Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00520/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00520-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 550
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Civil Rights (U.S. defendant)
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES ERIC STEWART,

Plaintiff,

v.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT

OF CORRECTIONS, et al.,

Defendants.

 /

CASE NO. 1:06-cv-00520-AWI-SMS PC

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(Doc. 10)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION

FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE AN

AMENDED COMPLAINT, AND DIRECTING

CLERK’S OFFICE TO SEND PLAINTIFF A

COMPLAINT FORM

(Doc. 10)

AMENDED COMPLAINT DUE WITHIN

SIXTY DAYS

Plaintiff Charles Eric Stewart (“plaintiff”) is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 26, 2006, the court

dismissed plaintiff’s complaint and ordered plaintiff to file an amended complaint within thirty days.

On January 25, 2007, plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel and an extension

of time to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff alleges that he has been in the hospital with a staph

infection for the past eight months, has had the right side of his skull removed, and faces additional

surgeries. Plaintiff would like an extension of time until his surgery is completed.

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

Case 1:06-cv-00520-AWI -SMS Document 11 Filed 02/12/07 Page 1 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

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

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

“exceptional 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. Even if

it is assumed that plaintiff is not well versed in the law and that he has made serious allegations

which, if proved, would entitle him to relief, his case is not exceptional. This court is faced with

similar cases almost daily. Further, at this stage in the proceedings, plaintiff’s complaint has been

dismissed for failure to state a claim. Therefore, 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. Therefore, plaintiff’s motion for the

appointment of counsel must be denied. 

With respect to an extension of time, the court cannot grant an open ended extension. The

court will grant plaintiff sixty days instead of the standard thirty days. If plaintiff needs additional

time after the sixty days have passed, he may file another motion for an extension. In that motion,

plaintiff should set forth when he believes his surgery will be completed and he will be able to file

an amended complaint.

Based on the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel, filed January 25, 2007, is

DENIED, without prejudice;

2. Plaintiff’s motion for an extension of time, filed January 25, 2007, is GRANTED,

and plaintiff shall file an amended complaint in compliance with the court’s order of

December 26, 2006, within sixty (60) days from the date of service of this order; and

///

Case 1:06-cv-00520-AWI -SMS Document 11 Filed 02/12/07 Page 2 of 3
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

3. The Clerk’s Office shall send plaintiff a civil rights complaint form.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 9, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

i0d3h8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00520-AWI -SMS Document 11 Filed 02/12/07 Page 3 of 3