FAULKNER v. MANISCHEWITZ CO. et al
Filing
13
LETTER OPINION AND ORDER denying application for Pro Bono Counsel. Motions terminated: 2 MOTION to Appoint Pro Bono filed by ROBERT FAULKNER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer on 07/05/2017. (ek)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
Chambers of
Martin Luther King Jr. Federal
Bldg. & U.S. Courthouse
50 Walnut Street, Room 2042
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 776-7858
Michael A. Hammer
United States Magistrate Judge
July 5, 2017
To:
Robert Faulkner
32 Cambridge Road
Verona, New Jersey 07044
All counsel of record
LETTER OPINION AND ORDER
RE:
Robert Faulkner v. Manischewitz Co., et al.
Civil Action No. 17-1984 (ES)(MAH)
Dear Litigants:
Presently before the Court is Plaintiff pro se Robert Faulkner’s motion for appointment of
pro bono counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) [D.E. 2]. For the reasons set forth below,
Plaintiff’s motion is denied.
Background
Plaintiff alleges that Defendants unlawfully terminated his employment and violated Title
VII of the Civil Rights Act. Complaint, March 24, 2017, D.E. 1. Specifically, Plaintiff alleges that
after being incarcerated on March 15, 2016 for a charge that was later dismissed, he was suspended
on March 24, 2016. Id. On April 4, 2016 Defendants terminated Plaintiff. Id. Plaintiff alleges that
he was unlawfully terminated based on his race. Id. Defendants contend that Plaintiff was
terminated because he had been incarcerated for domestic violence and they have an obligation to
provide a safe and harassment free work environment to all of their employees. Id. Defendants
contend that they gave Plaintiff one week to bring in acquittal documentation for the domestic
violence charge but Plaintiff never returned. Id. Plaintiff seeks $25,368 in actual damages due to
alleged lost wages, as well as for pain and suffering. Id.
On March 27, 2017, Plaintiff filed this motion for pro bono counsel [D.E. 2]. In his motion,
Plaintiff argues that he is entitled to appointed counsel because: (1) he cannot afford to hire an
attorney on his own; (2) the legal issues alleged are too complex for him to understand; and (3) he
1
lacks the knowledge of the Rules of Evidence that is required for such a complex legal issue. See
Motion to Appoint Pro Bono, March 27, 2017, D.E. 2.
Discussion
In civil cases, neither the Constitution nor any statute gives civil litigants the right to
appointed counsel. Parham v. Johnson, 126 F.3d 454, 456-57 (3d Cir. 1997). District courts,
however, have broad discretion to determine whether appointment of counsel is appropriate
under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). Montgomery v. Pinchack, 294 F.3d 492, 498 (3d Cir. 2002) (citing
Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 153 (3d Cir. 1993)). Appointment of counsel may be made at any
point in the litigation, including sua sponte by the Court. Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 498 (citing
Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156).
In the Third Circuit, a court considers the framework established in Tabron.
Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 498-99. Under the Tabron framework, the Court must first assess
“whether the claimant’s case has some arguable merit in fact and law.” Montgomery, 294 F.3d
at 499 (citing Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155). If the applicant’s claim has some merit, the Court
considers the following factors:
(1) the plaintiff’s ability to present his or her own case;
(2) the complexity of the legal issues;
(3) the degree to which factual investigation will be necessary and the ability of the
plaintiff to pursue such investigation;
(4) the amount a case is likely to turn on credibility determinations;
(5) whether the case will require the testimony of expert witnesses;
(6) whether the plaintiff can attain and afford counsel on his own behalf.
Parham, 126 F.3d at 457-58 (citing Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155-56, 157 n.5). This list is not
exhaustive, but provides guideposts for the Court. Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 499 (citing Parham,
126 F.3d at 457). A court’s decision to appoint counsel “must be made on a case-by-case basis.”
Tabron, 6 F.3d at 157-58. Also, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has stated that “courts
should exercise care in appointing counsel because volunteer lawyer time is a precious
commodity and should not be wasted on frivolous cases.” Montgomery, 294 294 F.3d at 499
(Parham, 126 F.3d at 458).
Here, with respect to the first Tabron prong, the Court assumes that Plaintiff’s claim has
merit for purposes of this application. Nevertheless, consideration of the Tabron factors does not
demonstrate that appointment of counsel is warranted at this time.
First, Plaintiff appears to be able to present his case. When considering ability to present
a case, courts generally consider a plaintiff’s “education, literacy, prior work experience, and
prior litigation experience.” Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. Based upon the present record, Plaintiff has
demonstrated a basic understanding of the actions he should take in furtherance of his claim.
Based upon the allegations and the facts from which they arise, and because “the factual and
legal issues ‘have not been tested or developed by the general course of litigation’” in a way that
shows any level of complexity, Plaintiff has not demonstrated an inability to present his case.
2
Burns v. Taylor, Civ. No. 08-4234, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 83809, at *3 (D.N.J. Oct. 9, 2008)
(quoting Chatterjee v. Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, 2000 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10278, at *1
(E.D. Pa. July 18, 2000)). For these reasons, this factor weighs against appointment of counsel.
Second, Plaintiff’s claims do not involve complex legal issues. Complexity supports
appointment “where the law is not clear, [as] it will often best serve the ends of justice to have
both sides of a difficult legal issue presented by those trained in legal analysis.” Tabron, 6 F.3d
at 156 (quoting Macklin v. Freake, 650 F.2d 885, 889 (7th Cir. 1981)); accord Montgomery, 294
F.3d at 502. Courts also consider “the proof going towards the ultimate issue and the discovery
issues involved.” Parham, 126 F.3d at 459; see also Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 502-03 (finding
appointment appropriate when, despite simple legal issues, discovery and presentation
difficulties compromised plaintiff’s case). Here, appointment of counsel is not warranted
because the factual and legal issues involved in the case are not complicated. Plaintiff provides
no explanation in his pro bono application regarding why he believes his claims contain complex
legal issues. Accordingly, the second Tabron factor weighs against Plaintiff because it does not
appear that his claims present complex legal issues.
Third, there is no indication that Plaintiff lacks the ability to conduct a factual
investigation without the assistance of counsel. Nothing suggests that discovery in this case
would be complicated or unduly burdensome. The claims appear to involve a relatively discreet
set of facts, many of which Plaintiff presumably has personal knowledge, or at a minimum, is
equipped to investigate. If this case proceeds, Plaintiff will have access to the discovery tools in
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to investigate his claims as well as any defenses or
counterclaims. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 26. Thus, the third Tabron factor also weighs against
appointment of counsel.
Fourth, the Court concludes that this case will turn on credibility determinations.
Because “it is difficult to imagine” a case where credibility is not important, the Court of
Appeals for the Third Circuit has specified that “when considering this factor, courts should
determine whether the case [is] solely a swearing contest.” Parham, 126 F.3d at 460. At this
early stage of the litigation, it is clear that this case is likely to become a case that rests on
credibility determinations because it is Plaintiff’s word against Defendant’s word. Accordingly,
this factor weighs in favor of appointment of counsel.
Fifth, there is no indication that any expert testimony will be required at trial. Plaintiff’s
allegations of Defendants’ violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act would be
understandable to a lay person without the assistance of an expert. See, e.g., Montgomery, 294
F.3d at 504 (holding “expert testimony is necessary when the seriousness of the injury or illness
would not be apparent to a lay person.”). Thus, the fifth Tabron favor does not favor
appointment.
Sixth, Plaintiff has indicated his inability to afford counsel although this factor alone is an
insufficient reason to appoint counsel. Plaintiff has provided the Court with financial records
upon which to determine his lack of financial means. Plaintiff has also provided the court with a
detailed list of required expenses. Plaintiff has described several attempts to retain counsel on his
3
own. This evidence of his efforts to obtain counsel weighs in favor of appointment of counsel at
this time.
This record does not meet most of the Tabron factors, and, therefore, the Court finds that
appointment of pro bono counsel is inappropriate at this time. Cf. Parham, 126 F.3d at 461
(finding appointment appropriate where most factors are met). For all the reasons set forth
above, the Court denies Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of pro bono counsel without
prejudice.
Conclusion
A balancing of the factors set forth above does not weigh in favor of granting Plaintiff’s
request for counsel at this time. Therefore, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of pro bono
counsel [D.E. 2] is denied without prejudice.
So Ordered,
/s Michael A. Hammer
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
4
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?