Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01810/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01810-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES CROMER,

 Plaintiff,

 v.

VICTOR CARREBELLO, et al.,

 Defendants.

1:15-cv-01810-EPG (PC)

 

ORDER DISCHARGING ORDER TO 

SHOW CAUSE

(ECF NO. 7)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF 

COUNSEL

(ECF NO. 8)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS

(ECF NO. 8)

ORDER FOR PLAINTIFF TO SUBMIT 

APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN 

FORMA PAUPERIS OR PAY FILING 

FEE WITHIN 45 DAYS

Charles Cromer (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ' 1983. Plaintiff filed the Complaint commencing this action on 

December 3, 2015. (ECF No. 1). On January 28, 2016, Plaintiff filed an amended complaint

(ECF No. 5), which awaits the Court’s requisite screening.

On February 10, 2016, Plaintiff consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction in this action 

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (ECF No. 6), and no other parties have made an appearance.

Therefore, pursuant to Appendix A(k)(4) of the Local Rules of the Eastern District of 

California, the undersigned shall conduct any and all proceedings in the case until such time as 

reassignment to a District Judge is required. Local Rule Appendix A(k)(3).

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On December 14, 2015, the Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to either pay the 

filing fee for this action or submit an application to proceed in forma pauperis within 45 days of 

the date of service of the order. (ECF No. 3). The Court sent Plaintiff the Court’s form application 

to proceed in forma pauperis, to complete and return to the Court. (Id.). The 45-day period 

expired, and Plaintiff had not paid the filing fee, submitted an application to proceed in forma 

pauperis, or otherwise responded to the Court’s order. Accordingly, the Court issued an order to 

show cause, requiring Plaintiff to show cause why the case should not be dismissed for Plaintiff’s 

failure to obey the Court’s order. (ECF No. 7).

On June 17, 2016, Plaintiff filed a response to the order to show cause. (ECF No. 8). The 

response included a request for pro bono counsel, as well as an application to proceed in forma 

pauperis.

I. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

According to Plaintiff’s response to the order to show cause, Plaintiff did not receive 

the Court’s order requiring Plaintiff to either pay the filing fee or submit an application to 

proceed in forma pauperis. (Id. at p. 1). Plaintiff also submitted a completed in forma pauperis

application.1 (Id. at pgs. 3-4).

Because Plaintiff has shown cause as to why the case should not be dismissed for 

Plaintiff’s failure to obey the Court’s order, the order to show cause shall be discharged.

II. MOTION FOR THE COURT TO REQUEST PRO BONO COUNSEL

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this action, Rand v. 

Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), withdrawn in part on reh'g en banc, 154 F.3d 

952 (9th Cir. 1998), and the Court cannot require an attorney to represent Plaintiff pursuant to 

28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern District of 

Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). However, in certain exceptional circumstances the Court may 

request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to section 1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 

1525. 

 

1 Although, as discussed below, Plaintiff used the wrong form.

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Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the Court will seek 

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 

Aexceptional circumstances exist, a district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success 

on the merits [and] the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the 

complexity of the legal issues involved.@ (Id.) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).

Plaintiff argues that he needs counsel because he “is legally blind and without the 

means to obtain an attorney.” (ECF No. 8, p. 2). Blindness alone does not make Plaintiff’s 

case exceptional under the Ninth Circuit’s standards discussed above. At this early stage in the 

proceedings, the Court cannot make a determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the 

merits. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint on January 28, 2016 (ECF No. 5), but it has not 

yet been screened. Moreover, based on the record in this case, the Court finds that Plaintiff can 

adequately articulate his claims and respond to Court orders. Plaintiff is advised that he is not 

precluded from renewing the motion for appointment of counsel at a later stage of the 

proceedings. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff=s motion for the Court to request pro bono counsel

shall be denied, without prejudice.

III. APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

While it appears that Plaintiff has made the showing required by section 1915(a), 

Plaintiff submitted the wrong in forma pauperis application form. Accordingly, Plaintiff will 

be sent a copy of the appropriate form, which he must return (completed and signed) within 

forty-five days.

IV. CONCLUSION

In accordance with the above and good cause appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY 

ORDERED that:

1. The Court’s order to show cause (ECF No. 7) is DISCHARGED;

2. Plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 8) is DENIED

WITHOUT PREJUDICE;

3. Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No. 8) is DENIED 

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WITHOUT PREJUDICE;

4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to send Plaintiff an Application to Proceed In 

Forma Pauperis by a Prisoner.

5. Within forty-five (45) days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall 

submit the application to proceed in forma pauperis, completed and signed, or in 

the alternative, pay the $400.00 filing fee for this action. No requests for 

extension will be granted. Failure to comply with this order will result in 

dismissal of this action.

6. Within sixty (60) days of the date of service of this order, Plaintiff shall submit a 

certified copy of his prison trust account statement for the six-month period 

immediately preceding the filing of the complaint, if Plaintiff has not already 

done so.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 2, 2016 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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