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CISNEROS-BELLO v. COLVIN, 1:15-cv-01698-JLT. (2015)

Court: District Court, E.D. California Number: infdco20151117878 Visitors: 11
Filed: Nov. 16, 2015
Latest Update: Nov. 16, 2015
Summary: ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO PROCEED INFORMA PAUPERIS (Doc. 2) ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ISSUE SUMMONS, SOCIAL SECURITY CASE DOCUMENTS, AND SCHEDULING ORDER ORDER DIRECTING SERVICE OF THE COMPLAINT JENNIFER L. THURSTON , Magistrate Judge . Plaintiff Maria Teresa Cisneros-Bello seeks to proceed in forma pauperis with an action for judicial review of the administrative decision denying her application for Social Security benefits. Pending before the Court are the complaint and moti
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ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF'S MOTION TO PROCEED INFORMA PAUPERIS (Doc. 2)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ISSUE SUMMONS, SOCIAL SECURITY CASE DOCUMENTS, AND SCHEDULING ORDER

ORDER DIRECTING SERVICE OF THE COMPLAINT

Plaintiff Maria Teresa Cisneros-Bello seeks to proceed in forma pauperis with an action for judicial review of the administrative decision denying her application for Social Security benefits. Pending before the Court are the complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis, which were filed on November 9, 2015. For the following reasons, the Court finds service of the complaint is appropriate.

I. Proceeding in forma pauperis

The Court may authorize the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees "by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such person . . . possesses [and] that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor." 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Court reviewed the application and finds Plaintiff satisfies the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). Therefore, Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED.

II. Screening Requirement

When an individual seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the complaint and shall dismiss a complaint, or portion of the complaint, if it is "frivolous, malicious or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief." 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). A plaintiff's claim is frivolous "when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them." Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992).

III. Pleading Standards

General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A pleading must include a statement affirming the court's jurisdiction, "a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief." Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a).

A complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the plaintiff's claim in a plain and succinct manner. Jones v. Cmty Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). The purpose of the complaint is to give the defendant fair notice of the claims against him, and the grounds upon which the complaint stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court noted,

Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Vague and conclusory allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further,

[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to "state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face." [Citation]. A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Citation]. The plausibility standard is not akin to a "probability requirement," but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. [Citation]. Where a complaint pleads facts that are "merely consistent with" a defendant's liability, it "stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of `entitlement to relief.'

Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citations omitted). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; legal conclusions are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court may grant leave to amend a complaint to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

IV. Discussion and Analysis

Plaintiff seeks review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying disability benefits. (Doc. 1) The Court may have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides in relevant part:

Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner made after a hearing to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner may allow. Such action shall be brought in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides, or has his principal place of business . . . The court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.

Id. Except as provided by statute, "[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency." 42 U.S.C. § 405(h).

Here, Plaintiff alleges the Appeals Council denied her request for review of the decision on September 15, 2015, at which time the decision of the administrative law judge became the decision of the Commissioner. (Doc. 1 at 2) Therefore, Plaintiff's request for review would be due within sixty five days of the date of Appeal's Council's notice, or no later than November 19, 2015. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) (noting a claimant is "presumed" to have received the notice of denial within "5 days after the date of such notice"). Thus, Plaintiff's request for judicial review is timely, and the Court has jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

V. Conclusion and Order

Plaintiff's complaint states a cognizable claim for review of the administrative decision denying Social Security benefits. Based upon the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) is GRANTED; 2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue summons as to the defendant, Carolyn Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security; 3. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue and serve Plaintiff with Social Security Case Documents, including the Scheduling Order, Order regarding Consent, the Consent Form, and USM-285 Forms; and 4. The U.S. Marshal is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the complaint, summons, and this order upon the defendant as directed by Plaintiff in the USM Forms.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT Eastern District of California Office of the Clerk 501 I Street Suite 4-200 Sacramento, California 95814 REPLY TO: Divisional Office Marianne Matherly Clerk 2500 Tulare Street, Room 1501 Fresno, California 93721 559/499-5600

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE OF SOCIAL SECURITY APPEALS

The court has issued an order granting your application to proceed without prepayment of fees and directing that service of process be made by the United States Marshal. You must provide the clerk's office with the following:

1. The original Summons and five (5) copies of the Summons 2. Five (5) copies of the Order directing service by the U.S. Marshal 3. Five (5) copies of the Complaint 4. One completed USM-285 form addressed to the Social Security Administration 5. Five (5) copies of any other documents to be served

The original Summons and one copy of the service order is for the U.S. Marshal Service. The original Summons will be filed with the court following the service of a copy of the Summons and Complaint on the defendant(s). One set of documents (Summons, Complaint, Service Order and any additional documents) will be served on the U.S. Attorney, one set will be served on the Commissioner of Social Security, two sets will be served on the U.S. Attorney General, and one set will be retained by the U.S. Marshal Service. Please include an additional set of documents and a USM-285 form for any additional Federal employee or agency who is named as a defendant in your action.

OFFICE OF THE CLERK United States District Court Eastern District of California IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ________________________________, Case No.___________________ Plaintiff, NOTICE OF SUBMISSION vs. OF DOCUMENTS IN SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant.

Plaintiff hereby submits the following documents in compliance with the court's order filed __________________.

[] 1 completed USM-285 form [] 5 copies of the complaint [] 1 original Summons and 5 copies of the Summons [] 5 copies of the order directing service by the U.S. Marshal [] 5 copies of other documents to be served: ____________________________________________ DATED:_________________________________________ Signature of Plaintiff TO BE COMPLETED BY THE CLERK: Documents forwarded to U.S. Marshal on: _______________ _________ (Date) ________________ (Initials)

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS BY U.S. MARSHAL

Please type or print legibly, insuring readability of all copies. DO NOT DETACH ANY COPIES. Submit one complete set of this form (USM-285) and one copy of each writ for each individual, company, corporation, etc., to be served or property to be seized or condemned. The applicable fees for such service(s) (T28, USC Sec. 1921 establishes the fees for service of process by the U.S. Marshal) may be required prior to said service.

For service of any process upon an officer or agent of the United States Government, submit a copy of the writ and a set of Form USM-285 for each officer or agent upon whom service is desired. Submit three (3) additional copies of the writs for service upon the Government of the United States. The U.S. Marshal will serve one (1) upon the U.S. Attorney and will forward two (2) to the Attorney General of the United States. (When the applicable box is checked, completion of the final signature block by the U.S. Marshal or his Deputy always certifies service on the U.S. Attorney and the Attorney General, regardless of whether other defendants on the writ were served.) Failure to provide any of the copies will delay service of the writ.

Complete all entries above the double line. Mark all applicable check boxes and use the "Special Instructions" to advise of any information that will assist the U.S. Marshal in expediting service.

If more than one writ and USM-285 is submitted on a single case, the U.S. Marshal will receipt for all of them on the first USM-285. You will receive for your records the last (No. 5) "Acknowledgment of Receipt" copy for all the USM-285 forms you submit. When the writ is served, you will receive the No. 3 Notice of Service copy. This copy will be identical to the return to the Clerk of the Court.

Upon completion of all services (if the Marshals fees were not requested or tendered in advance or if additional fees are indicated), you will receive a "Billing Statement" (copy 4 of USM-285) from the United States Marshal. (NOTE: Copy 4 should be returned, by you, to the U.S. Marshal, together with your payment of the amount owed.

Additional supplies of the USM-285 may be obtained from the Clerk of the U.S. District Court or U.S. Marshal, without cost.

Source:  Leagle

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