Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01360/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01360-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Kia Automotive Motors, Inc.
Defendant
Benjamin Gavino Lira
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BENJAMIN GAVINO LIRA,

Plaintiff,

v.

KIA AUTOMOTIVE MOTORS, INC.,

Defendant.

No. 2:24-cv-01360 DB P

ORDER

Plaintiff, a county prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action, has requested 

appointment of counsel.

The United States Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require 

counsel to represent indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 

U.S. 296, 298 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the district 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); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). 

The test for exceptional circumstances requires the court to evaluate the plaintiff’s 

likelihood of success on the merits and the ability of the plaintiff to articulate his claims pro se in 

light of the complexity of the legal issues involved. See Wilborn v. Escalderon, 789 F.2d 1328, 

1331 (9th Cir. 1986); Weygandt v. Look, 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983). Circumstances 

common to most prisoners, such as lack of legal education and limited law library access, do not 

establish exceptional circumstances that would warrant a request for voluntary assistance of 

Case 2:24-cv-01360-WBS-SCR Document 7 Filed 07/16/24 Page 1 of 2
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counsel. In the present case, the court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. 

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of 

counsel (ECF No. 3) is denied without prejudice.

Dated: July 15, 2024

DB16/

DB/Prisoner/Civil/R/lira1360.mac

Case 2:24-cv-01360-WBS-SCR Document 7 Filed 07/16/24 Page 2 of 2