Opinion
Case No. 14-3137-JTM-DJW
07-31-2017
TODD J. LLOYD, Plaintiff, v. DON WILKINS, et al., Defendants.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER
The matter before the Court is on Plaintiff's Motions to Appoint Counsel (Docs. 50 & 51). Section 1915(e)(1) provides that the "court may request an attorney to represent any person unable to afford counsel." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(1). In addition to determining the financial need of the movant, if the court determines the movant has a colorable claim, then it "should consider the nature of the factual issues raised in the claim and the ability of the plaintiff to investigate the crucial facts." Rucks v. Boergermann, 57 F.3d 978, 979 (10th Cir. 1995) (citing McCarthy v. Weinberg, 753 F.2d 836, 838 (10th Cir. 1985) (citing Maclin v. Freake, 650 F.2d 885, 887 (7th Cir. 1981)). The Tenth Circuit has adopted several factors for determining whether appointment of counsel is appropriate, including: "the merits of the litigant's claims, the nature of the factual issues raised in the claims, the litigant's ability to present his claims, and the complexity of the legal issues raised by the claims." Id. (citing Williams v. Messe, 926 F.2d 994, 996 (10th Cir. 1991) (citing Maclin v. Freake, 650 F.2d 885, 886 (7th Cir. 1981)).
After reviewing the factors used in determining whether to appoint counsel, the Court concludes that the factors weigh in favor of appointing counsel in this case. Most heavily weighing in Plaintiff's favor is the fact that his claims survived a motion to dismiss, indicating his claims have merit. (See Doc. 44.) His claims are complex enough that he may need to hire an expert in order to be able to present his claims. For these reasons, the Court will appoint counsel.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED BY THE COURT that Plaintiff's Motions to Appoint Counsel (Docs. 50 & 51) are granted. The Court will appoint counsel in a subsequent order.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated July 31, 2017, at Kansas City, Kansas.
S/ David J. Waxse
David J. Waxse
U.S. Magistrate Judge