Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00046/USCOURTS-caed-1_12-cv-00046-12/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

SHAWN PATRICK GREENBLATT,

Plaintiff,

v.

DR. I. PATEL, et al.,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:12-cv-00046-SKO PC

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR 

APPOINTMENT OF ANOTHER 

ATTORNEY

(Doc. 37)

Plaintiff Shawn Patrick Greenblatt, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed this civil rights 

action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on January 10, 2012. On January 7, 2013, the Court 

appointed an attorney to represent Plaintiff for the limited purpose of identifying the Doe 

defendants named in his complaint and filing an amended complaint. Voluntary counsel Sarita 

Ordonez completed her limited appointment obligation on September 6, 2013, and on September 

24, 2013, the Court relieved her of the appointment.1 

Pending before the Court is Plaintiff’s motion seeking the appointment of another attorney 

to represent him for further proceedings, filed on August 23, 2013.

Plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to the appointment of counsel in this action. 

Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009); Storseth v. Spellman, 654 F.2d 1349, 1353 

(9th Cir. 1981). The Court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 

 

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Plaintiff’s amended complaint will be screened in due course. 28 U.S.C. § 1915A.

Case 1:12-cv-00046-LJO-SKO Document 40 Filed 09/24/13 Page 1 of 3
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§ 1915(e)(1), but it will do so only if exceptional circumstances exist. Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970; 

Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). In making this determination, the 

Court must evaluate the likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of Plaintiff to articulate 

his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970 

(citation and quotation marks omitted); Wilborn, 789 F.2d at 1331. Neither consideration is 

dispositive and they must be viewed together. Palmer, 560 F.3d at 970 (citation and quotation 

marks omitted); Wilborn 789 F.2d at 1331. 

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. The Court is faced with 

similar cases almost daily. 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. Palmer, 

560 F.3d at 970.

While the Court recognizes that Plaintiff is at a disadvantage due to his pro se status and 

his incarceration, the test is not whether Plaintiff would benefit from the appointment of counsel. 

See Wilborn, 789 F.2d at 1331 (“Most actions require development of further facts during 

litigation and a pro se litigant will seldom be in a position to investigate easily the facts necessary 

to support the case.”) The test is whether exceptional circumstances exist and here, they do not.

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of another attorney to represent him 

for further proceedings is HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 24, 2013 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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