Fletcher v. Berryhill

Filing 4

ORDER. IT IS ORDERED that 1 Plaintiff's Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis is GRANTED. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court file 1 -1 the Complaint and serve the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration by sending a copy of the summons and 1 -1 Complaint by certified mail. Signed by Magistrate Judge Cam Ferenbach on 10/11/17. (Copies have been distributed pursuant to the NEF - cc: USM- AUSA, NV -ADR)

Download PDF
1 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 4 *** 5 6 CHRISTINE FLETCHER, 7 8 9 Plaintiff, vs. NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, 10 11 12 2:17-cv-02628-APG-VCF ORDER [Motion/Application for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (ECF No.1)] Defendant. Before the court is Plaintiff Christine Fletcher’s Motion/Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 1). 13 I. 14 Plaintiff asserts in her application to proceed in forma pauperis that she receives $194.00 in food 15 stamps and her friend loans her $40.00 monthly. Id. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma 16 pauperis is granted pursuant to § 1915(a). In Forma Pauperis Application 17 II. 18 Upon granting a request to proceed in forma pauperis, a court must additionally screen a complaint 19 pursuant to § 1915(e). Specifically, federal courts are given the authority to dismiss a case if the action is 20 legally “frivolous or malicious,” fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted, or seeks monetary 21 relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief. § 1915(e)(2). “To survive a motion to dismiss, 22 a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is 23 plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (internal quotations and citation 24 omitted). 25 Screening the Complaint 1 In considering whether the plaintiff has stated a claim upon which relief can be granted, all material 2 allegations in the complaint are accepted as true and are to be construed in the light most favorable to the 3 plaintiff. Russell v. Landrieu, 621 F.2d 1037, 1039 (9th Cir. 1980). When a court dismisses a complaint 4 under § 1915(e), the plaintiff should be given leave to amend the complaint with directions as to curing 5 its deficiencies, unless it is clear from the face of the complaint that the deficiencies could not be cured by 6 amendment. See Cato v. United States, 70 F.3d 1103, 1106 (9th Cir. 1995) (citation omitted). Plaintiff’s Complaint 7 A. 8 Plaintiff’s complaint arises from an unfavorable decision by the Commissioner of Social Security 9 Administration (hereinafter “Commissioner”). (ECF NO. 1-1). Plaintiff asserts that she is “disabled as 10 that term is defined in the Social Security Act.” Id. The Commissioner denied his application for lack of 11 disability. Id. Plaintiff has appealed the decision of the Commissioner to this court, and requests that 12 this court reverse that decision, or in the alternative, remand this matter for a new hearing... Id. 13 Plaintiff may appeal to this court the Commissioner’s denial of her application for either Disability 14 Insurance Benefits or Supplemental Security Income under Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act, 15 respectively. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-433, 1381-82c. This Court has jurisdiction over the matter. Id. 16 Construing plaintiff’s allegations in light most favorable to plaintiff, the court finds that plaintiff has 17 asserted a claim upon which relief can be granted. See Russell, 621 F.2d at 1039. 18 Accordingly, and for good cause shown, 19 IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff’s Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (ECF No. 1) is 20 GRANTED. 21 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Plaintiff is permitted to maintain the action to conclusion 22 without the necessity of prepayment of any additional fees, costs, or security. This order granting in forma 23 pauperis status does not extend to the issuance of subpoenas at government expense. 24 25 2 1 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court file the Complaint (ECF No. 1-1) and 2 serve the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration by sending a copy of the summons and 3 Complaint (ECF NO. 1-1) by certified mail to: (1) the Attorney General of the United States, Department 4 of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Room 4400, Washington, D.C. 20530; and (3) Office of the 5 Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX, Social Security Administration, 160 Spear St., Suite 899, San 6 Francisco, CA 94105-1545. 7 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court issue summons to the United States Attorney 8 for the District of Nevada and deliver the summons and Complaint (ECF NO. 1-1) to the U.S. Marshal for 9 service. 10 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that from this point forward, Plaintiff must serve upon defendant, or 11 his attorney if he has retained one, a copy of every pleading, motion, or other document submitted for 12 consideration by the court. Plaintiff must include with the original paper submitted for filing a certificate 13 stating the date that a true and correct copy of the document was mailed to the defendants or their counsel. 14 The court may disregard any paper received by a district judge, magistrate judge, or the Clerk which fails 15 to include a certificate of service. 16 DATED this 11th day of October, 2017. _________________________ CAM FERENBACH UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 3

Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


Why Is My Information Online?