Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01633/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-01633-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SEVAN KAYAIAN, ) 

 )

Plaintiff, )

)

)

v. )

)

AMERICAN AMBULANCE, ) 

 )

Defendants. )

)

 )

1:06-cv-1633-AWI-SMS 

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S REQUEST

FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL (DOC.

5)

Plaintiff is proceeding pro se with an action for damages

and other relief concerning alleged civil rights violations. The

matter has been referred to the Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Rules 72-302 and 72-304. 

Despite the Court’s order to do so, Plaintiff has not filed

a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis or, in the

alternative, paid the filing fee. Plaintiff is being given an

opportunity to pay the filing fee by a separate order.

On December 7, 2006, Plaintiff filed a document in which he

asked the court to appoint an attorney to assist him in this

case. The Court may request an attorney voluntarily to represent

a person proceeding in forma pauperis who is unable to afford

Case 1:06-cv-01633-AWI -SMS Document 7 Filed 01/04/07 Page 1 of 3
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counsel. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d). Appointment of counsel by the Court

in such circumstances is discretionary, not mandatory. United

States v. $292,888.04 in U.S. Currency, 54 F.3d 564, 569 (9th

Cir. 1995). Appointment may be made if a court finds that there

are exceptional circumstances after evaluating the likelihood of

success on the merits and the ability of the party to articulate

his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues

involved; the factors must be viewed together. Terrell v. Brewer,

935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9 Cir. 1991) (citing Wilborn v. th

Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9 Cir. 1986)). th

Here, this Court cannot require an attorney to represent

plaintiff. Mallard v. United States District Court for the

Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). Without a

reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, this

court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and

exceptional cases. 

In light of the early stage of the proceedings and

Plaintiff’s repeated failure even to complete the process of

paying the filing fee or filing a completed application to

proceed in forma pauperis, the Court cannot make a determination

that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits. Terrell, 935

F.2d at 1017. There is no showing that Plaintiff is unable to

proceed in view of the nature of the case, which concerns

Plaintiff’s treatment in an ambulance.

The Court does not find the required exceptional

circumstances.

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Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of

counsel, filed December 7, 2006, IS DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 3, 2007 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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