Butler v. Christian Island Food Service

Filing 7

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiffs motion for appointment of counsel [ECF No. 4 ] is DENIED without prejudice. Signed by District Judge Carol E. Jackson on 7/22/15. (JAB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
WILLIE L. BUTLER,
Plaintiff,
v.
CHRISTIAN ISLAND FOOD SERVICE,
d/b/a Calecos Bar & Grill,
Defendant,

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No. 4:15CV1118 CEJ

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Plaintiff moves for appointment of counsel.

After considering the motion and the

pleadings, the motion is denied without prejudice to refiling at a later time.
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.
Plaintiff has presented non-frivolous allegations of race discrimination in the workplace.
However, he has demonstrated, at this point, that he can adequately present his claims to the
Court. The factual allegations are not complex; plaintiff claims he was treated differently than
Caucasian employees and that he was terminated because of his race. Similarly, the legal issues
are not complex.
Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel [ECF
No. 4] is DENIED without prejudice.
Dated this 22nd day of July, 2015.

CAROL E. JACKSON
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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