Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-00220/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-00220-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEVIN DEROI SAWYER,

Plaintiff,

v.

CHRIS MACDONALD, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-00220-JD 

ORDER DENYING MOTION TO 

APPOINT COUNSEL

Re: Dkt. No. 37

Plaintiff, a state prisoner, proceeds with a pro se civil rights complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 

1983. The Court ordered service on defendants Cavagnolo, McDonald, and Tate who worked at 

San Quentin State Prison. Cavagnolo has been served. The United States Marshal reported that 

the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (“CDCR”) has no current 

employment information regarding McDonald and no forwarding information. Docket No. 19. 

Defendant Tate no longer works for CDCR and while a forwarding address was provided, the 

United States Marshal went to the new address but learned that Tate had moved with no 

forwarding address. Id. Plaintiff later provided a new address for defendant Tate, but the United 

States Marshal was unable to serve the defendant. The United States Marshal learned that Tate 

had moved with no forwarding address. Docket No. 44. Within 28 days of service of this order, 

plaintiff must provide more information to serve these defendants or they will be dismissed 

pursuant to Fed. R. Civ P. 4(m). Plaintiff may seek such information through the California 

Public Records Act or any other means available.

Plaintiff has also requested the appointment of counsel. The Ninth Circuit has held that a 

district court may ask counsel to represent an indigent litigant only in “exceptional 

circumstances,” the determination of which requires an evaluation of both (1) the likelihood of 

Case 3:15-cv-00220-JD Document 49 Filed 01/12/17 Page 1 of 3
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

success on the merits, and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of 

the complexity of the legal issues involved. Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 

1991). Plaintiff appears able to present his claims adequately, and the issues are not complex. 

CONCLUSION

1. Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel (Docket No. 37) is DENIED.

2. Within 28 days of service of this order, plaintiff must provide more information to 

serve McDonald and Tate or they will be dismissed pursuant to Fed. R. Civ P. 4(m). Plaintiff may 

seek such information through the California Public Records Act or any other means available.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: January 12, 2017

JAMES DONATO

United States District Judge

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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEVIN DEROI SAWYER,

Plaintiff,

v.

CHRIS MACDONALD, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 15-cv-00220-JD 

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I, the undersigned, hereby certify that I am an employee in the Office of the Clerk, U.S. 

District Court, Northern District of California.

That on January 12, 2017, I SERVED a true and correct copy(ies) of the attached, by 

placing said copy(ies) in a postage paid envelope addressed to the person(s) hereinafter listed, by 

depositing said envelope in the U.S. Mail, or by placing said copy(ies) into an inter-office delivery 

receptacle located in the Clerk's office.

Kevin DeRoi Sawyer

P22673

San Quentin State Prison

San Quentin, CA 94974 

Dated: January 12, 2017

Susan Y. Soong

Clerk, United States District Court

By:________________________

LISA R. CLARK, Deputy Clerk to the 

Honorable JAMES DONATO

Case 3:15-cv-00220-JD Document 49 Filed 01/12/17 Page 3 of 3