setting forth factors for guidance in determining if exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel.
How later courts described this case
- setting forth factors for guidance in determining if exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel.
Written by the judges who cited it.
The opinion
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ANDRE MAURICE )
CASTARPHEN, JR., )
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) CIV. ACTION NO. 1:24-0007-KD-N
)
QUEDARIUS BROWN, )
et al., )
Defendants. )
ORDER
Plaintiff Andre Maurice Carstarphen, Jr.,, an Alabama prisoner proceeding
pro se and in forma pauperis, brought this civil action asserting claims under 42
U.S.C. § 1983. After the Defendants filed their Answers and Special Reports as
ordered, the undersigned converted those filings into a motion for summary judgment
under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56 and set deadlines for briefing. (See Doc. 49).
On July 7, 2025, the Court, adopting the recommendation of the undersigned, denied
summary judgment on Carstarphen’s claims as to the following:
• Excessive force claims against Officer Quedarius Brown and Sergeant
Donnell Carter. (Doc. 53, PageID.796; Doc. 54, PageID.805).
• Supervisory liability against Warden Noah Price Oliver. (Doc. 53,
PageID.799; Doc. 54, PageID.805).
Upon consideration of this action as it currently stands, the undersigned has
determined that the appointment of counsel would advance the proper
administration of justice. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) (“The court may request an
attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel.”); Smith v. Fla. Dep’t of
Corr., 713 F.3d 1059, 1065 (11th Cir. 2013) (per curiam) (“While no single factor
requires appointment of counsel, in the aggregate, this case presents exceptional
circumstances that necessitate appointment of counsel.”); Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691
F.2d 209, 213 (5th Cir. 1982) (setting forth factors for guidance in determining if
exceptional circumstances warrant appointment of counsel.). The undersigned finds,
in light of the summary judgment order identified above, that exceptional
circumstances exist for appointment of counsel. Specifically, Carstarphen is indigent
and currently incarcerated, and the evidence at trial will consist—in significant
part—of conflicting testimony that will require the skill of counsel in the presentation
of evidence as well as in cross-examination. Appointment of counsel will also assist
the efficient conduct of discovery for the remaining claims.
As such, it is ORDERED that, N. Stewart Hanley, Esq., an attorney in Mobile,
Alabama, who is duly licensed to practice in this Court, is hereby APPOINTED to
serve as counsel for Carstarphen in this action for all further district court
proceedings in this civil action through entry of final judgment.
The Court will not pay appointed counsel’s attorney fees in connection with
this appointment. Instead, entitlement to attorneys’ fees in this action will be based
on statute and/or the terms of any settlement agreement. However, by standing
order, this Court has created a Special Attorney Admissions Fund for
“[r]eimbursement of pro bono counsel for out-of-pocket expenses, payment of
compensation to pro bono counsel, and payment of witness fees and other expenses
on behalf of indigent pro se civil litigants.” See S.D. ALA. Standing Order No. 16,
Attached Plan for the Administration of the Special Attorney Admissions Fund, ¶
5.F. See also S.D. Ala. CivLR 67.1(a) (“The Special Attorney Admission Fund . . . shall
be maintained by the Clerk to compensate appointed counsel in civil rights actions
for reasonably incurred expenses authorized by prior order of the Judge to whom the
action is assigned. Compensation from the Fund is not authorized for attorney’s fees
or for expenses for which any other source of payment exists”). S.D. Ala. Civil Local
Rule 67.1(c)-(d) provides the procedure for requesting and receiving payment from
the Special Attorney Admissions Fund. Additionally, before coming out-of-pocket to
pay expenses for this litigation, counsel must seek pre-approval of all expenditures
for which he will seek reimbursement from this Court.
The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to mail a copy of this order to Carstarphen
at his address of record.
DONE and ORDERED this 21st Day of January, 2026.
/s/ Katherine P. Nelson
KATHERINE P. NELSON
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE