Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03273/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-03273-10/pdf.json

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

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

1

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

RANDY REAL,

Plaintiff,

v.

JAMES WALKER, Warden, et al.,

Defendants.

No. 2:09-cv-3273 GEB KJN P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has filed this civil rights action seeking relief 

under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. The matter was referred to a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 

28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and Local Rule 302.

On July 15, 2013, the magistrate judge filed findings and recommendations herein which 

were served on all parties and which contained notice to all parties that any objections to the 

findings and recommendations were to be filed within fourteen days. Plaintiff has filed 

objections to the findings and recommendations.

In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C) and Local Rule 304, this 

court has conducted a de novo review of the pending matters. Having carefully reviewed the 

entire file, the court finds, with the exceptions noted below, that the magistrate judge’s findings 

and recommendations are supported by the record and by proper analysis.

////

Intervening circumstances, together with plaintiff’s objections, persuade this court that 

counsel should be appointed to assist plaintiff in the preparation of his Second Amended 

Case 2:09-cv-03273-GEB-KJN Document 67 Filed 09/11/13 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2

Complaint, and to represent plaintiff through the conclusion of this action. There is no absolute 

right to appointed counsel in federal civil rights actions. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 

490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). Nevertheless, in “exceptional circumstances,” the court may request 

that an attorney voluntarily represent an indigent prisoner who is pursuing a civil rights action. 

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). Circumstances common to most 

prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not establish 

exceptional circumstances. However, exceptional circumstances may be demonstrated by the 

inability of a plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues 

involved, and the likelihood of success on the merits of his claims. See Palmer v. Valdez, 560 

F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009). The burden for demonstrating exceptional circumstances is on the 

plaintiff. Id. 

In the present case, the magistrate judge aptly observed that plaintiff is a capable writer, 

notwithstanding his limited education and modest academic scores. However, the magistrate 

judge also observed, in reviewing plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint, that plaintiff’s due 

process claims were “scattered throughout the complaint, mingled with other claims [and] . . . will 

require . . . clarification and consolidation in a further amended complaint.” (ECF No. 43 at 16.) 

In according plaintiff leave to file a Second Amended Complaint, the magistrate judge implicitly 

found that the factual allegations of the First Amended Complaint (which contains 27 “causes of 

action” against 18 defendants) may, if properly pled, support valid legal claims. Moreover, on

this record, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals appointed counsel for plaintiff when it considered 

defendants’ interlocutory appeal, based on the finding that such appointment “would benefit the 

court’s review.” (See Real v. Walker et al., Case No. 12-16459 (9th Cir. Sept. 13 2012) (ECF 

No. 5).) Plaintiff now informs the court that he has been participating in the prisoner hunger 

////

////

Case 2:09-cv-03273-GEB-KJN Document 67 Filed 09/11/13 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3

strike at Pelican Bay State Prison,1 which “make[s] it hard [for plaintiff] to function mentally and 

physically, which plaintiff has a hard time proceed with the complaint.” (Sic.) (ECF No. 66 at 7; 

see also attachments to ECF No. 66.) 

These factors, together with the legal complexities of plaintiff’s challenge to his gang 

validation, and practical difficulties associated with his placement in security housing, persuade 

this court that plaintiff has demonstrated the requisite “exceptional circumstances” warranting 

appointment of pro bono counsel in this action.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The findings and recommendations filed July 15, 2013 (ECF No. 65), are adopted in 

part.

2. Plaintiff’s request for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 52 at 16), is granted.

3. Plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration (ECF No. 52), of this court’s order filed March 

30, 2012 (ECF No. 47), is granted in part. This court’s March 30, 2012 order (ECF No. 47), is 

amended as follows:

a. Defendants Tilton, Baughman, Hemenway, Sims, Virga, Till, Hill, and Parker are

dismissed from this action without prejudice; one or more of these defendants may be re-named 

in plaintiff’s Second Amended Complaint, as appropriate and necessary for plaintiff to pursue the 

merits of his claims; otherwise, the Second Amended Complaint shall comply with the limitations 

set forth in the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendations filed March 2, 2012 (ECF No. 

43).

b. The deadline for filing and serving a Second Amended Complaint will be set by the 

court after counsel has been appointed for plaintiff.

////

////

////

////

 

1

 The court notes that the hunger strike ended on September 5, 2013. See Sacramento Bee, Sept. 

5, 2013: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/05/5709853/calif-inmates-end-hunger-strike.html.

Case 2:09-cv-03273-GEB-KJN Document 67 Filed 09/11/13 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4

4. The Clerk of Court is directed to contact Sujean Park, Alternative Dispute Resolution 

Coordinator, for the purpose of locating an attorney admitted to practice in this court who is 

willing to accept appointment in this action, for the purpose of preparing, filing and serving a 

Second Amended Complaint, and to pursue this action on plaintiff’s behalf through all remaining 

pretrial and trial proceedings.

SO ORDERED. 

Dated: September 10, 2013

Case 2:09-cv-03273-GEB-KJN Document 67 Filed 09/11/13 Page 4 of 4