addressing relevant 4 standard of review for motions to appoint counsel in civil cases
How later courts described this case
- addressing relevant 4 standard of review for motions to appoint counsel in civil cases
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
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8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 APRIL PREMO WILLIAMS, Case No. 1:21-cv-00848-AWI-HBK
12 Plaintiff, ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTIONS
TO APPOINT COUNSEL;
13 v.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION
14 BANK OF AMERICA, ET. AL., TO CONTINUE AUGUST 18, 2022 INITIAL
SCHEDULING CONFERENCE
15 Defendants.
16 (Doc. Nos. 34, 40, 41)
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18 Pending before the Court are Plaintiff’s pleading labeled, inter alia, “request for ADA
19 accommodation” and “request for appointment of attorney”, filed on June 3, 2022 and motion to
20 appoint counsel and motion to continue the scheduling conference, filed on July 28, 2022. (Doc.
21 Nos. 34, 40, 41).
22 Review of Various Motions
23 In Plaintiff’s pleading filed on June 3, 2022, Plaintiff, in addition to asking for ADA
24 accommodation and appointment of counsel, responds to defendants’ motion to dismiss. (Doc.
25 No. 34). Thus, the Court will direct the clerk to correct the docket entry to also reflect that
26 Plaintiff has filed a response to defendants’ motion to dismiss.
27 Regarding, Plaintiff’s requests incorporated in the pleading, on March 30, 2022, the Court
28 denied Plaintiff’s first motion to appoint counsel. (Doc. No. 23). Plaintiff has now filed a second
1 and third motion to appoint counsel referencing statutory language from the Americans with
2 Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act. (See generally Doc. No. 34 at 1-5; see also Doc. No.
3 40 at 1-8). Plaintiff states she has mental disabilities and needs a disability accommodation.
4 (Doc. No. 34 at 2). Under a paragraph Plaintiff entitles “request an appointment of an attorney as
5 a court of chancery responsibility to infants, idoits [sic], lunatics, and certain charities,” Plaintiff
6 submits the Court should appoint her an attorney “paid for by the Federal Government.” (Id. at
7 5). Plaintiff also requests the Court impose “fines” on opposing counsel, Mr. Summerfield,
8 totaling $50,000 for the first offense and $100,000 for the second offense, stemming from counsel
9 labeling Plaintiff’s disabilities “maladies.” (Id.).
10 In Plaintiff’s second motion, she says she is “terrible at picking attorneys.” (Id. at 4). She
11 identifies her mental disabilities as “weakness found in concentration and distractibility mildly
12 mentally retarded. Borderline mentally retarded concerning visual perception, immediate
13 auditory recall, comprehension of the abstract concept of numbers, visual analysis with
14 coordination and visual motor dexterity.” (Id. at 1). Regarding physical disabilities, Plaintiff
15 states she had melanoma “at one point,” Hashimoto’s disease, diabetes, “abdominal epilepsy,”
16 and “numerous allergies.” (Id.). Plaintiff states she would not be able to understand witnesses at
17 trial to ask them questions or answer questions herself due to her disabilities. (Id. at 5).
18 And, in Plaintiff’s final motion seeking to cancel the August 18, 2022 initial scheduling
19 conference, Plaintiff states opposing counsel called and asked her to do “the joint scheduling
20 report” by phone when “phone is her worst form of communication.” (Doc. No. 41 at 1).
21 Plaintiff reiterates that she believes she needs an accommodation because she has
22 “communication disabilities” and references an attached exhibit consisting of a letter Plaintiff
23 wrote to the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board concerning a different case. (Id.).
24 Appointment of Counsel
25 As explained in the Court’s March 30, 2022 order denying Plaintiff’s first motion to
26 appoint counsel, the United States Constitution does not require appointment of counsel in civil
27 cases. (See Doc. No. 23 at 2) (citing Lewis v. Casey, 518 U.S. 343, 354 (1996) (explaining
28 Bounds v. Smith, 430 U.S. at 817, did not create a right to appointment of counsel in civil cases)).
1 Motions to appoint counsel in civil cases are granted only in “exceptional circumstances.” 28
2 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) (stating the court has authority to appoint counsel for people unable to afford
3 counsel); see also United States v. McQuade, 519 F.2d 1180 (9th Cir. 1978)(addressing relevant
4 standard of review for motions to appoint counsel in civil cases). The Court considers many
5 factors to determine if exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel including, proof
6 of indigence, the likelihood of success on the merits, and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate
7 his or her claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Id.; see also Rand
8 v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh’g en
9 banc, 154 F.2d 952 (9th Cir. 1998).
10 As previously noted, Plaintiff paid both the initial filing fee to proceed in this case and an
11 appellate filing fee. (See Doc. No. 23 and entry dated 4/21/2022)(Receipt Nos. CAE100048568
12 (instant filing fee), CAE100050436 (appellate filing fee)). Again, Plaintiff has not established
13 she is indigent and cannot afford to hire counsel. Being “terrible at picking attorneys,” does not
14 establish exceptional circumstances to warrant appointment of counsel. Further, Plaintiff’s vague
15 reference to “mental disabilities” and numerous physical ailments ranging from abdominal
16 epilepsy to allergies do not warrant appointment of counsel in this matter.
17 The Court finds Plaintiff has not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to warrant
18 appointment of counsel. A review of the pleadings reveals Plaintiff communicates effectively
19 and has been able to file a complaint and an amended complaint. While the Court is sensitive to
20 Plaintiff’s concerns about trial, this case remains in the initial stages of litigation so these
21 concerns are not germane at this procedural point in the proceedings. Further, defendants’ motion
22 to dismiss remains pending. (Doc. Nos. 30; 31). Should this case proceed to trial, Plaintiff may
23 seek appointment of counsel at that time.
24 To the extent Plaintiff acknowledges she will not cooperate with opposing counsel to
25 complete a joint scheduling report, Plaintiff is advised that the Court’s order notified all parties,
26 whether represented by counsel or proceeding pro se, of their obligation to submit a joint
27 scheduling report. (Doc. Nos. 6 at 2; 32). The Court again reminds Plaintiff of this
28 responsibility should this case proceed.
1 Initial Scheduling Conference
2 A review of the docket confirms a scheduling conference is set for August 18, 2022 at
3 | 1:00 p.m. (Doc. No. 32). As noted above, Defendants’ motion to dismiss remains pending.
4 | (Doc. Nos. 31, 35)(order referring motion to dismiss and motion for ADA
5 || accommodation/motion to appoint counsel to the assigned magistrate judge). As noted by the
6 | district court, Plaintiff filed a request for ADA accommodation and motion to appoint counsel in
7 || response to Defendant’s motion to dismiss. (Doc. No. 35 at 1). Thus, although the undersigned
8 | addresses Plaintiffs motion insofar as she seeks appointment of counsel herein, the Court directs
9 | the Clerk to re-title the instant motion as Plaintiff's response opposing Defendants’ motion to
10 | dismiss. Because Defendants’ motion to dismiss is currently ripe for review and considering
11 | Plaintiffs motion to cancel the scheduling conference, the Court deems it in the best interests of
12 | the parties and the Court to cancel the scheduling conference until the court addresses the
13 || Defendants’ motion to dismiss.
14 Accordingly, it is ORDERED:
15 1. Plaintiff's pleading labeled “Request 1973 Rehabilitation, ADA Accommodation”
16 | (Doc. No. 34) is DENIED insofar as Plaintiff seeks appointment of counsel.
17 2. The Clerk shall relabel the pleading (Doc. NO. 34) as “Plaintiffs response in
18 | opposition to Defendants’ motion to dismiss.”
19 3. Plaintiff's motion to appoint counsel (Doc. No. 40) is DENIED.
20 4, Plaintiffs motion to cancel the initial scheduling conference (Doc. No. 41) is
21 | GRANTED to the extent the scheduling conference set for August 18, 2022 at 1:00 PM is
22 | VACATED and will be reset, if appropriate, after the court issues a ruling on the Defendants’
23 || motion to dismiss.
** | Dated: _ August 2, 2022 Mihaw. Wh. foareh fackte
25 HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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