Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01742/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-01742-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 864
Nature of Suit: Social Security - SSID Title XVI
Cause of Action: 42:405 Review of HHS Decision (SSID)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NANG N. RATMYSENG, )

)

Plaintiff, )

v. )

)

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, )

Commissioner of Social

Security, )

)

Defendant. )

)

 )

1:07-cv-1742-SMS

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

COUNSEL’S MOTION TO WITHDRAW AS

ATTORNEY OF RECORD (DOC. 23) 

ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO

UPDATE THE DOCKET AND TO SERVE

THIS ORDER ON PLAINTIFF HERSELF

AT THE ADDRESS SPECIFIED IN THIS

ORDER

INFORMATIONAL ORDER TO PRO SE

LITIGANTS

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF AN

EXTENSION OF TIME UNTIL OCTOBER

20, 2008, TO SERVE ON DEFENDANT A

CONFIDENTIAL LETTER BRIEF

Plaintiff is proceeding with counsel with an action seeking

judicial review of an unfavorable decision of the Commissioner of

Social Security (Commissioner) with respect to Social Security

benefits. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), the parties have

consented to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge to conduct

all proceedings in this matter, including ordering the entry of

final judgment. 

Pending before the Court is the motion of Plaintiff’s

counsel to withdraw as attorney of record, filed on September 8,

Case 1:07-cv-01742-SMS Document 27 Filed 10/03/08 Page 1 of 11
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2008. Proofs of service establish that the motion was served on

Defendant and on Thep Tida Ratmyseng for Plaintiff at her

address, 447 N. Diana, Apartment B, Fresno, California 93701. On

September 29, 2008, Defendant filed a statement of non-opposition

to the motion.

I. The Motion to Withdraw as Attorney of Record 

The Court finds that Plaintiff’s address has been

established within the meaning of Local Rule 83-182(b). The Court

further finds that withdrawing counsel gave Plaintiff adequate

notice of the instant motion by sending letters to Plaintiff’s

address three times, beginning in June 2008, and not receiving

any response. .

The grounds of the motion are that although counsel is of

the belief that Plaintiff cannot prevail on the merits and has so

informed Plaintiff, Plaintiff has not responded or otherwise

clarified Plaintiff’s position despite repeated attempts to

contact Plaintiff. 

Local Rule 83-182 provides that an attorney may request

withdrawal if grounds exist pursuant to the Rules of Professional

Conduct of the State Bar of California. Cal. Rules of Prof.

Conduct, Rule 3-700(C)(1)(a) provides for withdrawal with the

permission of a tribunal if the client insists upon presenting a

claim or defense that is not warranted under existing law and

cannot be supported by good faith argument for an extension,

modification, or reversal of existing law. Fed. R. Civ. P.

11(b)(1) provides that by presenting to the Court a paper, an

attorney is certifying that to the best of the person’s

knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry

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reasonable under the circumstances, that the claims, defenses,

and other legal contentions therein are warranted by existing law

or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or

reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law. Cal.

Rules Prof. Conduct, Rule 3-700(C)(6) permits withdrawal if the

member believes in good faith in a proceeding pending before a

tribunal that the tribunal will find the existence of good cause

for withdrawal.

The Court finds and concludes that Plaintiff’s counsel has

established grounds for withdrawal. The motion to withdraw will

be granted.

II. Extension of Time to File Plaintiff’s Confidential

 Letter Brief 

Local Rule 83-182(b) provides, “Leave to withdraw may be

granted subject to such appropriate conditions as the Court deems

fit.” It appears that the exchange of confidential letter briefs,

required by paragraphs 3 and 4 of the scheduling order of

November 30, 2007, has not taken place, even though the lodging

of the administrative record occurred on May 20, 2008.

Accordingly, the Court on its own motion grants to Plaintiff

an extension of time to send to Plaintiff her confidential letter

brief no later than October 20, 2008. 

The Court notes that upon counsel’s withdrawal, Plaintiff

will be proceeding pro se and will be responsible for the timely

prosecution of her action even if Plaintiff fails to obtain new

counsel. A failure to comply with an order of the Court,

including the deadline for the filing of Plaintiff’s opening

brief, will result in sanctions, including dismissal of this

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action.

III. Informational Order

Because Plaintiff is now proceeding pro se, the Court hereby

provides Plaintiff with the following information for pro se

litigants.

A. Attempt at Informal Resolution of the Case

Pursuant to the scheduling order, Respondent is required to

serve within 120 days after service of the complaint a copy of

the administrative record on Appellant and to file the

administrative record with the Court. The administrative record

serves as the answer to the complaint in this proceeding.

Once the administrative record has been filed, the parties

must try to resolve the case informally. In this process the

parties must exchange informal briefs in the form of letters

about the case to see if they can agree that the case should be

sent back, or “remanded,” to the Social Security Administration

for a further hearing by an administrative law judge. The

Appellant’s letter brief 1) must be served on Respondent no later

than thirty (30) days after Respondent serves Appellant with the

administrative record, 2) should be marked “Confidential Letter

Brief” and 3) should not be filed with the Court. In the letter

brief, Appellant must briefly set forth the issues in the case

and the reasons why the Appellant thinks that he or she is

entitled to Social Security benefits and why the decision to deny

benefits should be remanded. 

Respondent’s confidential letter brief must be served on

Appellant thirty-five (35) days after Respondent is served with

Appellant’s confidential letter brief.

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If the parties agree on a remand, then the case will go back

to the Social Security Administration before any formal briefs

are filed with the Court and without the Court’s ever considering

the merits of the case. The parties’ agreement to remand the case

must be written down in a document called a “stipulation,” which

must be signed and filed with the Court no later than fifteen

(15) days after Respondent served its confidential letter brief

on Appellant. 

The informal letter briefs exchanged by the parties are

confidential in the sense that they are not filed with the Court;

if the parties are unable to agree to a remand, the letters are

not part of the case file and thus are not before the Court if

and when the Court finally considers the case on the merits.

B. Briefs

If after exchanging letters the parties are unable to agree

to a remand of the case, then the parties must submit formal

briefs to the Court as directed in the scheduling order. It is

only after the briefs are filed that the Court will consider the

merits of the case and make a decision. 

1. Appellant’s Opening Brief

Appellant’s opening brief must be served and filed no later

than thirty (30) days after the date that Respondent’s informal

letter brief was served on Appellant. Appellant must serve a copy

of his opening brief on the United States Attorney for the

Eastern District of California by either delivering it by hand or

by mailing it to:

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of 

 California

United States Attorney’s Office, Civil Process Clerk

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1130 “O” Street, Room 3654

Fresno, California 93721.

Appellant must also file his original opening brief and a copy of

it with the Court, which means that the original and the copy

must be either delivered by hand or mailed to:

Office of the Clerk

United States District Court

Eastern District of California

1130 “O” Street, Room 5000

Fresno, California 93721.

Appellant’s opening brief must contain the following parts:

1) a plain description of Appellant’s alleged physical or

emotional impairments, when Appellant contends they became

disabling, and how they disabled Appellant from work;

2) a summary of the administrative proceedings before the

Social Security Administration;

3) a summary of the relevant testimony at the administrative

hearing; 

4) a summary of all relevant medical evidence, including an

explanation of the significance of clinical and laboratory

findings and the purpose and effect of prescribed medication and

therapy;

5) a recitation of the Social Security Administration’s

findings and conclusions relevant to Appellant’s claims;

6) a short, separate statement of each of Appellant’s legal

claims stated in terms of the insufficiency of the evidence to

support a particular finding of fact or reliance on an erroneous

legal standard; and

6) argument separately addressing each claimed error.

All references to the record and all assertions of fact must

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be accompanied by citations to the record. Argument in support of

each claim of error must be supported by citation to legal

authority and explanation of the application of such authority to

the facts of the particular case. Briefs that do not

substantially comply with these requirements will be stricken. A

document that is stricken becomes a nullity and is not considered

by the Court for any purposes.

Appellant is further advised that failure to file an opening

brief by the deadline date will result in dismissal of the

action.

2. Respondent’s Brief

Pursuant to the scheduling order, Respondent’s responsive

brief is due to be served and filed no later than thirty (30)

days after service of appellant’s opening brief.

3. Appellant’s Reply Brief

Appellant may file a reply brief, but Appellant is not

required to file a reply brief. 

If Appellant files a reply brief, the brief must be served

and filed no later than fifteen days after the date on which

Respondent served its responsive brief on Appellant. Appellant

must serve a copy of the reply brief on Respondent by serving the

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California at

the United States Attorney’s address noted above. Appellant must

also file the original reply brief and a copy thereof with the

Court at the Court’s address noted above.

Appellant’s reply brief should respond to the arguments made

in the Respondent’s responsive brief.

////

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C. Motion to Dismiss

In some cases, instead of serving and filing an

administrative record, Respondent may file a motion to dismiss

the case pursuant to Rule 12 of the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure. If the Respondent files such a motion, it must be

filed no later than 120 days after the date on which the

Respondent is served with Appellant’s complaint.

Appellant may oppose a motion to dismiss by filing

opposition to the motion. Appellant’s opposition to the motion to

dismiss must be served and filed no later than fourteen (14) days

after the date on which the motion to dismiss was served on

Appellant. It should be labeled “Opposition to Respondent’s

Motion to Dismiss.”

The Court will consider a motion to dismiss only after

receiving opposition from Appellant, or after the time for filing

opposition has passed. In ruling on a motion to dismiss the case,

the Court may either 1) deny the motion and proceed with the

case, ordering the parties to proceed to file a record, attempt

informal resolution, and file briefs; or 2) grant the motion to

dismiss, and dismiss all or part of the case. 

D. The Court’s Decision on the Merits

The Court will consider the merits of the case only after

all briefs have been filed. The Court may enter a judgment

affirming, modifying, or reversing the determination of the

Social Security Administration. The Court may or may not remand

the case to the Social Security Administration for a further

hearing.

/////

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E. Rules for Litigating the Action

Appellant is reminded of the following:

1. In litigating this action, the parties must comply with

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Fed. R. Civ. P.) and the

Local Rules of the United States District Court, Eastern District

of California (Local Rules). 

 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE LOCAL RULES, FEDERAL RULES OR A COURT

ORDER, INCLUDING THIS ORDER, WILL BE GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL OR

OTHER APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. See Local Rule 11-110; Fed. R. Civ.

P. 41(b).

2. Documents intended to be filed with the Court must be

mailed to the Clerk of the Court. See Local Rule 5-134(a). All

documents improperly mailed to a judge's chambers will be

stricken from the record. A document requesting a court order

must be styled as a motion, not a letter. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 7.

3. Each document submitted for filing must include the

original signature of the filing party or parties. Local Rule 7-

131; Fed. R. Civ. P. 11(a). All documents submitted without the

required signature(s) will be stricken. Each separate document

must be separately stapled. See Local Rule 7-130. If a document

is stapled behind another document, it will not be filed and will

not enter the court docket.

4. All documents filed with the Court must be submitted with

an additional legible conformed copy for the Court's use. See

Local Rule 5-134(b). A document submitted without an extra copy

for the Court's use will be stricken. If the filing party wishes

the Court to return a file-stamped copy, he or she must include

an additional copy for that purpose (i.e., submit an original and

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two copies, one for the Court's use and one to be returned) and a

pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope. The Court cannot provide

copy or mailing service for a party, even for an indigent

plaintiff proceeding in forma pauperis. Copies of documents from

the Court’s file may be obtained at the cost of fifty cents per

page.

5. After any defendants have appeared in an action by filing

a pleading responsive to the complaint (i.e., an answer or a

motion to dismiss), all documents filed with the Court must

include a certificate of service stating that a copy of the

document was served on the opposing party. See 28 U.S.C. § 1746;

F.R.Civ.P. 5; Local Rule 5-135. A document submitted without the

required proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is

represented, service on the party's attorney of record

constitutes effective service. 

6. A pro se party has an affirmative duty to keep the Court

and opposing parties apprised of his or her address. If the

Appellant moves and fails to file a notice of change of address,

service of court orders at Appellant's prior address shall

constitute effective notice. See Local Rule 83-182(d). If mail

directed to Appellant is returned by the United States Postal

Service as undeliverable, the Court will not attempt to remail

it. If the address is not updated within sixty days of the mail’s

being returned, the action will be dismissed for failure to

prosecute. See Local Rule 83-183(b).

Accordingly, it IS ORDERED that

1. The motion of Stuart Barasch to withdraw as attorney of

record IS GRANTED; and

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2. The Clerk of the Court IS DIRECTED to update the docket

to reflect Plaintiff’s pro se status and address, which is stated

on page 2 of this order, and to serve a copy of this order upon

Plaintiff herself at Plaintiff’s address;

and

3. The time for Plaintiff’s serving on Defendant a

confidential letter brief IS EXTENDED to no later than October

20, 2008; and

4. Plaintiff IS INFORMED that a failure to comply with the

Local Rules or an order of the Court, including the deadline for

the filing of Plaintiff’s opening brief, will result in

sanctions, including dismissal of this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 2, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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