(PS) Ingram v. City of Sacramento et al, No. 2:2012cv01812 - Document 3 (E.D. Cal. 2012)
Court Description: ORDER and FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Edmund F. Brennan on 7/12/2012 DENYING Plaintiff's Request for Counsel; RECOMMENDING that the 1 Complaint be dismissed without prejudice and that the Clerk of Court be directed to close this case. Referred to Judge Kimberly J. Mueller. Objections due within 14 days. (Michel, G)
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(PS) Ingram v. City of Sacramento et al Doc. 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 8 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 9 CHADERICK A. INGRAM, Plaintiff, 10 v. 11 12 13 No. 2:12-cv-1812-KJM-EFB PS CITY OF SACRAMENTO; DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES; SURF MOTEL; HERTZ RENTAL CAR, ORDER AND FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendants. 14 / 15 16 This case, in which plaintiff is proceeding in propria persona, was referred to the 17 undersigned under Local Rule 302(c)(21), pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). On July 10, 2012, 18 plaintiff filed a complaint against various defendants pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.1 Dckt. No. 19 1. According to the complaint, defendants “defamed [plaintiff’s] character by the use of 20 excessive force inflicting professional misconduct [and] deprived [plaintiff] of privileges.” Id. at 21 1. 22 23 The court takes judicial notice of the proceedings in United States v. Ingram, 2:10-cr00014-MCE-1 (E.D. Cal.), and Ingram v. Grant Joint Union High School Dist., et al., 2:08-cv- 24 25 26 1 Also on July 10, 2012, plaintiff filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915. Dckt. No. 2. However, in light of the recommendation of dismissal herein, plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis will not be addressed. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 2490-KJM-DAD (E.D. Cal.). See Fed. R. Evid. 201.2 In the criminal case, Mr. Ingram was 2 declared incompetent and un-restorable on the basis of mental health issues. See United States v. 3 Ingram, No. 2:10-cr-0014-MCE-1, Dckt. Nos. 32, 39, 40. In the civil action, Mr. Ingram was 4 represented by counsel, and a guardian ad litem was appointed for Mr. Ingram following the 5 declaration of incompetence in the criminal action. See Ingram v. Grant Joint Union High 6 School Dist., et al., 2:08-cv-02490-KJM-DAD, Dckt. Nos. 87-88. 7 In this action, Mr. Ingram is not represented by counsel and no guardian ad litem has 8 been appointed. It appears from his complaint that there has been no change in his mental health 9 status since the filing of the declaration of incompetence in the criminal case. Indeed, the 10 complaint acknowledges that Mr. Ingram is “mentally disabled.” See Dckt. No. 1, Compl., at 1. 11 An incompetent person can only proceed in federal court if represented by counsel. See Osei- 12 Afriyie v. Med. College of Penn., 937 F.2d 876, 883 (3d Cir. 1991) (“It goes without saying that 13 it is not in the interest of minors or incompetents that they be represented by non-attorneys.”) 14 (citation omitted), quoted approvingly in Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th 15 Cir. 1997) (holding that “a parent or guardian cannot bring an action on behalf of a minor child 16 without retaining a lawyer”); see also William W. Schwarzer et al., Cal. Practice Guide: Fed. 17 Civ. Proc. Before Trial § 7:41 (The Rutter Group 2011) (“A nonattorney parent or guardian 18 cannot bring a lawsuit or defend an action in federal court on behalf of a minor or incompetent 19 without retaining a lawyer”) (citations omitted). 20 Although plaintiff requests the appointment of counsel pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d), 21 Dckt. No. 1 at 2, that request will be denied. “The court may only designate counsel to represent 22 an indigent civil litigant pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) in certain exceptional circumstances” 23 2 24 25 26 The court may take judicial notice of filings in state court actions where the state court proceedings have a direct relation to the matters at issue. See, e.g., Betker v. U.S. Trust Corp. (In re Heritage Bond Litig.), 546 F.3d 667, 670 n.1, 673 n.8 (9th Cir. 2008); Bias v. Moynihan, 508 F.3d 1212, 1225 (9th Cir. 2007); see also Reyn’s Pasta Bella, LLC v. Visa USA, Inc., 442 F.3d 741, 746 n.6 (9th Cir. 2006) (“We may take judicial notice of court filings and other matters of public record.”). 2 1 and that “[i]n considering whether exceptional circumstances exist, the court must evaluate (1) 2 the plaintiff’s likelihood of success on the merits; and (2) the ability of the plaintiff to articulate 3 her claims pro se in light of the complexity of the legal issues involved.” Id. (citing Terrell v. 4 Brewer, 935 F.2d 1015, 1017 (9th Cir. 1991); Wood v. Housewright, 900 F.2d 1332, 1335-36 5 (9th Cir. 1990); Richards v. Harper, 864 F.2d 85, 87 (9th Cir. 1988)). Here, although plaintiff 6 may be unable to articulate his claims clearly, because plaintiff’s complaint does not appear to 7 state any valid claims, when considering the likelihood of success and the complexity of the 8 issues, there are no exceptional circumstances justifying the appointment of counsel. 9 10 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff’s request for counsel, Dckt. No. 1 at 2, is denied. IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED that: 11 1. This case be dismissed without prejudice; and 12 2. The Clerk be directed to close this case. 13 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 14 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Within fourteen days 15 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 16 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Id.; see also E.D. Cal. L.R. 304(b). 17 Such a document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and 18 Recommendations.” Any response to the objections shall be filed with the court and served on 19 all parties within fourteen days after service of the objections. E.D. Cal. L.R. 304(b). Failure to 20 file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal the District Court’s order. 21 Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153, 1156-57 22 (9th Cir. 1991). 23 DATED: July 12, 2012. 24 25 26 3
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