Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-00856/USCOURTS-casd-3_15-cv-00856-0/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

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Jessica Z. Buttimer,

Plaintiff,

CASE NO. 15-CV-856 JLS (BGS)

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S

MOTION TO PROCEED IN

FORMA PAUPERIS

(ECF No. 3)

vs.

CAROLYN W. COLVIN, Acting

Commissioner of Social Security,

Defendant.

Presently before the Court is PlaintiffJessica Z. Buttimer’s (“Plaintiff”) Motion

for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis (“IFP”). (ECF No. 3.) Plaintiff, proceeding

through counsel, has submitted a complaint for judicial review of a final decision ofthe

Commissioner of Social Security, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (ECF No. 1.)

MOTION TO PROCEED IFP

All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of

the United States, except an application for writ of habeaApril 20, 2015s corpus,

must pay a filing fee of $350. See 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a). An action may proceed

despite a plaintiff’s failure to prepay the entire fee only if she is granted leave to

proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d

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1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999). A federal court may authorize the commencement of an

action without the prepayment of fees if the party submits an affidavit, including a

statement of assets, showing that she is unable to pay the required filing fee. 28

U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

Here, Plaintiff states that she was last employed in 2013 making $7 per hour,

does not have a checking account, and receives General Relief in the amount of

$550 per month and food stamps. (ECF No. 3 at 2.) Further, Plaintiff has no

savings or assets. (Id. at 2–3.) Taken at face value, Plaintiff’s application

demonstrates that she is unable to pay the requisite fees and costs. Accordingly, the

Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to Proceed IFP.

INITIAL SCREENING

Notwithstanding IFP status, the Court must subject each civil action commenced

pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) to mandatory screening and order the sua sponte

dismissal of any case it finds “frivolous or malicious,” “fails to state a claim on which

relief may be granted,” or “seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune

from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B);see also Calhoun v. Stahl, 254 F.3d 845,

845 (9th Cir. 2001) (“[T]he provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B) are not limited to

prisoners.”); Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1126–27 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc) (noting

that 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e) “not only permits but requires” the court to sua sponte dismiss

an IFP complaint that fails to state a claim).

Before its amendment by the PLRA, former 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) permitted sua

sponte dismissal of only frivolous and malicious claims. Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1130. 

However, as amended, 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) mandates that the court reviewing an

action filed pursuant to the IFP provisions of § 1915 make and rule on its own motion

to dismiss before directing the U.S. Marshal to effect service pursuant to Federal Rule

of Civil Procedure 4(c)(3). See id. at 1127; Calhoun, 254 F.3d at 845; McGore v.

Wrigglesworth, 114 F.3d 601, 604–05 (6thCir. 1997) (stating thatsua sponte screening

pursuant to § 1915 should occur “before service of process is made on the opposing

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parties”).

“[W]hen determining whether a complaint states a claim, a court must accept as

true all allegations of material fact and must construe those facts in the light most

favorable to the plaintiff.” Resnick v. Hayes, 213 F.3d 443, 447 (9th Cir. 2000); see

also Andrews v. King, 398 F.3d 1113, 1121 (9th Cir. 2005); Barren v. Harrington, 152

F.3d 1193, 1194 (9th Cir. 1998) (noting that § 1915(e)(2) “parallels the language of

Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6)”). 

In this case, Plaintiff appeals the Commissioner’s decision denying Plaintiff’s

claim for disability insurance benefits. The Court finds that Plaintiff’s claim is

sufficiently pleaded to survive the sua sponte screening required by 28 U.S.C.

§§ 1915(e)(2). See, e.g., Rhett v. Disman, 228 Fed. Appx. 225, 227 (3d Cir. 2007)

(stating that “seeking review of the denial of supplemental social security disability

benefits” is sufficient to state a claim). Therefore, Plaintiff is entitled to U.S. Marshal

service on her behalf. See Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1126-27; 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d) (“The

officers of the court shall issue and serve all process, and perform all duties in [IFP]

cases.”); Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(c)(3) (“[T]he court may order thatservice be made by a United

States marshal or deputy marshal . . . if the plaintiff is authorized to proceed in forma

pauperis under 28 U.S.C. § 1915.”). Plaintiff is cautioned, however, that “the sua

sponte screening and dismissal procedure is cumulative of, and not a substitute for, any

subsequent Rule 12(b)(6) motion that [a defendant] may choose to bring.” Teahan v.

Wilhelm, 481 F. Supp. 2d 1115, 1119 (S.D. Cal. 2007).

CONCLUSION

For the reasons stated above, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to proceed

IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Clerk shall issue a summons as to Plaintiff’s

Complaint (ECF No. 1) upon Defendant and shall forward it to Plaintiff along with a

blank U.S. Marshal Form 285. In addition, the Clerk shall provide Plaintiff with a

certified copy of this Order and a certified copy of her Complaint and the summons.

Upon receipt of this “IFP Package,” Plaintiff is directed to complete the forms as

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completely and accurately as possible, and to return them to the U.S. Marshal

according to the instructions provided by the Clerk in the letter accompanying her IFP

package. Upon receipt, the U.S. Marshal shall serve a copy of the Complaint and

summons upon Defendant as directed by Plaintiff on the forms. All costs of service

shall be advanced by the United States. See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(d); Fed. R. Civ. P.

4(c)(3).

Defendantshall reply to the complaint within the time provided by the applicable

provisions of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(a). Plaintiff shall serve upon

Defendant or, if appearance has been entered by counsel, upon Defendant’s counsel,

a copy of every further pleading or other document submitted for consideration of the

Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be filed with the Clerk of the

Court a certificate stating the manner in which a true and correct copy of any document

was served on the Defendant or counsel of Defendant and the date of service. Any

paper received by a district judge or magistrate judge which has not been filed with the

Clerk or which fails to include a Certificate of Service may be disregarded.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: April 20, 2015

Honorable Janis L. Sammartino

United States District Judge

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