Moore v. Guastella et al

Filing 44

ORDER on Plaintiff's Motions and Other Filings: 26 Motion to Appoint Counsel, 37 Motion to Appoint Counsel, 41 Motion to Present Claims in Open Court, 42 Notice of Defendant Not Filing Media File Exhibits, and 43 Letter. Signed by Magistrate Judge Patricia T. Morris. (KCas)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
KENNETH MOORE,

Case No. 2:23-cv-10974
David M. Lawson
United States District Judge

Plaintiff,
v.

Patricia T. Morris
United States Magistrate Judge

J. GUASTELLA and
LUCKETT,
Defendants.

/

ORDER ON PLAINTIFFS’ MOTIONS AND OTHER FILINGS
(ECF Nos. 26, 37, 41, 42, 43)
I.

Background
Kenneth Moore, proceeding pro se, was incarcerated at the time he filed this

42 U.S.C. § 1983 action alleging that defendants were deliberately indifferent in
violation of his rights under the Eighth Amendment. (ECF No. 1). This Order will
resolve the following filings that Moore has made over the last several months: (1)
motion for change of address and appointment of counsel (ECF No. 26); (2) request
for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 37); (3) request to present claims in open

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court (ECF No. 41); and (4) notice of defendants’ failure to file media exhibit and
notice of change of address (ECF Nos. 42, 43).1
II.

Change of Address
Since filing his complaint, Moore has been released from prison and has

diligently provided the Court with his updated address on multiple occasions. As of
his most recent filings, which were entered on July 12, 2024, Moore says that his
address is 910 Bates St. S.E. Grand Rapids, MI 49506. (ECF Nos. 42, 43). The
docket has already been updated to reflect this change of address, and nothing more
needs to be done at this time.
III.

Appointment of Counsel
Moore has requested the appointment of counsel on at least four occasions.

Most recently on March 21, 2024, and April 25, 2024. (ECF Nos. 26, 37). As
explained below, Moore’s requests for the appointment of counsel will be DENIED
WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Although federal district courts have discretion under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1)
to “request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel,” there is no
constitutional right to court-appointed counsel in a civil case. Lanier v. Bryant, 332
F.3d 999, 1006 (6th Cir. 2003); Abdur-Rahman v. Michigan Dep’t of Corr., 65 F.3d

The Court construes ECF No. 37 as a motion for the appointment of counsel and ECF
No. 41 as a motion requesting oral argument.
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489, 492 (6th Cir. 1995). The decision rests in the district court’s discretion and will
be overturned only if it impinges fundamental due process rights and amounts to an
abuse of discretion. Reneer v. Sewell, 975 F.2d 258, 261 (6th Cir. 1992); see also
Richmond v. Settles, 450 F. App’x 448, 452 (6th Cir. 2011).
The appointment of counsel is only justified by exceptional circumstances.
Lavado v. Keohane, 992 F.2d 601, 605–06 (6th Cir. 1993). In determining whether
exceptional circumstances are present, the court must consider the “nature of the
case,” the complexity of the factual and legal issues involved, and the plaintiff’s
ability to represent themselves. Id. at 606; see also Shavers v. Bergh, 516 F. App’x
568, 571 (6th Cir. 2013); Garrison v. Michigan Dep’t of Corr., 333 F. App’x 914,
917–18 (6th Cir. 2009). The complexity of the case and the plaintiff’s ability to
handle it are “separate and distinct considerations.” Kensu v. Rapelje, No. 12-11877,
2014 WL 585328, at *2 (E.D. Mich. Feb. 14, 2014). For example, the plaintiff’s
prior pro se experience is relevant to their ability to manage their current cases. Id.
Courts may decline to appoint counsel where a case has not progressed far
enough to assess its merits. See, e.g., Cleary v. Mukasey, 307 F. App’x 963, 965
(6th Cir. 2009) (upholding denial where the magistrate judge thought “it was too
early to assess the merits of the claim”). Nonetheless, a plaintiff “is not entitled to
the appointment of counsel merely because his case may proceed to trial.” Gresham
v. Granholm, No. 2:09-cv-231, 2012 WL 3126781, at *5 (W.D. Mich. July 31, 2012)
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(citing Lince v. Youngert, 136 F. App’x 779, 782–83 (6th Cir. 2005)); see also
Zibbell v. Marquette Cnty. Res. Mgmt., No. 2:12-cv-302, 2013 WL 625062, at *13
(W.D. Mich. Feb. 20, 2013) (noting that the procedural posture of case is a
consideration).
Moore first moved for appointment of counsel in November 2023, about two
weeks after the Court entered a scheduling order setting deadlines for discovery and
dispositive motion practice. (ECF No. 15, PageID.60–62; ECF No. 16). The Court
denied Moore’s motion, reasoning that the “factual” and “legal” issues were not
“complex,” that Moore demonstrated the ability to “clearly state his claims,” and
that the case was “at an early stage.” (ECF No. 17, PageID.69). Yet the Court
allowed Moore to renew his motion if he could “demonstrate a change in
circumstances that would necessitate the assistance of counsel.” (Id.).
Moore moved for counsel for a second time on March 11, 2024. (ECF No.
20). In that motion, he argued
that such a change in circumstances ha[d] occurred. He explain[ed] that
he “was released on parole” in February, and as a result, he no longer
ha[d] access to a “jail house lawyer”—a fellow inmate—on whom he
had been “total[ly]” reliant up to that point. (ECF No. 20, PageID.84
(internal quotation marks omitted)).
(ECF No. 25, PageID.89). In denying his motion, the Court explained that
just as Moore is not entitled to counsel, he is not entitled to the aid of a
legal writer. Galloway v. Horton, No. 17-11089, 2018 WL 4539024,
at *2 (E.D. Mich. Sept. 21, 2018) (citing Taylor v. McKee, 649 F.3d
446, 452–453 (6th Cir. 2011)). Thus, his inability to solicit the aid of a
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“jailhouse lawyer,” is not by itself an exceptional circumstance that
warrants the appointment of pro bono counsel. Cf. Jones v. Taylor, No.
21-4243, 2023 WL 4681050, at *1 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 8, 2023). Further,
the Court still does not find the legal and factual issues presented to be
complex, and the case remains at an early stage of litigation as no party
has yet filed dispositive motions.
(Id. at 89‒90).
While dispositive motions have now been filed, the Court nonetheless
continues to find that the circumstances of the case do not warrant the appointment
of counsel. Moore has been able to express himself clearly to the Court in each of
his filings. Further, both his and defendants’ motions for summary judgment are
briefed, meaning there is no additional work for an attorney to do while the Court
considers the pending motions. Until the Court rules on the pending motions for
summary judgment, Moore need not worry about how to present his case at trial. If
Moore’s case survives summary judgment, he may file a new motion for the
appointment of counsel; however, the Court will not consider appointing counsel
until that time.
IV.

Motion for Oral Argument
On May 6, 2024, Moore requested the opportunity to present and argue his

case in open court. (ECF No. 41). The Court construes this filing as a motion for
oral argument on the pending motions for summary judgment.
Eastern District of Michigan Local Rule 7.1(f) provides the following:

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(1) The court will not hold a hearing on a motion for rehearing or
reconsideration, a motion for reduction of sentence, or a motion in
a civil case where a person is in custody unless the judge orders a
hearing.
(2) The court will hold a hearing on all other motions unless the judge
orders submission and determination without hearing.
(3) The motion must be filed with the clerk, who will forward it to the
assigned judge. The judge will set or cause to be set a date for
hearing with notice to the parties and other persons entitled to be
heard on the motion. Inquiries regarding time of hearing may be
directed to the judge’s chambers.
Moore filed this case when he was incarcerated, and thus under Local Rule 7.1(f)(1),
neither a hearing nor a notice of determination without hearing was necessary for
any motions filed while Moore was in custody. See Jenkins v. Michigan Dep’t of
Corr., No. 5:14–cv–11812, 2015 WL 1194961, at *2 (E.D. Mich. Mar. 16, 2015)
(relying on Local Rule 7.1(f)(1) to recommend that the plaintiff’s request for a
hearing be denied because he was in custody), report and recommendation adopted,
2015 WL 3522564 (E.D. Mich. June 4, 2015).
While Moore says he is now on parole and thus no longer in custody, the Court
nonetheless believes that the motions for summary judgment “can be decided on the
briefing and [that] a hearing on this matter is unnecessary.” Id.; see also Young v.
Ream, No. 19-10729, 2021 WL 6009704, at *1 n.1 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 1, 2021)
(“Generally speaking, the Court will not hold a hearing on a motion in a civil case
in which a party is in custody. See E.D. Mich. LR 7.1.(f). Here, the Court finds that
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the facts and legal issues are adequately presented in the briefs and on the record and
declines to order a hearing at this time.”), report and recommendation adopted, 2022
WL 2276328 (E.D. Mich. June 23, 2022). Accordingly, Moore’s request for oral
argument is DENIED.
V.

Filing of Media Exhibit
On July 12, 2024, two filings that appear to be identical were entered. (ECF

Nos. 42, 43). In these filings, Moore says that defendants failed to resubmit a media
file (Exhibit F to defendants’ motion for summary judgment) in violation of the
Court’s April 25, 2024 order (ECF No. 36) that defendants do so in accordance with
the Local Rules. However, defendants have properly resubmitted the media file, as
reflected in the Court’s April 26, 2024 text-only order confirming receipt of the
media file. Thus, defendants have complied with the Court’s April 25, 2024 order.
VI.

Conclusion
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Moore’s motions for the appointment of

counsel (ECF Nos. 26, 37) are DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Moore may
file a new motion for the appointment of counsel if any claims survive summary
judgment.
Moore’s motion for oral argument (ECF No. 41) is DENIED.
Further, all other requests made in Moore’s filings (ECF Nos. 26, 37, 41, 42,
43) are now RESOLVED.
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Date: August 28, 2024

s/ patricia t. morris

Patricia T. Morris
United States Magistrate Judge

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