Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05327/USCOURTS-cand-3_18-cv-05327-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LOUIS LEVERN PENNY,

Plaintiff,

v.

SANTA RITA COUNTY JAIL,

Defendant.

Case No. 18-cv-05327-EMC 

ORDER

Docket Nos. 20, 21

Plaintiff has filed a third motion for the appointment of counsel to represent him in this 

action. A district court has the discretion under 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(1) to designate counsel to 

represent an indigent civil litigant in exceptional circumstances. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 

F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). This requires an evaluation of both the likelihood of success on 

the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of 

the legal issues involved. See id. Neither of these factors is dispositive and both must be viewed 

together before deciding on a request for counsel under § 1915(e)(1). The record before the Court 

shows that Mr. Penny has some mental health problems. See Docket No. 20 at 5-12 (evaluations 

from two psychologists who opined eight months ago that Mr. Penny was not competent to stand 

trial). He apparently was sent to a state hospital for restoration of his competency to stand trial 

and, last month, was returned to the county jail – signaling that he has been restored to 

competency to stand trial. See Docket Nos. 23, 24. Despite his mental health problems, Mr. 

Penny’s filings in this action do not reflect confused thinking or an inability to articulate his legal 

position. There does not appear to be a likelihood of success because there is no pleading on file 

that states a claim for relief and his filings so far indicate that the nub of his grievance is that he 

was unable to figure out how to use the pay phone system at the jail – a claim that appears to have 

Case 3:18-cv-05327-EMC Document 25 Filed 03/10/20 Page 1 of 2
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

little chance of success. For these reasons, the Court concludes that exceptional circumstances are 

not present and DENIES the third motion for appointment of counsel. Docket No. 20. Mr. Penny 

should not file any more motions for appointment of counsel in this action.

Plaintiff’s request for an extension of the deadline to file his second amended complaint is 

GRANTED. Docket No. 21. Plaintiff must file his second amended complaint no later than 

April 10, 2020. No further extensions of this deadline should be expected. Failure to file the 

second amended complaint by the deadline will result in the dismissal of the action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 10, 2020

______________________________________

EDWARD M. CHEN

United States District Judge

Case 3:18-cv-05327-EMC Document 25 Filed 03/10/20 Page 2 of 2