Williams v. Vince & Associates Clinical Research, LLC

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS

DAVONNE WALKER WILLIAMS, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) Case No. 20-2039-DDC ) VINCE & ASSOCIATES CLINICAL ) RESEARCH, LLC, ) ) Defendant. )

ORDER Plaintiff, Davonne Walker Williams, filed this breach-of-contract action arising from her participation in a medical clinical research trial with defendant, Vince & Associates Clinical Research, LLC. Plaintiff has filed a motion for appointment of counsel (ECF No. 4). For the reasons discussed below, the motion is denied. In civil actions such as this one, there is no constitutional right to appointed counsel.1 However, “under 28 U.S.C. ' 1915(e)(1), a district court has discretion to request counsel to represent an indigent party in a civil case.”2 The decision to appoint counsel lies solely in the court’s discretion, which should be based on a determination that the circumstances

1Swafford v. Asture, No. 12-1417-SAC, 2012 WL 5512038, at *1 (D. Kan. Nov. 14, 2012) (citing Carper v. DeLand, 54 F.3d 613, 616 (10th Cir. 1995) and Durre v. Dempsey, 869 F.2d 543, 547 (10th Cir. 1989)). 2Commodity Futures Trading Comm’n v. Brockbank, 316 F. App=x. 707, 712 (10th Cir. 2008) (upholding denial of defendant’s motions for counsel). are such that a denial of counsel would be fundamentally unfair.3 “In determining whether to appoint counsel, the district court should consider a variety of factors, including the merits of the litigant’s claims, the nature of the factual issues raised in the claims, the

litigant’s ability to present her claims, and the complexity of the legal issues raised by the claims.”4 The court also considers the efforts made by the litigant to retain her own counsel.5 The court does not find it appropriate to appoint counsel for plaintiff. First, it does not appear that plaintiff has attempted to contact an attorney to represent her. Although

plaintiff states she cannot afford to hire counsel, many attorneys will represent clients without charging any up-front fees. Second, the factual and legal issues in this case are not extraordinarily complex. The papers prepared and filed by plaintiff indicate she is capable of presenting this case without the aid of counsel, particularly given the liberal standards governing pro se litigants. The court has no doubt that the district judge assigned to this

case will have little trouble discerning the applicable law. It does not appear that this case presents any atypical or complex legal issues. Finally, based on the limited factual allegations and claims presented in the complaint, the court is unable to determine whether plaintiff’s claims are particularly meritorious.

3Long v. Shillinger, 927 F.2d 525, 527 (10th Cir. 1991). 4Id. 5Lister v. City of Wichita, Kan., 666 F. App’x 709, 713 (10th Cir. 2016) (quoting Castner v. Colo. Springs Cablevision, 979 F.2d 1417, 1420 (10th Cir. 1992)); Tilmon v. Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, No. 17-2383-JAR, 2017 WL 3503678, at *1 (D. Kan. July 6, 2017). In the end, the court concludes that this is not a case in which justice requires the appointment of counsel. If plaintiff devotes sufficient efforts to presenting her case, the court is certain that she can do so adequately without the aid of counsel. Plaintiff’s request

for appointment of counsel is therefore denied. Plaintiff is hereby informed that, within 14 days after she is served with a copy of this order, she may, pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 and D. Kan. Rule 72.1.4(a), file written objections to this order by filing a motion requesting that the presiding U.S. district judge review this order. A party must file any objections within the 14-day period if the party

wants to have appellate review of this order. The clerk shall mail a copy of this order to plaintiff via regular mail. IT IS SO ORDERED. January 24, 2020, at Kansas City, Kansas. s/ James P. O=Hara James P. O=Hara U. S. Magistrate Judge