Jackson et al v. Mike-Lopez et al

Filing 69

ORDER denying 68 Motion to Appoint Counsel ; granting 68 Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply (Written Opinion) Signed by Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson on 7/24/2018. (TMM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA
Ronnie Jackson; Joshua Jones; Shane
Kringen; Marvin Franco-Morales;
Mitchell Osterloh; and Jesse Plentyhorse,

Civ. No. 17-4278 (JRT/BRT)

Plaintiffs,

ORDER

v.
Sharlene Mike-Lopez; Diane Medchill;
Kathy Ried; Bruce Rieser; David Rieshus;
Tom Roy; and Michelle Smith, sued in
their individual capacities,
Defendants.

On June 25, 2018, the Court issued an Order directing Plaintiffs to respond to
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss by July 16. (Doc. No. 66.) On July 20, pro se Plaintiff
Ronnie Jackson, on behalf of himself and the other pro se Plaintiffs, filed a Motion to
Appoint Counsel and for an Extension of Time. (Doc. No. 68.)
Plaintiffs argue that they are entitled to counsel because of the logistical issues
involved in coordinating joint filings. One of the Plaintiffs, for example, is being housed
in a different facility than the other Plaintiffs, and the other Plaintiffs are in different
portions of the same facility and have difficulty communicating with each other. (Doc.
No. 68.) As the Court explained in a previous Order, however, Plaintiffs have been able
to present their claims with reasonable clarity. (Doc. No. 43, 4/10/18 Order 1.) The Court
has no reason to conclude that Plaintiffs will be unable to overcome their apparent

logistical issues and effectively litigate this case. The Court will therefore deny Plaintiffs’
motion for appointment of counsel, but will grant an extension of time to respond to
Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss.
Based on the foregoing, Plaintiffs’ Motion to Appoint Counsel and for an
Extension of Time (Doc. No. 68) is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART.
Plaintiffs’ response to Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss (Doc. No. 61) is due on or before
August 24, 2018. Defendants may file a reply brief within fourteen days thereafter.
Dated: July 24, 2018

s/ Becky R. Thorson
BECKY R. THORSON
United States Magistrate Judge