Jackson v. RGIS Inventory Services

Filing 11

MEMORANDUM DECISION and ORDER denying 4 Motion to Appoint Counsel; granting 5 Motion for Service of Process. The United States Marshals Service shall serve a summons, a copy of Plaintiff's complaint, and a copy of this Order upon Defendant RGIS Inventory Services. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells on 4/14/2015. (blh)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH, CENTRAL DIVISION
VERGIL ANN JACKSON,

MEMORANDUM DECISION AND ORDER
DENYING MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT
OF COUNSEL AND GRANTING MOTION
FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS

Plaintiff,
v.
RGIS INVENTORY SERVICES dba RGIS,
LLC dba RGIS,
Defendant.

Case No. 2:15-cv-0009-TS-BCW
District Judge Ted Stewart
Magistrate Judge Brooke Wells

Pro se Plaintiff Vergil Ann Jackson (“Plaintiff”), proceeding in forma pauperis filed the
Complaint in this case on January 20, 2015.1 On February 9, 2015, District Judge Ted Stewart
referred this case to Magistrate Judge Brooke C. Wells pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §636(b)(1)(B).2
Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel3and Motion for Service of Process.4
The Court has carefully reviewed these Motions and for the reasons set forth more fully below,
DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel and GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion for Service of
Process.
ANALYSIS
While it is somewhat difficult to parse, Plaintiff’s Complaint brings this case her former
employer, RGIS Inventory Services alleging employment discrimination.

1

Docket no. 3.
Docket no. 8.
3
Docket no. 4.
4
Docket no. 5.
2

A. Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel
Generally, as a civil litigant, Plaintiff has no constitutional right to counsel.5 28 U.S.C. §
1915, which pertains to proceedings in forma pauperis (“IFP Statute”), provides “[t]he court may
request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel.”6 However, the
appointment of counsel under this statute is within the discretion of the court.7 “The burden is
upon the applicant requesting counsel to convince the court that there is sufficient merit to his [or
her] claim to warrant the appointment of counsel.”8 When deciding whether to appoint counsel,
a court should consider a variety of factors, “including ‘the merits of the litigant’s claims, the
nature of the factual issues raised in the claims, the litigant’s ability to present his [or her] claims,
and the complexity of the legal issues raised by those claims.’”9
At the outset, the Court notes Plaintiff’s motion does not provide any reasons as to why
this Court should appoint counsel in this case. However, in undertaking the analysis of the
foregoing factors with regard to appointment of counsel under the IFP Statute, the Court is
mindful that Plaintiff is proceeding pro se and that “[a] pro se litigant’s pleadings are to be
construed liberally and held to a less stringent standard than formal pleadings drafted by
lawyers.”10
In considering the foregoing factors, including the nature of the factual issues presented
in Plaintiff’s Complaint, the Court concludes for purposes of proceeding at this preliminary
juncture, Plaintiff has presented an adequate legal and factual basis to persuade the Court that

5

See Durre v. Dempsey, 869 F.2d 543, 547 (10th Cir. 1989)(citing Bethea v. Crouse, 417 F.2d 504, 505 (10th Cir.
1969)).
6
28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1).
7
See McCarthy v. Weinberg, 753 F.2d 836, 838 (10th Cir. 1985).
8
Id. (citing U.S. v. Masters, 484 F.2d 1251, 1253 (10th Cir. 1973).
9
Rucks v. Boergermann, 57 F.3d 978, 979 (10th Cir. 1995)(quoting Williams v. Meese, 926 F.2d 994, 996 (10th Cir.
1991).
10
Hall v. Bellmon, 935 F.2d 1106, 1110 (10th Cir. 1991)(internal citations omitted); see also Ledbetter 318 F.3d
1183, 1187 (10th Cir. 2003).

2

Plaintiff’s claims are at least plausible and rise above the speculative level.1112 However, the
nature of the factual issues contained in Plaintiff’s Complaint are not overly complex and the
Court does not find Plaintiff to be incapacitated or unable to adequately pursue this matter at this
stage in the litigation. Therefore, on balance, the Court finds Plaintiff has not persuaded the
Court that counsel is required at this time and DENIES Plaintiff’s Motion for Appointment of
Counsel.
B. Plaintiff’s Motion for Service of Process
When a case is proceeding under the IFP statute, the officers of the Court are required to
issue and serve all process and perform all duties related to service of process.13 Based upon
review of the Complaint, and the Court’s finding that the Complaint has presented plausible
causes of action, the Court concludes that official service of process is warranted and GRANTS
Plaintiff’s Motion.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
1) Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel14 is DENIED. However, if, after the case
develops further, it appears that counsel may be needed, without further prompting
from Plaintiff, the Court will ask an attorney to appear pro bono on Plaintiff’s behalf.
No further motions for appointed counsel shall be accepted by the Court.

11

See Kay v. Bemis, 500 F.3d 1214, 1217-18 (10th Cir. 2007)(internal citations omitted).
The Court notes that Plaintiff has filed another case in this district against RGIS Inventory Services on the same
date this case was filed. See 2:15-cv-00010-TS-BCW (’10 case”). On April 14, 2015, the undersigned issued an
Order in the ’10 case requesting Plaintiff amend her Complaint and show cause as to how the ‘10 case differs from
the instant case. See 2:15-cv-10-TS-BCW, docket no. 14.
13
See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d).
14
Docket no. 4.
12

3

2) Plaintiff’s Motion for Service of Process15 is GRANTED. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§1915(d), “the officers of the court shall issue and serve all process” in this case.
Defendants shall be served at the following addresses:
a.

RGIS, LLC
c/o Registered Agent--Incorporating Services LTD, Inc.
1108 South Union Ave.
Midvale, UT 84047

b. RGIS Inventory Services
2000 East Taylor Road
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

IT IS SO ORDERED.
DATED this 14 April 2015.

Brooke C. Wells
United States Magistrate Judge

15

Docket no. 5.

4