(PC) Benyamini v. Liou et al, No. 2:2009cv00528 - Document 15 (E.D. Cal. 2009)

Court Description: ORDER and FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge John F. Moulds on 10/13/09 ORDERING that 13 Motion to Appoint Counsel is DENIED; RECOMMENDING that 14 MOTION to STAY be granted; the clerk of the court be directed to administrativ ely close this case; and Plaintiff be advised that the action will not proceed further unless and until he files a request to lift any stay imposed by order of the district court. Referred to Judge Morrison C. England, Jr.; Objections to F&R due within 20 days.(Dillon, M)

Download PDF

(PC) Benyamini v. Liou et al Doc. 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 ROBERT BENYAMINI, 11 12 13 14 Plaintiff, vs. DR. ALEX LIOU, et al., ORDER AND Defendants. 15 16 No. 2:09-cv-0528-MCE-JFM (PC) FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS / Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se with a civil rights action pursuant to 17 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter is before the court on plaintiff’s motions to stay this action and 18 for appointment of counsel. 19 Plaintiff filed this action on February 24, 2009. By order filed August 12, 2009, 20 this court found that plaintiff’s complaint stated a cognizable claim for relief against six 21 defendants and ordered plaintiff to return, within thirty days, forms necessary for service of 22 process. On August 28, 2009, plaintiff filed the motions now before the court. Plaintiff’s motion 23 for stay is predicated on his assertion that he is presently “highly medicated” under an order for 24 involuntary psychiatric medication, that he suffers from claustrophobia and cannot sit in the 25 cages in the law library because they are too small, that he cannot read competently, that he is 26 awaiting surgery, and that he has carpal tunnel syndrome. Good cause appearing, this court will 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 recommend that plaintiff’s motion to stay this action be granted. The court will further 2 recommend that this action be administratively closed and that plaintiff be advised that the court 3 will not proceed further unless and until he files a request to lift the stay. 4 Plaintiff has also filed a motion for the appointment of counsel. The United States 5 Supreme Court has ruled that district courts lack authority to require counsel to represent 6 indigent prisoners in § 1983 cases. Mallard v. United States Dist. Court, 490 U.S. 296, 298 7 (1989). In certain exceptional circumstances, the court may request the voluntary assistance of 8 counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). Terrell v. Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 9 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 (9th Cir. 1990). In the present case, the 10 court does not find the required exceptional circumstances. Plaintiff’s motion for the 11 appointment of counsel will therefore be denied. 12 13 In accordance with the above, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s August 28, 2009 motion for appointment of counsel is denied; and 14 IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that: 15 1. Plaintiff’s August 28, 2009 motion to stay this action be granted; 16 2. The Clerk of the Court be directed to administratively close this case; and 17 3. Plaintiff be advised that the action will not proceed further unless and until he 18 files a request to lift any stay imposed by order of the district court. 19 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 20 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within twenty 21 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 22 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 23 “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” The parties are advised that 24 ///// 25 ///// 26 ///// 2 1 failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District 2 Court’s order. Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 3 DATED: October 13, 2009. 4 5 6 7 8 12 beny0528.stay 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 3

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.