Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-00372/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-00372-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

FRESNO DIVISION

LARRY JAMES DeROSSETT, JR.,

Plaintiff,

v.

ELI DILLION, et al.,

Defendants.

_____________________________/

1:10-cv-00372-LJO-SMS 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF'S

MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL

(Doc. 3)

Plaintiff Larry James DeRossett, proceeding pro se in the above-entitled action, has moved

for appointment of counsel. Having reviewed Plaintiff's motion in its entirety, this Court denies

Plaintiff's motion.

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require

counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. U. S. Dist. Court for the S. Dist.

of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the

voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d

1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part, on other grounds, 154 F.3d 952 (1998), cert. denied,

527 U.S. 1035 (1999); Aldabe v. Aldabe, 616 F.2d 1089, 1093 (9th Cir. 1980). Without a reasonable

method of securing and compensating counsel, this court will seek volunteer counsel only in the

most serious and exceptional cases. 

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In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. See Rand,

113 F.3d at 1525. Even if it is assumed that Plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has

made serious allegations which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. 

This court is faced with similar cases almost daily. Therefore, Plaintiff's request for the appointment

of counsel is HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 9, 2010 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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