Source: http://in.findacase.com/research/wfrmDocViewer.aspx/xq/fac.20180329_0000419.NIN.htm/qx
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:44:48+00:00

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Before the Court is a Motion to Dismiss for Failure to Timely File Civil Action [DE 13] filed by the defendant Social Security Commissioner. For the reasons that follow, I will deny the Commissioner's motion.
In ruling on a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the Court must treat all well-pleaded allegations as true and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party. In re marchFIRST Inc., 589 F.3d 901, 904 (7th Cir.2009). To survive a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the plaintiff's complaint must plead facts that suggest a right to relief that is beyond the “speculative level.” EEOC v. Concentra Health Svcs., Inc., 496 F.3d 773, 776-77 (7th Cir. 2007) (citing Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 554, 560-63 (2007)). A mere formulaic recitation of a cause of action's elements will not do. Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. Rather, the complaint must contain enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face. Bissessur v. Ind. Univ. Bd. of Trustees, 581 F.3d 599, 602 (7th Cir.2009) (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570). 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.” Bissessur, 581 F.3d at 602.
Any individual, after any final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security made after a hearing to which [she] 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 [her] of notice of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner of Social Security may allow.
42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The 60-day requirement is not jurisdictional but constitutes a period of limitations that may be tolled by the Commissioner or the Court if “fairness demands.” Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 479-81 (1986); Chamberlain v. Colvin, 2016 WL 2609578, at **1-2 (N.D. Ind. May 5, 2016) (citing Bowen, 476 U.S. at 478, and Johnson v. Sullivan, 922 F.2d 346, 355 (7th Cir. 1990)).
Under the doctrine of equitable tolling, a person's failure to file a civil complaint within the time specified may be excused if the plaintiff can show that he was pursuing his rights diligently and that some kind of extraordinary circumstances prevented the timely filing. Chamberlain, 2016 WL 2609578, at *2 (citing United States v. Wong, 135 S.Ct. 1625, 1632-33, 1637 (2015)).
Shidler has pointed to a number of cases in which district courts found that the limitations period should be equitably tolled where the applicant had sought an extension of time from the Appeals Council, but the Appeals Council did not respond to the request. In Sanchez v. Barnhart, the district court, assuming that the plaintiff had filed a request for an extension with the Appeals Council, found that the Appeals Council's failure to respond in a timely fashion to plaintiff's request could provide an equitable reason to toll the limitations period. Therefore, the district court denied the motion. 2004 WL 1005589, at *2 (W.D. Wisc. May 4, 2004).
Likewise, in Baker v. Commissioner of Social Security, the district court found, based on the plaintiff's allegations and affidavit evidence, that the plaintiff had requested an extension of time from the Social Security Administration, which supported her contention that she had diligently pursued her rights. The district court also found that there was no substantial prejudice to the Commissioner where the plaintiff's complaint was filed within 30 days of the deadline. Accordingly, the court denied the motion to dismiss. 2011 WL 1598632, at **3-4 (E.D. Mich. Apr. 28, 2011). Several other cases support this conclusion. See, e.g., Rivera-Gonzalez v. Astrue, 2011 WL 2434071 (M.D. Fla. June 16, 2011); Aschettino v. Sullivan, 724 F.Supp. 1116 (W.D.N.Y. 1989).

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