Cox v. Commissioner Of Department of Human Services

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA

Samuel I. Cox, Case No. 21-cv-1776 (SRN/TNL)

Plaintiff,

v. ORDER

Commissioner of Department of Human Services, Jane and or John Doe (Depart- ment of Human Services Mailroom Super- visor), and Jane/John Doe (Mailroom employee),

Defendants.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT: 1. The application to proceed in forma pauperis of Plaintiff Samuel I. Cox [ECF No. 5] is GRANTED. 2. The U.S. Marshals Service is directed to effect service of process on Defend- ants “Commissioner of Department of Human Services,” “Jane and or John Doe (Depart- ment of Human Services Mailroom Supervisor),” and “Jane/John Doe (Mailroom employee)”—all in their official capacity with the State of Minnesota—consistent with Rule 4(j) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.1

1 To the extent that Cox seeks to sue any Defendants in their individual capacities, he will need to amend the complaint and specifically identify those individuals. If Cox knows these individuals’ names, he can pursue amendment now; he may also elect to pursue amendment later if he needs discovery in order to identify the relevant individuals. 3. Cox’s request that this Court appoint him counsel [ECF No. 2] is DENIED without prejudice. Appointing counsel in cases such as this one is a matter committed to

the trial court’s discretion. See McCall v. Benson, 114 F.3d 754, 756 (8th Cir. 1997); Mosby v. Mabry, 697 F.2d 213, 214 (8th Cir. 1982). Among the factors the court should consider in determining whether to appoint counsel are the case’s factual and legal com- plexity, a litigant’s ability to present his or her claims, and whether both the parties and the Court would benefit from a litigant’s representation by counsel. See McCall, 114 F.3d at 756; Johnson v. Williams, 788 F.2d 1319, 1322–23 (8th Cir. 1986). At this point, the Court

concludes that Cox appears to have the threshold ability to articulate his claims and argue his positions, and his filings show that he can communicate effectively with the Court. Moreover, the Court is presently satisfied that appointing counsel would not substantially benefit Cox or the Court.

Dated: December 13 , 2021 s/ Tony N. Leung Tony N. Leung United States Magistrate Judge District of Minnesota

Cox v. Commissioner of Department of Human Services et al. Case No. 21-cv-1776 (SRN/TNL)