Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01764/USCOURTS-caed-1_09-cv-01764-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Zabian R. Crosby
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ZABIAN R. CROSBY, )

)

)

Plaintiff, )

)

v. )

)

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner )

of Social Security, )

)

)

Defendant. )

 )

1:09-cv-01764 GSA

INFORMATIONAL ORDER FOR PRO SE

LITIGANTS

Plaintiff is proceeding pro se in an action seeking judicial review of an administrative

decision of the Commissioner of Social Security that denied, in whole or in part, plaintiff’s claim

for benefits under the Social Security Act. 

This orderprovidesthe following helpful information, and basically serves as a step-bystep guide, for pro se litigants. It is strongly suggested that plaintiff read and re-read this order

and keep it readily available for future reference.

I. Service of the Complaint

As is outlined in the Scheduling Order issued in this case, except when other

provisions are made pursuant to an application to proceed in forma pauperis, plaintiff shall serve a

copy of the (1)summons, (2) complaint, (3) notice of availability of a Magistrate Judge and the form

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of consent/ decline to jurisdiction of United States Magistrate Judge (See Local Rule 305(a)), and

(4) the Scheduling Order, within twenty (20) days of plaintiff filing the complaint.

If plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the United States Marshal usually serves

the complaint. However, if plaintiff is not proceeding in forma pauperis, then plaintiff or legal

counsel is responsible for service and then filing a proof of service without delay. See Local Rule

210.

Lawsuits for review of administrative decisions made by the Commissioner of Social

Security are prosecuted against the Commissioner of Social Security. Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(i)(2) and (3)

provides, in substance, that to serve the Commissioner in his official capacity, the party must serve

(1) the United States, and (2) the Commissioner. 

To serve the United States, a party must:

(1) deliver a copy of the summons and complaint to the United States Attorney

for the district where the action is brought, or to an Assistant United States Attorney or clerical

employee whom the United States Attorney designates in a writing filed with the Court; or, send a

copy of the summons and complaint, by certified mail only, to the Civil Process Clerk at the United

States Attorney’s Office; and,

(2) send a copy of the summons and complaint, by certified mail only, to the

Attorney General of the United States in Washington, D.C.; and,

(3) send a copy of the summons and complaint, by certified mail only, to the

Commissioner (the officer of the United States whose order is challenged by the lawsuit) in San

Francisco, CA. Fed.R.Civ.P. 4(i)(1)-(3).

Initial service of process is thus sufficient if plaintiff serves, by certified mail only,

copies of the summons and complaint on:

Office of the United States Attorney

Civil Process Clerk

2500 Tulare Street, Suite 4401

Fresno, CA 93721

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Office of the Attorney General of the United States

950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530-0001

Office of the General Counsel

Social Security Administration

333 Market Street, Suite 1500

San Francisco, CA 94105

after which a proof of servicemust be filed with the Court without delay pursuant to Local Rule 210. 

If plaintiff is proceeding in forma pauperis, the United States Marshal generally completes the proof

of service and files it with the Court; however, if plaintiff is not proceeding in forma pauperis, it is

plaintiff’s duty to promptly file a proof of service with the Court.

II. Attempt at Informal Resolution of the Case

Pursuant to the Scheduling Order, within one hundred twenty (120) days after

service of the complaint, defendant is required to serve a copy of the administrative record on

plaintiff and also file the administrative record with the Court, which 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.

In the letter brief, plaintiff must briefly set forth (1) the issues in the case, (2) the

reasons why plaintiff thinks that plaintiff is entitled to Social Security benefits, and (3) why the

decision to deny benefits should be remanded. 

The letter brief must be marked “Confidential Letter Brief”, should not be filed with

the Court, and must be served on defendant within thirty (30) days from the date defendant

served plaintiff with the administrative record, by mailing copies to all the attorneys listed on

the court docket as representing defendant, Commissioner of Social Security, at the addresses

noted on the court docket.

The name of the attorney or attorneys representing defendant are added to the court

docket at the time the Court receives defendant’s response to the complaint which, again, usually

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consists of the administrative record. Sometimes the court docket lists not only an attorney at the

office of the General Counsel of the Social Security Administration in San Francisco, CA, but also

an attorneyat the United States Attorney’s Office in Fresno, CA; in these particular cases, it will then

be necessary for plaintiff to mail copies of the confidential letter brief to more than one attorney for

defendant. 

Defendant’s confidential letter brief must be served on plaintiff no later than thirtyfive (35) days after defendant is served with plaintiff’s confidential letter brief.

If the parties agree to 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 ever

considering the merits of the case. The parties’ agreement to remand the case must be set forth in

writing in a document titled “Stipulation and Order,” which must be signed and filed with the Court

no later than fifteen (15) days after defendant served its confidential letter brief on plaintiff. See

Local Rule 143(a)(1) & (b). 

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.

III. Briefs

If, after exchanging confidential letter briefs, the parties are unable to agree to a

remand of the case, then the parties must file formal briefs with the Court as directed in the

Scheduling Order. It is only after the formal briefs are filed with the Court that the Court will

consider the merits of the case and make a decision.

A. Plaintiff’s Opening Brief

Plaintiff’s opening brief must be filed and served no later than thirty (30)

days from the date defendant’s informal letter brief was served on plaintiff. Plaintiff must serve a

copy of the opening brief on all the attorneys listed for defendant on the court docket of the case at

the addresses noted on the court docket.

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Plaintiff must also file the original opening brief, together with a copy, with

the Court, by either personal delivery or via U.S. mail to:

Office of the Clerk

United States District Court

Eastern District of California

2500 Tulare Street, Suite 1501

Fresno, CA 93721

Plaintiff’s opening brief must contain the following:

(1) a plain description of plaintiff’s alleged physical or emotional

impairments, when plaintiff contends they became disabling, and how they disabled plaintiff from

work;

(2) a summaryofthe administrative proceedings before theSocial 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 plaintiff’s claims;

(6) a short, separate statement of each of plaintiff’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,

(7) argument separately addressing each claimed error.

All references to the administrative record and all assertions of fact must be

accompanied by citations to the administrative 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 null and void and is not considered by the

Court for any purpose.

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Plaintiffisfurther advised that failure to timelyfile an opening brief will result

in dismissal of the action.

B. Defendant’s Brief

Pursuant to the Scheduling Order, defendant’s responsive brief is due filed

and served on plaintiff within thirty (30) days from the date of service of plaintiff’s opening brief

on defendant.

C. Plaintiff’s Reply Brief

Plaintiff may file a reply brief, but is not required to do so, within fifteen (15)

days from the date defendant served its responsive brief on plaintiff. Plaintiff must serve a copy of

the reply brief on defendant by serving the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of

California at the address in Fresno, CA, noted above. Plaintiff must also file the original reply brief,

together with a copy, with the Court at the Court’s address in Fresno, CA, noted above.

Plaintiff’s reply brief should respond to the arguments made in defendant’s

responsive brief.

IV. Motion to Dismiss

In some cases, instead of serving and filing an administrative record, defendant may

file a motion to dismiss the case pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12., within one hundred twenty (120)

days from the date defendant is served with plaintiff’s complaint.

Plaintiff may oppose a motion to dismiss by filing and serving opposition to the

motion within fourteen (14) days from the date the motion to dismiss was served on plaintiff, and

should be titled “Opposition to Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.” See Local Rule 230(c).

The Court will consider a motion to dismiss only after receiving opposition from

plaintiff, 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 the administrative record, attempt informal resolution, and file briefs; or, (2) grant the motion

to dismiss, and dismiss all or part of the case.

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V. The Court’s Decision on the Merits

The Court will consider the merits of the case only after all briefs have been filed, and

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.

VI. Summary of Deadline Calculations

See Section

I. above

Service due 20 days after filing complaint

See Section II.

above

Administrative Record due 120 days after service

See Section III. A.

above

Plaintiff’s Opening Brief due 95 days after administrative record lodged with

court

See Section III. B.

above

Defendant’s Brief due 30 days after plaintiff’s opening brief filed

See Section III. C.

above

Plaintiff’s Reply Brief -

optional

due 15 days after defendant’s brief filed

VII. Rules for Litigating the Action

Plaintiff is informed of the following:

A. 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”). A copy of the Local Rules may be obtained in the Clerk’s

Office at no charge.

Local Rule 206 is a special rule for Social Security actions. Specifically, (a)(2) and (3)

generally states that complaints shall contain the last four digits of plaintiff’s number only, i.e.,

XXX-XX-1234, and that plaintiff shall privately disclose to defendant, within five (5) days after a

request is made to plaintiff, the full Social Security number of plaintiff. Therefore, plaintiff shall

refrain from disclosing the entire Social Security number on any filings.

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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 110; Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(b).

B. Documents intended to be filed with the Court must be mailed to the Clerk

of the Court in Fresno, California, at the address noted above. See Local Rule 134(a). All

documents inappropriately mailed directly 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.

C. Each document submitted for filing must include the original signature of the

filing party or parties. Local Rule 131; Fed.R.Civ.P. 11(a). All documents submitted without the

required signature(s)will be stricken. Each separate document must be separatelystapled. See Local

Rule 130. If a document is stapled behind another document, it will not be filed and will not enter

the court docket.

D. All documents filed with the Court must be submitted with an additional

legible copy to be conformed for the Court's use. See Local Rule 133(d)(2). 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, an additional copymust be provided for that purpose (i.e., an original and

two copies, one for the Court's use and one to be returned to the filing party), together with a selfaddressed, stamped 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 in the Clerk’s Office at the cost of fifty ($.50) cents per page.

E. After any defendant has 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 proof 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 135. A document submitted without the required

proof of service will be stricken. Where a party is represented by counsel, service on the party's

attorney of record constitutes effective service. 

F. A pro se party has an affirmative duty to keep the Court and opposing parties

apprised of a current address. If plaintiff moves and fails to file a notice of change of address,

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service of court orders at plaintiff's prior address shall constitute effective notice. See Local Rule

182(f). If mail directed to plaintiff is returned by the United States Postal Service as undeliverable,

the Court will not attempt to re-mail it. If plaintiff’s address is not updated, in writing, within sixty

(60) days of mail being returned, the action will be dismissed for failure to prosecute. See Local

Rule 183(b).

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: March 10, 2010 /s/ Gary S. Austin 

6i0kij UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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