Garcia v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 5

ORDER Directing Clerk To Issue Summons And Social Security Case Documents, ORDER Directing United States Marshal For Service Of The First Amended Complaint, signed by Magistrate Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on 11/17/2014. (Fahrney, E)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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MANUEL GARCIA,
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-01744- JLT
ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ISSUE
SUMMONS AND SOCIAL SECURITY CASE
DOCUMENTS
ORDER DIRECTING UNITED STATES
MARSHAL FOR SERVICE OF THE FIRST
AMENDED COMPLAINT

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Plaintiff Manuel Garcia is proceeding in forma pauperis with an action for judicial review of a

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determination of the Social Security Administration. The Court dismissed Plaintiff’s complaint with

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leave to amend. (Doc. 3.) On November 14, 2014, Plaintiff filed a First Amended Complaint (Doc. 4),

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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. 4.) 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 setting the time period in which a claimant may appeal a final

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decision of the Commissioner.” Cogburn v. Astrue, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 152351, at * 5 (E.D. Cal.

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Oct. 29, 2010) (citing Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 479 (1986); Vernon v. Heckler, 811

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F.2d 1274, 1277 (9th Cir.1987)).
According to Plaintiff, the decision denying his application for benefits was made final on

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September 21, 2014. (Doc. 4 at 2.) Therefore, any request for judicial review of the decision was to

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be filed no later than November 17, 2014. Because Plaintiff’s request for review was timely, the Court

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has jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

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IV.

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

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.

Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security;

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The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue summons as to the defendant, Carolyn

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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;

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Documents in Social Security Appeal Form;” and

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Plaintiff SHALL complete and submit to the Court the “Notice of Submission of

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The U.S. Marshal is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the First Amended Complaint
(Doc. 4), summons, and this order upon the defendant as directed in the USM Forms.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated:

November 17, 2014

/s/ Jennifer L. Thurston
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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