Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01243/USCOURTS-caed-2_05-cv-01243-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSEPH THOMAS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-1243 MCE DAD P

vs.

MANUEL MEDINA, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

On June 28, 2005, plaintiff was granted 30 days to submit the documents required

for service of his complaint. On August 19, 2005, the undersigned recommended that this action

be dismissed due to plaintiff’s failure to comply with the order. Plaintiff responded that the order

had been delayed by prison authorities. He submitted a summons and eleven completed USM285 forms but did not submit twelve copies of his complaint or the Notice of Submission of

Documents. The court vacated the findings and recommendations and granted plaintiff 30 days

to submit the remaining documents. On September 23, 2005, the court granted plaintiff an

extension of time to November 1, 2005. Plaintiff has requested a sixty-day extension of time, a

Notice of Submission of Documents form, and appointment of counsel or an investigator.

Plaintiff now complains that prison authorities tampered with the court’s order,

removing the Notice of Submission of Documents form and the instructions for completing the

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USM-285 forms. Plaintiff claims he had no way of knowing that the Notice of Submission of

Documents form had been removed until he received the court’s order filed September 2, 2005.

Plaintiff admits that he has received the court’s June 28, 2005 order, albeit late. 

He offers no explanation for his failure to submit twelve copies of his complaint, and his

assertion regarding the Notice of Submission of Documents form is not credible. The June 28,

2005 order lists all of the documents plaintiff was required to submit and provides that

plaintiff shall complete the attached Notice of Submission of

Documents and submit all of the following documents to the court

at the same time:

a. The completed, signed Notice of Submission of

Documents . . . .

(Order filed June 28, 2005, at 2.) Plaintiff is cautioned that he must read court orders more

carefully.

The court will provide plaintiff with a revised Notice of Submission of

Documents for the purpose of submitting twelve copies of his complaint. In the event that

plaintiff has also lost the copy of the complaint that was sent with the June 28, 2005 order, the

court will direct the Clerk to provide plaintiff with one additional copy of the pleading. The

court will not grant plaintiff an additional 60 days to obtain photocopies of his complaint.

Plaintiff is advised that district courts lack authority to require counsel to

represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 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). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir.

1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the

court does not find exceptional circumstances, and federal law does not provide for the

appointment of special investigators to conduct investigations for civil litigants. Plaintiff’s

request for appointment of counsel or an investigator will therefore be denied.

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s September 22, 2005 request for a 60-day extension of time is

denied;

2. Plaintiff’s September 22, 2005 request for appointment of counsel or a special

investigator is denied;

3. Plaintiff’s September 22, 2005 request for a Notice of Submission of

Documents form is granted;

4. The Clerk of the Court shall send plaintiff a copy of the complaint filed June

21, 2005; and 

5. On or before November 1, 2005, plaintiff shall complete the Notice of

Submission of Documents form that is attached to this order and shall submit the completed,

signed Notice of Submission of Documents together with twelve true and exact copies of the

endorsed complaint filed June 21, 2005.

DATED: October 3, 2005.

DAD:13

thom1243.reqs

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JOSEPH THOMAS,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-05-1243 MCE DAD P 

vs.

MANUEL MEDINA, et al., NOTICE OF SUBMISSION

Defendants. OF DOCUMENTS

 /

Plaintiff hereby submits the following documents in compliance with the court’s

order filed :

 twelve true and exact copies of the complaint filed June 21, 2005.

DATED: .

 

Plaintiff

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