Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00983/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00983-2/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:402 Social Security Benefits

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JONATHAN O. PENA, ESQ. 

CA Bar ID No. 278044

Peña & Bromberg, PLC

2440 Tulare St., Suite 320

Fresno, CA 93721

Telephone: 559-412-5390

Fax: 866-282-6709

info@jonathanpena.com

Attorney for Plaintiff

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Gregory George Helm,

Plaintiff,

vs.

ANDREW SAUL,

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

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Case No. 1:19-CV-00983

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR 

EXTENSION OF TIME

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED, by and between the parties through their respective 

counsel of record, with the Court’s approval, that Plaintiff shall have a 30-day extension of time, 

from June 15, 2020 to July 15, 2020, for Plaintiff to serve on defendant with PLAINTIFF’S 

REPLY . All other dates in the Court’s Scheduling Order shall be extended accordingly.

This is Plaintiff’s third request for an extension of time, but first request for this task. 

Good cause exists for this request. As with most organizations, COVID-19 has taken a toll on 

the regular course of business within Counsel’s office. As a result of the various executive orders 

throughout Fresno County and the State of California, along with the recommendations for 

Social Distancing, Plaintiff’s Counsel is operating with very limited staff. The Office of 

Hearings Operations is still conducting telephonic hearings. As it is required to continue the 

normal day-to-day tasks involved in developing cases and the requirements of the five-day rule 

Case 1:19-cv-00983-SKO Document 19 Filed 06/16/20 Page 1 of 3
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related to submission of evidence to the Administrative Law Judge which is imposed under 20 

CFR § 404.935, Counsel must still continue normal operations but with a significantly reduced 

level of support. Additionally, Counsel requires that his staff self-quarantine when COVID-19 

symptoms appear, thus further reducing support necessary to timely and efficiently process the 

workload. 

Additionally, the week of 6/7/2020, Plaintiff’s Counsel has 15 administrative hearings, 1 

hearing preparation appointment with claimant, 10 Opening briefs, 1 Letter brief, and 3 Reply 

briefs. The week of 6/14/2020, Plaintiff’s Counsel had 21 administrative hearings, 12 hearing 

preparation appointments with claimant, 12 Opening briefs, and 1 Reply brief. Each of the 

administrative hearings also requires administrative hearing briefs with a full summary of the 

medical records and legal arguments.

Defendant does not oppose the requested extension. Counsel apologizes to the Defendant 

and Court for any inconvenience this may cause.

Respectfully submitted, 

Dated: June 16, 2020 PENA & BROMBERG, ATTORNEYS AT LAW

By: /s/ Jonathan Omar Pena

JONATHAN OMAR PENA

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Dated: June 16, 2020 MCGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

DEBORAH LEE STACHEL

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

By: */s/ Marcelo N. Illarmo

Marcelo N. Illarmo

Special Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant

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(*As authorized by email on June 16, 2020)

ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ above stipulation, for good cause shown, Plaintiff shall file and 

serve his reply brief by no later than July 15, 2020.1 No further extensions will be granted absent 

extenuating circumstances. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 16, 2020 /s/ Sheila K. Oberto .

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

 

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The Court notes that Plaintiff filed this stipulation one day after the deadline of June 15, 2020, passed. However, 

the Court finds excusable neglect under Rule 6(b) and will allow the untimely request.

Case 1:19-cv-00983-SKO Document 19 Filed 06/16/20 Page 3 of 3