Smith v. Bank of America et al

Filing 17

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER...IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants' Motion for Sanctions and Reconsideration (ECF No. 135 ) is DENIED. Signed by District Judge Ronnie L. White on 1/31/2017. (NEB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION

EDDIE SMITH,

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Plaintiff,
V.

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. ,
Defendant.

Case No.

4:16CV1917 RLW

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel and
Affidavit in Support (ECF No. 15).
There is no constitutional or statutory right to appointed counsel in a civil case. Nelson v.

Redfield Lithograph Printing, 728 F.2d 1003, 1004 (8th Cir. 1984). In determining whether to
appoint counsel, courts consider factors that include whether the plaintiff has presented
non-frivolous allegations supporting his prayer for relief, whether the plaintiff will substantially
benefit from the appointment of counsel, whether there is a need to further investigate and present
the facts related to the plaintiff's allegations, and whether the factual and legal issues presented by
the action are complex. See Battle v. Armantrout, 902 F .2d 701 , 702 (8th Cir. 1990); Johnson v.

Williams, 788 F.2d 1319, 1322-23 (8th Cir. 1986); Nelson, 728 F.2d at 1005.

After considering Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel, in view of the relevant
factors, the Court finds that the facts and legal issues presented in the instant case are not so
complex as to warrant the appointment of counsel at this time. In addition, the pleadings filed by
Eddie Smith, indicate that he is capable of presenting the facts and legal issues without the
assistance of counsel. Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel will therefore be denied.
Accordingly,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel (ECF

No. 15) is DENIED, without prejudice.

Dated this 3 lat day of January, 2017.

~,L~
RONNIE L. WHITE
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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