Opinion
CASE NO. 11CV2899-LAB (POR)
01-23-2012
FARIBA SADEGHI-LALABADI, Plaintiff, v. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE, Defendant.
ORDER GRANTING RENEWED MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS; AND
ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Fariba Sadeghi-Lalabadi filed this appeal from denial of social security benefits, along with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis ("IFP"). Because the IFP motion was incomplete, the Court denied it on December 16, 2011 without prejudice. Sadeghi-Lalabadi has now filed a more complete IFP motion. Even though it is still not quite complete, it is clear Sadeghi-Lalabadi lacks the resources to pay the filing fee, and the motion is therefore GRANTED.
Sadeghi-Lalabadi earlier filed a motion for appointment of counsel, which was denied as moot. The motion was also lacking in supporting information, and Sadeghi-Lalabadi did not renew it when filing the amended complaint.
The Court is required to screen the complaint and to dismiss it to the extent it is frivolous or malicious, fails to state a claim, or seeks monetary relief from an immune defendant. See § 1915(e)(2)(B); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000). The Court construes the pleadings of a pro se plaintiff, such as Sadeghi-Lalabadi, liberally, see Eldridge v. Block, 832 F.2d 1132, 1137 (9th Cir. 1987), but even a liberal construction does not supply elements Sadeghi-Lalabadi has not pleaded. See Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982).
The Court screened and dismissed the original complaint. The body of that complaint consisted of two sentences. In its entirety, it read: "Disability insurance, they said I am not disable[d] because I am working. It is true that I am working but I have depression and working is hard for me." Although it was clear Sadeghi-Lalabadi thought the Commissioner of Social Security's determination of non-disability was wrong, it was unclear why. The Court therefore dismissed it without prejudice, and with leave to amend.
The screening order pointed out to Sadeghi-Lalabadi what was missing from the complaint. Specifically, the Court noted, a complaint must contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief," Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2), and this was missing from the original complaint. That order cautioned Sadeghi-Lalabadi that the amended complaint had to meet the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 8, and that if it didn't, the entire action would be dismissed and Sadeghi-Lalabadi would have no further opportunity to amend.
The screening order noted that the fact that a claimant is working and receiving pay suggests she is not disabled. See Stout v. Comm'r, Social Sec. Admin., 454 F.3d 1050, 1052 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920) ("Is the claimant presently engaged in substantial gainful activity? If so, the claimant is not disabled.") See also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1574 (explaining how claimants are evaluated to determine if they are engaged in "substantial gainful activity"). The order, however, suggested that Sadeghi-Lalabadi might still have a viable claim, despite being nominally employed, if her earnings were too small for the work to be considered "substantial gainful activity," or if depression were preventing Sadeghi-Lalabadi from working long enough or performing enough job functions to be considered employed. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1574(c) (discussing unsuccessful work attempts).
On January 17, 2012, Sadeghi-Lalabadi filed an amended complaint. Rather than correcting the deficiencies identified in the screening order, Sadeghi-Lalabadi included even less information. The body of the amended complaint, in its entirety, says: "I have disability. I have depression." For reasons set forth in the Court's order of December 16, this is inadequate and fails to state a claim or comply with Fed. R. Civ. P. 8.
The amended complaint is therefore DISMISSED WITHOUT LEAVE TO AMEND.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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HONORABLE LARRY ALAN BURNS
United States District Judge