Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02013/USCOURTS-caed-1_14-cv-02013-3/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GORDON D. MEADOR,

Plaintiff,

v.

SMITH & WESSEN, et al.,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:14-cv-02013-SKO (PC)

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF INVESTIGATOR

(Doc. 14)

Plaintiff Gordon D. Meador, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed 

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on December 18, 2014. On May 4, 2015,

Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of an investigator for the limited purpose of 

assisting him in identifying the Doe defendants.

“„[T]he expenditure of public funds [on behalf of an indigent litigant] is proper only when 

authorized by Congress. . . .‟” Tedder v. Odel, 890 F.2d 210, 211-12 (9th Cir. 1989) (quoting 

United States v. MacCollum, 426 U.S. 317, 321, 96 S.Ct. 2086 (1976)). There is no provision for 

the appointment of an investigator to assist Plaintiff with his case. To the extent Plaintiff‟s motion 

should be construed in the alternative as seeking counsel, this action does not present “exceptional 

circumstances” justifying the appointment of voluntary counsel. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1); Palmer 

v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009); Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th 

Cir. 1986). 

Case 1:14-cv-02013-DLB Document 16 Filed 05/06/15 Page 1 of 2
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Accordingly, Plaintiff‟s motion for the appointment of an investigator is HEREBY 

DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 6, 2015 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:14-cv-02013-DLB Document 16 Filed 05/06/15 Page 2 of 2