The opinion
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
9 EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
10
11 CRYSTAL ROSE WORKMAN, Case No. 1:25-cv-00826-CDB (SS)
12 Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION TO
PROCEED IN FORMA PAUPERIS AND
13 v. DIRECTING CLERK OF THE COURT TO
ISSUE SUMMONS, SCHEDULING ORDER,
14 COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL AND CONSENT OR REQUEST FOR
SECURITY, REASSIGNMENT DOCUMENTS
15
Defendant. (Doc. 2)
16
17
18 Plaintiff Crystal Rose Workman (“Plaintiff”) initiated this action with the filing of a
19 complaint on July 9, 2025, seeking review of the final decision of the Commissioner of Social
20 Security denying disability insurance and benefits. (Doc. 1). Plaintiff did not pay the filing fee
21 and instead filed an application to proceed in forma pauperis (or “IFP”) pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §
22 1915. (Doc. 2). For the following reasons, the Court finds issuance of the new case documents
23 and Plaintiff’s application to proceed in forma pauperis appropriate.
24 I. Proceeding In Forma Pauperis
25 The Court may authorize the commencement of an action without prepayment of fees “by
26 a person who submits an affidavit that includes a statement of all assets such [person] possesses
27 [and] that the person is unable to pay such fees or give security therefor.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a).
Here, the Court has reviewed Plaintiff’s application and financial status affidavit (Doc. 2) and
1 finds the requirements of 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a) are satisfied.
2 II. Screening Requirement
3 When a party seeks to proceed in forma pauperis, the Court is required to review the
4 complaint and shall dismiss the complaint, or portion thereof, if it is “frivolous, malicious or fails
5 to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or … seeks monetary relief from a defendant
6 who is immune from such relief.” 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(b) & (e)(2). A plaintiff’s claim is frivolous
7 “when the facts alleged rise to the level of the irrational or the wholly incredible, whether or not
8 there are judicially noticeable facts available to contradict them.” Denton v. Hernandez, 504 U.S.
9 25, 32-33 (1992).
10 III. Pleading Standards
11 A complaint must include a statement affirming the court’s jurisdiction, “a short and plain
12 statement of the claim showing the pleader is entitled to relief; and a demand for the relief sought,
13 which may include relief in the alternative or different types of relief.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The
14 purpose of the complaint is to give the defendant fair notice of the claims, and the grounds upon
15 which the complaint stands. Swierkiewicz v. Sorema N.A., 534 U.S. 506, 512 (2002). As set forth
16 by the Supreme Court, Rule 8:
17 … does not require detailed factual allegations, but it demands more than an
unadorned, the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me accusation. A pleading that
18 offers labels and conclusions or a formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of
action will not do. Nor does a complaint suffice if it tenders naked assertions
19 devoid of further factual enhancement.
20 Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-79 (2009) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted).
21 Vague and conclusory allegations do not support a cause of action. Ivey v. Board of Regents, 673
22 F.2 266, 268 (9th Cir. 1982). The Iqbal Court clarified further,
23 [A] complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to “state a
claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S.
24 544, 570 (2009). A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual
content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is
25 liable for the misconduct alleged. Id. at 556. The plausibility standard is not akin
to a “probability requirement,” but it asks for more than a sheer possibility that a
26 defendant has acted unlawfully. Id. Where a complaint pleads facts that are
“merely consistent with” a defendant’s liability, it “stops short of the line between
27 p ossibility and plausibility of “entitlement to relief.”
1 and determine whether the facts would make the plaintiff entitled to relief; legal conclusions are
2 not entitled to the same assumption of truth. Id. The Court may grant leave to amend a complaint
3 to the extent deficiencies of the complaint can be cured by an amendment. Lopez v. Smith, 203
4 F.3d 1122, 1127-28 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc).
5 IV. Discussion and Analysis
6 Plaintiff seeks review of a decision by the Commissioner of Social Security denying
7 disability benefits. (Doc. 1). The Court may have jurisdiction pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g),
8 which provides:
9 Any individual after any final decision of the Commissioner made after a hearing
to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a
10 review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the
mailing to him of such decision or within such further time as the Commissioner
11 may allow. Such action shall be brought in the district court of the United States
for the judicial district in which the plaintiff resides or has his principal place of
12 business…The court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript
of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the
13 Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a
rehearing.
14
15 Id. Except as provided by statute, “[n]o findings of fact or decision of the Commissioner shall be
16 reviewed by any person, tribunal, or governmental agency.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(h).
17 On May 21, 2025, the Appeals Council denied Plaintiff’s request for review of the
18 decision of the Administrative Law Judge denying Plaintiff’s claim for benefits and income.
19 (Doc. 1 ¶ 8). On July 9, 2025, Plaintiff filed a complaint in this Court seeking judicial review of
20 the Commissioner’s final decision. See id. Thus, Plaintiff’s complaint is timely. Plaintiff claims
21 residency in Fresno County, California. Id. ¶ 1. Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction over this
22 action.
23 ///
24 ///
25 ///
26 ///
27 ///
1} V. Conclusion and Order
2 Plaintiff's complaint states a cognizable claim for review of the administrative decision
3 | denying Social Security benefits and supplemental income. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY
4 | ORDERED that Plaintiff's application to proceed in forma pauperis (Doc. 2) is GRANTED. The
5 | Clerk of Court is directed to issue the following: 1) a Summons; 2) the Scheduling Order; 3) the
6 | Order re Consent or Request for Reassignment; and 4) a Consent to Assignment or Request for
7 | Reassignment form.
8 | IT IS SO ORDERED.
” | Dated: _ July 10, 2025 | hr
10 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28