De Leon v. S.S.D.I. Appeals Council ( 2024 )

1 2 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 3 DISTRICT OF NEVADA 4 * * * 5 Joyce D., Case No. 2:23-cv-01344-DJA 6 Plaintiff, 7 Order v. 8 S.S.D.I. Appeals Council, 9 Defendant. 10 11 Before the Court is Plaintiff Joyce D.’s motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. 12 (ECF No. 1). Because the Court finds that Plaintiff has demonstrated an inability to prepay fees 13 and costs or give security for them, it grants the application. However, because the Court finds 14 that Plaintiff’s complaint has not met the basic requirements to satisfy screening, it dismisses her 15 complaint without prejudice and with leave to amend. The Court finds these matters properly 16 resolved without a hearing. LR 78-1. 17 I. Discussion. 18 A. The Court grants Plaintiff’s in forma pauperis application. 19 Plaintiff has submitted the affidavit required by 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) showing an inability 20 to prepay fees and costs or give security for them. Plaintiff explains that she is unemployed and 21 that her son pays for everything. The Court thus finds that Plaintiff is unable to pay an initial 22 partial filing fee and grants the application to proceed in forma pauperis. 23 B. Plaintiff’s complaint does not pass the Court’s screening. 24 Plaintiff’s complaint does not meet the basic requirements to pass screening. When a 25 plaintiff seeks leave to file a civil case in forma pauperis, the court will screen the complaint. See 26 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e). For social security appeals, judges in this district consider four 27 requirements for complaints to satisfy screening. See, e.g., Graves v. Colvin, 2015 WL 357121, 1 administrative remedies were exhausted under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and that the plaintiff filed the 2 application within 60 days after notice of the Social Security Commissioner’s final decision. See 3 id. Second, the complaint must indicate the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides. See id. 4 Third, the complaint must state the nature of the plaintiff’s disability and when the plaintiff 5 claims to have become disabled. See id. Fourth, the complaint must contain a plain, short, and 6 concise statement identifying the nature of the plaintiff’s disagreement with the determination 7 made by the Social Security Administration and show that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. See id. 8 Here, Plaintiff’s complaint only satisfies the second requirement. Specifically, Plaintiff 9 provides her address which shows that she lives in the jurisdictional bounds of this Court. (ECF 10 No. 1-1 at 1). Plaintiff’s complaint does not satisfy the other requirements, likely because she 11 completed a complaint form that was not designed for her Social Security claim. Because 12 Plaintiff’s complaint does not meet each of the requirements, it does not satisfy screening and the 13 Court dismisses Plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and with leave to amend. The Court will 14 send Plaintiff the correct form for her complaint. 15 16 IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma 17 pauperis (ECF No. 1) is granted with the caveat that the fees shall be paid if recovery is made. 18 At this time, Plaintiff shall not be required to pay the filing fee. 19 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Plaintiff is permitted to maintain this action to 20 conclusion without the necessity of prepayment of any additional fees or costs or the giving of 21 security therefor. The Order granting leave to proceed in forma pauperis shall not extend to the 22 issuance of subpoenas at government expense. 23 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is kindly directed to file the 24 complaint (ECF No. 1-1) but shall not provide notice of this action to the Commissioner pursuant 25 to Rule 3 of the Supplemental Rules for Social Security. 26 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the complaint (ECF No. 1-1) is dismissed 27 without prejudice for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, with leave to 1 deficiencies can be corrected. If Plaintiff chooses to amend the complaint, Plaintiff is informed 2 that the Court cannot refer to a prior pleading (i.e., the original complaint) to make the amended 3 complaint complete. This is because, generally, an amended complaint supersedes the original 4 complaint. Local Rule 15-1(a) requires that an amended complaint be complete without reference 5 to any prior pleading. Once a plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original complaint no 6 longer serves any function in the case. Therefore, in an amended complaint, as in an original 7 complaint, each claim and the involvement of each Defendant must be sufficiently alleged. 8 Failure to comply with this order will result in the recommended dismissal of this case. 9 IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court is kindly directed to mail a copy of 10 this order to Plaintiff along with a copy of the Form Complaint for Review of a Social Security 11 Disability or Supplemental Security Income Decision.1 12 13 DATED: February 27, 2024 14 DANIEL J. ALBREGTS 15 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 1 This form can also be found online at https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/pro-se-forms/complaint-