Koeckritz et al v. Amazon.com Inc et al

Filing 8

ORDER by Judge Richard A Jones. The court DENIES Plaintiffs' motion to appoint counsel. Dkt. # 5 . (CL) (cc: Epitome Inc.)

HONORABLE RICHARD A. JONES

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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PHILLIP KOECKRITZ, et al.,
Plaintiffs,

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CASE NO. C13-411RAJ
v.

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ORDER
AMAZON.COM INC., et al.,
Defendants.

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The court DENIES Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint counsel. Dkt. # 5. There is no

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right to appointed counsel in civil cases. In civil cases involving litigants proceeding in

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forma pauperis, the court has discretion to appoint counsel, but only in exceptional

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circumstances. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009); 28 U.S.C.

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§ 1915(e). The court must consider the likelihood that the litigant will succeed on the

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merits as well as the litigant’s ability to articulate his claims in light of their complexity.

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Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970. Considering these factors, the court declines to appoint counsel

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in this case.

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ORDER – 1

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The court also notifies Plaintiff Phillip Koeckritz that although he may represent

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himself in this case, he may not represent Epitome, Inc., the other Plaintiff. See Local

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Rules W.D. Wash. LCR 83.2(b)(3) (“A business entity, except a sole proprietorship, must

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be represented by counsel.”). Epitome, Inc. shall either obtain counsel within 30 days of

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this order, or the court will terminate it as a party in this case.

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DATED this 2nd day of April, 2013.

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A

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The Honorable Richard A. Jones
United States District Court Judge

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ORDER – 2