Opinion ID: 782348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: lanier's motion for the appointment of counsel

Text: 25 We review a district court's order denying appointment of counsel for abuse of discretion. Lavado v. Keohane, 992 F.2d 601, 604-05 (6th Cir.1993). The appointment of counsel in a civil proceeding is not a constitutional right and is justified only in exceptional circumstances. See id. at 605-06. To determine whether these exceptional circumstances exist, courts typically consider the type of case and the ability of the plaintiff to represent himself. Archie v. Christian, 812 F.2d 250, 253 (5th Cir.1987). See also Poindexter v. Federal Bureau of Investigation, 737 F.2d 1173, 1185 (D.C.Cir.1984). Lanier is a former judge and attorney, and he gained knowledge of the facts important to his case through his criminal prosecution. He possesses the knowledge and the training to adequately handle the issues raised in this case. Considering these facts, no exceptional circumstances exist warranting the appointment of counsel. 26 V. LANIER'S MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY AND THE DISTRICT COURT'S STRIKING OF LANIER'S REQUESTS FOR ADMISSIONS AND PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS 27 We review a district court's decisions concerning discovery matters for abuse of discretion. Sierra Club v. Slater, 120 F.3d 623, 638 (6th Cir.1997); Scales v. J.C. Bradford & Co., 925 F.2d 901, 906 (6th Cir.1991). A plaintiff complaining that the district court granted summary judgment without allowing adequate discovery must be able to show that he could have obtained information through discovery that would disclose material facts. See Slater, 120 F.3d at 638. Nebulous assertions that more discovery time would have produced evidence to defeat summary judgment will be unavailing. See Gordon v. Barnes Pumps, Inc., 999 F.2d 133, 138 (6th Cir.1993). Lanier has failed to indicate what information he could have gained through discovery to identify a material issue of fact with respect to the Federal Wiretap Act statute of limitations issue. Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion in either discovery order. 28 VI. LANIER'S MOTION FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT AGAINST ALBERT MOSKOWITZ AND MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AGAINST FAYE TURNER AND MARCIA WARNER VAN SANDT 29 Lanier's arguments that the district court erred by denying him a default judgment against Moskowitz and by denying his motion for summary judgment against Turner and Van Sandt are without merit. The district court denied Lanier's motion for default judgment against Moskowitz because Moskowitz submitted proof that he had not been properly served pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 4. The district court denied Lanier's motion for summary judgment against Turner and Van Sandt because the motion did not comply with Local Rule 7.2(d)(2). Lanier has failed to adequately develop these claims on appeal, and he has not directed this Court to anything in the record to show that the district court erred in denying either his motion for default judgment or his motion for summary judgment. In any event, as previously explained above, the statute of limitations bars Lanier's claims against Moskowitz, Turner and Van Sandt, and Moskowitz is entitled to prosecutorial immunity. 30