Pinuelas v. Saul

Opinion

Case No.: 20CV734-MMA(BLM)

Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S APPLICATION TO PROCEED IN v. DISTRICT COURT WITHOUT PREPAYING OF FEES OR COSTS

SECURITY, [ECF NO. 2] Defendant.

The instant matter was initiated on April 16, 2020 when Plaintiff filed a complaint to seek review of the Commissioner’s decision to deny Plaintiff’s “application for Title II Social Security Disability Insurance benefits and Title XVI Supplemental Security Income benefits under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 42 U.S.C. §1383(c)(3).” ECF No. 1 at 1. That same day, Plaintiff filed a Request to Proceed in Forma Pauperis. ECF No. at 2. Having reviewed the complaint and motion, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s motion to proceed in forma pauperis (“IFP”) finds that Plaintiff’s complaint is sufficient to survive sua sponte screening. Application to Proceed in District Court without Prepaying Fees or Costs All parties instituting any civil action, suit, or proceeding in a district court of the United States, except an application for a writ of habeas corpus, must pay a filing fee. 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). An action may proceed despite a plaintiff's failure to prepay the entire fee only if she is granted leave to proceed IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), which states: [A]ny court of the United States may authorize the commencement, prosecution or defense of any suit, action or proceeding ... without prepayment of fees or security therefor, by a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such [person] possesses that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor. The determination of indigency falls within the district court's discretion. California Men's Colony v. Rowland, 939 F.2d 854, 858 (9th Cir. 1991), reversed on other grounds by, 506 U.S. 194 (1993) (“Section 1915 typically requires the reviewing court to exercise its sound discretion in determining whether the affiant has satisfied the statute's requirement of indigency.”). It is well-settled that a party need not be completely destitute to proceed IFP. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., 335 U.S. 331, 339-40 (1948). To satisfy the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a), “an affidavit [of poverty] is sufficient which states that one cannot because of his poverty pay or give security for costs ... and still be able to provide for himself and dependents with the necessities of life.” Id. at 339. At the same time, “the same even-handed care must be employed to assure that federal funds are not squandered to underwrite, at public expense, ... the remonstrances of a suitor who is financially able, in whole or in material part, to pull his own oar.” Temple v. Ellerthorpe, 586 F. Supp. 848, 850 (D.R.I. 1984). District courts tend to reject IFP applications where the applicant can pay the filing fee with acceptable sacrifice to other expenses. See, e.g., Allen v. Kelley, 1995 WL 396860, at *2 (N.D. Cal. 1995) (Plaintiff initially permitted to proceed IFP, later required to pay $ 120 filing fee out of $ 900 settlement proceeds); Ali v. Cuyler, 547 F. Supp. 129, 130 (E.D. Pa. 1982) (IFP application denied because the plaintiff possessed savings of $ 450 and that was more than sufficient to pay the filing fee). Moreover, the facts as to the affiant's poverty must be stated “with some particularity, definiteness, and certainty.” United States v. McQuade, 647 F.2d 938, 940 (9th Cir. 1981). Plaintiff has satisfied her burden of demonstrating that she is entitled to IFP status. According to her affidavit in support of application, Plaintiff lives with her three adult children who pay the $1300 monthly rent for her apartment (Plaintiff does not contribute) and receives free health care through Medi-Cal. ECF No. 2 at 1-2. Plaintiff does not have a checking or savings account, currently has $45.00 in her possession, and owns a non-operational 1999 Nissan Altima. Id. a 2. Plaintiff purchased approximately $400 worth of clothing last year, spends approximately $190.00 per month for food and utilities, and visits a food bank weekly. Id. at 3. Plaintiff is a student and receives around $4,000 per semester1 in federal student financial aid. Id. at 2. The money that she receives is deposited into a bank account that is owned and controlled by Plaintiff’s mother. Id. Plaintiff has a debit card to the account that she uses to withdraw money and the account currently has about $300 in it. Id. Plaintiff’s mother does not contribute extra money to the account except for an occasional birthday or holiday present of around $40.00. Id. In addition, Plaintiff receives approximately $650 in government benefits per semester for school books and school supplies. Id. at 2. That money is placed onto Plaintiff’s student ID and is only used to purchase books and school supplies. Id. Plaintiff does not have to care for any dependents. Id. at 2. Based on the foregoing, the Court finds that Plaintiff has established that she is unable to pay the $400 filing fee. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s motion to proceed IFP is GRANTED. SUA SPONTE SCREENING PURSUANT TO 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2) and § 1915(a) Complaints filed by any person proceeding IFP pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) are subject to a mandatory screening by the Court. Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1127 (9th Cir. 2000); see also Alamar v. Social Security, 2019 WL1258846, at *3 (S.D. Cal. Mar. 19, 2019). A complaint should be dismissed if it is (1) “frivolous or malicious;” (2) “fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted;” or (3) “seeks monetary relief against a defendant who is immune from such relief.” See 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2); Lopez, 203 F.3d at 1126–27. To survive, all complaints must contain “a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a)(2). “[T]he pleading standard Rule 8 announces does not require ‘detailed factual allegations,’ but it demands more than an unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me-accusation.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (quoting Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007)). Furthermore, “recitals of elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements do not suffice.” Id. Instead, the plaintiff must state a claim that is plausible on its face, meaning “the 27 pleaded factual content allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556, 570)). “When there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity, and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief.” Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 679. Social security appeals are not exempt from the general screening requirements for IFP cases proceeding under § 1915(e). Montoya v. Colvin, 2016 WL 890922, at *2 (D. Nev. Mar. 8, 2016) (citing Hoagland v. Astrue, 2012 WL 2521753, *1 (E.D. Cal. June 28, 2012)). In the context of a social security appeal, courts within the Ninth District have established four elements necessary for a complaint to survive a screening: First, the plaintiff must establish that she has exhausted her administrative remedies pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), and that the civil action was commenced within sixty days after notice of a final decision. Second, the complaint must indicate the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides. Third, the complaint must state the nature of the plaintiff's disability and when the plaintiff claims she became disabled. Fourth, the complaint must contain a plain, short, and concise statement identifying the nature of the plaintiff's disagreement with the determination made by the Social Security Administration and show that the plaintiff is entitled to relief. Skylar v. Saul, 2019 WL 4039650, *1 (S.D. Cal. Aug. 27, 2019) (quoting Montoya, 2016 WL 890922 at *2). With regard to element four, a complaint is insufficient if it merely states that the Commissioner was wrong in denying a plaintiff benefits. See id.; see also Hoagland, 2012 WL 2521753 at *3 (“Every plaintiff appealing an adverse decision of the Commissioner believes that the Commissioner was wrong. The purpose of the complaint is to briefly and plainly allege facts supporting the legal conclusion that the Commissioner’s decision was wrong.”). Instead, the “complaint . . . must set forth a brief statement of facts setting forth the reasons why the Commissioner’s decision was wrong.” Id. at *2. After reviewing the complaint, the Court finds that Plaintiff has established the four elements necessary for a complaint to survive screening. Plaintiff stated that she resides in Chula Vista, California and provided the procedural history of her case which included an application for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge, an unfavorable decision, an appeal to the Appeals Council of the Social Security Administration, and a decision by the Appeals Council declining to review Plaintiff's appeal. ECF No. 1 at 2-3. Plaintiff also stated that she became disabled on October 22, 2014 and that she has impairments due to her knees, upper extremities, Carpal } Tunnel Syndrome, wrists, and spine. Id. at 2-6. Plaintiff clearly states her disagreement with the determination made by the Social Security Administration by arguing that the ALJ erred (1) Step Two of the analysis by failing to identify her knee and upper extremity impairments as severe, (2) at Step Three of the analysis by failing to find that Plaintiff met or equaled the listing for Disorders of the spine, (3) by adopting a residual functional capacity that was not supported by substantial evidence, and (4) improperly discrediting lay witness testimony. Id. at 3-10. In light of the Court’s rulings, IT IS FURTHER ORDERED: 1. The United States Marshal shall serve a copy of the Complaint filed on April 16, 2020 an accompanying summons upon Defendant as directed by Plaintiff on U.S. Marshal Form All costs of service shall be advanced by the United States. 2. Plaintiff shall serve upon Defendant, or, if appearance has been entered by counsel, upon Defendant's counsel, a copy of every further pleading or document submitted for consideration of the Court. Plaintiff shall include with the original paper to be filed with the Clerk of Court a certificate stating the manner in which a true and correct copy of any document was served on Defendant or Defendant's counsel and the date of service. Any paper received by a District Judge or Magistrate Judge that has not been filed with the Clerk or that fails to include Certificate of Service will be disregarded. IT 1S SO ORDERED. Dated: 7/8/2020 lobe Maye Hon. Barbara L. jor United States Maaistrate Judae