Ruiz v. Keratin Bar

Filing 168

ORDER granting 167 Application for the Court to Request Counsel. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Mr. Ruiz's request is GRANTED and the Pro Se Office is respectfully directed to inquire as to the availability of pro bono counsel, preferably with Spanish language skills, to represent Mr. Ruiz. If an attorney volunteers, the attorney will contact Mr. Ruiz directly. If an attorney does not volunteer by Friday, June 16, 2023, the Court will enter an order to show cause why this case should not be dismissed without prejudice for failure to prosecute. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to mail a copy of this Order to Mr. Ruiz and to note the mailing on the docket. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Valerie E. Caproni on 4/24/2023) (vfr) Transmission to Office of Pro Se Litigation for processing.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
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:
ANGEL RUIZ,
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
-against:
KERATINBAR INC. and 1976 HEALTHCARE INC., :
:
:
Defendants.
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USDC SDNY
DOCUMENT
ELECTRONICALLY FILED
DOC #:
DATE FILED: 04/24/2023

17-CV-2216 (VEC)
ORDER

VALERIE CAPRONI, United States District Judge:
WHEREAS on April 3, 2017, Plaintiff Angel Ruiz (“Mr. Ruiz”) was granted in forma
pauperis status, see Order, Dkt. 3;
WHEREAS on May 12, 2020, the trial and final pretrial conference in this case were
adjourned sine die in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, see Order, Dkt. 139;
WHEREAS on December 3, 2020, the Court granted Mr. Ruiz’s counsel’s motion to
withdraw as counsel, see Opinion & Order, Dkt. 158;
WHEREAS on March 8, 2023, the Court ordered the parties to appear for an in-person
status conference to discuss whether Mr. Ruiz intends to move forward with this case, see Order,
Dkt. 162;
WHEREAS on April 5, 2023, Mr. Ruiz notified the Court that he was unable to attend
the status conference and the conference was cancelled, see Order, Dkt. 163;
WHEREAS on April 12, 2023, the Court advised Mr. Ruiz that he may, if he wishes to
proceed to trial, make a request for pro bono counsel, but that filing a request would not
guarantee appointment of pro bono counsel, see Order, Dkt. 166; and

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WHEREAS on April 20, 2023, Mr. Ruiz filed a request for pro bono counsel, see Dkt.
167;
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Mr. Ruiz’s request is GRANTED and the Pro Se Office
is respectfully directed to inquire as to the availability of pro bono counsel, preferably with
Spanish language skills, to represent Mr. Ruiz. If an attorney volunteers, the attorney will
contact Mr. Ruiz directly. If an attorney does not volunteer by Friday, June 16, 2023, the Court
will enter an order to show cause why this case should not be dismissed without prejudice for
failure to prosecute.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to mail a
copy of this Order to Mr. Ruiz and to note the mailing on the docket.
SO ORDERED.
_____________________________
_________________________________
VALERIE CAPRO
R NI
CAPRONI
United States District Judge

Date: April 24, 2023
New York, NY

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