Opinion ID: 216576
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Leftridge's Other Contentions

Text: Leftridge also contends, with little specificity, that the district court abuse[d] its discretion when it denied several of his other motions. (Leftridge brief on appeal at 4.) To the extent that Leftridge means to challenge the district court's orders denying his repeated motions for the appointment of counsel, he provides no basis for overturning those orders. A party has no constitutionally guaranteed right to the assistance of counsel in a civil case. See, e.g., United States v. Coven, 662 F.2d 162, 176 (2d Cir.1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 916, 102 S.Ct. 1771, 72 L.Ed.2d 176 (1982). A district court's decision not to request an attorney to represent an indigent civil plaintiff pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1) is reviewable only for abuse of discretion. See, e.g., Pena v. Choo, 826 F.2d 168, 168 (2d Cir. 1987); Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58, 60 (2d Cir.1986); Miller v. Pleasure, 296 F.2d 283, 284-85 (2d Cir.1961), cert. denied, 370 U.S. 964, 82 S.Ct. 1592, 8 L.Ed.2d 830 (1962). The court properly denies the plaintiff's motion for counsel if it concludes that his chances of success are highly dubious. See, e.g., Pena v. Choo, 826 F.2d at 169; Miller v. Pleasure, 296 F.2d at 285. Here, in denying Leftridge's initial motion for appointment of counsel, the court stated, inter alia, that his case appeared to lack substance. In addressing several of Leftridge's renewed requests for counsel, the court again noted that Leftridge's case appeared to be weak and/or stated that Leftridge had not provided any new information to alter the court's initial assessment. In the circumstances, and on the record before us, we see no abuse of discretion in the district court's denial of Leftridge's requests for the appointment of counsel. To the extent that Leftridge seeks to challenge other rulings of the district court on such matters as his desire to amend his complaint or his requests relating to discovery, we decline to address those matters, which will more properly be dealt with on an appeal, if any, from a final judgment that in some manner resolves Leftridge's case on substantive or procedural grounds, rather than closing it administratively.