Menyweather v. Department of Correction Serv. et al

Filing 25

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER that Plaintiff's Motion to Appoint Counsel (Filing No. 24 ) is denied without prejudice to reassertion. Ordered by Senior Judge Richard G. Kopf. (Copy mailed to pro se party) (LAC)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEBRASKA LATITUS ROMALE MENYWEATHER, 4:17CV3040 Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM AND ORDER vs. DOSSOU, Officer, Corpal; Defendant. Plaintiff has filed a Motion (Filing No. 24) asking the court to reconsider its previous denial of the appointment of counsel. Plaintiff states counsel “is very much needed as the plaintiff’s case has moved onto stages that he is not qualified in the field of law and does not have legal training needed . . . to successfully bring the matter before this Honorable Court.” (Id. at CM/ECF p.1). The court cannot routinely appoint counsel in civil cases. In Davis v. Scott, 94 F.3d 444, 447 (8th Cir. 1996), the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals explained that “[i]ndigent civil litigants do not have a constitutional or statutory right to appointed counsel.” Trial courts have “broad discretion to decide whether both the plaintiff and the court will benefit from the appointment of counsel, taking into account the factual and legal complexity of the case, the presence or absence of conflicting testimony, and the plaintiff’s ability to investigate the facts and present his claim.” Id. Having considered these factors, the request for the appointment of counsel will be denied without prejudice to reassertion. IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel (Filing No. 24) is denied without prejudice to reassertion. Dated this 1st day of December, 2017. BY THE COURT: s/ Richard G. Kopf Senior United States District Judge 2

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