Ceja v. Commissioner of Social Security

Filing 23

INFORMATIONAL ORDER Setting Briefing Schedule for Pro Se Litigant. Order signed by Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto on 5/8/2017. (Timken, A)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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SOCORRO CERVANTES CEJA,

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Plaintiff,
v.
NANCY A. BERRYHILL,

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INFORMATIONAL ORDER
SETTING BRIEFING SCHEDULE
FOR PRO SE LITIGANT
Plaintiff’s Opening Brief Due: June 2, 2017

Acting Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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Case No. 1:16-cv-00729-SKO

_____________________________________/
Plaintiff Socorro Cervantes Ceja (“Plaintiff”) is proceeding pro se in an action seeking

17 judicial review of an administrative decision of the Commissioner of Social Security
18 (“Defendant”) that denied, in whole or in part, Plaintiff's claim for benefits under the Social
19 Security Act.
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This order serves as a step-by-step guide for pro se litigants. Plaintiff is strongly urged to

21 read this order and keep it readily available for future reference.
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As service of the Complaint (Doc. 6) and exchange of the Confidential Letter Briefs

23 (Docs. 15, 16) have already been completed, the Court will summarize the following steps
24 Plaintiff is required to take to prosecute this action.
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I.

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If, after exchanging the Confidential Letter Briefs, the parties are unable to agree to a

Briefs

27 remand of the case, the parties must file formal briefs with the Court as directed in the Scheduling
28 Order. Following the filing of the formal briefs with the Court, the Court will consider the merits

1 of the case and make a decision.
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A.

Plaintiff's Opening Brief

Although Plaintiff’s opening brief was originally required to be filed and served by April

4 21, 2017 (Doc. 22), the Court hereby ENLARGES the time for Plaintiff's opening brief to be
5 filed and served to no later than June 2, 2017. Plaintiff must serve a copy of the opening brief
6 on all the attorneys listed for Defendant on the court docket at the addresses noted on the court
7 docket. Plaintiff is advised that failure to timely file an opening brief will result in dismissal of the
8 action.
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Plaintiff must also file the original opening brief, together with a copy, with the Court, by

10 either personal delivery or via U.S. mail to:
Office of the Clerk
United States District Court
Eastern District of California
2500 Tulare Street, Suite 1501
Fresno, California 93721

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Plaintiff's opening brief must contain the following:

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(1)

A plain description of Plaintiff's alleged physical or emotional impairments, when

16 Plaintiff contends they became disabling, and how the impairments disabled Plaintiff from
17 working;
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(2)

A summary of the administrative proceedings before the Social Security

19 Administration;
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(3)

A summary of the relevant testimony at the administrative hearing;

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(4)

A summary of all relevant medical evidence, including an explanation of the

22 significance of clinical and laboratory findings, and the purpose and effect of prescribed
23 medication and therapy;
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(5)

A recitation of the Social Security Administration's findings and conclusions

25 relevant to Plaintiff's claims;
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(6)

A short, separate statement of each of Plaintiff's legal claims explaining why the

27 facts do not support the ALJ's findings; and
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(7)

Any argument separately addressing each claimed error.
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All references to the administrative record and all assertions of fact must be accompanied

2 by citations to the administrative record. Any argument in support of each claim of error must be
3 supported by citation to legal authority and an explanation as to how such authority applies to the
4 facts of the case. Briefs that do not substantially comply with these requirements will be stricken.
5 A document that is stricken becomes null and void and will not be considered by the Court for any
6 purpose.
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B.

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Defendant's Responsive Brief

Pursuant to the Scheduling Order, Defendant's responsive brief must be filed and served on

9 Plaintiff within 30 days from the date of service of Plaintiff's opening brief on Defendant.
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C.

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Plaintiff's Reply Brief

Plaintiff may, but is not required, to file a reply brief within 15 days from the date of

12 Defendant's service of the responsive brief on Plaintiff. Plaintiff must serve a copy of the reply
13 brief on Defendant by serving the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California as
14 set forth in Section I above. Plaintiff must also file the original reply brief, together with a copy,
15 with the Court at the Court's address noted above.
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Plaintiff's reply brief should respond to the arguments made in Defendant's responsive

17 brief.
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II.

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The Court will consider the merits of the case only after all briefs have been filed, and may

The Court's Decision on the Merits

20 enter judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the determination of the Social Security
21 Administration. The Court may or may not remand the case to the Social Security Administration
22 for a further hearing.
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III.

General Summary of Deadline Calculations

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Event

Deadline

Reference

Plaintiff's Opening Brief

June 2, 2017

See Section (I)(A) above

Defendant's Brief

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30 days after Plaintiff's
opening brief is filed

See Section (I)(B) above

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Plaintiff's Reply Brief
(Optional)

15 days after Defendant's brief
is filed

See Section (I)(C) above

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IV.

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In litigating this action, the parties must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure

Rules for Litigating this Action

5 and the Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California ("Local
6 Rules"). A copy of the Local Rules may be obtained in the Clerk's Office at no charge.
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A.

Local Rule 206 pertains to social security actions. Specifically, sections

8 (a)(1) and (2) of Rule 206 generally state that complaints shall contain the last four digits of
9 Plaintiff's social security number only, i.e., XXX-XX-1234, and that Plaintiff shall privately
10 disclose to Defendant, within 5 days after a request is made to Plaintiff, the full social security
11 number of Plaintiff. Plaintiff shall refrain from disclosing the entire social security number on any
12 filings.
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FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL RULES, FEDERAL RULES,

14 OR A COURT ORDER, INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS FOR
15 DISMISSAL OR OTHER APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. See Local Rule 110; Fed. R. Civ.
16 P. 41(b).
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B.

Documents intended to be filed with the Court must be mailed to the Clerk

18 of the Court in Fresno, California, at the address noted above. See Local Rule 134(a). All
19 documents mailed directly to a judge's chambers will be stricken from the record. A document
20 requesting a court order must be styled as a motion, not as a letter. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.
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C.

Each separate document must be separately stapled. See Local Rule 130. If

22 a document is stapled behind another document, it will not be filed and will not be docketed as a
23 separate document.
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D.

All documents filed with the Court must be submitted with an additional

25 legible copy for the Court's use. See Local Rule 133(d)(2). A document submitted without an
26 extra copy for the Court's use will be stricken. If the filing party wishes the Court to return a file27 stamped copy, an additional copy must be provided for that purpose (i.e., an original and two
28 copies – one for the Court's use and one to be returned to the filing party), together with a self4

1 addressed stamped envelope. The Court cannot provide copy or mailing service for a party – even
2 for an indigent plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. Copies of documents from the Court's file
3 may be obtained from the Clerk's Office at the cost of fifty cents per page.
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E.

After any defendant has appeared in an action by filing a pleading

5 responsive to the complaint (i.e., an answer or a motion to dismiss), all documents filed with the
6 Court must include a proof of service stating that a copy of the document was served on the
7 opposing party. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746; Fed. R. Civ. P. 5; Local Rule 135. A document submitted
8 without the required proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is represented by counsel,
9 service on the party's attorney of record constitutes effective service.
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F.

A pro se Plaintiff has a duty to keep the Court and opposing parties' counsel

11 apprised of a current address. If Plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice of change of address,
12 service of court orders at Plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective notice. See Local Rule
13 182(f).

If mail directed to Plaintiff is returned by the United States Postal Service as

14 undeliverable, the Court will not attempt to re-mail it. If Plaintiff's address is not updated within
15 60 days of mail being returned, the action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. See Local
16 Rule 183(b).
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IT IS SO ORDERED.

19 Dated:
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May 8, 2017

/s/

Sheila K. Oberto

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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