Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00754/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00754-0/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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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LAVELL PLAYER,

Plaintiff,

vs.

J. WOODFORD, et al.,

Defendants.

 

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1:06-CV-00754-AWI-WMW-P

ORDER TO SUBMIT APPLICATION TO

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND

CERTIFIED COPY OF TRUST ACCOUNT

STATEMENT, OR FILING FEE

ORDER DENYING REQUEST FOR

APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(Document #2)

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se in a civil rights action pursuant to 42

U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff has not paid the $350.00 filing fee. On June 14, 2006, plaintiff submitted

a request to proceed in forma pauperis. However, plaintiff's the request was not submitted on the

appropriate form pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Plaintiff shall be granted an opportunity to submit

the appropriate form. 

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. The United States Supreme Court

has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in §

1983 cases. Mallard v. United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296,

298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the

Case 1:06-cv-00754-AWI-WMW Document 5 Filed 07/14/06 Page 1 of 2
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voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d

1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997). Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel,

this court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In the present

case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. See Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525.

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. This court is

faced with similar cases almost daily. Therefore, plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel

shall be denied.

In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff's request for the appointment of counsel is DENIED;

2. The Clerk’s Office shall send to plaintiff the form for application to proceed

in forma pauperis; and

3. Within thirty days of the date of service of this order, plaintiff shall submit

a completed application to proceed in forma pauperis and a certified copy of

his prison trust account statement for the six month period immediately

preceding the filing of the complaint, or in the alternative, pay the $350.00

filing fee for this action. Failure to comply with this order will result in a

recommendation that this action be dismissed. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 13, 2006 /s/ William M. Wunderlich 

j14hj0 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:06-cv-00754-AWI-WMW Document 5 Filed 07/14/06 Page 2 of 2