Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00353/USCOURTS-caed-1_21-cv-00353-2/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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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HERLINDA RUELAS,

Plaintiff,

v.

KILOLO KIJAKAZI, ACTING 

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL 

SECURITY,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:21-cv-00353-HBK

ORDER GRANTING PARTIES’ 

STIPULATED MOTION TO REMAND 

UNDER SENTENCE FOUR OF 42 U.S.C. § 

405(g), REVERSING FINAL DECISION AND 

REMANDING CASE1

(Doc. No. 26)

ORDER MOOTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION 

FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

(Doc. No. 21)

Pending before the Court is the parties’ stipulated motion to remand filed on January 18, 

2023. (Doc. No. 26). Plaintiff Herlinda Ruelas and the Commissioner of Social Security agree 

that this case should be remanded for further administrative proceedings under sentence four of 

42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Id.).

The United States Supreme Court held that the Social Security Act permits remand in 

conjunction with a judgment either affirming, reversing, or modifying the Secretary’s decision. 

1 Both parties have consented to the jurisdiction of a magistrate judge in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 

§636(c)(1). (Doc. No. 11). 

Case 1:21-cv-00353-HBK Document 27 Filed 01/19/23 Page 1 of 2
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2

See Melkonyan v. Sullivan, 501 U.S. 89, 97-98 (1991) (addressing issue of attorney’s fees under 

the Equal Access to Justice Act and calculating deadline using date of final judgment). The 

Melkonyan court recognized 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) contemplates only two types of remand –

sentence four or sentence six. Id. at 98. A sentence four remand authorizes a court to enter “a 

judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Secretary, with or without 

resetting the cause for a rehearing.” Id. (other citations omitted). 

The Court grants the parties’ motion to remand under sentence four and reverses the 

Commissioner’s final decision. On remand, the Commissioner shall further develop the record as 

necessary, and issue a new decision. 

Accordingly, it is ORDERED:

1. Pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C.§ 405(g), the Court grants the stipulated motion 

to remand (Doc. No. 26) and REVERSES the Commissioner’s decision. This case is 

REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social Security consistent with this Order. 

2. An application for attorney fees may be filed by separate motion.

3. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. No. 21) is MOOT.

4. The Clerk shall enter judgment in favor of Plaintiff, terminate any deadlines, and close 

this case.

Dated: January 19, 2023 

HELENA M. BARCH-KUCHTA

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:21-cv-00353-HBK Document 27 Filed 01/19/23 Page 2 of 2