Taft v. Whitney

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

JOSHUA TAFT, DECISION & ORDER Plaintiff, 22-CV-6279FPG v. RICK WHITNEY, et al., Defendants.

On June, 21 2022, pro se plaintiff Joshua Taft (“plaintiff”) commenced this action against the defendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging claims arising from his employment with and separation from the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office. Currently pending before this Court is plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel. (Docket # 57).

It is well-settled that there is no constitutional right to appointed counsel in civil cases. Although the court may appoint counsel to assist indigent litigants pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e), see, e.g., Sears, Roebuck and Co. v. Charles W. Sears Real Estate, Inc., 865 F.2d 22, 23 (2d Cir. 1988), plaintiff has not moved to proceed in forma pauperis. In any event, assignment of counsel is clearly within the judge’s discretion. In re Martin-Trigona, 737 F.2d 1254, 1260 (2d Cir. 1984). The factors to be considered in deciding whether or not to assign counsel include the following: 1. Whether the indigent’s claims seem likely to be of substance; 2. Whether the indigent is able to investigate the crucial facts concerning his claim; 3. Whether conflicting evidence implicating the need for cross-examination will be the major proof presented to the fact finder; 4. Whether the legal issues involved are complex; and 5. Whether there are any special reasons why appointment of counsel would be more likely to lead to a just determination.

Hendricks v. Coughlin, 114 F.3d 390, 392 (2d Cir. 1997); see also Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d 58 (2d Cir. 1986).

The Court must consider carefully the issue of appointment of counsel because “every assignment of a volunteer lawyer to an undeserving client deprives society of a volunteer lawyer available for a deserving cause.” Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co., Inc., 877 F.2d 170, 172 (2d Cir. 1989). Therefore, the Court must first look to the “likelihood of merit” of the underlying dispute, Hendricks v. Coughlin, 114 F.3d at 392; Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co., Inc., 877 F.2d at 174, and “even though a claim may not be characterized as frivolous, counsel should not be appointed in a case where the merits of the . . . claim are thin and his chances of prevailing are therefore poor.” Carmona v. United States Bureau of Prisons, 243 F.3d 629, 632 (2d Cir. 2001) (denying counsel on appeal where petitioner’s appeal was not frivolous but nevertheless appeared to have little merit).

The Court has reviewed the facts presented herein in light of the factors required by law and finds, pursuant to the standards promulgated by Hendricks, 114 F.3d at 392, and Hodge v. Police Officers, 802 F.2d at 58, that the appointment of counsel is not necessary at this time. As stated above, a plaintiff seeking the appointment of counsel must demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits. See id. Plaintiff has not done so at this stage. Consideration of the nature of the factual and legal issues involved in this case, as well as plaintiff’s ability to present his claims, also weighs against appointment of counsel. In addition, the legal issues in this case do not appear to be complex.

Plaintiff maintains that he requires the assistance of counsel because, as a non- lawyer, he is having difficulty “understanding and comprehending the procedural structure required by the Court.” (Docket # 57). Lack of litigation experience and knowledge of the law is insufficient, standing alone, to justify the appointment of counsel. See Boomer v. Deperio, 2005 WL 15451, *1-2 (W.D.N.Y. 2005) (denying appointment of counsel where pro se plaintiff had “limited knowledge of the law”). Plaintiff also requests appointment of counsel because he is concerned that he will be prejudiced during mediation without one. In this district, mediation is generally required in civil cases, and the Court’s mediators are experienced in handling mediations with pro se litigants. Finally, plaintiff’s case does not present any special reasons justifying the assignment of counsel.

On this record, plaintiff’s request for the appointment of counsel (Docket # 57) is DENIED without prejudice at this time. It is the plaintiff’s responsibility to retain an attorney or press forward with this lawsuit pro se. 28 U.S.C. § 1654.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

s/Marian W. Payson MARIAN W. PAYSON United States Magistrate Judge Dated: Rochester, New York August 2, 2024