HARPER v. GREENLEE et al

Filing 10

MEMORANDUM AND/OR OPINION. SIGNED BY HONORABLE ROBERT F. KELLY ON 7/25/14. 7/25/14 ENTERED AND COPIES MAILED TO PRO SE PETITIONER(jpd)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA

MAURICE D. HARPER,
Plaintiff,
v.
ELLEN T. GREENLEE, et al.,
Defendants.

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

CIVIL ACTION

No. 14-638

MEMORANDUM
ROBERT F. KELLY, Sr. J.

JULY 25, 2014

Presently before this Court are Plaintiff, Maurice D. Harper’s Motions for Appointment
of Counsel. For the reasons set forth below, these Motions are denied.
I.

BACKGROUND
Plaintiff filed suit under the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, against Defendants

alleging that they violated his Constitutional rights in relation to criminal actions involving
Plaintiff. See Compl., Am. Compl. Plaintiff filed two Motions for Appointment of Counsel.
(See Doc. Nos. 3, 5.) On June 16, 2014, we ordered Plaintiff to submit an affidavit responding to
questions relevant to our determination concerning the appointment of counsel in this case. (See
Doc. No. 6.) Plaintiff submitted a timely response adequately answering the questions posed to
him. (See Doc. No. 9.)
II.

DISCUSSION
It is well settled that “indigent civil litigants possess neither a constitutional nor a

statutory right to appointed counsel.” Gordon v. Gonzalez, 232 F. App’x 153, 156 (3d Cir. 2007)

(quoting Montgomery v. Pinchak, 294 F.3d 492, 498 (3d Cir. 2002)). However, a district court is
empowered with the discretion to “request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford
counsel.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). The court’s decision whether to appoint counsel is to be given
wide latitude and will only be overturned if its ruling is clearly an abuse of discretion. Tabron v.
Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 155 (3d Cir. 1993).
As a preliminary matter, the district court must first determine if the plaintiff’s claim has
arguable merit in fact and law. Upon a favorable finding, the court then proceeds to consider
certain additional factors that bear on the necessity for the appointment of counsel. Id. at 155.
These factors enunciated in Tabron include: (1) the plaintiff’s ability to present his own case; (2)
the difficulty of the particular legal issues; (3) the degree to which factual investigation will be
necessary and the ability of the plaintiff to pursue investigation; (4) the plaintiff’s capacity to
retain counsel on his own behalf; (5) the extent to which a case is likely to turn on credibility
determinations; and (6) whether the case will require testimony from expert witnesses.
Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 499 (quoting Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155). This list is not exhaustive, nor is
any one factor determinative. Parham v. Johnson, 126 F.3d 454, 458 (3d Cir. 1997).
At the early stage of this litigation, it is difficult to discern whether Plaintiff’s claim
possesses “merit in fact and law.” However, upon review of the Complaint and Amended
Complaint, it appears Plaintiff’s claim has arguable merit in fact and law. Consequently, we
proceed upon the analytical course charted in Tabron.
A.

The Plaintiff’s Ability to Present His Own Case

The ability of a plaintiff to present his own case is arguably the most significant of the
Tabron factors. Montgomery, 294 F.3d at 501. This determination is based on several criteria
2

including plaintiff’s education, literacy, prior work experience, prior litigation experience, ability
to understand English and the restraints placed on him by incarceration (i.e., access to resources
such as a typewriter, telephone and computer). Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156; see also Parham, 126 F.3d
at 459. However, it is not necessary that plaintiffs have the skills and expertise of a trial lawyer;
only that they possess the baseline abilities to adequately present their case. See Gorden v.
Gonzalez, 232 F. App’x at 157 (the decision point is not whether plaintiff is a trial lawyer).
In response to an Order from this Court, Plaintiff filed an Affidavit providing information
necessary to our determination of whether to appoint counsel. (See Doc. No. 9.) Upon
examination of this Affidavit and Plaintiff’s court filings, we find Plaintiff possesses the baseline
abilities to adequately present his case. Plaintiff has completed the eleventh grade, and later
received his GED. (Id.) Additionally, Plaintiff’s employment in the food service industry for
over ten years includes managerial experience. (Id.) Plaintiff reads, writes and understands
English. Plaintiff’s filings evidence his ability to understand legal issues, write coherently, and
set forth legal arguments in support of his claims and cite relevant judicial precedent and
statutory law. Plaintiff, though incarcerated, has access to the essential resources to prosecute his
claim. In light of these facts, we find that Plaintiff is able to present his own case. See
Mastromatteo v. Simock, 849 F. Supp. 25, 27 (E.D. Pa. 1994) (appointment of counsel not
warranted where plaintiff was literate, presented clear and coherent motions and pleadings and
properly cited case law). Though no one factor is dispositive, this factor weighs heavily against
the appointment of counsel.
B.

The Difficulty of the Particular Legal Issues

In cases involving complicated legal issues, courts should be “more inclined to appoint
3

counsel.” Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. This will benefit all parties involved. Parham, 126 F.3d at 459.
At this early stage in the litigation, it appears that the legal issues inherent in Plaintiff’s claims
are not overly complex. Plaintiff alleges violation of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
These appear to be standard claims and do not implicate any complicated or novel issues of law.
In light of Plaintiff’s abilities, including his representation during this litigation so far, we believe
that the instant legal issues are within his range of competence.
C.

The Necessity and Ability of the Plaintiff to Pursue Factual Investigation

Courts must consider the extent of factual investigation necessary to prosecute a claim
and the ability of the indigent plaintiff to pursue the investigation. Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156.
Situations which are “likely to require extensive discovery and compliance with complex
discovery rules” gravitate toward the appointment of counsel. Id. At this early stage in the
proceedings, it is too difficult to ascertain the investigative needs of Plaintiff.
D.

The Plaintiff’s Capacity to Retain Counsel on His Own Behalf

The appointment of counsel is not warranted where the plaintiff can easily afford and
attain counsel. Id. at 157. In these cases, the court must recognize and preserve the “precious
commodity” of volunteer legal advocates. Parham, 126 F.3d at 458. Here, the Plaintiff is
indigent and is proceeding in forma pauperis. While clearly not a situation where Plaintiff can
afford counsel, this does not appear to be the best case to expend the limited volunteer resources.
Overall, much like in Gordon and Asemani we question the “independent weight” of this factor
as “indigent litigants by definition will almost always be able to satisfy it.” Gordon, 232 F.
App’x at 157; Asemani v. Sec. of the Dept. of Homeland Security, No. 11-7448, 2012 WL
569386, at *3 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 22, 2012). Although Plaintiff cannot afford to retain counsel, we do
4

not find this factor to weigh heavily in his favor.
E.

The Extent to which this Case is Likely to Turn on Credibility
Determinations

Cases where adjudication relies solely on credibility determinations favor the
appointment of counsel. Lasko v. Watts, 373 F. App’x 196, 201 (3d Cir. 2010). Regarding the
credibility determination factor, “[w]hile the case ultimately may have relied upon credibility, it
is difficult to imagine a case that does not. Thus, when considering this factor courts should
determine whether the case was solely a swearing contest.” Parham, 126 F.3d at 460. This case
does not appear to solely rely upon determinations of credibility, and does not appear be
exclusively a swearing contest. Consequently, this factor does not favor the appointment of
counsel.
F.

Expert Witness Testimony

The necessity of cross examining expert witnesses may favor the appointment of counsel.
Tabron, 6 F.3d at 156. However, the appointment of counsel is not necessary in every case
warranting expert testimony. Lasko, 373 F. App’x at 202. At these preliminary stages, the
testimony of expert witnesses does not appear to be necessary. Accordingly, this prong does not
favor the appointment of counsel.
III.

CONCLUSION
Congress has entrusted the district courts with the judicial discretion to determine when

to appoint counsel. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). In effectuating this responsibility, the United
States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit developed an analytical framework to serve as a
“guidepost” in these determinations. See Tabron, 6 F.3d at 155. Inherent in their decision,

5

district courts must be mindful of the competing interests between the need to provide legal
representation to effectively prosecute meritorious cases and the necessity of protecting the
limited and “precious commodity” of volunteer legal advocates. Thus, courts usually reserve the
appointment of counsel for situations where there is a showing of special circumstances. SmithBey v. Petsock, 741 F.2d 22, 26 (3d Cir. 1984). After careful analysis in light of Tabron and its
progeny, we find that more factors weigh against appointing counsel. Consequently, Plaintiff’s
Motions for Appointment of Counsel are denied.
An appropriate Order follows.

6