Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03688/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03688-0/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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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ANDRE KENNETH STUCKEY,

Plaintiff,

v.

DONALD J. TRUMP, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 19-cv-03688-YGR (PR)

ORDER GRANTING IN FORMA 

PAUPERIS STATUS; DENYING 

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF 

COUNSEL; AND DENYING MOTION 

FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION 

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Plaintiff, a California state prisoner, has filed the instant pro se civil rights action pursuant 

to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. At the same time, Plaintiff has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, a 

motion for appointment of counsel, and an application for in forma pauperis status. Dkts. 2, 3, 4. 

The operative complaint in this matter is the amended complaint. Dkt. 12.

Plaintiff’s application for in forma pauperis status is GRANTED. Dkt. 4. The total filing 

fee due is $350.00. The initial partial filing fee due for Plaintiff at this time is $1.00. A copy of 

this Order and the attached instruction sheet will be sent to Plaintiff, the Prison Trust Account 

Office and the Court’s Financial Office.

Plaintiff also requests the appointment of counsel to represent him in this action. Dkt. 3. 

There is no constitutional right to counsel in a civil case unless an indigent litigant may lose his 

physical liberty if he loses the litigation. See Lassiter v. Dep’t of Soc. Servs., 452 U.S. 18, 25 

(1981); Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997) (no constitutional right to counsel 

in § 1983 action), withdrawn in part on other grounds on reh’g en banc, 154 F.3d 952 (9th Cir. 

1998) (en banc). The court may ask counsel to represent an indigent litigant under 28 U.S.C. 

§ 1915 only in “exceptional circumstances,” the determination of which requires an evaluation of 

both (1) the likelihood of success on the merits, and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his 

claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See id. at 1525; Terrell v. 

Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 1331 (9th 

Cir. 1986). Both of these factors must be viewed together before reaching a decision on a request 

for counsel under § 1915. See id. The Court is unable to assess at this time whether exceptional 

Case 4:19-cv-03688-YGR Document 13 Filed 12/23/19 Page 1 of 4
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

circumstances exist which would warrant seeking volunteer counsel to accept a pro bono 

appointment. The proceedings are at an early stage and it is premature for the Court to determine 

Plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits. Moreover, Plaintiff has been able to articulate his 

claims adequately pro se in light of the complexity of the issues involved. See Agyeman v. Corrs. 

Corp. of Am., 390 F.3d 1101, 1103 (9th Cir. 2004). Therefore, the request for appointment of 

counsel at this time is DENIED. Dkt. 3.

Lastly, Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction (dkt. 2) is DENIED for failure to 

satisfying the notice requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 65. Prior to granting a 

preliminary injunction, notice to the adverse party is required. Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(a)(1). A motion 

for preliminary injunction therefore cannot be decided until the parties to the action are served, 

and they have not yet been served here. See Zepeda v. INS, 753 F.2d 719, 727 (9th Cir. 1983). “A 

plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, 

that he is likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of 

equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.” Winter v. Natural 

Resources Defense Council, Inc., 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008). A temporary restraining order (“TRO”) 

may be granted without written or oral notice to the adverse party or that party’s attorney if: (1) it 

clearly appears from specific facts shown by affidavit or by the verified complaint that immediate 

and irreparable injury, loss or damage will result to the applicant before the adverse party or the 

party’s attorney can be heard in opposition, and (2) the applicant’s attorney (plaintiff himself in 

this case, as he proceeds pro se) certifies in writing the efforts, if any, which have been made to 

give notice and the reasons supporting the claim that notice should not be required. Fed. R. Civ. 

P. 65(b). Plaintiff has not satisfied the aforementioned requirements. Furthermore, the Court 

must first screen the amended complaint for cognizable claims. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(a). In its 

review, the Court must identify any cognizable claims and dismiss any claims that are frivolous, 

malicious, fail to state a claim upon which relief may be granted or seek monetary relief from a 

defendant who is immune from such relief. See id. § 1915A(b)(1),(2). Until the Court determines 

that the amended complaint contains cognizable claims, Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary 

injunction is premature. Accordingly, the motion is DENIED without prejudice. Dkt. 2. 

Case 4:19-cv-03688-YGR Document 13 Filed 12/23/19 Page 2 of 4
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The Court will conduct an initial screening of the amended complaint in a separate written 

Order. In the event the matter proceeds to briefing, Plaintiff may resubmit his motion for a 

preliminary injunction after Defendants have been served.

This Order terminates Docket nos. 2, 3, and 4.

Dated:

______________________________________

YVONNE GONZALEZ ROGERS

United States District Court Judge

December 23, 2019

Case 4:19-cv-03688-YGR Document 13 Filed 12/23/19 Page 3 of 4
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United States District Court

Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYMENT OF PRISONER’S FILING FEE

The prisoner shown as the plaintiff or petitioner on the attached order has filed a civil action in 

forma pauperis in this court and owes to the court a filing fee. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915, the 

fee is to be paid as follows:

The initial partial filing fee listed on the attached order should be 

deducted by the prison trust account office from the prisoner’s trust 

account and forwarded to the clerk of the court as the first installment 

payment on the filing fee. This amount is twenty percent of the 

greater of (a) the average monthly deposits to the prisoner’s account 

for the 6-month period immediately preceding the filing of the 

complaint/petition or (b) the average monthly balance in the 

prisoner’s account for the 6-month period immediately preceding the 

filing of the complaint/petition. 

Thereafter, on a monthly basis, 20 percent of the preceding month’s 

income credited to the prisoner’s trust account should be deducted 

and forwarded to the court each time the amount in the account 

exceeds ten dollars ($10.00). The prison trust account office should 

continue to do this until the filing fee has been paid in full. 

If the prisoner does not have sufficient funds in his/her account to pay the initial partial filing fee, 

the prison trust account office should forward the available funds, and carry the balance forward 

each month until the amount is fully paid. 

If the prisoner has filed more than one complaint, (s)he is required to pay a filing fee for each case. 

The trust account office should make the monthly calculations and payments for each case in 

which it receives an order granting in forma pauperis and these instructions.

The prisoner’s name and case number must be noted on each remittance. The initial partial 

filing fee is due within thirty days of the date of the attached order. Checks should be made 

payable to Clerk, U.S. District Court and sent to Prisoner Accounts Receivable, U.S. District 

Court, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36060, San Francisco, CA 94102.

cc: Plaintiff/Petitioner

Finance Office

Prison Trust Account Office

Case 4:19-cv-03688-YGR Document 13 Filed 12/23/19 Page 4 of 4