Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01146/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01146-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 863
Nature of Suit: Social Security - DIWC/DIWW (405(g))
Cause of Action: 42:416 Denial of Social Security Benefits

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Plaintiff Santos De Los Santos seeks to proceed in forma pauperis with an action for judicial 

review of the administrative decision denying his application for Social Security benefits. Pending 

before the Court are the complaint and motion to proceed in forma pauperis which were filed by 

Plaintiff on July 23, 2015. (Docs. 1-2)

I. MOTION TO PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS

The Court may authorize the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees “by a 

person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such person . . . possesses [and] 

that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The Court 

has reviewed the applications and finds Plaintiff satisfies the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). 

Therefore, Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis is GRANTED.

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SANTOS DE LOS SANTOS,

 Plaintiff,

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

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Case No.: 1:15-cv-01146 - JLT

ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION TO 

PROCEED INFORMA PAUPERIS (Doc. 2)

ORDER DIRECTING CLERK TO ISSUE 

SUMMONS, SOCIAL SECURITY CASE 

DOCUMENTS, AND SCHEDULING ORDER

ORDER DIRECTING UNITED STATES 

MARSHAL FOR SERVICE OF COMPLAINT

Case 1:15-cv-01146-JLT Document 3 Filed 07/28/15 Page 1 of 4
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II. SCREENING REQUIREMENT

When an individual seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the 

complaint and shall dismiss a complaint, or portion of the complaint, if it is “frivolous, malicious or 

fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or . . . seeks monetary relief from a defendant 

who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915A(b); 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2). A plaintiff’s claim 

is frivolous “when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether 

or not there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 

U.S. 25, 32-33 (1992). 

III. PLEADING STANDARDS

General rules for pleading complaints are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A 

pleading must include a statement affirming the court’s jurisdiction, “a short and plain statement of the 

claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and... a demand for the relief sought, which may include 

relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). 

A complaint must state the elements of the plaintiff’s claim in a plain and succinct manner. 

Jones v. Cmty Redevel. Agency, 733 F.2d 646, 649 (9th Cir. 1984). The purpose of a complaint is to 

give the defendant fair notice of the claims against him, and the grounds upon which the complaint 

stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). The Supreme Court explained,

Rule 8 does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an 

unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that offers 

labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will 

not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions devoid of further 

factual enhancement.

Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 

Conclusory and vague allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673 F.2d 

266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Court clarified further,

[A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a claim 

to relief that is plausible on its face.” [Citation]. A claim has facial plausibility when 

the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable 

inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged. [Citation]. The 

plausibility standard is not akin to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than 

a sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully. [Citation]. Where a complaint 

pleads facts that are “merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of 

the line between possibility and plausibility of ‘entitlement to relief.’

Case 1:15-cv-01146-JLT Document 3 Filed 07/28/15 Page 2 of 4
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Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679 (citations omitted). When factual allegations are well-pled, a court should 

assume the truth and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; conclusions 

in the pleading are not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court may grant leave to 

amend a complaint to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by amendment. Lopez v. 

Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

IV. DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Here, Plaintiff’s complaint indicates his application and appeal for Social Security benefits 

have been denied, and he seeks review of the decision by the Commissioner of Social Security to deny 

benefits. (Doc. 1 at 2-3) The Court has jurisdiction over such claims pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), 

which provides in relevant part:

Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner made after a hearing to 

which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of 

such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of 

such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner may allow. Such action 

shall be brought in the district court of the United States for the judicial district in 

which the plaintiff resides, or has his principal place of business . . . The court shall 

have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment 

affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, 

with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.

Id. Except as provided by statute, “[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall be 

reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(h). The Supreme Court 

noted the purpose of the legislation was “to forestall repetitive or belated litigation of stale eligibility 

claims.” Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 108 (1977). Here, Plaintiff asserts the Appeals Council 

denied his request for review on May 19, 2015, at which time the decision of the administrative law 

judge became the decision of the Commissioner. (Doc. 1 at 2) Because Plaintiff seeks timely judicial 

review, the Court has jurisdiction over the matter pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).

V. CONCLUSION AND ORDER

Plaintiff’s complaint states a cognizable claim for review of the administrative decision denying 

Social Security benefits. Based upon the foregoing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 

1. Plaintiff’s request to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) is GRANTED;

2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue summons as to the defendant, Carolyn W. 

Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security;

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3. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue and serve Plaintiff with Social Security Case 

Documents, including the Scheduling Order, Order regarding Consent, the Consent 

Form, and USM-285 Forms; and

4. The U.S. Marshal is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the complaint, summons, and this 

order upon the defendant as directed by Plaintiff in the USM Forms.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 27, 2015 /s/ Jennifer L. Thurston 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01146-JLT Document 3 Filed 07/28/15 Page 4 of 4