Hall v. Detroit, City of et al

Filing 17

ORDER Denying 16 Request filed by Richard Louis Hall Signed by District Judge John Corbett O'Meara. (WBar)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION

RICHARD LOUIS HALL,
Case No. 15-12971
Plaintiff,
Honorable John Corbett O’Meara
v.
CITY OF DETROIT, et. al.,
Defendants.
/
ORDER DENYING
PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL
This matter came before the court on plaintiff Richard Louis Hall's October 27, 2015 motion
for appointment of counsel. In his pro se complaint, Plaintiff alleges that the City of Detroit and
three unnamed police officers violated his civil rights.
The appointment of counsel in a civil case is a privilege and not a constitutional right, one that
should be allowed only in exceptional cases. Lopez v. Reyes, 692 F.2d 15, 17 (5th Cir. 1982). The
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has advised that district courts, in considering
an application for appointment of counsel in civil cases, “should at least consider plaintiff’s financial
resources, the efforts of plaintiff to obtain counsel, and whether plaintiff’s claim appears to have any
merit.” Henry v. City of Detroit Manpower Dep’t., 763 F.2d 757, 760 (6th Cir. 1985). In reviewing
Plaintiff's motion, the court finds no indication whether he has made any effort to obtain counsel.
Therefore, the court will deny the motion.

ORDER
It is hereby ORDERED that Plaintiff’s October 27, 2015 motion for appointment of counsel
is DENIED.
s/John Corbett O'Meara
United States District Judge

Date: November 4, 2015

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the parties of record
on this date, November 4, 2015, using the ECF system and/or ordinary mail.

s/William Barkholz
Case Manager

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