Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-01682/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-01682-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 445
Nature of Suit: Americans with Disabilities Act - Employment
Cause of Action: 29:0791 Job Discrimination (Rehabilitation Act)

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19-CV-1682-CAB-BLM

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

DANIEL THIBEAULT,

Plaintiff,

v.

MEGAN J. BRENNAN, Postmaster 

General,

Defendant.

Case No.: 19-CV-1682-CAB-BLM

ORDER DENYING PLAINTIFF’S 

MOTION TO APPOINT COUNSEL

[Doc. No. 2]

Before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Appoint Counsel pursuant to the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-5(f)(1). [Doc. No. 2.] Plaintiff asserts that his 

claim is meritorious, that he had made a reasonably diligent effort to obtain counsel, and is 

unable to find an attorney willing to represent him on terms that he can afford. [Id. at 1.] 

Plaintiff states he has $18,000.00 in savings or checking accounts and owns a home valued 

at $750,000.00. [Id. at 6.]

Although this statute authorizes district courts to appoint counsel “in such 

circumstances as the court may deem just,” the courts are “not obligated to appoint counsel 

in every employment discrimination case.” Johnson v. United States Dep’t of Treasury, 

939 F.2d 820, 824 (9th Cir. 1991). This determination is “left to the sound discretion of 

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19-CV-1682-CAB-BLM

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the district court.” Id. “[T]here is no absolute right to counsel in civil proceedings.” 

Hedges v. Resolution Trust Corp., 32 F.3d 1360, 1363 (9th Cir. 1994). The Court evaluates 

the plaintiff’s financial resources, plaintiff’s efforts to obtain counsel, and the merits of

plaintiff’s claims. Bradshaw v. Zoological Soc. of San Diego, 662 F.2d 1301, 1318 (9th 

Cir. 1981).

The Court concludes that Plaintiff has demonstrated an ability to articulate his 

claims. The legal issues are not complex, and it is premature to determine the likelihood 

of success on the merits at this time. Furthermore, while Plaintiff has made some efforts 

to obtain counsel, he has demonstrated adequate financial resources which weighs against 

the appointment of counsel. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to appoint counsel is 

DENIED. 

It is SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 6, 2019

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