SAAD v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Full title: DEBORAH A. SAAD, Plaintiff, v. COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant

Court: United States District Court, E.D. California

Date published: Apr 28, 2011

1:11-cv-00642-JLT (E.D. Cal. Apr. 28, 2011)

Opinion

1:11-cv-00642-JLT.

April 28, 2011

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS (Doc. 2) ORDER DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITH LEAVE TO AMEND (Doc. 1)

JENNIFER THURSTON, Magistrate Judge

Deborah A. Saad ("Plaintiff") seeks to proceed in forma pauperis and pro se with an action seeking judicial review of a determination of the Social Security Administration. Pending before the Court is the complaint (Doc. 1) and application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) filed by Plaintiff on April 22, 2011.

I. Proceeding in forma paueris

II. Screening Requirement

28 U.S.C. § 191528 U.S.C. § 1915GRANTED in forma pauperis28 U.S.C. 1915Denton v. Hernandez504 U.S. 25 32-33

III. Pleading Standards

General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A pleading stating a claim for relief must include a statement affirming the court's jurisdiction, "a short and plain statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and . . . a demand for the relief sought, which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief." Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a). The Federal Rules adopt a flexible pleading policy, and pro se pleadings are held to "less stringent standards" than pleadings drafted by attorneys. Haines v. Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 521-21 (1972).

A complaint must give fair notice and state the elements of the plaintiff's claim in a plain and succinct manner. Jones v. Cmty Redevelopment Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). The purpose of the complaint is to give the defendant fair notice of the claims against him, and the grounds upon which the complaint stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court noted,

Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me unlawfully accusation. A pleading that offers 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 further factual enhancement.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 1949 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Conclusory and vague allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further,

[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 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 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 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.

Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. at 1949. Where the factual allegations are well-pled, a court should assume their truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; conclusions in the pleading are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. If the Court determines that the complaint fails to state a cognizable claim, the Court may grant leave to amend to the extent that deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

A. Jurisdiction

Plaintiff appears to be seeking review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying disability benefits. The Court would have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), which provides in relevant part:

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 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. 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 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 Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.

Id. Except as provided by statute, "[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall be reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency." 42 U.S.C. § 405(h). The Supreme Court noted that the purpose of the legislation was "to forestall repetitive or belated litigation of stale eligibility claims." Califano v. Sanders, 420 U.S. 99, 108 (1977).

Here, Plaintiff has failed to state the facts upon which the Court's jurisdiction depends. The Court will infer that by indicating an address in Hanford, California, on the complaint that Plaintiff resides within the Eastern District of California. (Doc. 1 at 1). In addition, Plaintiff alleges she received a decision of the administrative law judge and a review of the decision by the Social Security Administration. Id. However, Plaintiff has not identified the type of the administrative proceeding, nor has she provided the decision date or the date upon which notice of the administrative decision was mailed to allow the Court to determine whether Plaintiff timely filed the complaint.

B. Requirements of the Local Rules

The Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California, supplement the Federal Rules. Under Local Rule 206, the following information must be included in a complaint:

(1) In actions involving claims for retirement, survivors, disability, health insurance and black lung benefits, the last four digits of the social security number of the worker on whose wage record the application for benefits was filed (who may or may not be the plaintiff); or

(2) In actions involving claims for supplemental security income benefits, the last four digits of social security number of the plaintiff.

LR 206. Plaintiff's complaint indicates that she seeks benefits that come within this rule. Therefore, Plaintiff's complaint was not in compliance with the Local Rules, as it should contain the last four digits of Plaintiff's Social Security number.

IV. Leave to Amend the Complaint

If the Court determines that a complaint fails to state a claim, leave to amend should be granted to the extent that the deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1130 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). A complaint, or a portion thereof, should only be dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if it appears beyond doubt that the Plaintiff can prove no set of facts, consistent with the allegations, in support of the claim or claims that would entitle him to relief. See Hishon v. King Spalding, 467 U.S. 69, 73 (1984), citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46 (1957); see also Palmer v. Roosevelt Lake Log Owners' Ass'n., Inc., 651 F.2d 1289, 1294 (9^th Cir. 1981). Dismissal of a pro se complaint for failure to state a claim is proper only where it is obvious that the Plaintiff cannot prevail on the facts that he has alleged and that an opportunity to amend would be futile. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d at 1128.

Construing Plaintiff's statements in her complaint liberally, the Court cannot find with certainty that she cannot allege facts, consistent with allegations, in support of the claim or claims that would entitle her to relief. Plaintiff states the judge denied her claim "for reasons [she] did not agree with" and alleges discrimination in the handling of her claim. (Doc. 1 at 1). Thus, it appears Plaintiff seeks judicial review of the decision denying her benefits, but it is not clear whether the Court has jurisdiction over the matter. The Court will grant Plaintiff leave to amend the complaint to cure the deficiencies of her complaint by stating the necessary information. Failure to cure the deficiencies will result in a recommendation that the matter be dismissed with prejudice.

Plaintiff is informed that the Court cannot refer to a prior pleading in order to make Plaintiff's amended complaint complete. Local Rule 220 requires that an amended complaint be complete in itself without reference to any prior pleading. As a general rule, an amended complaint supersedes the original complaint. See Loux v. Rhay, 375 F.2d 55, 57 (9th Cir. 1967). Once Plaintiff files an amended complaint, the original pleading no longer serves any function in the case.

The amended complaint must bear the docket number assigned this case and must be labeled "First Amended Complaint." Failure to file an amended complaint in accordance with this order will be considered to be a failure to comply with an order of the Court pursuant to Local Rule 110 and will result in dismissal of this action.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:

1. Plaintiff's Motions to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (Doc. 2) is GRANTED;

2. Plaintiff's complaint (Doc. 1) IS DISMISSED with leave to amend; and

3. Plaintiff is GRANTED twenty-one (21) days from the date of service of this order to file an amended complaint that complies with the requirements of the pertinent substantive law, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and the Local Rules of Practice.

IT IS SO ORDERED.