Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01383/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01383-8/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Moenear Figgennettia
Defendant
Linda Motley
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

LINDA MOTLEY, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

 )

v. ) 

)

MOENEAR FIGGENNETTIA, )

 )

)

Defendants. )

____________________________________)

1:05-cv-1383 LJO DLB (PC) 

 

ORDER DENYING FOURTH MOTION

FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL 

(DOCUMENT #31)

On June 25, 2007, plaintiff filed a fourth motion seeking the appointment of counsel. As

plaintiff has been advised, plaintiff does not have a constitutional right to appointed counsel in this

action, Rand v. Rowland, 113 F.3d 1520, 1525 (9th Cir. 1997), and the court cannot require an attorney

to represent plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Mallard v. United States District Court for the

Southern District of Iowa, 490 U.S. 296, 298, 109 S.Ct. 1814, 1816 (1989). However, in certain

exceptional circumstances the court may request the voluntary assistance of counsel pursuant to section

1915(e)(1). Rand, 113 F.3d at 1525. 

Without a reasonable method of securing and compensating counsel, the court will seek

volunteer counsel only in the most serious and exceptional cases. In determining whether “exceptional

circumstances exist, the district court must evaluate both the likelihood of success of the merits [and]

Case 1:05-cv-01383-LJO-DLB Document 32 Filed 07/30/07 Page 1 of 2
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the ability of the [plaintiff] to articulate his claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues

involved.” Id. (internal quotation marks and 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. Further, 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. Id. 

For the foregoing reasons, plaintiff’s motion for the appointment of counsel is HEREBY

DENIED, without prejudice. Unless circumstances change, plaintiff should refrain from filing further

motions. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: July 30, 2007 /s/ Dennis L. Beck 

3c0hj8 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-01383-LJO-DLB Document 32 Filed 07/30/07 Page 2 of 2