Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01751/USCOURTS-caed-2_13-cv-01751-11/pdf.json

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

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WILLIAM D. FARLEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

T. VIRGA, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:13-cv-1751 KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff has filed two motions for a sixty day extension of time to file and serve an 

opposition to defendants’ May 7, 2014 motion to dismiss. (ECF Nos. 46, 49.) The grounds of 

these motions are that plaintiff is on suicide watch and has limited access to his legal materials 

and the law library. Good cause appearing, plaintiff is granted an extension of sixty days to file 

his opposition. 

On May 23, 2014, plaintiff filed a motion requesting that he be provided with a typewriter 

or word processor in order to prepare his pleadings. Plaintiff apparently does not have access to a 

typewriter or word processor because he is on suicide watch. Plaintiff does not require access to 

a typewriter or word processor in order to prosecute this action. Accordingly, this motion is 

denied.

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Case 2:13-cv-01751-WBS-KJN Document 53 Filed 05/29/14 Page 1 of 3
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Plaintiff has also filed a motion requesting appointment of counsel. District courts lack 

authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 1983 cases. Mallard v. 

United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional circumstances, the court may 

request an attorney to voluntarily to represent such a plaintiff. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). 

Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 

1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). When determining whether “exceptional circumstances” exist, the court 

must consider plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the plaintiff 

to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. Palmer v. 

Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not abuse discretion in declining to 

appoint counsel). The burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. 

Circumstances common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library 

access, do not establish exceptional circumstances that warrant a request for voluntary assistance 

of counsel. 

Having considered the factors under Palmer, the court finds that plaintiff has failed to 

meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances warranting the appointment of 

counsel at this time.

Plaintiff has filed a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. Plaintiff’s motion was 

not, however, accompanied by a proposed amended complaint. As a prisoner, plaintiff’s 

pleadings are subject to evaluation by this court pursuant to the in forma pauperis statute. See 28 

U.S.C. § 1915A. Since plaintiff did not submit a proposed amended complaint, the court is 

unable to evaluate it.

Good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s motions for an extension of time (ECF Nos. 46, 49) are granted; 

2. Plaintiff is granted sixty days from the date of this order in which to file and serve his 

opposition to defendants’ motion to dismiss; defendants’ reply, if any, shall be filed within seven 

days thereafter;

3. Plaintiff’s motion for access to a word processor or typewriter (ECF No. 48) is denied;

4. Plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 51) is denied; and

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5. Plaintiff’s motion for leave to file an amended complaint (ECF No. 52) is denied.

Dated: May 29, 2014

Farl1751.36

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