Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00724/USCOURTS-caed-2_16-cv-00724-6/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

JOSH THOMAS,

Plaintiff,

v.

BRIAN ROBERTS, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:16-cv-0724 CKD P

ORDER

Plaintiff has filed a request for an extension of time to file an amended complaint. Good 

cause appearing, plaintiff’s request will be granted. Plaintiff’s amended complaint will be due 

within 30 days,

Plaintiff has also requested appointment of counsel. The court cannot require an attorney 

to represent a plaintiff who cannot pay for the attorney’s services. Mallard v. United States Dist. 

Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However, under the federal in forma pauperis statute, 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915, the court may request that an attorney represent a person unable to afford counsel. 28 

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). The court will make that request only when there are exceptional 

circumstances. When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court 

considers, among other things, plaintiff's 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). While the court is aware of the 

Case 2:16-cv-00724-KJM-CKD Document 21 Filed 03/01/17 Page 1 of 2
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difficulties attendant to litigating an action while incarcerated, circumstances common to most 

prisoners do not establish “exceptional circumstances.”

In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances at this 

stage of these proceedings.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for an extension of time to file an amended complaint (ECF No. 20) 

is granted;

2. Plaintiff shall file his amended complaint within 30 days;

3. Failure to file an amended complaint within 30 days will result in dismissal; and

4. Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is denied.

Dated: February 28, 2017

1

thom0724.ext

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 2:16-cv-00724-KJM-CKD Document 21 Filed 03/01/17 Page 2 of 2