Smith v. Ogbuehi

*458Plaintiff Gregory Smith is an indigent, self-represented prison inmate pursuing medical malpractice claims against a doctor and a nurse practitioner employed by the Pleasant Valley State Prison (Pleasant Valley). He filed a motion for the appointment of counsel, arguing the trial court should consider (1) the factual complexity of the issues relating to pain medication, dosage and his spinal condition; (2) his limited ability to investigate the facts, obtain discovery and get expert witnesses; (3) the legal complexity of the case; and (4) his showing that, on their face, his claims had merit.…