Hendricks v. Pride Industries Inc

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA SHREVEPORT DIVISION

MONICA L HENDRICKS CIVIL ACTION NO. 20-1641

VERSUS JUDGE ELIZABETH E. FOOTE

PRIDE INDUSTRIES INC ET AL MAGISTRATE JUDGE HORNSBY

ORDER

Before the Court is an appeal of the Magistrate Judge’s order denying the Plaintiff, Monica Hendricks (“Hendricks”), appointed counsel. Record Document 27. Hendricks filed suit in federal court, asserting claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She filed a motion to appoint counsel, which was denied by Magistrate Judge Hornsby. Record Document 26. Hendricks has appealed that determination. A district court reviews orders of a Magistrate Judge on non-dispositive matters to determine whether any portion of the order is “clearly erroneous or is contrary to law.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(a). “[T]he appointment of counsel in a civil case is a privilege and not a constitutional right.” Paskauskiene v. Alcor Petrolab, L.L.P., 527 F. App’x 329, 333 (5th Cir. 2013) (quoting Lopez v. Reyes, 692 F.2d 15, 17 (5th Cir. 1982)). As Magistrate Judge Hornsby’s order correctly stated, Title VII allows for the appointment of counsel in circumstances that the court deems just. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e–5(f)(1). In the instant case, Magistrate Judge Hornsby reviewed the relevant factors for appointment of counsel and determined that this case did not warrant the appointment of counsel. This Court has reviewed the record and Hendricks’s response to the Magistrate Judge’s order. While Hendricks disagrees with the Magistrate Judge’s conclusions, she

has presented no compelling reasons why the Magistrate Judge’s conclusion was clear error or contrary to law, nor for that matter, has she demonstrated that the Magistrate Judge abused his discretion. Accordingly, the Magistrate Judge’s order denying the appointment of counsel is AFFIRMED. 1st day of March THUS DONE AND SIGNED this 2/8xxthx day of XFxexbxrxuxaxryx, 2022.

ELIZABETH ERNY FOOTE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE