1 FILED IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 2 Jun 05, 2025
SEAN F. MCAVOY, CLERK 3 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 4 EASTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
5 JOHN H.,1 No. 1:25-cv-3002-EFS 6 Plaintiff, 7 ORDER REVERSING THE v. ALJ’S DENIAL OF BENEFITS, 8 AND REMANDING FOR FRANK BISIGNANO, MORE PROCEEDINGS 9 Commissioner of Social Security,2
10 Defendant.
11 Plaintiff John H. asks the Court to reverse the Administrative 12 Law Judge’s (ALJ) denial of Title 2 and Title 16 benefits. As is 13 14
15 1 For privacy reasons, Plaintiff is referred to by first name and last 16 initial or as “Plaintiff.” See LCivR 5.2(c). 17 2 Frank Bisignano was confirmed as the Commissioner of Social 18 Security on May 6, 2025. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19 25(d) and 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), he is substituted as the Defendant. 20 1 explained below, by not calling a medical expert, the ALJ erred when
2 evaluating Plaintiff’s symptom reports and the medical opinions. This 3 matter is remanded for further proceedings. 4 I. Background
5 Plaintiff applied for benefits, claiming disability beginning 6 August 1, 2019, because of diabetes, heart issues, bilateral arm 7 impairments, lower back impairment, memory loss, dizziness, fainting,
8 and neuropathy in his hands, knees, and feet.3 On the disability onset 9 date, Plaintiff was 55 years old, which is categorized as advance age.4 10 The agency denied benefits; and thereafter, ALJ Malcom Ross held a
11 telephone hearing in August 2023, at which Plaintiff and a vocational 12 expert testified.5 13
14 15 16
17 3 AR 234–39, 248–51. 18 4 AR 85; 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1563(e), 416.963(e). 19 5 AR 145–66, 48–82. 20 1 The ALJ issued a decision denying benefits.6 The ALJ found
2 Plaintiff’s alleged symptoms were “not entirely consistent with the 3 medical evidence and other evidence.”7 As to the medical opinions, the 4 ALJ found:
5 • the reviewing opinions of Howard Platter, MD, and Colleen 6 Ryan, MD, persuasive. 7 • the examining opinions of Rachel Worley, NP-C, and treating
8 opinions of Braiden Heath, PA-C, not persuasive.8 9 As to the sequential disability analysis, the ALJ found: 10 • Plaintiff met the insured status requirements through
11 December 31, 2021. 12 13
14 6 AR 14–31. Per 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520(a)–(g), 416.920(a)–(g), a five-step 15 evaluation determines whether a claimant is disabled. 16 7 AR 22. As recommended by the Ninth Circuit in Smartt v. Kijakazi, 17 the ALJ should consider replacing the phrase “not entirely consistent” 18 with “inconsistent.” 53 F.4th 489, 499, n.2 (9th Cir. 2022). 19 8 AR 24–25. 20 1 • Step one: Plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful
2 activity since August 1, 2019, the alleged onset date. 3 • Step two: Plaintiff had the following medically determinable 4 severe impairments: diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.
5 • Step three: Plaintiff did not have an impairment or 6 combination of impairments that met or medically equaled the 7 severity of one of the listed impairments.
8 • RFC: Plaintiff had the RFC to perform medium work except: 9 he can stand and/or walk for a total four hours in an 8- hour day. He can frequently climb ramps and stairs, but 10 cannot climb ladders, ropes, or scaffolds. He can have occasional exposure to hazards, such as dangerous 11 machinery. He can have no exposure to unprotected heights. 12 • Step four: Plaintiff could perform past relevant work as a 13 telephone solicitor and therefore was not disabled.9 14 Plaintiff timely requested review of the ALJ’s decision by the 15 Appeals Council and now this Court.10 16 17
18 9 AR 17–26. 19 10 AR 1–6; ECF No. 1. 20 1 II. Standard of Review
2 The ALJ’s decision is reversed “only if it is not supported by 3 substantial evidence or is based on legal error” and such error 4 impacted the nondisability determination.11 Substantial evidence is
5 “more than a mere scintilla but less than a preponderance; it is such 6 relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to 7 support a conclusion.”12
9 11 Hill v. Astrue, 698 F.3d 1153, 1158 (9th Cir. 2012). See 42 U.S.C. § 10 405(g); Molina v. Astrue, 674 F.3d 1104, 1115 (9th Cir. 2012) ), 11 superseded on other grounds by 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(a) (recognizing that 12 the court may not reverse an ALJ decision due to a harmless error— 13 one that “is inconsequential to the ultimate nondisability 14 determination”). 15 12 Hill, 698 F.3d at 1159 (quoting Sandgathe v. Chater, 108 F.3d 978, 16 980 (9th Cir. 1997)). See also Lingenfelter v. Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 17 1035 (9th Cir. 2007) (The court “must consider the entire record as a 18 whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and the evidence that 19 detracts from the Commissioner's conclusion,” not simply the evidence 20 1 III. Analysis
2 Plaintiff argues the ALJ erred both by rejecting Plaintiff’s 3 symptom testimony and by finding the State agency medical 4 consultants’ administrative findings “persuasive” when he instead
5 crafted an RFC that varied from those findings. In contrast, the 6 Commissioner maintains that the ALJ’s findings were supported by 7 substantial evidence and that any possible error is harmless. As is
8 explained below, by not calling a medical expert to offer testimony as to 9 the etiology of Plaintiff’s symptoms, the ALJ erred when evaluating 10 Plaintiff’s reported symptoms.
11 A. Symptom Reports: Plaintiff establishes consequential 12 error. 13 The ALJ found Plaintiff’s statements about the intensity,
14 persistence, and limiting effect of his symptoms were not entirely 15 consistent with the medical evidence and other evidence in the 16
17 cited by the ALJ or the parties.) (cleaned up); Black v. Apfel, 143 F.3d 18 383, 386 (8th Cir. 1998) (“An ALJ’s failure to cite specific evidence does 19 not indicate that such evidence was not considered[.]”). 20 1 record.13 As is discussed below, this finding is not supported by
2 substantial evidence given the ALJ’s failure to call a medical examiner 3 to offer an opinion based on the complete record, which included about 4 a year of treatment records that were not reviewed by the State agency
5 medical consultants—records which revealed that providers continued 6 to order testing to explain the cause of Plaintiff’s symptoms. 7 1. Standard
8 The ALJ must identify what symptom claims are being 9 discounted and clearly and convincingly explain the rationale for 10 discounting the symptoms with supporting citation to evidence.14 This
11 requires the ALJ to “show his work” and provide a “rationale . . . clear 12 enough that it has the power to convince” the reviewing court.15 13 Factors the ALJ may consider when evaluating the intensity,
14 persistence, and limiting effects of a claimant’s symptoms include: 1) 15 objective medical evidence, 2) daily activities; 3) the location, duration, 16
17 13 AR . 18 14 Smartt v. Kijakazi, 53 F.4th 489, 499 (9th Cir. 2022). 19 15 Id. at 499. 20 1 frequency, and intensity of pain or other symptoms; 4) factors that
2 precipitate and aggravate the symptoms; 5) the type, dosage, 3 effectiveness, and side effects of any medication the claimant takes or 4 has taken to alleviate pain or other symptoms; 6) treatment, other than
5 medication, the claimant receives or has received for relief of pain or 6 other symptoms; and 7) any non-treatment measures the claimant uses 7 or has used to relieve pain or other symptoms.16
8 2. Plaintiff’s Reported Symptoms 9 The medical records reflect that Plaintiff reported problems with 10 syncope and dizziness as early as 2020. Testing at that time revealed
11 that Plaintiff had diabetes and an observed mass on the right side of 12 his neck.17 In early March 2021, when having a renal duplex 13 examination for his kidneys, Plaintiff reported to treating providers
14 that he was getting lightheaded and fatigued when he tried to walk.18 15
16 16 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1529(c)(2), (3), 416.929(c). See also 3 Soc. Sec. Law 17 & Prac. § 36:26, Consideration of objective medical evidence (2019). 18 17 AR 538–62. 19 18 AR 676–79. 20 1 In January 2022, an Adult Function Report was prepared on
2 Plaintiff’s behalf.19 Plaintiff reported that he was able to dress himself, 3 although he reported he does not have any feeling in his back. Plaintiff 4 also shared that he was homeless and sleeping in a tent that did not
5 have a bathroom. He cooked simple meals such as oatmeal and soup. 6 He had difficulty standing for long. He drives although his lower back 7 can cause pain if he sits too long. He can shop for groceries and for
8 personal needs; however, he does not go out much given that he has 9 limited funds. While he did not have a savings account or a checkbook, 10 he was able to pay bills and count change. He also reported that,
11 although he did not have difficulty following instructions, getting along 12 with others, or handing changes in routine, he does have difficulty 13 lifting, squatting, bending, standing, reaching, walking, sitting,
14 kneeling, stair climbing, using his hands, completing tasks, and with 15 his memory, concentration, and understanding. 16 During the hearing in August 2023, Plaintiff testified that it was
17 difficult for him to hold the cellphone during the hearing due to his 18
19 19 AR 284–91. 20 1 neuropathy and so he had it on speaker.20 He shared that during his
2 last job he would get dizzy when putting shrink wrap around materials 3 on a pallet, causing him to fall into the material and knock it all over.21 4 He testified that he has a hard time holding his head up when he is
5 sitting or standing due to extreme fatigue in his neck muscles, he 6 suffers from vertigo and so will need to sit down, he has neuropathy 7 that makes it difficult to feel his fingers and at times his legs go numb,
8 and he has difficulty opening the lid on a gallon of milk at times.22 He 9 stated that there has not been a medical answer for his neuropathy 10 yet.23 He also experiences nausea and he has diabetes, which he
11 maintains through diet and keeping his blood sugar down.24 He 12 reported that it is difficult for him to cook a meal, such as breakfast, 13
15 20 AR 66, 68. 16 21 AR 67. 17 22 AR 67–68, 70. 18 23 AR 68–69. 19 24 AR 70–71. 20 1 due to his fatigue.25 He also testified that he has fallen when walking
2 short distances to water a plant, that he has about 5–6 days a month 3 during which he has extreme fatigue, and when he drives he uses the 4 headrest to help support his head.26
5 3. ALJ’s Reasons and Analysis 6 The ALJ found Plaintiff’s statements concerning the intensity, 7 persistence, and limiting effects of his medically determinable
8 impairments were not entirely consistent with: 1) ) the inconsistent 9 symptom reports he gave to treating providers; 2) the objective medical 10 evidence, which did not establish an etiology for Plaintiff’s extreme
11 symptomology, contained benign clinical presentations, lacked evidence 12 of injuries from fainting or falling, lacked evidence of an assistive 13 device, and contained few missed, cancelled, or rescheduled
14 appointments; and 3) Plaintiff’s activities.27 15 16
17 25 AR 72. 18 26 AR 73–74. 19 27 AR 21–24. 20 1 4. Analysis
2 While the ALJ gave several reasons for discounting Plaintiff’s 3 symptom reports, the ALJ’s overall symptom-analysis was 4 consequentially impacted by the failure to call a medical expert to
5 review the medical records from October 2022 onward, medical records 6 which discussed continued treatment and testing in hopes of finding 7 the cause for Plaintiff’s reported syncope and dizziness. Neither of the
8 State agency medical consultants were able to review the medical 9 records after September 2022: Dr. Platter reviewed the file in March 10 2022, and Dr. Ryan reviewed the record in September 2022. As is
11 discussed more below, the later medical records revealed decreased 12 sensation to touch in foot and ankle, two motor nerve conduction 13 studies that were consistent with severe polyneuropathy; and an
14 echocardiogram showing continued cardiac conditions, including severe 15 left atrial enlargement.28 16 a. The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s reported symptoms were inconsistent with his denial of symptoms is not 17 supported by substantial evidence.
19 28 AR 713–89. 20 1 Instead of calling a medical expert to review the more recent
2 medical records and testify as to the medical findings and offer a 3 medical opinion as to whether these conditions could contribute to his 4 symptoms or affect his physical ability to work, the ALJ focused on
5 prior medical records noting that Plaintiff at times denied dizziness, 6 fatigue, and weakness. Based on these medical records reflecting 7 denied symptoms, the ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s reported dizziness,
8 fatigue, and weakness.29 While the ALJ’s assessment of the cited 9 records was mostly accurate, the ALJ’s focus on these portions of the 10 treatment records unfairly emphasized these “negative” reports,
12 29 AR 22 (AR 554–59 (Jan. 26, 2021: containing varying statements 13 about symptoms); AR 535 (Feb. 24, 2021: treatment for diabetes during 14 which he does not report fatigue or dizziness); AR 505–57 (Aug. 5, 15 2021: treatment for diabetes during which he reports that dizziness 16 was starting to go away); Aug. 24, 2021: citing AR 397 (seeking Covid 17 testing to return to homeless shelter); AR 701–05 (March 17, 2022: 18 treatment for diabetes, murmur, and tear of left biceps muscle, during 19 which it was noted that Plaintiff did not report fatigue or dizziness). 20 1 without considering that the longitudinal treatment record reflected
2 that Plaintiff often reported dizziness, fatigue, and weakness, and 3 continued to seek treatment in hopes of learning the cause, and his 4 providers continued testing to find the cause. For instance, during the
5 time span involved in the cited records, Plaintiff had reported during a 6 March 2021 appointment lightheadedness and fatigue when trying to 7 walk,30 and during a May 2021 appointment he reported dizziness, a
8 syncopal episode, fatigue, and shortness of breath when walking, along 9 with a neck mass.31 During the February 2022 consultative 10 examination, Plaintiff reported problems with dizziness when changing
11 positions, and was observed with a slow gait, a positive Romberg test, 12 and an inability to heel-toe walk without assistance due to 13 unsteadiness, with the evaluator stating, “[d]uring the physical exam
14 claimant experienced dizziness when going from sitting to standing 15 16
18 30 AR 676. 19 31 AR 415–17, 523–28. 20 1 position. The claimant had to rise slowly and wait a minute prior to
2 ambulating.”32 3 Consistent with these observations during the consultative 4 examination, a year later during an appointment with a neurologist to
5 help determine the cause for his episodes of lightheadedness, feeling 6 off-balance, and vision changes, along with numbness in his face and 7 weak grip strength, Plaintiff was again observed with a large lump on
8 his neck; a 4/6 systolic murmur; decreased sensation to touch, 9 temperature, vibration to foot and ankle in L4, L5, and S1 dermatomes; 10 a positive Romberg; and an inability to perform tiptoes, heel to toe, or
11 heel due to feeling dizzy.33 12 This longitudinal medical record does not provide substantial 13 evidence to support the ALJ’s decision to discount Plaintiff’s reported
14 symptoms of dizziness, fatigue, and weakness because some of the 15 medical records indicated that no such symptoms were reported. 16
18 32 AR 691. 19 33 AR 734–37. 20 1 Moreover, one of the treatment records cited by the ALJ did contain a
2 note that Plaintiff reported dizziness for the last 8 months.34 3 b. The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s reported symptoms are inconsistent with the objective medical evidence is 4 not supported by substantial evidence.
5 The ALJ’s analysis of the objective medical evidence—and 6 findings that Plaintiff’s clinical presentations were typically benign, 7 that he was able to attend appointments without rescheduling, that 8 there was no evidence of injuries from fainting or falling or need to use 9 an assistive device—was consequentially impacted by the ALJ 10 declining to have a medical examiner review the more recent medical
11 records and testify at the hearing. The longitudinal medical record, 12 which predominately spans from August 2020 to July 2023, reflects 13
14 34 AR 554–59 (Jan. 26, 2021: treatment for diabetes, dizziness, mass in 15 neck, and hypotension, for which the treatment record notes that an 16 EKG shows sinus tachycardia with LVH and significant orthostatic 17 hypotension and that the diabetic medications is not helping with 18 dizziness and blurry vision for the last 8 months, but then in another 19 section it states that he did not report fatigue or dizziness). 20 1 that Plaintiff’s treating providers continued to search for a source for
2 his dizziness and syncope issues. Although the ALJ highlights that 3 providers initially suspected during the summer of 2021 that 4 dehydration played a role,35 the cited record also states, “given that he
5 has an elevated resting rate which can also be the reflex for 6 hypovolemia from dehydration, we will have him do a 24-hour monitor 7 to assess for any significant arrhythmic basis for his dizzy spells.”36
8 Testing revealed “grade 4 harsh ejection systolic murmur in the upper 9 sternal borders and radiating down into the apex.”37 10 The ALJ highlighted that during the consultative examination
11 with Nurse Worley in February 2022 Plaintiff had normal strength, 12 muscle bulk, and sensation in the lower extremities, but Nurse Worley 13 also had the following observations consistent with Plaintiff’s reported
14 symptoms: Plaintiff had mild difficulty rising from the chair and 15 walking to the examination table and then getting on and off the 16
17 35 AR 22 (citing AR 386). 18 36 AR 386. 19 37 AR 388. 20 1 examination table, a HR 108 bpm with systolic murmur left of sternal
2 border 2/6, a slow baseline gait, unsteadiness while trying to heel-toe 3 walk, positive Romberg test, and that Plaintiff had to rise from sitting 4 slowly and wait a minute before ambulating.38
5 In June 2022, imaging revealed inflammatory changes in the left 6 medial gluteal region, decreased density of the liver suggestive of fatty 7 infiltration, small hiatal hernia, mild atherosclerotic disease, and
8 calcifications involving the vax deferens.39 In February 2023, the 9 provider’s observations were largely normal except for decreased 10 sensation to touch in Plaintiff’s foot and ankle, a positive Romberg test,
11 inability to perform tiptoes, heel to toe, and heel due to feeling dizzy, 12 and so the provider recommended that Plaintiff go to the emergency 13 department, ordered an EEG and a nerve conduction study, and sent
14 an urgent referral to cardiology due to concern about possible 15 cardiogenic syncope.40 The EEG of the brain was conducted in March 16
17 38 AR 682–91. 18 39 AR 846–47. 19 40 AR 734–37. 20 1 2023, which came back with normal wake findings.41 The motor nerve
2 conduction studies were held in May and June 2023, with results 3 indicating severe polyneuropathy.42 And the most recent medical 4 record of July 19, 2023, was an echocardiogram report that revealed
5 moderate eccentric anteriorly directed jet of mitral valve regurgitation, 6 trace aortic valve regurgitation, and severe left atrial enlargement.43 7 By not having a medical examiner at the administrative hearing
8 who could review the more recent medical records for the most recent 9 12 months, which comprised almost a third of the period covered by the 10 relevant medical records, the ALJ erred. The ALJ is not medically
11 qualified to determine whether the more recent observations and test 12 results were consistent with Plaintiff’s reported symptoms. Without 13 testimony from a qualified medical examiner, the ALJ’s finding that
14 Plaintiff’s “benign clinical presentations” of presenting as alert and 15 fully orientated and without problems in concentration or fatigue, and 16
17 41 AR 734–37, 722. 18 42 AR 724–43. 19 43 AR 780. 20 1 with often normal findings in gait, stance, coordination, strength, and
2 reflexes were inconsistent with Plaintiff’s reported symptoms is not 3 supported by substantial evidence.44 4 c. The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s symptom reports were inconsistent with his activities is not supported by 5 substantial evidence.
6 Finally, the ALJ discounted Plaintiff’s reported symptoms 7 because they were not entirely consistent with his ability to walk and 8 drive and his independence in most daily activities, including chores, 9 cleaning, cooking, transportation, and self-care/hygiene. As to 10 Plaintiff’s driving, the ALJ did not consider that when Plaintiff is
11 driving, he can support his head on the headrest and he is not 12 changing positions; moreover, there is no mention in any of the 13 treatment records that Plaintiff drove long distances. Also, the ALJ’s
14 reliance on Plaintiff’s daily activities fails to appreciate Plaintiff’s 15 living arrangements, which did not require him to engage in many 16 chores. During the relevant period, Plaintiff either lived in his car, in a
17 camper/trailer, or at the Camp Hope homeless shelter. The ALJ fails to 18
19 44 AR 22. 20 1 clearly explain how Plaintiff’s independence in “chores, cleaning,
2 cooking, transportation, and self-care/hygiene” was inconsistent with 3 his reported symptoms.45 On this record, the ALJ’s finding that 4 Plaintiff’s activities were not entirely consistent with his alleged level
5 of functional limitation is not supported by substantial evidence. 46 6 d. Conclusion 7 The ALJ’s finding that Plaintiff’s symptom reports were “not
8 entirely consistent” with the record is not supported by substantial 9 evidence. The ALJ’s decision not to call a medical expert to testify at 10 the hearing and offer an opinion based on the more recent medical
11 records, before discounting Plaintiff’s symptom reports contributed to 12 this error.47 While an ALJ is given the discretion to determine whether 13 to call a medical expert to “clarify and explain the evidence or help
14 resolve a conflict because the medical evidence is contradictory, 15
16 45 AR 23. 17 46 See Garrison v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1016 (9th Cir. 2014); Vertigan 18 v. Halter, 260 F.3d 1044, 1050 (9th Cir. 2001). 19 47 Program Operations Manual System, HA 01250.034. 20 1 inconsistent, or confusing” or there are ”question(s) about the etiology
2 or course of a disease and how it may affect the claimant’s ability to 3 engage in work activities at pertinent points in time,” the ALJ 4 consequentially erred by not exercising this discretion to call a medical
5 expert to resolve these conflicts/questions and instead proceeded 6 himself to interpret the medical record in a manner that unfairly gave 7 more weight to the “benign” observations. “The ALJ always has a
8 special duty to fully and fairly develop the record” to make a fair 9 determination as to disability, even where, as here, “the claimant is 10 represented by counsel.”48 This “affirmative responsibility to develop
11 the record” is necessary to ensure that the ALJ’s decision is based on 12 substantial evidence.49 The ALJ erred here by failing to develop the 13 record before discounting the Plaintiff’s symptom reports based largely
14 on the ALJ’s own interpretation of the more recent medical records, 15 which related to ascertaining the cause of Plaintiff’s syncope, dizziness, 16 and fatigue.
18 48 Celaya v. Halter, 332 F.3d 1177, 1183 (9th Cir. 2003) (cleaned up). 19 49 Id. at 1184. 20 1 B. Medical Opinions: the ALJ must reconsider on remand.
2 Plaintiff also argued that the ALJ erred by finding the no- 3 limitation opinions of the State agency doctors persuasive but then 4 proceedings to craft an RFC that contained some limitations, thereby
5 actually not finding these opinions fully persuasive. Because this 6 matter is being remanded due to the ALJ’s errors when evaluating 7 Plaintiff’s symptom reports, the ALJ is to reevaluate the medical
8 opinions on remand. The ALJ is to be mindful that if a medical opinion 9 is not fully adopted, then its likely the ALJ should find that opinion 10 only somewhat or partially persuasive, not fully persuasive.
11 C. Remand: further proceedings 12 Plaintiff seeks a remand for payment of benefits. However, 13 further development is necessary for a proper disability determination,
14 including both the development of the medical record and either 15 ordering a new consultative examination by a qualified medical 16 provider, who is to be given a copy of sufficient longitudinal medical
17 records to aid that examiner in reaching an opinion as to etiology for 18 and impact of symptoms, and/or calling a medical expert qualified to 19
20 1 testify as to polyneuropathy, diabetes, and the cardiac conditions.50 The
2 ALJ is to then reconsider the medical evidence, Plaintiff’s symptom 3 reports, and reevaluate the sequential process. 4 IV. Conclusion
5 Plaintiff establishes the ALJ erred. The ALJ is to develop the 6 record and reevaluate—with meaningful articulation and evidentiary 7 support—the sequential process.
8 Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: 9 1. The ALJ’s nondisability decision is REVERSED, and this 10 matter is REMANDED to the Commissioner of Social
11 Security for further proceedings pursuant to 12 sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 13 2. The Clerk’s Office shall TERM the parties’ briefs, ECF
14 Nos. 8 and 9, enter JUDGMENT in favor of Plaintiff, and 15 CLOSE the case. 16
18 50 See Leon v. Berryhill, 880 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2018); Garrison 19 v. Colvin, 759 F.3d 995, 1020 (9th Cir. 2014). 20 1 IT IS SO ORDERED. The Clerk’s Office is directed to file this
2 |lorder and provide copies to all counsel.
3 DATED this 5* day of June 2025.
ed Show 5 EDWARD F. SHEA Senior United States District Judge 6 7 || @Q\EFS\Civil\2025\25ev3002. John H. final.le1.docx
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DISPOSITIVE ORDER - 25