Boyd v. BJC Health System et al

Filing 57

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER...IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel (ECF No. 56 ) is DENIED without prejudice. Signed by District Judge Ronnie L. White on 8/10/2017. (NEB)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI
EASTERN DIVISION
SHARNICE JANAY BOYD,
Plaintiff,
v.
BJC HEALTH SYSTEM d/b/a BJC,
HEAL TH CARE and CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL
NORTHEAST-NORTHWEST,
Defendants.

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No. 4:17CV814 RLW

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel (ECF
No. 56). Upon review of the record, the Court will deny Plaintiffs motion.
Background
On January 4, 2017, Plaintiff filed a Pro Se Employment Discrimination and Retaliation
Complaint in state court, alleging discrimination on the basis of race, disability, and retaliation in
violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e, et seq. ,
and the Missouri Human Rights Act, Mo. Rev. Stat.§§ 213.010, et seq. (ECF No. 7) Defendant
removed the Complaint to federal court on March 2, 2017. (ECF No. 1)
Plaintiff contends that she was employed at Christian Hospital Northeast-Northwest
("Hospital") as a Patient Access Representative beginning in June of2015 . She alleges in her
Complaint that she sent correspondence to members of her management team and members of
the Hospital's executive team regarding disparities in the department, including work conditions,
inadequate staffing, favoritism, bias, and labor law regulations. (Compl.

iii! 2-4, ECF No. 7)

Plaintiff alleges that after she sent the letters, she received disciplinary actions, was denied a

request to transfer to a different department, and experienced a hostile work environment. (Id. at

irir 5-6, 15(a)-(b), (h)) Plaintiff also claims that the Hospital ' s Patient Access Manager
discriminated against her because Plaintiff resembled another African American female who also
reported alleged racial discrimination and was terminated. (Id. at if 7)
In addition, Plaintiff contends that she suffers from Iron Deficiency Anemia, which
causes lightheadedness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and weakness. (Id. at if 8) Plaintiff claims
her requests to wear a jacket or thick sweater in the Emergency Room as an accommodation
were denied, and the Hospital accused her of a dress code infraction even though other
employees were allowed to wear sweaters with no disciplinary action taken. (Id. at irir 8, 15(c))
On May 13, 2016, Plaintiff received a voicemail message from her manager indicating that
Plaintiff had been terminated from her position with the Hospital. (Id. at if 10) The termination
letter indicated that Plaintiff was fired for cell phone use in the workplace, dress code violations,
and leaving the premises for lunch without clocking out. (Id. at if 12) However, Plaintiff avers
that her termination was done in retaliation for complaining about disparities and hostile work
conditions at the Hospital. (Id. at irir 4, 15(e)-(f))
On July 31 , 2017, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Appointment of Counsel, along with a
financial affidavit. (ECF Nos. 55, 56) Plaintiff claims that because of her poverty, she is unable
to pay a reasonable attorney fee or obtain legal counsel, despite diligent efforts to do so. (ECF
No. 56)
Discussion

"'Indigent civil litigants do not have a constitutional or statutory right to appointed
counsel. " ' Davis v. Scott, 94 F.3d 444, 447 (8th Cir. 1996) (quoting Edgington v. Missouri Dep 't
ofCorrs., 52 F.3d 777, 780 (8th Cir. 1995)). When determining whether to appoint counsel for

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an indigent plaintiff, the Court should consider the factual and legal complexity of the case, the
existence of conflicting testimony, and the ability of the indigent person to investigate the facts
and present her claim. Id. (citing Swope v. Cameron, 73 F.3d 850, 852 (8th Cir. 1996)).
Upon review of Plaintiffs Complaint, the Court finds that appointment of counsel is not
warranted at this time. The facts of this case are not complex. Plaintiff raises straightforward
claims of discrimination and retaliation based on race and disability. Further, the Court notes
that Plaintiff has thus far clearly articulated and presented her legal claims to the Court, and she
appears able to investigate the facts of her case, as evidenced by her detailed motion for
summary judgment and responses to Defendants' dispositive motions. Because the factual
nature and the legal issues of this case are not complex, and Plaintiff is able to clearly present her
claims, the Court finds that Plaintiffs motion should be denied.
According! y,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Plaintiffs Motion for Appointment of Counsel (ECF
No . 56) is DENIED without prejudice.
Dated this 10th day of August, 201 7.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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