Roark v. Individuals of the Federal of Prisons

558 F. App'x 471

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: March 18, 2014
• Docket: No. 13-40598
• Status: Published

Opinion

PER CURIAM:

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Benjamin A. Roark, federal prisoner # 04243-003, filed a civil rights complaint against the above named defendants. He also moved for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction ordering the defendants to provide requested dental evaluations and treatment, to provide orthopedic evaluations and surgery for his hand, to provide sufficient writing tables in the prison, to alleviate overcrowding and related issues resulting from such overcrowding, and to provide sufficient medical staff for the prison population. The district court denied the requested TRO and injunction. Roark filed a notice of interlocutory appeal.

As an initial matter, Roark requests the appointment of counsel in his brief. Absent exceptional circumstances, an indigent civil rights plaintiff has no right to the appointment of counsel. Ulmer v. Chancellor, 691 F.2d 209, 212 (5th Cir.1982). Roark has demonstrated he is capable of adequately presenting the issues and facts involved in his case. Accordingly, his motion for the appointment of counsel is denied.

In addition, we do not have appellate jurisdiction over the denial of an application for a TRO because it does not qualify as an “injunction” under 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1). See Faulder v. Johnson, 178 F.3d 741, 742 (5th Cir.1999); In re Lieb, 915 F.2d 180, 183 (5th Cir.1990). Therefore, to the extent Roark appeals the denial of a TRO, that portion of his appeal is dismissed.

Unlike a TRO, an order granting or denying an injunction is immediately ap-pealable. See § 1292(a)(1); Lakedreams v. Taylor, 932 F.2d 1103, 1107 (5th Cir.1991). We review the grant or denial of a motion for a preliminary injunction for an abuse of discretion. Janvey v. Alguire, 647 F.3d 585, 591-92 (5th Cir.2011). However, a request for mandatory relief, such as Roark’s, “is particularly disfavored, and should not be issued unless the facts and law clearly favor the moving party.” Martinez v. Mathews, 544 F.2d 1233, 1243 (5th Cir.1976).

To secure a preliminary injunction, the moving party must establish “a substantial likelihood of success on the merits,” “a substantial threat of irreparable injury if the injunction is not issued,” “that the threatened injury ... outweighs any harm” that would result from granting the injunction, and that granting the injunction “will not disserve the public interest.” Janvey, 647 F.3d at 595. Because we find that Roark has not shown that the facts and the law “clearly favor” granting relief or that he has established the required four elements for granting an injunction, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion by denying injunctive relief. See Janvey, 647 F.3d at 591-92, 595; Martinez, 544 F.2d at 1243. Therefore, the district court’s denial of Roark’s motion for a preliminary injunction is affirmed.

MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF COUNSEL DENIED; DISMISSED IN PART; AFFIRMED IN PART.

Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4..