Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06120/USCOURTS-caed-1_04-cv-06120-6/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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 If Plaintiff is able to arrange for an independent examination but unable to facilitate the appointment due

to his imprisonment, Plaintiff may request the Court’s assistance in that capacity. 

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

EDWARD D. ASHFORD,

Plaintiff,

v.

DR. JEFFREY NEUBARTH, M.D., 

Defendant.

 /

CASE NO. 1:04-CV-6120-OWW-LJO-P

ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR ORDER

FOR PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

(Docs. 39 and 40)

Plaintiff Edward D. Ashford (“Plaintiff”) is a prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma

pauperis in this tort action filed on August 17, 2004. On December 15, 2005, Plaintiff filed motions

seeking an order for examination pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 35(a), and for the

appointment of counsel. Defendant did not respond to the motions. 

Plaintiff’s reliance on Rule 35 to obtain a medical expert to examine him is misplaced. In

relevant part, Rule 35 is a mechanism by which a party, at that party’s cost, may obtain an order for

the examination of an opposing party. Plaintiff’s motion shall therefore be denied. If Plaintiff

wishes to arrange for an independent medical examination, he may do so without a Court order.1

 The Court cannot require an attorney to represent Plaintiff. Mallard v. United States District

Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional

circumstances, the 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). Without a reasonable method

Case 1:04-cv-06120-LJO -LJO Document 43 Filed 02/09/06 Page 1 of 2
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of securing and compensating counsel, this Court will seek volunteer counsel only in the most

serious and exceptional cases. “A finding of exceptional circumstances requires an evaluation of

both ‘the likelihood of success of the merits and the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims

pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.’” Terrell, 935 F.2d at 1017 (citations

omitted).

In the present case, the Court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. 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. At this early stage in the proceedings, the Court cannot make a

determination that Plaintiff is likely to succeed on the merits, and based on a review of the record

in this case, the Court does not find that Plaintiff cannot adequately articulate his claims. Terrell,

935 F.2d at 1017. 

For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff’s motion for an order for examination and motion for the

appointment of counsel, filed December 15, 2005, are HEREBY DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: February 9, 2006 /s/ Lawrence J. O'Neill 

b9ed48 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:04-cv-06120-LJO -LJO Document 43 Filed 02/09/06 Page 2 of 2