Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01298/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01298-3/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Mike Rocha
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MIKE ROCHA,

Plaintiff,

v.

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant.

Case No. 1:15-cv-01298-SAB

ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO 

PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND 

DISCHARGING ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE

ECF NO. 4, 8

On August 25, 2015, the Court issued an order requiring Plaintiff to either file a long 

form application to proceed in forma pauperis or pay the filing fee within twenty (20) days. 

(ECF No. 3.) On September 23, 2015, after Plaintiff failed to respond to the August 25, 2015 

order, the Court issued an order to show cause why this action should not be dismissed. (ECF 

No. 4.) On September 24, 2015, Plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal. (ECF No. 5.) 

Later that same day, Plaintiff filed a notice of errata, asking the Court to disregard the notice of 

voluntary dismissal. (ECF No. 6.) The Court thereafter ordered Plaintiff to explain why the 

notice of voluntary dismissal was filed. (ECF No. 7.)

On September 25, 2015, Plaintiff filed a response to the Court’s order to show cause. 

(ECF No. 9.) Plaintiff also filed a renewed long form application to proceed in forma pauperis. 

(ECF No. 8.)

/ / /

Case 1:15-cv-01298-SAB Document 10 Filed 09/29/15 Page 1 of 3
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The Court will discharge the order to show cause and grant the application to proceed in

forma pauperis. However, the Court admonishes Plaintiff’s attorney for the late filings and for 

filing a notice of voluntary dismissal in circumstances where it appears clear that Plaintiff’s 

attorney did not have her client’s consent to dismiss this action.

Plaintiff’s response informs the Court that Plaintiff was previously “convinced” that he 

would not qualify to proceed in forma pauperis and could not pay the filing fee and, apparently, 

simply ignored the Court’s orders and allowed the filing deadline to lapse. Plaintiff’s attorney 

attempted to contact Plaintiff “several times” and spoke with Plaintiff’s wife on September 24, 

2015—after the filing deadline passed and the Court issued the order to show cause. Plaintiff 

was unable to speak with his attorney due to undisclosed mental issues. Plaintiff’s wife informed 

Plaintiff’s counsel that she lost her job recently and Plaintiff’s counsel convinced Plaintiff’s wife 

to complete the necessary paperwork for the application to proceed in forma pauperis. A letter 

from Plaintiff’s wife indicates that she “total[l]y forgot” to fill out the required forms because of 

stress associated with losing her job.

Although Plaintiff’s wife offers some excuse for failing to file on time, it is unclear why 

Plaintiff’s attorney failed to stay on top of the deadlines or request an extension of time. From 

the record, it appears that Plaintiff’s attorney at one point simply gave up and filed a notice of 

voluntary dismissal, instead of requesting an extension of time or otherwise informing the Court 

of the difficulties communicating with her client. While the Court understands that 

communication difficulties may arise between attorneys and their clients, it hardly seems 

appropriate for Plaintiff’s attorney to voluntarily dismiss an action, an extremely prejudicial 

action from her client’s perspective, in the absence of any consent or communication from her 

client. The client is admonished to communicate with counsel or respond to counsel when asked 

to do so as his rights may be otherwise affected in the future.

Based upon the foregoing, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:

1. The Court’s September 23, 2015 order to show cause is DISCHARGED; and

2. Plaintiff’s September 25, 2015 application to proceed in forma pauperis is 

GRANTED;

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3. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to issue a summons; and

4. The United States Marshal is DIRECTED to serve a copy of the complaint, 

summons, and this order upon the defendant if requested by the plaintiff.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 28, 2015 

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01298-SAB Document 10 Filed 09/29/15 Page 3 of 3