MYERS v. HENDERSON

• Court: District Court, S.D. Indiana
• Decided: September 14, 2020
• Docket: 1:20-cv-02044
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS DIVISION

THOMAS A. MYERS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) No. 1:20-cv-02044-JPH-MPB ) MUNCIE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, ) NATHAN SLOAN Chief, ) JOSH CARRINGTON Officer, ) DANIELLE BRADFORD Officer, ) JOHN HENDERSON Officer, ) ) Defendants. )

ORDER

I. In Forma Pauperis Status

Mr. Myers's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, dkt. [2], is GRANTED. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). While in forma pauperis status allows Mr. Myers to proceed without prepaying the filing fee, he remains liable for the full fees. Ross v. Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, 748 F. App'x 64, 65 (7th Cir. Jan. 15, 2019) ("Under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), a district court may allow a litigant to proceed 'without prepayment of fees,' . . . but not without ever paying fees."). No payment is due at this time. II. Directing Service of Process The clerk is directed under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 4(c)(3) to issue process to Defendants Muncie City Police Department, Nathan Sloan, Josh Carrington, Danielle Bradford, and John Henderson in the manner specified by Rule 4(d). Process shall consist of the complaint, dkt. 1, applicable forms (Notice of Lawsuit and Request for Waiver of Service of Summons and Waiver of Service of Summons), and this Order. III. Motion to Appoint Counsel

Litigants in federal civil cases do not have a constitutional or statutory right to court-appointed counsel. Walker v. Price, 900 F.3d 933, 938 (7th Cir. 2018). "Two questions guide this court's discretionary decision whether to recruit counsel: (1) 'has the indigent plaintiff made a reasonable attempt to obtain counsel or been effectively precluded from doing so,' and (2) 'given the difficulty of the case, does the plaintiff appear competent to litigate it himself?'" Id. (quoting Pruitt v. Mote, 503 F.3d 647, 654-55 (7th Cir. 2007)). To decide the second question, the Court considers "whether the difficulty of the case—

factually and legally—exceeds the particular plaintiff's capacity as a layperson to coherently present it to the judge or jury himself." Olson v. Morgan, 750 F.3d 708, 712 (7th Cir. 2014). Here, Mr. Myers has effectively communicated the claim he intends to pursue, and the Court has ordered that the complaint be served on Defendants. Mr. Myers has not shown a need for counsel to assist him in amending his complaint, or to "investigate and flesh out any claim that may exist." Mapes v. Indiana, 932 F.3d 968, 971-72 (7th Cir. 2019). The motion to

appoint counsel is therefore DENIED without prejudice. Dkt. [3]. Mr. Myers may renew his motion to appoint counsel as necessary as this case progresses. SO ORDERED. Date: 9/14/2020 SJamu Patrick tawlor James Patrick Hanlon United States District Judge Southern District of Indiana Distribution: THOMAS A. MYERS 2013 Lazycreek Muncie, IN 47302 Muncie Police Department 300 N. High St. Muncie, IN 47305 Nathan Sloan 300 N. High St. Muncie, IN 47305 Josh Carrington 300 N. High St. Muncie, IN 47305 Danielle Bradford 300 N. High St. Muncie, IN 47305 John Henderson 300 N. High St. Muncie, IN 47305