The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
FORT MYERS DIVISION
MICHAEL STAS,
Plaintiff,
v. Case No.: 2:25-cv-660-SPC-KCD
COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL
SECURITY,
Defendant.
/
ORDER
Before the Court is Pro se Plaintiff Michael Stas’ Motion for a
Preliminary Injunction.1 (Doc. 7). Defendant responded. (Doc. 15). For below
reasons, the Court denies the motion and dismisses this action without
prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Background
This case relates to the termination of Plaintiff’s Title II disability
insurance benefits. According to Plaintiff, he was awarded these benefits in
2009 “based on a diagnosis of bipolar disorder under Listing 12.04.” (Doc. 1 ¶
8). In April 2023, after a series of attempts were made to locate Plaintiff, his
benefits were terminated. On October 18, 2023, Plaintiff filed a new
1 Plaintiff asked for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction in his
motion. The Court previously denied the request for a TRO. (Doc. 9).
application for benefits using a new address. The state agency charged
determining disability benefits on behalf of Defendant initially denied the
application. After Plaintiff sought reconsideration of the agency’s denial, he
was scheduled for a consultive examination. Plaintiff did not appear for the
examination even after receiving a reminder letter. The agency denied
Plaintiff’s application on reconsideration in July 2024. Plaintiff did not seek
review of this decision from an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). Plaintiff
brought this action in July 2025, seeking to restore his benefits on the ground
that Defendant unlawfully suspended them.
Legal Standard
“A preliminary injunction is an extraordinary and drastic remedy.”
Munaf v. Geren, 553 U.S. 674, 689 (2008) (internal quotation marks and
citation omitted). Preliminary injunctions are thus the exception, not the rule.
See Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, B.V. v. Consorcio Barr, S.A., 320 F.3d 1205,
1210 (11th Cir. 2003). “A plaintiff seeking a preliminary injunction must
establish that he is likely to succeed on the merits, that he is likely to suffer
irreparable harm in the absence of preliminary relief, that the balance of
equities tips in his favor, and that an injunction is in the public interest.”
Winter v. NRDC, 555 U.S. 7, 20 (2008) (citations omitted). What is more, a
preliminary injunction is “not to be granted unless the movant clearly
establishes the burden of persuasion as to the four requisites.” Am. C.L. Union
of Fla., Inc. v. Miami-Dade Cty. Sch. Bd., 557 F.3d 1177, 1198 (11th Cir. 2009)
(internal citations omitted). “Failure to show any of the four factors is fatal,
and the most common failure is not showing a substantial likelihood of success
on the merits” Id. (citing Schindler v. Schiavo, 403 F.3d 1223, 1226 n.2; 1227
(11th Cir. 2005) (per curiam).
Analysis
“To establish a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, a plaintiff
must demonstrate a likelihood of success at trial as to both its prima facie case
and the affirmative defenses asserted by the defendant.” TracFone Wireless,
Inc. v. Clear Choice Connections, Inc., 102 F. Supp. 3d 1321, 1325 (S.D. Fla.
2015) (collecting authority). Plaintiff does not show a likelihood of success that
this Court can exercise judicial review over his claims.
The United States “is immune from suit save as it consents to be sued,”
and Congress alone determines how and when the United States may be sued
based on administrative orders and judgments. Lehman v. Nakshian, 453
U.S. 156, 160, (1981) (quotation omitted). “In 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), Congress
waived sovereign immunity by giving the federal courts jurisdiction to review
and modify or reverse the Commissioner's decisions . . . As such, the remedies
outlined in that statute are the exclusive source of federal court
jurisdiction over cases involving SSI.” Jackson v. Astrue, 506 F.3d 1349, 1353
(11th Cir. 2007) (citations omitted) (emphasis added).
The Supreme Court has explained that § 405(g) “contains two separate
elements: first, a jurisdictional requirement that claims be presented to the
agency, and second, a waivable . . . requirement that the administrative
remedies prescribed by the [Commissioner] be exhausted.” Smith v. Berryhill,
587 U.S. 471, 478 (2019) (quotation omitted). In order to meet the latter
requirement, a claimant must ‘proceed[] through all three stages of the
administrative appeals process,’ including de novo reconsideration by the
Social Security Administration of its initial determination, a hearing before an
ALJ, and discretionary review by the Appeals Council.” Bruder v. Comm’r of
Soc. Sec., No. 6:23-CV-2332-DCI, 2024 WL 945302, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Mar. 5,
2024) (quoting Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467, 482 (1986)); see also
Petrosyan v. Acting Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 3:22-CV-461-MMH-PDB, 2022 WL
16837227, at *2 (M.D. Fla. Oct. 3, 2022), report and recommendation adopted,
No. 3:22-CV-461-MMH-PDB, 2022 WL 16836713 (M.D. Fla. Nov. 9, 2022)
(denying request for preliminary injunction).
Plaintiff “fails to show that the Court has the authority under that
statute to provide the relief he requests.” Id. at *3. Plaintiff did not seek
review from an ALJ upon the denial of benefits reconsideration, so he has
“failed to allege or provide any evidence that a final decision was issued in his
case.” Edwards v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., No. 6:22-CV-1909-EJK, 2023 WL
3338805, at *2 (M.D. Fla. May 10, 2023). Furthermore, Plaintiff fails to show
that waiver of exhaustion is appropriate. See Comack v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec.
Admin., No. 23-11115, 2024 WL 4719238, at *2–3 (11th Cir. Nov. 8, 2024), cert.
denied sub nom. Comack v. Dudek, 145 S. Ct. 1964 (2025) (affirming dismissal
of social security action for failure to exhaust administrative remedies).
Plaintiff’s claim is entirely about his claims for benefits, the failure to waive
would not constitute irreparable injury, and there is no reason to believe
exhaustion would be futile. Defendant represented that Plaintiff as of the time
of their response could request a hearing before an ALJ. (Doc. 15 at 4) (citing
20 C.F.R. §§ 404.901, 404.933(b)(1)). Because Plaintiff fails to establish that
judicial review is proper, the Court finds that he has not shown a likelihood of
success on the merits.
The Court, upon review of the Parties’ arguments, finds that the Court
lacks jurisdiction over this case. The Court must assess whether jurisdiction
is proper even when the parties before it do not directly challenge it. See
Bruder, 2024 WL 945302, at *1 (“This Court is a court of limited jurisdiction,
and as such, ‘is obligated to inquire into subject matter jurisdiction sua
sponte whenever it may be lacking.’”) (quoting Univ. of S. Ala. V. Am. Tobacco
Co., 168 F.3d 405, 409–10 (11th Cir. 1999)); see also Hernandez v. U.S. Atty.
Gen., 513 F.3d 1336, 1339 (11th Cir. 2008) (same); Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h)(3) (“If
the court determines at any time it lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the court
must dismiss the action.”).
Because the Court does not believe jurisdiction is proper, Plaintiff's
action is dismissed without prejudice. See Rouzard v. Comm’ of Soc. Sec., No.
6:24-CV-585-CEM-LHP, 2025 WL 404917, at *7 (M.D. Fla. Jan. 28, 2025),
report and recommendation adopted, No. 6:24-CV-585-CEM-LHP, 2025 WL
404915 (M.D. Fla. Feb. 5, 2025) (dismissing social security complaint without
prejudice where plaintiff “failed to exhaust administrative remedies or
demonstrate that the exhaustion requirements should be waived.”). Plaintiff
did not exhaust the administrative process, and so the Court finds it does not
possess jurisdiction to adjudicate the claims presented.
Accordingly, it is now
ORDERED:
1. Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Doc. 7) is DENIED.
2. Plaintiff's Complaint (Doc. 1) is DISMISSED without prejudice for
lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
3. The Clerk is hereby DIRECTED to deny all other pending motions
as moot, terminate any deadlines, and close the case.
DONE and ORDERED in Fort Myers, Florida on September 16, 2025.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Copies: All Parties of Record