Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-02100/USCOURTS-caed-2_20-cv-02100-6/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NICKY BOONE,

Plaintiff,

v.

RUBY, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:20-cv-02100 WBS DB P

ORDER VACATING FINDINGS AND

RECOMMENDATIONS

Plaintiff, a state prisoner, proceeds pro se with a civil rights action asserting Eighth 

Amendment claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. In this order, the undersigned vacates the findings 

and recommendations signed on March 18, 2022. As set forth below, however, a further response 

from plaintiff is required in order for this case to proceed.

Findings and Recommendations to be Vacated

By order filed January 22, 2022, the undersigned screened plaintiff’s first amended 

complaint and found it stated cognizable claims against C/O Ruby, C/O Armstead, C/O Arbaca, 

C/O Vargass, and Sgt. Silva. (ECF No. 20 at 4.) The undersigned also found the first amended 

complaint did not state a cognizable claim against C/O Nakken. (Id.) Plaintiff was ordered to

respond within 30 days and either (a) file a second amended complaint attempting to cure the 

deficiencies in the claim against C/O Nakken, or (b) notify the court in writing he wished to stand 

Case 2:20-cv-02100-WBS-SCR Document 23 Filed 04/15/22 Page 1 of 3
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on his first amended complaint as written. (Id. at 5.) Plaintiff was cautioned that failure to respond 

to the order would result in a recommendation that this action be dismissed.

Seeing no response from plaintiff, on March 18, 2022, the undersigned issued findings 

and recommendations to dismiss this case without prejudice. On April 1, 2022, plaintiff filed a 

document which the undersigned construes as objections to the findings and recommendations.

(ECF No. 22.) In the objections, plaintiff states he did not receive any court orders to which he 

failed to respond and asks whether the court reviewed the affidavit signed by another inmate 

under penalty of perjury attached to the first amended complaint.

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(Id.)

Because it appears plaintiff did not receive the order screening the first amended 

complaint, the undersigned will vacate the recommendation to dismiss this case. The Clerk of the 

Court will serve plaintiff with another copy of the order screening the first amended complaint,

and plaintiff will have an opportunity to either file a second amended complaint or notify the 

court he wishes to proceed on the first amended complaint as screened. If plaintiff timely files a 

second amended complaint, the undersigned will screen it for cognizable claims. If plaintiff 

timely notifies the court he wishes to proceed with the first amended complaint as screened, then 

the undersigned will direct service of the first amended complaint on C/O Ruby, C/O Armstead, 

C/O Arbaca, C/O Vargass, and Sgt. Silva, and issue findings and recommendations to dismiss 

C/O Nakken from this action. Thus, in order to proceed with this case, plaintiff must timely file 

either a second amended complaint or a written notice advising the court he wishes to proceed on 

the first amended complaint.

Motion to Appoint Counsel

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. (ECF No. 22 at 2.) This court lacks

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

1 As noted in the January 21, 2022 order, the document to which plaintiff refers was not signed 

under penalty of perjury because it contained only a last name printed in capital letters for the 

signature. Plaintiff does not need to obtain a properly signed affidavit from his inmate witness to 

proceed at this stage of the case. Nevertheless, plaintiff is cautioned that an affidavit holds no 

evidentiary value unless it is properly signed under penalty of perjury. Under Local Rule 131(b), 

a proper signature under penalty of perjury includes a signature in addition to the printed name 

and states “I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.”

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States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the district 

court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 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).

The test for exceptional circumstances requires the court to evaluate the plaintiff’s 

likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in 

light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 

1331 (9th Cir. 1986); Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Circumstances 

common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not 

establish exceptional circumstances that would warrant a request for voluntary assistance of 

counsel. In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances at this 

time.

Conclusion and Order

In accordance with the above, IT IS ORDERED:

1. The Clerk’s Office shall re-serve to plaintiff a copy of the January 21, 2022 order (ECF 

No. 20) and shall send plaintiff a blank civil rights complaint form.

2. Plaintiff’s April 1, 2022 request for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 22) is 

DENIED without prejudice.

3. The findings and recommendations filed March 21, 2022 (ECF No. 21) are

VACATED.

4. Within thirty days from the date of service of this order, plaintiff must either (a) file a 

second amended complaint; or (b) notify the court in writing he wishes to proceed on his first 

amended complaint as screened. Failure to respond to this order will result in a recommendation 

that this action be dismissed for failure to obey a court order and failure to prosecute.

Dated: April 15, 2022

DLB7

boon2100.vacfrs2

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