(SS) Caraceni Francione v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PABLO CARACENI FRANCIONE, Case No. 1:23-cv-00344-BAM Plaintiff, ORDER DIRECTING CLERK OF COURT TO RANDOMLY ASSIGN DISTRICT JUDGE TO v. ACTION SOCIAL SECURITY FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ADMINISTRATION – FRESNO REGARDING DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISTRICT, DISMISS Defendant. (Doc. 15) FOURTEEN-DAY DEADLINE Plaintiff Pablo Caraceni Francione, proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis, filed a complaint on March 8, 2023, alleging that he was the recipient of monthly social security income benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, but those benefits were terminated beginning July 2022.1 (Doc. 1.) Currently before the Court is Defendant Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security’s 2 (hereinafter “Defendant”) motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1). (Doc. 15.) Defendant contends that Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. (Id.) The Court finds this matter suitable for decision without oral argument. L.R. 230(g). 1 The action was referred to the undersigned pursuant to Local Rule 302(c)(15). 2 As Defendant’s motion points out, Plaintiff purports to name “Social Security Administration – Fresno District,” but the (Acting) Commissioner is the only proper defendant in an action for review of benefits decisions. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); 20 C.F.R. § 422.210 (d); Doc. 15 at p. 2 n. 1. Having considered the parties’ briefing and the record in this matter, the Court will recommend that Defendant’s motion to dismiss be granted and that this action be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction without prejudice as to Plaintiff exhausting his administrative remedies. I. Background On March 8, 2023, Plaintiff filed his form complaint. As the basis for federal question jurisdiction, Plaintiff lists: “Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Title XVI.” (Doc. 1 at p. 4.) In a typewritten attachment to the form, Plaintiff alleges as follows: On October 25, 2021, the Social Security Administration- Fresno District (“SSA”) sent Plaintiff a letter informing him that the SSA must regularly review the cases of people who receive supplemental security income (“SSI”). To ensure that Plaintiff was still eligible, the SSA scheduled Plaintiff for an interview on November 5, 2021. After the phone interview, and after submitting all requested documents, Plaintiff received a letter dated November 28, 2021, which informed him that his SSI payment would be continued and increased beginning January 2022. (Id. at p. 7.) Thereafter, the SSA sent Plaintiff two new letters dated March 11, 2022, and April 1, 2022, requesting that he send “other people’s documents.” (Id.) Plaintiff responded in writing by letters dated August 24, 2022 and September 20, 2022, and stated his position “for not sending the other person’s documents.” (Id.) The SSA did not respond in writing. On June 22, 2022, Plaintiff received a letter from the SSA, which notified him that the SSA was stopping his monthly SSI payment beginning July 2022. The SSA reportedly stated, “We are not able to send further payments because we need correct information about your name address or bank account.” (Id.) The SSA also warned Plaintiff that if it stopped his SSI, then he could also lose any Medicaid that he had. Plaintiff responded in writing with the correct information about his name, address, and bank account on July 27, 2022. The SSA did not respond. (Id. at pp. 7-8.) Plaintiff claims that because the SSA did not resolve his case properly and fairly through its normal channels, he has the right to appeal the SSA’s position in an independent forum. As relief, Plaintiff states that he does not have “continuous monthly payments of supplemental security income because [the SSA] decided to stop my SSI continuous monthly payments beginning July 2022 until the present day and my SSI is my everything.” (Id. at p. 9.) Plaintiff also alleges that he does not have continuous monthly Medicaid benefits because the SSA decided to stop any Medicaid beginning July 2022. (Id.) On June 21, 2023, following an extension of time, Defendant filed the instant motion to dismiss arguing that Plaintiff did not receive a final decision from the Commissioner of Social Security, Plaintiff has not exhausted his administrative remedies, and this Court lacks jurisdiction. (Doc. 15 at p. 3.) Plaintiff opposed the motion on June 30, 2023.3 (Doc. 17.) In that opposition, Plaintiff reiterates that the SSA sent him a notice of planned action in a letter dated June 22, 2022, which stated: “We are stopping your monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment beginning July 2022. We are not able to send further payments because we need correct information about your name, address, or bank statement.” (Id. at p. 1.) Plaintiff responded in writing on June 27, 2022, with the correct information about his name, address, and bank account. Plaintiff claims that he did not receive a response in writing and that the SSA never informed him what he needed to do to comply with the law. Plaintiff repeats his assertions that because the SSA has not resolved his case properly and fairly through its normal channels, he has the right to appeal in an independent forum. (Id.) Defendant did not file a reply. II. Legal Standards Defendant moves for dismissal pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1), asserting that the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction because Plaintiff failed to exhaust administrative remedies. A. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) A party may file a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) challenging the subject matter jurisdiction of the Court. “Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction.” Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). As a result, they may only review cases as authorized by either the Constitution or a federal statute. Id. “If 3 On June 30, 2023, the Court set a briefing schedule on the motion, directing Plaintiff to file his opposition on or before July 10, 2023, with any reply due 7 days after the opposition. (Doc. 16.) Plaintiff filed his opposition on the same date as the Court’s order. (Doc. 17.) To date, no further opposition has been filed, and the time in which to do so has passed. jurisdiction is lacking at the outset, the district court has no power to do anything with the case except dismiss [it].” Morongo Band of Mission Indians v. California Bd. of Equalization, 858 F.2d 1376, 1380 (9th Cir. 1988) (quotation omitted). Challenges to jurisdiction may be either facial or factual in nature. San Luis & Delta- Mendota Water Auth. v. U.S. Dep’t of the Interior, 905 F. Supp. 2d 1158, 1167 (E.D. Cal. 2012). A facial attack to jurisdiction “accepts the truth of the plaintiff’s allegations but asserts that they ‘are insufficient on their face to invoke federal jurisdiction.’” Leite v. Crane Co., 749 F.3d 1117, 1121 (9th Cir. 2014) (quoting Safe Air for Everyone v. Meyer, 373 F.3d 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 2004) ). In contrast, a factual attack “contests the truth of the plaintiff’s factual allegations, usually by introducing evidence outside the pleadings.” Id. In a factual challenge, the Court “is not restricted to the face of the pleadings, but may review any evidence, such as affidavits and testimony, to resolve factual disputes concerning the existence of jurisdiction.” McCarthy v. United States, 850 F.2d 558, 560 (9th Cir. 1988); see also Villarino v. Soc. Sec. Administration: Manager, 1521 N. Carpenter Rd., Suite 1, Modesto, CA 95354, No. 1:18-cv-01112-DAD-EPG, 2018 WL 5095125, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Oct. 17, 2018). B. Social Security Exhaustion Requirement Congress has limited federal courts’ jurisdiction over Social Security determinations. Under the Social Security Act, federal courts may only review a “final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security made after a hearing.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Final decisions come after the claimant completes the Social Security Administration’s administrative review process. See 20 C.F.R. § 416.1400(a)(1)–(5) (enumerating the four steps in the administrative review process); Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 108 (1977) (Section 405(g) “clearly limits judicial review to ... a ‘final decision’ of the [Commissioner] made after a hearing.”); Kildare v. Saenz, 325 F.3d 1078, 1082 (9th Cir. 2003) (final decision requires “complete exhaustion of administrative remedies.”). The regulations implementing the Social Security Act provide a four-step administrative review process. 20 C.F.R. § 416.1400(a). These steps are delineated as follows: (1) an initial determination; (2) reconsideration; (3) a hearing before an administrative law judge; and (4) review before the Appeals Counsel. Id. It is only after completing all four of these steps that the Commissioner’s decision is “final” and judicial review may be requested Id. However, “[a]n exception to this [final decision] rule exists for ‘any colorable constitutional claim of due process violation that implicates a due process right either to a meaningful opportunity to be heard or seek reconsideration of an adverse benefits determination.’” Dexter v. Colvin, 731 F.3d 977, 980 (9th Cir. 2013) (quoting Klemm v. Astrue, 543 F.3d 1139, 1144 (9th Cir. 2008)). “A ‘mere allegation of a due process violation’ is not a colorable constitutional claim.” Klemm, 543 F.3d at 1144 (quoting Anderson v. Babbitt, 230 F.3d 1158, 1163 (9th Cir. 2000)). “[T]he claim must be supported by ‘facts sufficient to state a violation of substantive or procedural due process.’” Id.; see also Hafer v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 1:22-cv-00972-JLT-EPG, 2023 WL 2374099, at *6 (E.D. Cal. Mar. 6, 2023), report and recommendation adopted in part, rejected in part, No. 1:22-cv-0972 JLT EPG, 2023 WL 2815585 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 6, 2023). III. Discussion Here, Defendant contends that the Court lacks jurisdiction because Plaintiff has not completed all steps of the administrative review process. In support, Defendant has submitted a declaration from Christianne Voegele, the Chief of Court Case Preparation and Review Branch 1 of the Office of Appellate Operations, Social Security Administration. (Doc. 15-1.) Ms. Voegele declares that there is no indication of an Administrative Law Judge decision or dismissal, or a request for review before the Appeal Council, relating to Plaintiff under Title II or XVI of the Social Security Act. (Id. at ¶ (3)(a).) Accordingly, Ms. Voegeles’ declaration establishes that Plaintiff did not obtain a final decision from the Commissioner prior to filing his action in this Court and, therefore, failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. Likewise, Plaintiff has not furnished any evidence demonstrating that he has completed the administrative review process, responding only that he is entitled to pursue the matter in an independent forum because the SSA has not resolved his case properly and fairly through its normal channels. Based on this response, there is no indication that Plaintiff requested a hearing from an Administrative Law Judge or completed any subsequent steps of the administrative review process. To the extent Plaintiff’s complaint challenges an administrative decision by the Commissioner regarding the termination of his SSI benefits, the Court finds that Plaintiff has failed to exhaust his administrative remedies. Plaintiff cannot bring suit in this Court to challenge the termination of his SSI benefits until he has completed the administrative review process. See Walters v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., No. 2:19-CV-238-KJN, 2019 WL 3216905, at *2 (E.D. Cal. July 17, 2019), aff'd sub nom. Walters v. Saul, No. 19-16523, 2019 WL 7833140 (9th Cir. Nov. 20, 2019 (explaining that only after plaintiff completes four-step administrative review––and the Commissioner enters a final decision––may a court review the termination of SSI benefits); King v. Colvin, No. C-13-1897 EMC, 2013 WL 3388730, at *1 (N.D. Cal. July 8, 2013) (applying four-step administrative review process of 20 C.F.R. § 416.1400(a) and concluding plaintiff could not bring suit in federal court regarding termination of SSI benefits until he had hearing before an administrative law judge, and then a review by the Social Security Appeals Counsel); cf. Duarte v. Kijakazi, No. 21-16019, 2023 WL 2755329, at *1 (9th Cir. Apr. 3, 2023) (indicating four-step administrative review process applies to “[t]ermination of” disability benefits claims under Title Moreover, Plaintiff fails to allege a colorable constitutional claim for violation of due process in connection to his benefits claim that would waive his failure to exhaust his administrative remedies. Plaintiff's complaint contains only a “mere allegation” that the SSA did not resolve his case “properly and fairly through its normal channels,” not that he was denied an opportunity to be heard or to seek reconsideration. (Doc. 1 at p. 8.) See Klemm, 543 F.3d at 1144; see also Hafer, 2023 WL 2374099, at *8 (concluding “mere allegations” that SSA reduced benefits without providing opportunity to be heard at a hearing or to lodge objections insufficient to allege colorable constitutional claim that would waive failure to exhaust); cf. Walters, 2019 WL 3216905, at *2 (concluding asserted due process claim under Fifth Amendment did not provide for a grant of jurisdiction; noting section 405(g) provides sole express jurisdictional basis for review). The Court acknowledges that in his opposition to the instant motion, Plaintiff alleges that the SSA “never informed [him] of what [he] needed to do to comply with the law.” (Doc. 17 at p. 1.) However, this bare allegation is vague, conclusory, and lacking any facts to demonstrate that he was denied a hearing or did not have an opportunity to be heard or to seek reconsideration. Klemm, 543 F.3d at 1144. Indeed, the facts alleged reflect that Plaintiff was provided with multiple notices and opportunities to comply with the SSA’s requests, along with opportunities to be heard regarding compliance with those requests. IV. Conclusion and Recommendation The Court finds that Plaintiff failed to exhaust his administrative remedies and, therefore, the Court lacks jurisdiction over this action. Accordingly, the Court HEREBY DIRECTS the Clerk of the Court to randomly assign a district judge to this action. Further, for the reasons stated, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED as follows: 1. Defendant’s motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction (Doc. 15) filed on June 21, 2023, be GRANTED; 2. Plaintiff’s claims against the Commissioner related to his Title XVI social security income benefits be DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE as to Plaintiff fully exhausting his administrative remedies. These Findings and Recommendations will be submitted to the United States District Judge assigned to the case, as required by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen (14) days after being served with these findings and recommendations, Plaintiff may file written objections with the Court. The document should be captioned “Objections to Magistrate Judge’s Findings and Recommendations.” Plaintiff is advised that the failure to file objections within the specified time may result in the waiver of the “right to challenge the magistrate’s factual findings” on appeal. Wilkerson v. Wheeler, 772 F.3d 834, 839 (9th Cir. 2014) (citing Baxter v. Sullivan, 923 F.2d 1391, 1394 (9th Cir. 1991)). IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 7, 2023 /s/ Barbara A. McAuliffe _ UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE