CLAUSO v. MARTINELLI

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY

THOMAS JAMES CLAUSO, 1:18-cv-12217 (NLH) (LHG)

Plaintiff, MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER v.

WARDEN WILLIE BONDS, et al.,

Defendants.

APPEARANCES:

Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General of New Jersey Niccole L. Sandora, Deputy Attorney General Office of the New Jersey Attorney General R.J. Hughes Justice Complex PO Box 116 Trenton, NJ 08625

Counsel for Defendants Willie Bonds, Guard Martinelli, and Guard Hansen

Thomas James Clauso 59252 South Woods State Prison 215 South Burlington Road Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Plaintiff pro se

HILLMAN, District Judge WHEREAS, the Court appointed Ballard Spahr to assist Plaintiff Thomas Clauso in prosecuting his complaint under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, see ECF No. 73; and WHEREAS, attorneys Roberto A. Rivera-Soto and William Patrick Reiley entered appearances on Plaintiff’s behalf, ECF Nos. 71 & 72; and WHEREAS, on November 12, 2021, the Court received a letter

from Plaintiff purporting to “fire” counsel, ECF No. 85; and WHEREAS, there is no right to counsel in a civil case, see Tabron v. Grace, 6 F.3d 147, 153-54 (3d Cir. 1993); Parham v. Johnson, 126 F.3d 454, 456-57 (3d Cir. 1997); and WHEREAS, the Court will excuse Mr. Rivera-Soto and Mr. Reiley as Plaintiff’s counsel with the Court’s appreciation for accepting the assignment; and WHEREAS, Plaintiff shall proceed pro se in this matter from now on, THEREFORE, IT IS on this 3rd day of December, 2021 ORDERED that Roberto A. Rivera-Soto and William Patrick Reiley shall be, and hereby are, terminated as Plaintiff’s

counsel. Plaintiff shall proceed pro se in this matter; and it is finally ORDERED that the Clerk shall send a copy of this Order to Plaintiff by regular mail.

s/ Noel L. Hillman At Camden, New Jersey NOEL L. HILLMAN, U.S.D.J.