Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01297/USCOURTS-caed-1_11-cv-01297-4/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

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MICHAEL VINCENT CISNEROS,

Plaintiff,

v.

DR. M. DHAM, et al.,

Defendants.

1:11-cv-01297-LJO-BAM-(PC) 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT OF 

COUNSEL

(ECF No. 25)

Plaintiff Michael Vincent Cisneros (“Plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and 

in forma pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This action proceeds 

against Defendant Neubarth for deliberate indifference to medical needs in violation of the Eighth 

Amendment. On November 18, 2013, Plaintiff filed the instant application seeking the 

appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 25.)

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

Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), 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, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (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. 

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

Case 1:11-cv-01297-LJO-BAM Document 26 Filed 11/20/13 Page 1 of 2
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volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether 

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

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).

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

Although Plaintiff explains that he is not well versed in the law, his case is not exceptional. This 

court is faced with similar cases almost daily involving prisoners alleging deliberate indifference 

to medical needs in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Further, at this early stage in the 

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

merits, and based on a review of the record in this case, the court does not find that Plaintiff 

cannot adequately articulate his claims. Id. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff=s application for the appointment of counsel is 

HEREBY DENIED without prejudice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 20, 2013 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:11-cv-01297-LJO-BAM Document 26 Filed 11/20/13 Page 2 of 2