Teague v. Tieman et al

Filing 22

OPINION AND ORDER DENYING 12 APPLICATION for Appointment of Counsel by Plaintiff Dexter Ramone Teague. Clerk DIRECTED to forward to Plaintiff ten (10) copies of the Screening Order (DE 14 ). This case is STAYED and STATISTICALLY CLOSED. Plaintiff ORDERED to promptly notify the Court when he is ready to proceed with this case. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael G Gotsch, Sr on 9/19/17. (Copy mailed to pro se party with Screening Order).(cer)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA
SOUTH BEND DIVISION
DEXTER RAMONE TEAGUE,
Plaintiff,
v.
JAMES TIEMAN, CHRIS HALL, and
LYNN H.,
Defendants.

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CAUSE NO. 3:17-CV-255

OPINION AND ORDER
Dexter Ramone Teague, a prisoner without a lawyer, filed a motion asking to be
appointed an attorney. “[T]here is no constitutional or statutory right to court-appointed
counsel in federal civil litigation . . ..” Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 649 (7th Cir. 2007) (en
banc). However, in some circumstances, the court may ask an attorney to volunteer to
represent indigent parties. “When confronted with a request under § 1915(e)(1) for pro
bono counsel, the district court is to make the following inquiries: (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 v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654 (7th Cir. 2007) (en banc). Here,
Teague states that he has only written to a couple of lawyers. This is inadequate. The clerk
will send Teague ten copies of the screening order so that he can send them to ten
attorneys along with a letter requesting that they represent him.

In addition, Teague sent the clerk a letter saying that he expects to be moved soon,
but he does not know where he is going so he wants his mail sent to his fiancé. The clerk
has updated his address accordingly. He also states that he may not be able to litigate this
case until he is released. Therefore this case will be stayed until he notifies the court that
he is ready to proceed.
For these reasons, the motion (ECF 12) is DENIED. The clerk is DIRECTED to
send Dexter Ramone Teague ten (10) copies of the screening order (DE 14). This case is
STAYED and STATISTICALLY CLOSED. Dexter Ramone Teague is ORDERED to
promptly notify the court when he is ready to proceed with this case.
SO ORDERED.
ENTERED: 09/19/2017 .
/s/ Michael G. Gotsch, Sr.
Judge
United States District Court

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