Addison v. Newton et al

Filing 5

ORDER GRANTING 4 MOTION for Service of Process at Government Expense filed by Herman Addison, Jr.; GRANTING 2 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis filed by Herman Addison, Jr.; and DENYING 3 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Herman Addison, Jr.Signed by Judge David R. Herndon on 1/5/2015. (dsw)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
HERMAN ADDISON, JR.,
Plaintiff,
vs.

No. 3:14-cv-01405-DRH-SCW

TRACY NEWTON
Illinois State Police Sex Offender
Registration Unit and WARDEN
ROECKMAN
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
HERNDON, District Judge:
I. INTRODUCTION
On December 23, 2014, plaintiff filed a complaint against Tracy Newton,
Illinois State Police Sex Offender Registration Unit and Zach Roeckeman, Warden
at The Big Muddy River Correctional Center. The plaintiff asserts that he was
improperly forced to register as a sex offender in the State of Illinois. Plaintiff
contends, inter alia, that the alleged improper registration violates his due
process rights and is defamatory. Plaintiff seeks damages in the amount of
$250,000.00 and removal from the Illinois sex offender registry.
Presently before the Court is the plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma

pauperis (Doc. 2), motion for appointment of counsel (Doc. 3), and motion for
service of process at government expense (Doc. 4).

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II. ANALYSIS
A. Motion for Pauper Status and Motion for Service at Government Expense
By granting a motion for pauper status, a court authorizes a lawsuit to
proceed without prepayment of fees. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2), the Court
must screen any indigent’s complaint (those filed by prisoners and non-prisoners
alike) and dismiss the complaint if (a) the allegation of poverty is untrue, (b) the
action is frivolous or malicious, (c) the action fails to state a claim upon which can
be granted, or (d) the action seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is
immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2).
Plaintiff’s motion survives § 1915(e)(2) review. Plaintiff signed a declaration
contained in his motion to proceed in forma pauperis documenting his poverty.
The action appears to be neither frivolous nor malicious. See Schepers v.

Commissioner of Indiana, 691 F.3d 909 (mistakes on a sex offender registry can
implicate constitutionally protected liberty interests). At this point, the Court
cannot conclude that the complaint fails to state a claim or that the named
defendants are immune from suit.
Accordingly, the Court GRANTS the plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma

pauperis (Doc. 2) and his motion for service of process at government expense
(Doc. 4). The Court DIRECTS the Clerk's Office to send two blank USM–285
forms to plaintiff. Plaintiff must fill out these forms and return them to the Clerk's
Office in order for the case to proceed. Once the Clerk receives the USM–285
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forms, the Clerk will issue summonses for the defendants. Once the summonses
are issued the Court DIRECTS the United States Marshal to obtain service on the
defendants. Costs of service shall be borne by the United States of America.
B. Motion for Appointment of Counsel
As to plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel, the Court finds that the
plaintiff has not demonstrated under Seventh Circuit standards that he is entitled
to appointed counsel at this time. A district court “may request an attorney to
represent any person unable to afford counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). There is
no constitutional or statutory right to counsel for a civil litigant, however. Stroe v.

Immigration and Naturalization Services, 256 F.3d 498, 500 (7th Cir. 2001);
Zarnes v. Rhodes, 64 F.3d 285, 288 (7th Cir. 1995). Appointment of counsel lies
within the sound discretion of the trial court. See Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647,
654 (7th Cir. 2007) (citing Johnson v. Doughty, 433 F.3d 1001, 1006 (7th Cir.
2006)).
In determining whether to appoint counsel, the Court is directed to make a
two-fold inquiry: “(1) has the indigent plaintiff made a reasonable attempt to
obtain counsel or been effectively precluded from doing so; and if so, (2) given the
difficulty of the case, does the plaintiff appear competent to litigate it himself.”

Pruitt, 503 F.3d at 654 (citing Farmer v. Haas, 990 F.2d 319, 321–22 (7th
Cir.1993)). The first prong of the analysis is a threshold question. If a plaintiff has

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made no attempt to obtain counsel on his own, the court should deny the request.

See Pruitt, 503 F.3d at 655.
Based on the pleadings, the Court is unable to determine whether plaintiff
made a reasonable attempt to obtain counsel. Plaintiff does not state which
lawyers he has contacted or how he went about trying to find a lawyer. Plaintiff
failed to respond to Question # 2 on the motion for recruitment of counsel. The
Court notes that there is not a bright line test for compliance with this
requirement. For example, calling a law office without having a meaningful
discussion about the case does not qualify as an attempt to hire counsel on one's
own in this Court's interpretation of the requirement.
Accordingly, the Court DENIES without prejudice the plaintiff’s motion to
appoint counsel (Doc. 3).
III. CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed herein, the Court GRANTS the plaintiff’s motion
to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) and his motion for service of process at
government expense (Doc. 4). The Court DIRECTS the Clerk's Office to send two
blank USM–285 forms as directed herein. The Court DENIES without prejudice
the plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel (Doc. 3).
FURTHER, plaintiff is ADVISED pursuant to Rule 4(m) that this action
may be dismissed without prejudice if service is not effected within 120 days of
the date of this Order.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Signed this 5th day of January, 2015

Digitally signed by
David R. Herndon
Date: 2015.01.05
16:12:00 -06'00'
District Judge
United States District Court

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