Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01187/USCOURTS-caed-1_18-cv-01187-16/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

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

KEVIN ALLEN,

Plaintiff,

v.

V. BENTACOURT,

Defendants.

No. 1:18-cv-01187 JLT GSA (PC)

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL

AND DENIAL OF REQUEST TO SETTLE 

(ECF No. 71)

DEFENDANTS’ NOTICE RELATED TO 

PARTICIPATING IN SETTLEMENT 

DISCUSSIONS WITH PLAINTIFF DUE

JUNE 4, 2024

PLAINTIFF’S NOTICE OF CHANGE OF 

ADDRESS AND SERVICE OF IT ON 

DEFENDANTS DUE JUNE 4, 2024

Plaintiff has requested the appointment of counsel. ECF No. 71. This is Plaintiff’s fifth

request for appointment of counsel. See ECF Nos. 29, 33, 52, 62. In the motion, Plaintiff also 

makes an alternative request to settle this case. See ECF No. 71 at 3.

For the reasons stated below, Plaintiff’s motions will be denied. However, given the age 

of this case, Plaintiff’s recent release from custody and his inclusion of the word “settle” in his 

motion, the Court will direct Defendants to file a statement indicating whether based on the 

information they currently have they are open to participating in settlement discussions with 

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Plaintiff.

I. MOTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL; REQUEST TO SETTLE

In support of the motion, Plaintiff states that he has been released from county jail after 

serving twenty-nine years. ECF No. 71 at 2. In addition, Plaintiff states that he is currently 

homeless and that as a result he is using the location of his parole agent’s office as his mailing 

address. Id. Plaintiff further states that he has a good Eighth Amendment case. He asks for the 

appointment of counsel so that he can have his day in court or settle. See generally ECF No. 71 

at 3-4.

II. DISCUSSION

A. Applicable Law

District courts lack authority to require counsel to represent indigent prisoners in section 

1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In exceptional 

circumstances, the court may request an attorney to voluntarily represent such a plaintiff. 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). When determining whether “exceptional 

circumstances” exist, the court must consider plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits as 

well as the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the 

legal issues involved. Palmer v. Valdez, 560 F.3d 965, 970 (9th Cir. 2009) (district court did not 

abuse discretion in declining to appoint counsel). The burden of demonstrating exceptional 

circumstances is on the plaintiff. Id. Circumstances common to most prisoners, such as lack of 

legal education and limited law library access, do not establish exceptional circumstances that 

warrant a request for voluntary assistance of counsel.

B. Analysis

1. Motion for the Appointment of Counsel

The fact that Plaintiff has recently been released from jail after a long sentence is 

insufficient to warrant the appointment of counsel. This case has been on the Court’s docket 

since 2018 (see ECF No. 1) (original complaint), and since then, despite not having been afforded 

counsel, Plaintiff has managed to move this case to the discovery phase of the proceedings, even 

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successfully appealing part of his case in the Ninth Circuit. See ECF Nos. 41-43, 45 (appeal 

documents; Circuit affirmation in part; reversal in part, and remand). In addition he has 

successfully filed this current motion.

The fact that this matter has survived up to this phase of the proceedings indicates that it 

could be successful on its merits. However, despite Plaintiff’s assertion that he was just released 

from jail and is now unfortunately homeless, this situation still does not merit the appointment of 

counsel. Therefore, having considered the factors under Palmer, the Court finds that Plaintiff has 

failed to meet his burden of demonstrating exceptional circumstances, thus his request for the 

appointment of counsel will again be denied.

2. Alternative Request to Settle Matter

Plaintiff’s apparent alternative request that this matter settle may be premature as this case

appears to be in the earlier stages of discovery, and to date there has been no indication that 

Defendants are open to settling it. However, given the length of time that this matter has been on 

the docket, as well as the fact that Plaintiff has been recently released from incarceration and 

appears open to settling the matter, the Court will direct Defendants to inform the Court if they 

are receptive to engaging in settlement discussions.

Defendants will be given fourteen days to do so. In addition, because Defendants have 

recently stated that they do not have a current address for Plaintiff (see ECF No. 69-1 at 2, 4)

(Defendants’ motion to modify scheduling order), and because Plaintiff has stated that he is 

homeless but is using his parole agents address, within the same fourteen days, Plaintiff will be 

ordered to file a change of address with the Court and to serve it on Defendants. If possible, 

Plaintiff should also provide Defendants with a working phone number where he can be reached 

by Defendants’ counsel.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. Plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel (ECF No. 71 at 1-4) is DENIED;

2. Plaintiff’s request that this matter be settled (ECF No. 71 at 3) is DENIED, and

3. Within fourteen days from the date of this order – by June 4, 2024, – the following 

shall be done:

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a. Defendants shall INFORM THE COURT whether they are open to participating in 

settlement discussions with Plaintiff, and

b. Plaintiff shall FILE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS with the Court and serve a copy 

of the filing on Defendants. If possible, Plaintiff shall also provide counsel for Defendants with a 

current phone number where he may be contacted.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 21, 2024 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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