Ronald Gene Robinson v. General Manager of CALPIA

Case 2:20-cv-11591-CAS-ADS Document125 Filed 11/01/22 Page1of4 Page ID#:702

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL MINUTES —- GENERAL ‘O’

Case No. 2:20-cv-11591-CAS (ADS) Date November 1, 2022

Title RONALD GENE ROBINSON V. GENERAL MANAGER OF CALPIA,

ET AL.

Present: The Honorable CHRISTINA A. SNYDER

Catherine Jeang Not Present N/A

Deputy Clerk Court Reporter / Recorder Tape No.

Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs: Attorneys Present for Defendants:

Not Present Not Present

Proceedings: (IN CHAMBERS) - MOTION FOR JUDGMENT TO REOPEN

CASE AND TO ALTER OR AMEND RULING (DKkt. 123, filed on

OCTOBER 13, 2022)

On December 22, 2020, plaintiff Ronald Gene Robinson filed this civil rights

action against nine defendants, who are managers and administrators of the California

Prison Industry Authority, correctional counselors at California Men’s Colony, and the

director of the California Board of Parole Hearings. Dkt. 1. On May 14, 2021, plaintiff

filed the First Amended Complaint. Dkt. 11. The First Amended Complaint alleges (1) a

Fourteenth Amendment procedural due process claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (2) a First

Amendment retaliation claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; (3) a First Amendment free

exercise claim under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; and (4) a state law claim pursuant to California

Labor Code § 2811. See generally id.

On October 25, 2021, eight of the nine defendants filed a motion to dismiss for

failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 12(b)(6), among other grounds. Dkt. 72. On November 29, 2021, plaintiff

filed a request for leave to amend the First Amended Complaint. Dkt. 93. On August 22,

2022, the Magistrate Judge issued a report and recommendation (the “Report”) granting

the motion to dismiss on Rule 12(b)(6) grounds and denying plaintiff's request to amend

the First Amended Complaint, reasoning that amendment would be futile. Dkt. 116. On

September 9, 2022, plaintiff filed an objection to the Report. Dkt. 119. Plaintiff's

objection did not state any grounds for objection but rather argued that plaintiff required

counsel in order to further litigate his case due to his disability. Id. On October 4, 2022,

the Court accepted the Report. Dkt. 121. In doing so, the Court concluded that

requesting an attorney to represent plaintiff would not be appropriate because plaintiff

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Case 2:20-cv-11591-CAS-ADS Document125 Filed 11/01/22 Page 2of4 Page ID#:703

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL MINUTES —- GENERAL ‘O’

Case No. 2:20-cv-11591-CAS (ADS) Date November 1, 2022

Title RONALD GENE ROBINSON V. GENERAL MANAGER OF CALPIA,

ET AL.

had already litigated the case to conclusion, the Court found the Report to be persuasive,

and requesting an attorney to represent plaintiff would not impact the findings in the

Report. Id. at 2.

On October 13, 2022, plaintiff filed a motion to reopen the case and to alter the

ruling, arguing that the Court’s decision not to appoint counsel violated the Americans

with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1201, et seg., (“ADA”) and that the Court should have

held an evidentiary hearing on whether plaintiff required counsel to object to the Report.

Dkt. 123.

The Court construes plaintiff's motion as a motion for reconsideration. In this

judicial district,

[a] motion for reconsideration of an Order on any motion or application may

be made only on the grounds of (a) a material difference in fact or law from that

presented to the Court that, in the exercise of reasonable diligence, could not have

been known to the party moving for reconsideration at the time the Order was

entered, or (b) the emergence of new material facts or a change of law occurring

after the Order was entered, or (c) a manifest showing of a failure to consider

material facts presented to the Court before the Order was entered. No motion for

reconsideration may in any manner repeat any oral or written argument made in

support of, or in opposition to, the original motion. Absent good cause shown, any

motion for reconsideration must be filed no later than 14 days after entry of the

Order that is the subject of the motion or application.

C.D. Cal. Local R. 7-18; see also Navajo Nation v. Confederated Tribes & Bands of the

Yakama Indian Nation, 331 F.3d 1041, 1046 (9th Cir. 2003) (“Reconsideration 1s

indicated in the face of the existence of new evidence, an intervening change in the law,

or as necessary to prevent manifest injustice.”). “Whether or not to grant reconsideration

is committed to the sound discretion of the court.” Navajo Nation, 331 F.3d at 1046.

Plaintiff has not shown “a material difference in fact or law from that presented to

the Court” or “new material facts or a change of law occurring after the [o|rder was

entered.” L.R. 7-18. Nor has plaintiff demonstrated “a manifest showing of a failure to

consider material facts presented to the Court.” Id. Plaintiff does not have a

constitutional right to counsel in this § 1983 proceeding. See Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d

1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part on other grounds on rehearing en banc, 154

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL MINUTES —- GENERAL ‘O’

Case No. 2:20-cv-11591-CAS (ADS) Date November 1, 2022

Title RONALD GENE ROBINSON V. GENERAL MANAGER OF CALPIA,

ET AL.

F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 1998) (en banc). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), a federal court has

discretion to request that an attorney represent a litigant who is unable to afford counsel.

“The decision to appoint such counsel is within ‘the sound discretion of the trial court

and is granted only in exceptional circumstances.’” Agyeman v. Corrections Corp. of

America, 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 2004) (quoting Franklin v. Murphy, 745 F.2d

1221, 1236 (9th Cir. 1984)).

Plaintiff has not provided any evidence supporting a finding of exceptional

circumstances, and the ADA does not entitle plaintiff to counsel here. Plaintiff has

indicated that he has “severe depression” and “debilitating migraine headaches.” Dkt. 60.

But, despite his alleged disability, plaintiff has demonstrated that he is capable of

litigating this matter by filing timely papers throughout the litigation and asserting

coherent arguments. See Mejia v. Sherman, 2022 WL 370959, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 8,

2022) (finding “no cause to appoint counsel” in light of “petitioner’s ability to articulate

his claims” despite his alleged disability); Pagaling v. Napa State Hospital, 2022 WL

3084313, at *2 (N._D. Cal. Aug. 3, 2022) (denying request for counsel on ADA grounds

where “[p|laintiff has shown that he 1s capable of litigating this matter by filing coherent

and organized papers’’); Randle v. Grounds, 2018 WL 6027120, at *7 (C.D. Cal. Sept. 28,

2018) (finding appointment of counsel inappropriate where “‘petitioner’s effective ability

to articulate his claims pro se is adequate”). Moreover, in light of the Report dismissing

plaintiff's claims, which the Court finds persuasive, plaintiff has not demonstrated a

likelihood of success on the merits that would warrant appointment of counsel here.

To the extent that plaintiff seeks an evidentiary hearing pursuant to Federal Rule of

Civil Procedure 17(c), the Court concludes that plaintiff has not made the requisite

showing of incompetence. Rule 17(c) provides in relevant part:

A minor or an incompetent person who does not have a duly appointed

representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The court must

appoint a guardian ad litem — or issue another appropriate order — to protect a

minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action.

Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). In the Ninth Circuit, ifa “substantial question” exists regarding

the mental incompetence of a pro se litigant, the district court should conduct a hearing to

determine whether a guardian ad litem should be appointed. See Allen v. Calderon, 408

F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005). When determining whether a substantial question

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CIVIL MINUTES —- GENERAL ‘O’

Case No. 2:20-cv-11591-CAS (ADS) Date November 1, 2022

Title RONALD GENE ROBINSON V. GENERAL MANAGER OF CALPIA,

ET AL.

exists, the Ninth Circuit looks for “substantial evidence” demonstrating that the litigant is

incompetent. Id. See also Powell v. Symons, 680 F.3d 301, 307 (3d Cir. 2012) (Rule

17(c) duty of inquiry triggered by “verifiable evidence” of incompetence). In California,

a party is incompetent “if he or she lacks the capacity to understand the nature or

consequences of the proceeding, or is unable to assist counsel in the preparation of the

case.” Golden Gate Way, LLC v. Stewart, 2012 WL 4482053, at *2 (N_D. Cal. Sept. 28,

2012). See also Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(b)(1).

Here, plaintiff has not provided any evidence in support of his request for an

evidentiary hearing. In September 2021, in connection with a different filing, plaintiff

submitted redacted health records indicating that he has been treated for depression and

chronic headaches. See dkt. 60. While these records indicate that plaintiff suffers or has

suffered from certain health conditions, they do not constitute “substantial evidence” that

he lacks the capacity to understand the nature or consequences of these proceedings. C-f.

Allen, 408 F.3d at 1152 (finding substantial evidence of incompetence where pro se

litigant filed sworn declarations and letters from prison psychiatrist indicating that litigant

“d[id] not understand the court’s instructions” and that his schizophrenia “prevent ed]

him from being able to understand and respond to the court’s order . . . during the

relevant time period”). Furthermore, as explained above, plaintiff has demonstrated an

ability to prosecute his case by timely filing coherent papers throughout the litigation.

The fact that the Court has granted defendants’ motion to dismiss and denied plaintiffs

request for leave to amend the First Amended Complaint does not demonstrate that

plaintiff is incompetent and requires appointment of a guardian ad litem.

In accordance with the foregoing, the Court DENIES plaintiffs motion to reopen

the case and alter or amend the ruling.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

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