Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00945/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00945-1/pdf.json

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

---

1

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Selia Ruiz Mitchell,

Plaintiff,

vs.

ANDREW SAUL,

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 1:19-cv-00945-JDP

STIPULATION AND ORDER FOR 

EXTENSION OF TIME

ECF No. 14

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 03/30/2020 to 04/29/2020, for Plaintiff to serve on defendant with PLAINTIFF’S 

OPENING BRIEF. All other dates in the Court’s Scheduling Order shall be extended 

accordingly.

This is Plaintiff’s second request for an extension of time. Good cause exists for this 

request. The week of 03/22/2020, Plaintiff’s Counsel had seven administrative hearings, 10 

hearing preparation appointments with claimants, seven letter briefs, one reply brief and two 

opening briefs due. The week of 03/29/2020, Plaintiff’s Counsel had 13 administrative hearings, 

31 hearing preparation appointments with claimants, 4 letter briefs, 2 reply briefs and 5 opening 

briefs due. Each of the administrative hearings also requires administrative hearing briefs with a 

full summary of the medical records and legal arguments.

Case 1:19-cv-00945-JDP Document 15 Filed 03/31/20 Page 1 of 3
2

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Additionally, due to the ongoing pandemic with COVID 19 and the various executive 

orders throughout Fresno County and now 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 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. As a result, Plaintiff’s Counsel requires additional time to 

brief this matter.

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

and Court for any inconvenience this may cause.

Respectfully submitted, 

Dated: March 27, 2020 PENA & BROMBERG, ATTORNEYS AT LAW

By: /s/ Jonathan Omar Pena

JONATHAN OMAR PENA

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

Dated: March 27, 2020 MCGREGOR W. SCOTT

United States Attorney

DEBORAH LEE STACHEL

Regional Chief Counsel, Region IX

Social Security Administration

By: */s/ Margaret Lehrkind

Margaret Lehrkind

Special Assistant United States Attorney

Attorneys for Defendant

(*As authorized by email on March 27, 2020)

 

Case 1:19-cv-00945-JDP Document 15 Filed 03/31/20 Page 2 of 3
3

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

ORDER

Pursuant to the parties’ stipulation, plaintiff’s 30-day extension of time is granted. ECF 

No. 14. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 30, 2020 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

No. 204.

Case 1:19-cv-00945-JDP Document 15 Filed 03/31/20 Page 3 of 3