Brassfield v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 7

ORDER Directing Clerk to Issue Summons and Social Security Documents; ORDER Directing United States Marshal for Service of the First Amended Complaint, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 12/29/14. (Gonzalez, R)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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THERESA MARIE BRASSFIELD,
Plaintiff,

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v.

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CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security,
Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:14-cv-01684- JLT
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ISSUE
SUMMONS AND SOCIAL SECURITY CASE
DOCUMENTS
ORDER DIRECTING UNITED STATES
MARSHAL FOR SERVICE OF THE FIRST
AMENDED COMPLAINT (Doc. 5)

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Plaintiff Theresa Marie Brassfield is proceeding in forma pauperis with an action for judicial

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review of a determination of the Social Security Administration. The Court dismissed Plaintiff’s

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complaint with leave to amend on November 4, 2014. (Doc. 3.) On April 2, 2014, Plaintiff filed a

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First Amended Complaint (Doc. 5), which is now before the Court for screening.

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I.

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Screening Requirement
When a plaintiff proceeds in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the complaint, and

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shall dismiss the case at any time if the Court determines that the action is “frivolous, malicious or

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fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief against a defendant

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who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. 1915(e)(2). The Court must screen the First Amended

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Complaint because an amended complaint supersedes the previously filed complaint. See Forsyth v.

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Humana, Inc., 114 F.3d 1467, 1474 (9th Cir. 1997); King v. Atiyeh, 814 F.2d 565, 567 (9th Cir. 1987).
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II.

Pleading Standards

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General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A

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pleading must include a statement affirming the court’s jurisdiction, “a short and plain statement of the

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claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief sought, which may

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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

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succinct manner. Jones v. Cmty Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). The

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purpose of the complaint is to give a defendant fair notice of the claims against him, and the grounds

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upon which the action stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme

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Court noted: “A pleading that offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of

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a cause of action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of

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further factual enhancement.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 677 (2009) (internal quotation marks,

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citations omitted). Conclusory and vague allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of

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Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should

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assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief;

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conclusions in the pleading are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. Leave to amend a

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complaint should be granted where deficiencies can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203

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F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000).

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III.

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Discussion and Analysis
Plaintiff seeks review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying disability

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benefits. (Doc. 5.) The Court may have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides

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in relevant part:

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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.
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Id. (emphasis added). Except as provided, “[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall

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be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(h). These regulations

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operate as a statute of limitations, which “must be strictly construed.” Bowen v. City of New York, 476

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U.S. 467, 479 (1986); see also Vernon v. Heckler, 811 F.2d 1274, 1277 (9th Cir.1987) (explaining the

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60-day period “constitutes a statute of limitations”).
Exhibits to Plaintiff’s complaint indicate that an administrative law judge issued a decision

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denying her applications for benefits on August 26, 2013. (Doc. 5 at 5.) The Appeals Council denied

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her request for review on August 7, 2014, at which time the decision became the final decision of the

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Commissioner. (Id.) Therefore, Plaintiff’s request for judicial review of the Commissioner’s final

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decision was to be filed no later than October 11, 2014. However, Plaintiff’s counsel requested an

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extension of time, which was granted by the Appeals Council on December 15, 2014. (Id. at 10.)

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Therefore, Plaintiff’s request for judicial review of the decision is timely, and the Court has jurisdiction

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pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §405(g).

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IV.

Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint states a cognizable claim for judicial review of the

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Conclusion and Order

decision denying the request for Social Security benefits.

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Based upon the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

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1.

The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue summons as to the defendant, Carolyn
Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security;

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2.

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The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue and serve Plaintiff with Social Security Case

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Documents, including the Scheduling Order, Order regarding Consent, the Consent

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Form, and USM-285 Forms;
3.

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Plaintiff SHALL complete and submit to the Court the “Notice of Submission of
Documents in Social Security Appeal Form;” and

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4.

The U.S. Marshal is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the First Amended Complaint

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(Doc. 5), summons, and this order upon the defendant as directed by Plaintiff in the

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USM Forms.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

December 29, 2014

/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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