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Court Error – Abuse of Discretion

By: Derek Hawkins//September 3, 2019//

Court Error – Abuse of Discretion

By: Derek Hawkins//September 3, 2019//

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7th Circuit Court of Appeals

Case Name: Eric J. Mapes v. State of Indiana, et al.

Case No.: 19-1384

Officials: FLAUM, SYKES, and HAMILTON, Circuit Judges.

Focus: Court Error – Abuse of Discretion

Eric Mapes was arrested for trespassing after being refused service at a CVS store. He sued the State of Indiana, CVS, and a number of individual defendants asserting a long list of grievances under federal and state law. Mapes asked the district court to recruit counsel for him. The district judge denied that request, dismissed Mapes’s complaint without prejudice for failure to state a claim, and suggested several amendments to the complaint. Mapes did not heed that advice and now appeals the judge’s refusal to recruit counsel. We affirm. The judge did not abuse her discretion when she denied his request for pro bono counsel, provided an opportunity to amend, and offered instructions on how best to do so without a lawyer.

Affirmed

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Derek A Hawkins is trademark corporate counsel for Harley-Davidson. Hawkins oversees the prosecution and maintenance of the Harley-Davidson’s international trademark portfolio in emerging markets.

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