Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00509/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00509-3/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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07cv509-W (BLM)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHARLES BECKNER,

Plaintiff,

v.

EL CAJON POLICE DEPARTMENT, et

al.,

Defendants. 

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Case No. 07cv509-W (BLM)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO FOR APPOINTMENT OF

COUNSEL

[Doc. No. 52]

On April 10, 2008, Plaintiff in the above matter moved this Court

to appoint counsel. Doc. No. 52. This is his third such request. Doc.

Nos. 5 & 19. In support of the instant motion, he cites the complexity

of the case and his lack of legal knowledge. Id. For the following

reasons, Plaintiff’s motion is DENIED.

Plaintiff requests the appointment of counsel to assist him in

prosecuting this civil action. Id. The Constitution provides no right

to appointment of counsel in a civil case unless an indigent litigant

may lose his physical liberty if he loses the litigation. Lassiter v.

Dept. of Social Services, 452 U.S. 18, 25 (1981). However, under 28

U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1), courts are granted discretion to appoint counsel

for indigent persons under “exceptional circumstances.” See Agyeman v.

Case 3:07-cv-00509-W-BLM Document 54 Filed 04/15/08 Page 1 of 2
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Corrections Corp. of America, 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 2004). A

finding of exceptional circumstances demands at least “an evaluation of

the likelihood of the plaintiff’s success on the merits and an

evaluation of the plaintiff’s ability to articulate his claims ‘in light

of the complexity of the legal issues involved.’” Id. (quoting Wilborn

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

Thus far, Plaintiff has drafted and submitted numerous pleadings

and motions without the assistance of counsel. Among other documents,

he has submitted a complaint, Doc. No. 1, three motions to appoint

counsel, Doc. Nos. 5, 19 & 52, a motion for default judgment, Doc. No.

16, two responses in opposition to Defendants’ motions, Doc. Nos. 24 &

28, a motion for extension of time to file, Doc. No. 40, and a motion to

produce, Doc. No. 50. 

From the Court’s review of these documents, it is clear that

Plaintiff is able to articulate the claims of his case. Further,

Plaintiff does not demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits

such that his case should be classified as an “exceptional

circumstance.” Agyeman, 390 F.3d at 1103; see also Wilborn v.

Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th Cir. 1986). Plaintiff’s request

for appointment of counsel is therefore DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 15, 2008

BARBARA L. MAJOR

United States Magistrate Judge

COPY TO: 

HONORABLE THOMAS J. WHELAN

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL

Case 3:07-cv-00509-W-BLM Document 54 Filed 04/15/08 Page 2 of 2