(SS) Ashlock v. Commissioner of Social Security ( 2021 )

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 RANDY ALLEN ASHLOCK, ) Case No.: 1:21-cv-1687 JLT ) 12 Plaintiff, ) ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION ) TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS 13 v. ) (Doc. 2) ) 14 KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ) ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO ISSUE Acting Commissioner of Social Security, ) SUMMONS AND CASE DOCUMENTS, AND 15 ) COMPLETE E-SERVICE Defendant. ) 16 ) ORDER STAYING THE ACTION ) 17 18 Randy Allen Ashlock seeks to proceed in forma pauperis with an action for judicial review of 19 the administrative decision denying an application for Social Security benefits. Pending before the 20 Court are the complaint and the motion to proceed in forma pauperis. For the following reasons, the 21 Court finds service of the complaint is appropriate. 22 I. Proceeding in forma pauperis 23 The Court may authorize the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees “by a 24 person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such person . . . possesses [and] 25 that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Court 26 reviewed the financial status affidavit (Doc. 2) and finds the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) are 27 satisfied. Therefore, Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED. 28 /// 1 II. Screening Requirement 2 When an individual seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the 3 complaint and shall dismiss a complaint, or portion of the complaint, if it is “frivolous, malicious or 4 fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief from a defendant 5 who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). A plaintiff’s claim 6 is frivolous “when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or 7 not there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S. 8 25, 32-33 (1992). 9 III. Pleading Standards 10 General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A 11 pleading must include a statement affirming the court’s jurisdiction, “a short and plain statement of the 12 claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief sought, which may 13 include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The purpose of the 14 complaint is to give the defendant fair notice of the claims, and the grounds upon which the complaint 15 stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court noted, 16 Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that offers 17 labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of 18 further factual enhancement. 19 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Vague 20 and conclusory allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 21 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further, 22 [A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” [Citation]. A claim has facial plausibility 23 when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Citation]. The 24 plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. [Citation]. Where a 25 complaint pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’ 26 27 Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citations omitted). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should 28 assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; legal 1 conclusions are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court may grant leave to amend a 2 complaint to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 3 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 4 IV. Discussion and Analysis 5 Plaintiff seeks review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying disability 6 benefits. (Doc. 1.) The Court may have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides: 7 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 8 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. 9 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 10 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 11 Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing. 12 Id. Except as provided by statute, “[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall be 13 reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(h). The regulations 14 “operate as a statute of limitations setting the time period in which a claimant may appeal a final 15 decision of the Commissioner.” Berrigan v. Astrue, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 115390, at * 4-5 (E.D. Cal. 16 Oct. 29, 2010) (citations omitted). 17 Plaintiff alleges the Appeals Council responded to a request for review of the decision denying 18 benefits on October 26, 2021, at which time the decision of the administrative law judge became the 19 final decision of the Commissioner. (Doc. 1 at 2.) Thus, Plaintiff’s complaint was due no later than 20 December 30, 2021. (See id.) Because Plaintiff initiated this action by filing a complaint prior to that 21 date, the request for judicial review was timely under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 22 V. Conclusion and Order 23 Plaintiff’s complaint states a cognizable claim for review of the administrative decision denying 24 Social Security benefits Based upon the foregoing, the Court ORDERS: 25 1. Plaintiff’s motions to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) is GRANTED; 26 2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue summons as to Kilolo Kijakazi, the Acting 27 Commissioner of Social Security; 28 3. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue and serve Plaintiff with the Order regarding 1 Consent and the Consent Form; and 2 4. The Clerk of Court SHALL deliver to the Commissioner of Social Security 3 Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office at their designated email addresses a notice of 4 electronic filing of the action along with the summons and complaint. The Commissioner has agreed 5 not to raise a defense of insufficient service of process if provided with notice of a complaint as 6 detailed in this order. 7 5. After service, the matter will remain STAYED pursuant to General Order 615, until the 8 administrative record is filed or further order of the Court lifting the stay. 9 10 IT IS SO ORDERED. 11 Dated: November 28, 2021 _ /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 12 CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28