Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00868/USCOURTS-caed-1_19-cv-00868-3/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

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

ROBERT WILLIAM CARSON,

Plaintiff,

vs.

ANDREW SAUL,

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

Case No. 1:19-cv-00868-EPG

STIPULATION AND (PROPOSED) 

ORDER FOR EXTENSION OF TIME

(ECF No. 17)

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 03/29/2020 to 04/28/2020, for Plaintiff to serve on defendant with PLAINTIFF’S 

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

accordingly.

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, and on certain days, 

from his home. 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. 

Case 1:19-cv-00868-EPG Document 18 Filed 03/27/20 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

Counsel was already dealing with an unusual increase of administrative hearings before 

the Pandemic was declared. Counsel had planned for additional staff to assist with the 

administrative work; however, with the Distancing requirements, that additional staff is no 

longer feasible. 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.

As a result of the above, Plaintiff’s Counsel requires a third extension to brief this matter. 

It is not Counsel’s intent to delay this matter any further.

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-00868-EPG Document 18 Filed 03/27/20 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 stipulation of the parties, and finding good cause exists, IT IS ORDERED 

that Plaintiff’s stipulated third request for additional time (ECF No. 17) is granted. Plaintiff’s 

opening brief shall be filed on or before April 28, 2020. All subsequent deadlines in the Court’s 

scheduling order are extended accordingly.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 27, 2020 /s/

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:19-cv-00868-EPG Document 18 Filed 03/27/20 Page 3 of 3