Scott v. Pearson et al

Filing 171

OPINION and ORDER Appointing Attorney Steven Edward Buckingham for James Darnell Scott. Signed by Honorable Bruce Howe Hendricks on 9/21/16. (alew, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
) Civil Action No.: 0:12-1538-BHH
)
Plaintiff, )
)
)
v.
)
Albert Pearson, Responsible Authority
)
OPINION AND ORDER
over South Carolina Dep’t of
)
Corrections Special Investigation Unit;
)
Jannita Gaston, South Carolina Dept.
)
Of Correction State Classification;
)
William Byars, South Carolina Dept.
)
Of Corrections Director; Warden
)
Anthony Padula; Associate Warden
)
Margaret Bell; Associate Warden
)
John Brooks; Major James Dean; and
)
Ms. Reames, Institution Classification
)
Chairperson,
)
)
Defendants. )
_________________________________ )
James Darnell Scott,

Plaintiff James Darnell Scott ("Plaintiff"), proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis,
filed this civil rights action under 42.U.S.C. § 1983 on June 11, 2012. After a successful
appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Citcuit, the undersigned
adopted the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge, and denied Defendants'
motion for summary judgment in light of the Incumaa1 decision.
There is no right to appointed counsel in Section 1983 cases. Harwick v. Ault, 517
F.2d 295 (5th Cir. 1973). The court is granted the power to exercise its discretion and
appoint counsel for an indigent in a civil action. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Smith v. Blackledge,
451 F.2d 1201 (4th Cir. 1971). However, the appointment "should be allowed only in

1

Incumaa v. Stirling, 791 F.3d 517 (4th Cir. 2015).

exceptional cases." Cook v. Bounds, 518 F.2d 779, 780 (4th Cir. 1975).
Here, Plaintiff has presented evidence that exceptional circumstances exist in this
case. Accordingly, the Court requested that Attorney Steven Buckingham represent Plaintiff
in this action. Attorney Buckingham has agreed to undertake representation of Plaintiff. The
Court hereby appoints Steven Buckingham to represent Plaintiff from this point to the
conclusion of the trial. Should the result of trial be unfavorable for Plaintiff, appointed
counsel will be deemed to have completed his duties, and Plaintiff will be required to file
his own notice of appeal, if applicable.
Attorney Buckingham shall file a Notice of Appearance in this matter and, thereafter,
is given sixty (60) days to withdraw or file any motions or responses to motions which he
deems appropriate.
Counsel for both parties are to confer on a mutually agreeable joint scheduling order
with a jury selection date after March 31, 2017, and submit that proposed order to Judge
Hendricks' ECF e-mail box. If counsel cannot agree on a scheduling order, separate
proposed orders can be submitted.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/Bruce Howe Hendricks
United States District Judge
September 21, 2016
Greenville, South Carolina

-2-