Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00967/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00967-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Commissioner of Social Security
Defendant
Garth Noli Crane
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

GARTH NOLI CRANE, )

)

Plaintiff, )

)

)

v. )

)

MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, )

Commissioner of Social )

Security, ) 

 )

Defendant. )

)

 )

1:07-cv-00967-SMS

ORDER VACATING HEARING PREVIOUSLY

SET FOR MAY 23, 2008, ON ORDER TO

SHOW CAUSE (Doc. 16)

ORDER DISCHARGING ORDER TO SHOW

CAUSE (DOC. 16)

ORDER DIRECTING THE CLERK TO

UPDATE THE DOCKET TO REFLECT THE

FILING OF THE OPENING BRIEF (DOC.

17)

ORDER GRANTING THE PARTIES

EXTENSIONS OF TIME TO FILE BRIEFS

Plaintiff, Garth Noli Crane, who is proceeding pro se and in

forma pauperis and without counsel, seeks judicial review of a

final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security

(Commissioner) denying Plaintiff’s application for benefits.

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

the jurisdiction of the Magistrate Judge to conduct all further

proceedings, including the entry of a final judgment.

On April 30l 2008, the Court issued and served an order to

Plaintiff to show cause why the matter should not be dismissed

Case 1:07-cv-00967-SMS Document 18 Filed 05/21/08 Page 1 of 3
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for Plaintiff’s failure to file a timely opening brief.

On May 19, 2008, Plaintiff filed a declaration explaining

his difficulty as a lay person in filing an opening brief. Along

with, and as part of, the declaration, Plaintiff filed an opening

brief.

Because Plaintiff has responded to the Court’s order to show

cause and has set forth facts demonstrating an excuse for

Plaintiff’s untimely opening brief, Plaintiff will not be

required to appear in Court. 

The order to show cause that issued on April 30, 2008, IS

DISCHARGED, and the hearing on the order to show cause,

previously set for May 23, 2008, IS VACATED.

The Court has reviewed the opening brief. It lacks a

comprehensive statement of the medical evidence, but it sets

forth issues and argument that appear to be sufficient to permit

a meaningful response by Defendant. Accordingly, the Court

accepts its filing.

Accordingly, the Clerk IS DIRECTED to update the docket to

reflect that Document number 17, filed by Plaintiff on May 19,

2008, includes Plaintiff’s opening brief.

However, in light of the proceedings in this case, the Court

will sua sponte extend the deadlines for the filing of the

remaining briefs. 

Because Defendant will not have any guidance by Plaintiff

with respect to the statement of facts and pinpointed references

to medical evidence, the Court will sua sponte grant to Defendant

forty-five days from the date of service of this order within

which to file Defendant’s brief.

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Further, in light of Plaintiff’s pro se status and the

difficulties experienced by Plaintiff in what is apparently a

good faith effort to proceed in compliance with the applicable

rules and orders, the Court will grant to Plaintiff thirty days

after the date of service of Defendant’s brief within which to

file the optional reply brief, should Plaintiff choose to file a

reply brief.

Plaintiff IS INFORMED that a failure to comply with the

Court’s orders may result in dismissal of the case. Specifically,

should Plaintiff need additional time to file a reply brief,

Plaintiff IS DIRECTED to file an application for additional time

before the deadline for filing the reply brief has passed.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: May 21, 2008 /s/ Sandra M. Snyder 

icido3 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 1:07-cv-00967-SMS Document 18 Filed 05/21/08 Page 3 of 3