Annabel v. Frost et al

Filing 286

ORDER Provisionally Appointing Counsel and Staying the Case. 285 Motion to Appoint Counsel terminated. Signed by District Judge Arthur J. Tarnow. (AChu)

Case 2:14-cv-10244-AJT-RSW ECF No. 286, PageID.3164 Filed 09/03/21 Page 1 of 2

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ROBERT ANNABEL,
Case No. 14-10244
Petitioner,
SENIOR U. S. DISTRICT JUDGE
ARTHUR J. TARNOW

v.
FROST ET AL.,

U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE
R. STEVEN WHALEN

Respondents.
/
ORDER PROVISIONALLY APPOINTING COUNSEL AND STAYING THE CASE
On January 17, 2014, Plaintiff, Robert Annabel, filed a pro se Complaint
alleging that Defendants retaliated against him for seeking a unit representative
position at the institution where he was incarcerated, the Gus Harrison Correctional
Facility, and filing a grievance when he was not given the opportunity to sign up for
the position, thereby violating his First Amendment rights. (ECF No. 1). The case has
survived summary judgment (ECF No. 240) and parties have been unable to reach a
settlement agreement. A status conference is currently scheduled for October 26,

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Case 2:14-cv-10244-AJT-RSW ECF No. 286, PageID.3165 Filed 09/03/21 Page 2 of 2

2021. (ECF No. 284).
On August 9, 2021, Mr. Annabel moved to appoint counsel. (ECF No. 285). He
states that he lacks the knowledge and experience necessary to conduct a trial, and has
been paroled so has lost access to the prison law library. Id. The Court agrees to refer
Mr. Annabel’s case to the Court’s Pro Bono Panel in an attempt to have counsel
assigned to Mr. Annabel. See U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). The case will be stayed for a
period of 90 days while the Court attempts to obtain pro bono counsel. If pro bono
counsel cannot be obtained within 90 days, the stay will be lifted, and the Plaintiff
will proceed pro se.
Accordingly,
IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff is provisionally appointed counsel.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the case is stayed for 90 days or until pro
bono counsel is appointed, whichever comes first.

SO ORDERED.

Dated:

September 3, 2021

/s/Arthur J. Tarnow____________
Arthur J. Tarnow
Senior United States District Judge

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