Chen et al v. The City of Redmond, et al

Filing 9

ORDER re Plaintiffs' 8 MOTION to Appoint Counsel. Plaintiffs directed to file a financial affidavit within 14 days. Signed by Judge James L. Robart. (PM) cc: Plaintiffs with 2 blank financial affidavit forms

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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SUSAN CHEN, et al.,

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Plaintiffs,

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v.

CASE NO. C16-1877JLR
ORDER ON MOTION TO
APPOINT COUNSEL

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NATALIE D’AMICO,

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Defendant.

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Before the court are Plaintiffs Susan Chen and Naixiang Li’s motion to appoint

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counsel. (Mot. (Dkt. # 8).) Plaintiffs are proceeding pro se (Compl. (Dkt. # 6)) and seek

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a court-appointed attorney (see Mot.). This District has implemented a plan for

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court-appointed representation of civil rights litigants. The plan requires the court to

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assess a plaintiff’s case before forwarding it to the Pro Bono Screening Committee for

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further review and possible appointment of pro bono counsel. See General Order, August

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1, 2010, Section 3(c) (In re Amended Plan for the Representation of Pro Se Litigants in

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//

ORDER - 1

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Civil Rights Actions). In its initial assessment, the court evaluates the case to determine

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that it is not frivolous and that the plaintiff is financially eligible. Id.

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Plaintiffs have not attached to their motion a “completed copy of an affidavit of

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financial status.” Id., Section 3(a); (see also Mot.) The court therefore cannot fully

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assess whether the court should forward Plaintiffs’ motion to the Pro Bono Screening

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Committee for further review. For this reason, the court ORDERS Plaintiffs to file an

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affidavit detailing their financial status no later than 14 days after the entry of this order.

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Failure to do so will result in the court denying Plaintiffs’ motion to appoint counsel.

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Dated this 29th day of March, 2017.

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A

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JAMES L. ROBART
United States District Judge

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ORDER - 2