Barth

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

In 2011, appellant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison. Appellant, who is currently incarcerated at Salinas Valley State Prison, was at times represented in the criminal proceedings by respondents as appointed conflict counsel. In October 2018, appellant filed an in propria persona “complaint for possession of personal property and damages (claim and delivery)” against Steinfeld in Ventura County Superior Court seeking $25,000,000 in damages for the alleged failure to provide him with his client file after he was sentenced. (Barth v. Steinfeld (Super. Ct. Ventura County, 2018, No. 56- 2018-00519263-CU-MC-VTA).)1 In September 2019, the trial

As an exhibit to his complaint, appellant attached a copy of a January 17, 2018 letter he sent to McDuffie stating that “given the years that have elapsed since the conclusion of your representation, I request that all papers and property [related to the case] be delivered to me within twenty-one (21) days of the date of this letter.” Appellant added that if he did not receive the materials by February 7, 2018, he would “have no choice but…