Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-5_06-cv-05062/USCOURTS-arwd-5_06-cv-05062-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 555
Nature of Suit: Prisoner - Prison Condition
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

---

AO72A

(Rev. 8/82)

-1-

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

FAYETTEVILLE DIVISION

ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ-RAMIREZ PLAINTIFF

v. Civil No. 06-5062

 

SHERIFF TIM HELDER;

and DR. HOWARD DEFENDANTS

ORDER

The plaintiff filed this civil rights action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He proceeds pro

se and in forma pauperis.

On August 1, 2007, the plaintiff filed a motion for discovery (Doc. 20). The motion for

discovery is based on a form motion for discovery utilized to conduct discovery in criminal

cases. The motion asks for certain items that do not apply to this case such as statements made

by co-defendants. 

Rules 33 and 34 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure allow the parties to civil cases

to seek discovery by asking the opposing party (in this case the plaintiff would ask the

defendants) written questions called interrogatories and requests for the production of documents

or other tangible items. These discovery requests are not filed with the court. Fed. R. Civ. P.

5(d). Instead, plaintiff would send the interrogatories or requests for production of documents

directly to defendants’ counsel. For this reason, the motion for discovery (Doc. 20) is denied.

Plaintiff also filed a motion for appointment of counsel (Doc. 21). Plaintiff states his

knowledge of the law if very limited. He also states he is unable to speak English. 

“Indigent civil litigants do not have a constitutional or statutory right to appointed

Case 5:06-cv-05062-JLH Document 24 Filed 09/04/07 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>
AO72A

(Rev. 8/82)

-2-

counsel.” Edgington v. Missouri Dept. of Corrections, 52 F.3d 777, 780 (8th Cir. 1995)(citation

omitted).

“Rather, when an indigent prisoner has pleaded a nonfrivolous cause of action, a court

‘may’ appoint counsel.” Phillips v. Jasper County Jail, 437 F.3d 791, 794 (8th Cir. 2006)(citing

28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(emphasis added)). In determining whether to appoint counsel, the court

should consider: “the factual complexity of the issues, the ability of the indigent person to

investigate the facts, the existence of conflicting testimony, the ability of the indigent person to

present the claims, and the complexity of the legal arguments.” Phillips, 437 F.3d at 794

(citation omitted).

Upon review of the file, I believe the plaintiff is able to represent himself. Plaintiff has,

with the court’s assistance, filed an addendum to his complaint (Doc. 9) and has responded to

a summary judgment motion (Doc. 22). 

We note that plaintiff indicated in responding to the summary judgment motion that he

cannot speak or read English and worked through a translator in preparing the documents he has

submitted to the court. He also noted in his motion for appointment that he cannot speak

English. Despite this, he was able to respond to all inquiries from the court. Plaintiff’s response

was easily understandable and it was obvious from the answers that plaintiff understood the

court’s questions and the issues. The motion for appointment of counsel (Doc. 21) is denied.

 IT IS SO ORDERED this 4th day of September 2007.

/s/ J. Marschewski 

HON. JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 5:06-cv-05062-JLH Document 24 Filed 09/04/07 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>