Manuel v. Phillips et al

Filing 29

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER re: 24 MOTION to Appoint Counsel filed by Plaintiff Michael T. Manuel. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel [Doc. #24] is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by District Judge John A. Ross on 1/8/15. (CSG)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
SOUTHEASTERN DIVISION
MICHAEL T. MANUEL
Plaintiff,
v.
PAULA PHILLILPS, et al.,
Defendants.

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No. 1:14-CV-104-JAR

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel [Doc.
#24]. The motion will be denied, without prejudice.
There is no constitutional or statutory right to appointed counsel in civil cases. Nelson v.
Redfield Lithograph Printing, 728 F.2d 1003, 1004 (8th Cir. 1984). In determining whether to
appoint counsel, the Court considers several factors, including (1) whether the plaintiff has
presented non-frivolous allegations supporting his or her prayer for relief; (2) whether the
plaintiff will substantially benefit from the appointment of counsel; (3) whether there is a need to
further investigate and present the facts related to the plaintiff’s allegations; and (4) whether the
factual and legal issues presented by the action are complex. See Johnson v. Williams, 788 F.2d
1319, 1322–23 (8th Cir. 1986); Nelson, 728 F.2d at 1005.
After considering these factors, the Court finds that the appointment of counsel is not
warranted at this time. As this Court previously noted on October 15, 2014, in its Order denying
plaintiff’s first motion for appointment of counsel [Doc. #11], this case is neither factually nor
legally complex. Moreover, it is evident that Plaintiff is able to present his claims, because the
Court has ordered Defendants to respond to his claims. Plaintiff’s bald assertions that he

believes he is entitled to redress and that he is unable to afford an attorney do not justify the
appointment of counsel at this time.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel [Doc.
#24] is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.
Dated this 8th day of January, 2015.

_______________________________
JOHN A. ROSS
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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