Monroe v. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK
GRANT H. MONROE,
Plaintiff,
v.
24-CV-29 JLS(Sr)
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
MEDICAL CENTER,
Defendant .
DECISION AND ORDER
This matter was referred to the undersigned by the Hon. John L. Sinatra,
in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), for all pretrial matters and to hear and report
upon dispositive motions. Dkt. #24.
Plaintiff, Grant H. Monroe, filed this action pro se, alleging violations of the
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (“EMTALA”), 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd, when
he was brought to the Emergency Room for evaluation by law enforcement officers on
August 9, 2023 and August 14, 2023. Dkt. #1. Plaintiff expresses an intent to amend his
complaint to clarify that the hospital failed to meet its obligation to stabilize his
emergency medical condition before discharging him and to add a claim of negligence
regarding the hospital’s evaluation of his mental health and use of psychotropic
medication. Dkt. #47.
Currently before the Court is plaintiff’s motion for appointment of counsel.
Dkt. #28. In support of his motion, plaintiff advises the Court that he has experienced
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difficulty obtaining his medical records and has no legal education or experience
engaging in legal research. Dkt. #28. Plaintiff also notes that he is permanently disabled
and has difficulty understanding legal procedures. Dkt. #28.
There is no constitutional right to appointed counsel in civil cases.
However, under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e), the Court may appoint counsel to assist indigent
litigants. See, e.g., Sears, Roebuck & Co. v. Charles W. Sears Real Estate, Inc., 865
F.2d 22, 23 (2d Cir. 1988). Assignment of counsel in this matter is clearly within the
judge's discretion. In re Martin-Trigona, 737 F.2d 1254 (2d Cir. 1984). The factors to
be considered in deciding whether or not to assign counsel include the following:
1. Whether the indigent’s claims seem likely to be of substance;
2. Whether the indigent is able to investigate the crucial facts
concerning his claim;
3. Whether conflicting evidence implicating the need for cross-
examination will be the major proof presented to the fact finder;
4. Whether the legal issues involved are complex; and
5. Whether there are any special reasons why appointment of
counsel would be more likely to lead to a just determination.
Hendricks v. Coughlin, 114 F.3d 390, 392 (2d Cir. 1997); see also Hodge v. Police
Officers, 802 F.2d 58 (2d Cir. 1986).
The Court must consider the issue of appointment carefully, of course,
because "volunteer lawyer time is a precious commodity.” Cooper v. A. Sargenti Co.
Inc., 877 F.2d 170, 172 (2d Cir. 1989). Therefore, the Court must not allocate pro bono
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resources “arbitrarily, or on the basis of the aggressiveness and tenacity of the
claimant,” but should instead distribute this resource “with reference to public benefit.”
Id. Moreover, the Court must consider to the "likelihood of merit" of the underlying
dispute. Hendricks, 114 F.3d at 392; Cooper, 877 F.2d at 174. As a result, "even
though a claim may not be characterized as frivolous, counsel should not be appointed
in a case where the merits of the . . . claim are thin and his chances of prevailing are
therefore poor." Carmona v. United States Bureau of Prisons, 243 F.3d 629, 632 (2d
Cir. 2001).
This action is in its early stages, making it difficult to assess the merits of
plaintiff’s claim or the public benefit which could be achieved by the appointment of
counsel. Moreover, plaintiff has demonstrated a capacity to clearly communicate the
factual basis of his claims to the Court. Accordingly, plaintiff has not established that the
appointment of counsel is warranted at this time under the factors set forth above. It is
the plaintiff's responsibility to retain an attorney or press forward with this lawsuit pro se.
28 U.S.C. § 1654.
SO ORDERED.
DATED: Buffalo, New York
November 17, 2025
s/ H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr.
H. KENNETH SCHROEDER, JR.
United States Magistrate Judge
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