Meredith v. Astrue

Filing 2

ORDER Granting 1 Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. The Clerk of the Court file the Complaint and serve summons to General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Attorney General of the United States, Department of Justice, and United States Attorney for the District of Nevada. Mr. Kalagian will have until September 28, 2012, to comply with Local Rule IA 10-1(b). Signed by Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach on 9/17/2012. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - SLR)

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1 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 4 *** 5 ANGELA MEREDITH, 6 7 8 Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER SOCIAL SECURITY, 9 Defendant. 10 ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 2:12-cv-01594-JCM-VCF ORDER Before the court are plaintiff Angela Meredith’s Motion/Application to Proceed In Forma 11 12 Pauperis (#1) and Complaint (#1-1). 13 I. In Forma Pauperis Application 14 Plaintiff Angela Meredith asserts in her application to proceed in forma pauperis that she has 15 no take home wages, received $1,300 in disability payments in the last 12 months, and that she has $200 16 in her bank account. (#1). Plaintiff also asserts that her monthly expenses include: $275 in rent, $50 17 for electricity, $75 for Direct TV, $108 for telephone, and $180 in food. Id. Accordingly, plaintiff’s 18 request to proceed in forma pauperis is granted pursuant to § 1915(a). 19 II. Screening the Complaint 20 Upon granting a request to proceed in forma pauperis, a court must additionally screen a 21 complaint pursuant to § 1915(e). Specifically, federal courts are given the authority to dismiss a case 22 if the action is legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, 23 or seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. § 1915(e)(2). “To survive 24 a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim 25 to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (internal 26 quotations and citation omitted). 1 In considering whether the plaintiff has stated a claim upon which relief can be granted, all 2 material allegations in the complaint are accepted as true and are to be construed in the light most 3 favorable to the plaintiff. Russell v. Landrieu, 621 F.2d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 1980). When a court 4 dismisses a complaint under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with 5 directions as to curing its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the 6 deficiencies could not be cured by amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 7 1995) (citation omitted). 8 A. Plaintiff’s Complaint 9 Plaintiff’s complaint arises from an unfavorable decision by the Commissioner of Social 10 Security Administration (hereinafter “Commissioner”). (#1-1). Plaintiff asserts that she is “disabled 11 as that term is defined in the Social Security Act,” and that she filed concurrent applications for 12 disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income” alleging the same. 13 Commissioner denied the applications both upon initial review and reconsideration. Id. Plaintiff 14 participated in a hearing before the ALJ, and the ALJ issued a decision also denying plaintiff’s claim 15 for benefits. Id. The Appeals Counsel denied plaintiff’s request for a review of the ALJ’s decision, 16 making the Commissioner’s decision final. 17 Commissioner to this court, and “requests that this court reverse that decision, or in the 18 alternative,...remand this matter for a new hearing...” Id. Id. Id. The Plaintiff has appealed the decision of the 19 Plaintiff may appeal to this court the Commissioner’s denial of her application for either 20 Disability Insurance Benefits or Supplemental Security Income under Titles II and XVI of the Social 21 Security Act, respectively. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-433, 1381-82c. This court has jurisdiction over the 22 matter. Id. Construing plaintiff’s allegations in light most favorable to plaintiff Meredith, the court 23 finds that plaintiff has asserted a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Russell, 621 F.2d at 1039. 24 III. 25 26 Local Rule IA 10-1(b). The court notes that attorney Marc Kalagian has appeared on behalf of plaintiff. Mr. Kalagian 2 1 is a licensed Nevada lawyer, but he does not maintain an office in Nevada. Local Rule IA 10-1(b) 2 provides that a licensed Nevada attorney without offices in Nevada “shall either associate a licensed 3 Nevada attorney maintaining an office in Nevada or designate a licensed Nevada attorney maintaining 4 an office in Nevada, upon whom all papers, process, or pleadings required to be served upon the 5 attorney may be so served.” Id. Accordingly, Mr. Kalagian will have until September 28, 2012, to 6 comply with LR IA 10-1(b). 7 Accordingly, and for good cause shown, 8 IT IS ORDERED that plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (#1) is GRANTED. 9 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the plaintiff is permitted to maintain the action to conclusion 10 without the necessity of prepayment of any additional fees, costs, or security. This order granting in 11 forma pauperis status does not extend to the issuance of subpoenas at government expense. 12 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court file the Complaint (#1-1) and serve the 13 Commissioner of the Social Security Administration by sending a copy of the summons and Complaint 14 (#1-1) by certified mail to: (1) General Counsel, Social Security Administration, Room 611, Altmeyer 15 Bldg., 6401 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland 21235; and (2) the Attorney General of the United 16 States, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 4400, Washington, D.C. 20530. 17 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court issue summons to the United States 18 Attorney for the District of Nevada and deliver the summons and Complaint (#1-1) to the U.S. Marshal 19 for service. 20 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that from this point forward, plaintiff must serve upon defendant, 21 or his attorney if he has retained one, a copy of every pleading, motion, or other document submitted 22 for consideration by the court. Plaintiff must include with the original paper submitted for filing a 23 certificate stating the date that a true and correct copy of the document was mailed to the defendants or 24 their counsel. The court may disregard any paper received by a district judge, magistrate judge, or the 25 Clerk which fails to include a certificate of service. 26 3 1 2 3 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s counsel Mr. Kalagian will have until September 28, 2012, to comply with Local Rule IA 10-1(b). DATED this 17th day of September, 2012. 4 5 6 CAM FERENBACH UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 4

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