Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00139/USCOURTS-caed-2_07-cv-00139-2/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

DESMON LOEB,

Plaintiff, No. CIV S-07-0139 GEB EFB P

vs.

AUDETTE, et al.,

Defendants. ORDER

 /

Plaintiff is a prisoner without counsel suing for alleged civil rights violations. See 42

U.S.C. § 1983. He has requested that the court appoint counsel. District courts lack authority to

require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States

Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may request

counsel voluntarily to represent such a plaintiff. 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). 

The court finds that there are no exceptional circumstances in this case. 

Plaintiff has also filed a motion for discovery. That motion is late. The September 17,

2007, schedule set a discovery cutoff date of December 7, 2007, and directed the parties that all

motions to compel must be filed by that date. On November 15, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion

for an extension of time in which to file a motion to compel. That motion was granted and the

order filed November 20, 2007, gave plaintiff an additional 30 days from the date the order was

served to file his motion. Plaintiff filed his motion 34 days beyond the date granted by the court. 

Case 2:07-cv-00139-GEB-EFB Document 17 Filed 04/18/08 Page 1 of 2
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Plaintiff contends that the court will not be able to fully adjudicate a motion for summary

judgment absent the discovery he seeks. In an abundance of caution, the court extends the

deadline previously set and deems plaintiff’s motion timely filed.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s January 28, 2008, request for appointment of counsel is denied.

2. Defendants are directed to file a response to plaintiff’s January 28, 2008, motion to

compel within 30 days from the date this order is served. 

DATED: April 18, 2008.

Case 2:07-cv-00139-GEB-EFB Document 17 Filed 04/18/08 Page 2 of 2