Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-02352/USCOURTS-caed-1_10-cv-02352-8/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

FLORENCIO VALLEJO,

Plaintiff,

v.

KATHLEEN ALLISON, et al.,

Defendants.

_____________________________________/

Case No. 1:10-cv-02352-AWI-SKO (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL, 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO RENEWAL 

POST-SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE

(Doc. 40)

Plaintiff Florencio Vallejo, a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed 

this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 on December 17, 2010. This action is 

proceeding on Plaintiff’s amended complaint, filed on January 3, 2012, against Defendant Gray 

for acting with deliberate indifference to Plaintiff’s medical needs, in violation of the Eighth 

Amendment.

On May 8, 2014, Plaintiff filed a motion seeking the appointment of counsel. Defendant 

filed an opposition on May 14, 2014, in compliance with the Court’s order filed on May 12, 2014.

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. 

§ 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 

Case 1:10-cv-02352-AWI-SKO Document 46 Filed 05/15/14 Page 1 of 2
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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 this case, Plaintiff has represented that he does not speak English and he has a limited 

education, resulting in his reliance on a jailhouse lawyer for filings. Further, Plaintiff’s allegations

that Defendant took away his wheelchair and pain medication, which resulted in him having to 

crawl across the yard for meals and daily diabetes treatment for nineteen days, if true, are serious. 

These circumstances may support the appointment of counsel at a subsequent juncture in the 

proceedings. At this juncture, however, Defendant has represented that he will provide, 

voluntarily, a Spanish interpreter at both the deposition set for June 3, 2014, and the settlement 

conference set for June 13, 2014. This accommodation is sufficient to address Plaintiff’s ability to 

articulate his claims and his position at a deposition and a settlement conference, which is all that 

is required of Plaintiff at either proceeding.1

Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY DENIED, 

without prejudice. If the parties are unable to reach a settlement agreement on June 13, 2014, 

Plaintiff may renew his motion for counsel. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 15, 2014 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

1 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.”) 

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