Wilcox et al v. Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC

Filing 62

ORDER Denying 57 Motion for Referral to Pro Bono program. The Court further Denies the 58 and 59 Applications for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis as unnecessary. Signed by Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe on 11/16/2021. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - DRS)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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DISTRICT OF NEVADA

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BRUCE WILCOX, et al.,

Case No. 2:20-cv-01545-JAD-NJK

Plaintiff(s),

Order

v.

[Docket Nos. 57, 58, 59]

PORTFOLIO RECOVERY ASSOCIATES,
LLC,
Defendant(s).

Pending before the Court is Plaintiffs’ motion to be referred to the Pro Bono Program to

14 obtain attorney representation. Docket No. 57. Whether to refer a party to the Pro Bono Program
15 is a matter of judicial discretion that may include discussion of a number of factors. Williams v.
16 Hardesty, 2018 WL 2188006, at *3 (D. Nev. Apr. 10, 2018). In the circumstances of this case, the
17 Court does not find such a referral to be warranted. First, Plaintiffs do not have a significant
18 likelihood of success on the merits. See, e.g., Docket No. 52 (granting motion to dismiss). Second,
19 the Court is not persuaded that Plaintiffs are unable to articulate their claims in light of the
20 complexities involved. The issues in the case are not complex. Moreover and significantly, the
21 currently procedural posture is such that a motion to dismiss the amended complaint has been fully
22 briefed and discovery has been stayed, see Docket Nos. 47, 55, so there is no current need for
23 counsel. Accordingly, the motion to be referred to the Pro Bono Program is DENIED.
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Also pending before the Court are Plaintiffs’ applications to proceed in forma pauperis.

25 Docket Nos. 58, 59. The filing fee in this case was paid by Defendant upon removal from state
26 court. These applications to proceed in forma pauperis are presumably filed in support of the
27 above motion for pro bono counsel. The Court has considered Plaintiffs’ indigency in considering
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1 that motion for pro bono counsel, but does not find that circumstance changes the outcome here.
2 Accordingly, the applications to proceed in forma pauperis are DENIED as unnecessary.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated: November 16, 2021
______________________________
Nancy J. Koppe
United States Magistrate Judge

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