Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-00288/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-00288-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 360
Nature of Suit: Other Personal Injury
Cause of Action: 05:8316 Claims agst US re Retirement for Federal Emp.

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18cv288-LAB (KSC)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CARLTON A. PACE,

Plaintiff,

v.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY,

Defendant.

Case No.: 18cv288-LAB (KSC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS;

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL; 

AND

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Plaintiff Carlton Pace, proceeding pro se, filed a complaint along with a 

motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”), and a motion for appointment of 

counsel.

The IFP motion is incomplete and does not make sense. Pace used a form 

to file this motion. According to the form, Pace has no income or expenses of any 

kind. He did not answer questions about his assets, other than to say he owns a

2012 Ford Flex and is owed $13 by the Viejas Casino and Resort. Pace did not 

answer questions 9–12 of the form. The address he provided on the complaint 

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shows he lives in an apartment in San Diego. Nothing on the form shows that he 

pays rent for it, or if so, how much he pays. Nor does it show he is receiving 

financial support or assistance. The incomplete IFP motion is DENIED WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE.

Pace also asks the Court to appoint counsel. There is no constitutional right 

to appointment of counsel in civil cases, although in exceptional circumstances the 

Court may request counsel to represent an indigent party. See Zamaro v. Moonga, 

656 Fed. Appx. 297, 299 (9th Cir. 2016). Whether exceptional circumstances exist 

requires the Court to evaluate the likelihood of the plaintiff’s success on the merits, 

and of his ability to articulate his claims in light of the complexity of the legal issues 

involved. Id.; Agyeman v. Corrections Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 

2004). The motion does not show that he ever contacted any lawyer about 

representing him.

The complaint is a general request for help from the Court. Pace says he 

was discharged from the Navy 30 years ago, and that the Navy denied him relief. 

He is requesting back pay and benefits for the past 30 years, as well as correction 

of his military records. He mentions health problems and how they are affecting 

him, and says he has been trying without success to get benefits. He does not say 

whether he was injured while in the Navy, or explain why he is entitled to benefits. 

He does not say how his military record is inaccurate or why it should be corrected.

The complaint does not explain why Pace is entitled to relief. See Fed. R. 

Civ. P. 8(a)(2). Without this, the Court cannot evaluate the likelihood of his 

success.

The Court cannot serve as Pace’s attorney or give him legal advice. He may 

wish to contact the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the General Counsel, 

or look at the VA website at https://www.va.gov/ogc/legalservices.asp for 

information about legal service clinics. He may also wish to contact local legal aid 

offices, or the county bar association’s lawyer referral service for recommendations 

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of or referrals to lawyers or other organizations. Even if they cannot help him, 

they may be able to refer him to another source of help. 

The motion for appointment of counsel is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 

Because he has not paid the filing fee or been granted leave to proceed IFP, the 

complaint is DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE. If he believes he can 

successfully amend, he may do file a renewed IFP motion (or pay the filing fee) 

and file an amended complaint within 28 calendar days of the date this order is 

issued. If he does not do so, the complaint will remain dismissed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 5, 2018

Hon. Larry Alan Burns

United States District Judge

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