Court, has an obligation under the rules to refrain from filing frivolous
pleadings. As a consequence, counsel may likely, from time to time, advise Plaintiff against taking
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The Local Rules of the Southern District of Illinois direct that every member of the bar of this
Court “shall be available for appointment by the Court to represent or assist in the representation of
those who cannot afford to hire an attorney.” SDIL-LR 83.1(i).

a certain course of action. While Plaintiff may not totally agree with counsel’s advice, he should
realize that, in the long run, such advice will be in his best interest because it is in compliance with
the law. Also, counsel may advise Plaintiff to pursue additional claims or to abandon certain
existing claims.
Counsel, of course, maintains an ethical obligation to fully and vigorously represent his
client, but only to the extent that it does not impede his ethical obligation to follow the rules of the
Court and the law. If Plaintiff wants to be represented by counsel, he will have to cooperate fully
with counsel. The Court will not accept any filings from Plaintiff individually while he is
represented by counsel, except a pleading that asks that he be allowed to have counsel withdraw
from representation. If counsel is allowed to withdraw at the request of Plaintiff, it is unlikely the
Court will appoint other counsel to represent him.
Because Plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, if there is a monetary recovery in this
case (either by verdict or settlement), any unpaid out-of-pocket costs must be paid from the
proceeds. See SDIL-LR 3.1(c)(1). If there is no recovery in the case (or the costs exceed any
recovery), the Court has the discretion reimburse expenses. The funds available for this purpose
are limited, and counsel should use the utmost care when incurring out-of-pocket costs. In no
event will funds be reimbursed if the expenditure is found to be without a proper basis. The Court
has no authority to pay attorney’s fees in this case. Counsel is encouraged to enter into a
contingent fee contract with Plaintiff to address both the payment of attorney’s fees and
costs should Plaintiff prevail.
Finally, counsel is informed that Plaintiff is currently incarcerated by the Illinois
Department of Corrections at the Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, Illinois. Information

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about the facility is available at www.idoc.state.il.us. Counsel may use the Illinois Department of
Corrections’s videoconferencing system to confer with Plaintiff. The Court asks the Assistant
Attorney General assigned to this case to facilitate those arrangements.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send a copy of this Order and the standard letter
concerning appointment of counsel to Attorney George O. Suggs immediately. Plaintiff is
directed to consult with his attorney regarding the filing of appropriate motions.
DATED: June 25, 2012

DONALD G. WILKERSON
United States Magistrate Judge

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