Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01067/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01067-4/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MARC SLAMEN, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

MANUEL SABIN, M.D., et al., 

Defendants. 

No. 2:14-cv-1067-EFB P 

ORDER 

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding without counsel in an action brought under 42 

U.S.C. § 1983. He requests an extension of time to file his amended complaint and further 

requests 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 an attorney to voluntarily to represent such a plaintiff. See

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). When determining whether “exceptional 

circumstances” exist, the court must consider the likelihood of success on the merits as well as the 

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

involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). Having considered those factors, 

the court finds there are no exceptional circumstances in this case. 

Case 2:14-cv-01067-EFB Document 17 Filed 04/29/15 Page 1 of 2
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The court will, however, grant plaintiff an extension of time to file his amended complaint 

pursuant to the court’s April 7, 2015 order. 

 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 16) is denied; and 

2. Plaintiff’s request for an extension of time is granted and plaintiff shall have an 

additional thirty (30) days in which to file his amended complaint. Plaintiff is admonished that 

failure to timely file his amended complaint may result in dismissal of this action. 

DATED: April 29, 2015. 

Case 2:14-cv-01067-EFB Document 17 Filed 04/29/15 Page 2 of 2