district court did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel
How later courts described this case
- district court did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel
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
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11 THANH QUANG, No. 2:22-cv-1341 CKD P
12 Plaintiff,
13 v. ORDER
14 CSP CALIFORNIA MEDICAL
FACILITY,
15
Defendant.
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17 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and seeking relief pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §
18 1983. This proceeding was referred to this court by Local Rule 302 pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
19 636(b)(1).
20 Plaintiff requests leave to proceed in forma pauperis. As plaintiff has submitted a
21 declaration that makes the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), his request will be granted.
22 Plaintiff is required to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. 28 U.S.C. §§
23 1914(a), 1915(b)(1). By separate order, the court will direct the appropriate agency to collect the
24 initial partial filing fee from plaintiff’s trust account and forward it to the Clerk of the Court.
25 Thereafter, plaintiff will be obligated for monthly payments of twenty percent of the preceding
26 month’s income credited to plaintiff’s prison trust account. These payments will be forwarded by
27 /////
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1 the appropriate agency to the Clerk of the Court each time the amount in plaintiff’s account
2 exceeds $10.00, until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(b)(2).
3 The court is required to screen complaints brought by prisoners seeking relief against a
4 governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). The
5 court must dismiss a complaint or portion thereof if the prisoner has raised claims that are legally
6 “frivolous or malicious,” that fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or that seek
7 monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b)(1),(2).
8 The court has reviewed plaintiff’s complaint and finds that it fails to state a claim upon
9 which relief can be granted under federal law. Plaintiff’s complaint must be dismissed. The
10 court will, however, grant leave to file an amended complaint.
11 If plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, plaintiff must demonstrate how the conditions
12 complained of have resulted in a deprivation of plaintiff’s constitutional rights. See Ellis v.
13 Cassidy, 625 F.2d 227 (9th Cir. 1980). Also, in his amended complaint, plaintiff must allege in
14 specific terms how each named defendant is involved. There can be no liability under 42 U.S.C.
15 § 1983 unless there is some affirmative link or connection between a defendant’s actions and the
16 claimed deprivation. Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U.S. 362 (1976). Furthermore, vague and conclusory
17 allegations of official participation in civil rights violations are not sufficient. Ivey v. Board of
18 Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).
19 In his complaint, plaintiff names the California Medical Facility as a defendant. Plaintiff
20 is informed that under the Eleventh Amendment, state entities are immune from § 1983 suits for
21 damages. See Quern v. Jordan, 440 U.S. 332 (1979); Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781 (1978) (per
22 curiam).
23 Plaintiff complains about medical care. Denial or delay of medical care can violate the
24 Eighth Amendment. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 104-05 (1976). A violation occurs when a
25 prison official causes injury as a result of his or her deliberate indifference to a prisoner’s serious
26 medical needs. Id.
27 Finally, plaintiff is informed that the court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to
28 make plaintiff’s amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended
1 complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. This is because, as a
2 general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375
3 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no
4 longer serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original
5 complaint, each claim and the involvement of each defendant must be sufficiently alleged.
6 Plaintiff requests that the court appoint counsel. District courts lack authority to require
7 counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist.
8 Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request an attorney
9 to voluntarily represent such a plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d
10 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990).
11 When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court must consider plaintiff’s
12 likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro
13 se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970
14 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The
15 burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances
16 common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not
17 establish exceptional circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel.
18 Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to
19 meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of
20 counsel at this time.
21 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
22 1. Plaintiff’s request for leave to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 5) is granted.
23 2. Plaintiff is obligated to pay the statutory filing fee of $350.00 for this action. All fees
24 shall be collected and paid in accordance with this court’s order to the Director of the California
25 Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation filed concurrently herewith.
26 3. Plaintiff’s complaint is dismissed.
27 4. Plaintiff is granted thirty days from the date of service of this order to file an amended
28 complaint that complies with the requirements of the Civil Rights Act, the Federal Rules of Civil
1 | Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice. The amended complaint must bear the docket
2 || number assigned this case and must be labeled “Amended Complaint.” Failure to file an
3 || amended complaint in accordance with this order will result in a recommendation that this action
4 || be dismissed.
5 5. Plaintiff's motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 7) is denied.
6 || Dated: September 2, 2022 Card Kt | i, 4 Ly / g—
CAROLYN K.DELANEY
8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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