Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-4_04-cv-00349/USCOURTS-azd-4_04-cv-00349-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 362
Nature of Suit: Medical Malpractice
Cause of Action: 28:1346 Tort Claim

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

FRANK LEYVA; et. al., 

Plaintiffs, 

vs.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

Defendant. 

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No. CIV 04-349-TUC-CKJ

ORDER

Pending before this Court is United States Magistrate Judge Hector C. Estrada’s

Report and Recommendation [Doc. #60] in which he recommends that this Court grant the

Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. #56]. Plaintiffs did not respond to the

Motion for Summary Judgment. 

The Report and Recommendation indicated that any party could file written objections

within ten days after being served with a copy of the Report and Recommendation. The

Report and Recommendation was electronically filed on May 8, 2007. The parties have not

filed objections to the Report and Recommendation. However, on May 31, 2007, Plaintiffs

sent a letter to this Court [Doc. #62] that was interpreted as a motion for oral argument. This

motion was denied as Plaintiffs had failed to respond to Defendant’s Motion for Summary

Judgement. However, the Court did grant Plaintiffs additional time to June 15, 2007, in

which to file objections. Plaintiffs failed to file any objections. 

Case 4:04-cv-00349-CKJ Document 64 Filed 07/05/07 Page 1 of 3
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Furthermore, Mrs. Leyva indicated in the letter that she and her husband could not

afford an attorney. This was construed by the Clerk of the Court as a motion to appoint

counsel, to which the government responded. 

There is no constitutional right to appointment of counsel in a civil case. See Ivey v.

Board of Regents of University of Alaska, 673 F.2d 266 (9th Cir. 1982); Randall v. Wyrick,

642 F.2d 304 (8th Cir. 1981). Moreover, the only possible authority creating a statutory right

would be 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), which confers on the Court the discretion to appoint

counsel to represent an indigent civil litigant. See Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089 (9th

1980). This Court may request an attorney to represent a person proceeding in forma

pauperis who is unable to afford counsel. See 28 U.S.C. §1915(e)(1). An appointment of

counsel may be designated under this section only in "exceptional circumstances." Wilborn

v. Escaleron, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). A finding of exceptional circumstances

requires an evaluation of both "the likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the

petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues

involved." Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Neither of these factors is

dispositive and both must be viewed together before reaching a decision of request of counsel

under §1915(e)(1). See id.

A review of the record shows that Plaintiffs have not demonstrated a likelihood of

success on the merits. Accordingly, this case does not present "exceptional circumstances"

requiring the appointment of counsel and the Motion is denied.

 In conclusion, the Court has carefully reviewed the entire record and finds Judge

Estrada’s analysis well-reasoned with no clear error. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ.

P. 72; Johnson v. Zema Systems Corp., 170 F.3d 734, 739 (7th Cir. 1999); Conley v.

Crabtree, 14 F. Supp. 2d 1203, 1204 (D. Or. 1998). Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. The Report and Recommendation [Doc. #60] is adopted.

2. The Motion to Appoint Counsel [Doc. #62] is denied.

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3. This case is dismissed with prejudice and the Clerk of the Court shall close the file

on this matter.

DATED this 5th day of July, 2007.

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