McCaslin v. Radcliff

168 F.R.D. 249, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10726, 1996 WL 420438
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nebraska
DecidedJuly 25, 1996
DocketNo. 4:CV93-3028
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 168 F.R.D. 249 (McCaslin v. Radcliff) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nebraska primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McCaslin v. Radcliff, 168 F.R.D. 249, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10726, 1996 WL 420438 (D. Neb. 1996).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

KOPF, District Judge.

With 18 prospective jurors waiting, the plaintiff Michael McCaslin and his mother and guardian ad litem Bonnie McCaslin refused to proceed to trial at the time and place set for trial. They took that position after being advised that Bonnie McCaslin, who is not a lawyer, would not be permitted to act as a lawyer for her son during the jury trial and after having also been advised that the failure to proceed would result in a judgment of dismissal with prejudice.

Because the plaintiff and his guardian ad litem elected not to proceed to trial, I will enter judgment of dismissal with prejudice pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(b). The reasons for my decision are set forth in the following portions of this memorandum.

I.

This suit was filed in January of 1993. It is one of two cases that I have on my docket that is more than three years old.

Essentially the case involves the plaintiffs claim that in 1989 Dale Radeliff, then a deputy sheriff, unlawfully seized, searched, and arrested Michael McCaslin. Plaintiffs mother prepared the complaint that originated this lawsuit (and six other lawsuits), but Michael McCaslin also signed the complaint. (Filing 1.)

Michael McCaslin claims to be “emotionally and mentally handicapped.” (Filing 3 at 6.) At the time McCaslin filed this action he was 25 years old. (Filing 19 ¶ 1.) He claimed to be indigent. (Filing 2 ¶ 17.) He also claimed to receive social security disability and supplemental social security payments in the sum of $442.00 per month. (Id.)

Finding McCaslin was entitled to proceed in forma pauperis, Magistrate Judge David L. Piester appointed counsel to represent Plaintiff in this and the six other cases he had filed. (Filing 3 at 6.) Judge Piester specifically requested that appointed counsel investigate whether the plaintiff was competent to proceed within the meaning of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17. (Id.) Counsel [251]*251was directed to file an amended complaint. (Id. at 7.)

The first lawyer appointed investigated the matter and filed a motion (filing 6, filed under seal1) to withdraw with supporting affidavits (filings 6 and 13, filed under seal). The lawyer advised Judge Piester and the McCaslins that after carefully investigating the facts and law (including interviews with the plaintiff and his mother) counsel could not file an amended complaint as directed by the court because to do so would violate the provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 (filings 6 and 13, filed under seal).

In particular the lawyer indicated that the claims against Dale Radcliff were not factually supported (filing 6 ¶7, filed under seal, and filing 13 ¶¶ 4-6, filed under seal). The affidavits described in some detail the investigation the lawyer had conducted and why he concluded that he could not represent the plaintiff consistent with Rule 11. (Id.)

After carefully reviewing the information, Judge Hester granted the first lawyer leave to withdraw on February 18, 1994. (Filing 15.) Judge Piester then ordered the plaintiff to file an amended complaint without the aid of a lawyer. (Filing 18.)

The plaintiff, in a pleading signed by his mother, submitted an amended complaint on June 24, 1994. (Filing 19.) On July 13, 1994, liberally construing the amended complaint, Judge Piester determined that the amended complaint stated claims against Dale Radcliff, but Judge Piester also determined that the amended complaint failed to state a claim against York County, Nebraska. (Filing 20.) Judge Piester recommended dismissal of the case as against York County, Nebraska. (Id.)

At the same time Judge Piester again appointed counsel for Plaintiff. (Id.) Additionally, Judge Piester, noting Plaintiff was an adult and therefore of sufficient age to proceed under Rule 17, but also noting that Plaintiff claimed a mental disability, appointed Bonnie MeCaslin as Plaintiffs guardian ad litem. (Id.)

No objections were filed to the report and recommendation regarding the dismissal of York County, Nebraska. On August 8,1994, after de novo review, I adopted the report and recommendation and dismissed York County, Nebraska as a defendant. (Filing 21.)

On December 27, 1994 the second lawyer appointed to represent Plaintiff moved to withdraw. (Filing 24.) Once again the lawyer supported the motion by sealed affidavit (filing 28, filed under seal).

Essentially, the lawyer represented that after a thorough investigation, including interviews of the plaintiff, his mother, and various witnesses and review of other evidence, counsel was “unable to pursue this case on behalf of the Plaintiff on the grounds that in my opinion it would violate the requirements and mandates of Rule 11(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.” (Id. ¶¶ 4-6.) The plaintiff responded by requesting the appointment of yet a third lawyer. (Filing 29.) On January 19, 1995, Judge Piester granted the motion to withdraw, but denied the motion for appointment of a third lawyer. (Filing 30.)

The case then languished without much activity until June 28, 1995 when I entered an order to show cause why the case should not be dismissed for failure to serve summons within 120 days under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(m). (Filing 31.) Bonnie MeCaslin responded essentially stating that the plaintiff was “unable to comply because of her lack of legal expertise.” (Filing 32.) On July 20, 1995, I gave the plaintiff additional time to comply, provided the plaintiff with a copy of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4, and directed the plaintiffs attention to a pertinent portion of the Rule. (Filing 33 at 1 & nn. 1 and 2).

Summons was then served. (Filing 34.) Counsel for the defendant entered their appearance on August 17, 1995. (Filing 35.)

The ease then proceeded through the discovery and motion stages. During this time Plaintiff represented himself with the aid of his mother, the guardian ad litem. For ex[252]*252ample, pleadings submitted to the court during this time were often signed by Bonnie McCaslin over the heading “Michael MeCaslin by his Guardian ad litem Bonnie MeCaslin.” (e.g., Filing 32.)

However, Michael McCaslin did personally sign an affidavit under oath which set forth in three pages of coherent factual detail what Michael McCaslin claimed had happened. (Filing 65.) The affidavit was notarized by someone other than Bonnie McCaslin. (Id.) This affidavit was submitted in opposition to a motion for summary judgment. In fact two motions for summary judgment were filed. (Filings 51 and 75.)

The first motion for summary judgment was based upon the defense of qualified immunity. (Filing 51.) In regard to that motion I granted the motion insofar as the Terry

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
168 F.R.D. 249, 1996 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10726, 1996 WL 420438, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mccaslin-v-radcliff-ned-1996.