McAlister v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Plaintiff: Shanon M. McAlister
Defendant: Commissioner of Social Security Administration
Interested Party: Social Security Administrative Record
Case Number: 8:2020cv04515
Filed: December 30, 2020
Court: US District Court for the District of South Carolina
Presiding Judge: Jacquelyn D Austin
Referring Judge: Sherri A Lydon
Nature of Suit: Social Security: SSID Tit. XVI
Cause of Action: 42 U.S.C. ยง 1383
Jury Demanded By: None
Docket Report

This docket was last retrieved on February 26, 2021. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.

Date Filed Document Text
February 26, 2021 Opinion or Order Filing 19 ORDER RULING ON REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION adopts #12 Report and Recommendation. Plaintiff's motion to proceed in forma pauperis, [ #3 , is DENIED. Plaintiff paid the required fee on February 25, 2021, and, as a result, the matter may proceed. Signed by Honorable Sherri A Lydon on 2/26/2021. (gpre, )
February 25, 2021 Filing 17 Filing fee: $ 402, receipt number SCX600008822 (gpre, )
February 19, 2021 Filing 15 TEXT ORDER granting #13 Motion for Extension of Time. Plaintiff is granted a 10-day extension of time to pay the full filing fee of $402.00. If the original check is not delivered by FedEx during the extended 10-day period, Plaintiff is required to hand-deliver a check for the full filing fee on March 1, 2021. If payment is not received by the court in accordance with the extended deadline, the matter may be dismissed. Signed by Honorable Sherri A Lydon on 2/18/2021.(gpre, )
February 19, 2021 Filing 13 First MOTION for Extension of Time to pay filing fee by Shanon M. McAlister. Response to Motion due by 3/5/2021. Add an additional 3 days only if served by mail or otherwise allowed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 45. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit FedEx tracking information)No proposed order.(Whitten, Beatrice)
January 27, 2021 Filing 12 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION re #1 Complaint - Social Security, filed by Shanon M. McAlister. Objections to R&R due by 2/10/2021 Add an additional 3 days only if served by mail or otherwise allowed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 45. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn D Austin on 1/27/21. (alew, )
January 25, 2021 Filing 10 ANSWER to Interrogatories from Plaintiff by Shanon M. McAlister.(Whitten, Beatrice)
January 15, 2021 Filing 8 STATUS REPORT as to Magistrate Jurisdiction by Shanon M. McAlister. (Whitten, Beatrice)
January 5, 2021 Opinion or Order Filing 7 ORDER: Plaintiff has submitted an Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees and Affidavit (Form AO 240) to this Court, which is construed as a motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis. [Doc. 3.] In order to properly evaluate Plaintiff's motion, further information is required. Therefore, Plaintiff shall have twenty-one (21) days from the date this Order is entered to file completed, signed, and dated Plaintiff's Answers to the Court's Special Interrogatories, which are attached to this Order. (Attachments: #1 Special Interrogatories) (Status Report due by 1/26/2021) Signed by Magistrate Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin on 1/5/2021. (sgri)
January 4, 2021 Opinion or Order Filing 6 TEXT ORDER: By local rule in this District, all social security appeals are automatically referred to United States Magistrate Judges on a district-wide rotation for reports and recommendations or, by consent of the parties, final disposition. In accordance with the policy of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC) recently completed a Survey of Magistrate Judge Positions in the District of South Carolina and issued a report reviewing the Courts Magistrate Judge positions (the AOUSC Report). According to the AOUSC Report, for the period of 2015-2019, social security appeals in this District increased by 37%, and felony criminal cases increased by over 16%. Criminal cases take priority over civil cases due, in part, to the Speedy Trial Act. As a result, consideration of social security appeals is sometimes delayed. Further, the Federal Magistrates Act of 1968 established the magistrate judge's system as a supplemental judicial resource to assist the district courts and to provide better service to litigants. The AOUSC Report notes that in 2019, of the 350 social security appeals decided in this District, only 27 (7.7%) were disposed of by Magistrate Judges with the parties' consent. According to the AOUSC Report: "Many districts around the country have had great success in encouraging consent to magistrate judges in social security appeal cases. Maximizing dispositions on consent rather than through reports and recommendations could be part of the court's strategy, to the extent it is feasible, for maintaining the just, speedy, and inexpensive determination of these cases, as well as realizing the benefits of consent outlined below. Consent to disposition by the magistrate judge can bring about a quicker resolution of the appeal than the report and recommendation process." "Therefore, the court may wish to remind the government and members of the social security bar of the consent option, and its time savings for litigants, by appropriate means (e.g., form letters to parties, status conferences, speaking engagements before the bar)." Given recent events with the COVID-19 pandemic, which have placed additional strains on the Districts resources, the findings and suggestions of the AOUSC Report are of even greater significance. As a result of both the AOUSC Report and the recent events, this Court finds it imperative to remind the parties of the opportunity to consent to final disposition of social security appeal cases by a Magistrate Judge. Again, it has been the practice of this Court to give particular attention to social security appeals given the nature of such actions. The impact of increased caseloads, the direct and indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the requirement of docket priority for criminal cases, however, will necessarily affect this Court's ability to provide for prompt adjudication of social security cases. The Magistrate Judges, however, are well equipped to handle final disposition of these cases in a timely manner. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 631, Magistrate Judges are appointed by the District Court. Such appointments are made after a rigorous application and screening process. In accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73, a Magistrate Judge may, upon consent of the parties, conduct any or all proceedings in a jury or nonjury civil matter and enter a final order in the case. While parties have the right to adjudication of such matters by a District Judge and may absolutely withhold consent without adverse substantive consequences, based on the foregoing, consideration should be given to the referral of social security appeals to a Magistrate Judge for final disposition. The U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina has entered a Standing Consent Agreement for such referrals. See 3:04-mc-5005. Accordingly, counsel for the Plaintiff is directed to consult with the Plaintiff concerning the foregoing and to file a status report within 30 days informing the court as to whether Plaintiff consents to disposition by a U.S. Magistrate Judge. If Plaintiff consents, AO Form 85, found at https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/civil-forms/notice-consent-and-reference-civil-action-magistrate-judge may be filed in lieu of the status report. (Status Report due by 2/3/2021) Signed by Honorable Sherri A. Lydon on 1/4/2021. (sgri)
January 4, 2021 Filing 5 Summons Issued as to The Commissioner of Social Security Administration, The U.S. Attorney, and The U.S. Attorney General. (sgri) (Main Document 5 replaced on 1/5/2021) (sgri). Modified on 1/5/2021 to replace document (sgri).
December 30, 2020 Filing 3 MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis (Restricted Access) by Shanon M. McAlister. Response to Motion due by 1/13/2021. Add an additional 3 days only if served by mail or otherwise allowed under Fed. R. Civ. P. 6 or Fed. R. Crim. P. 45. No proposed order.Motions referred to Jacquelyn D. Austin. (sgri)
December 30, 2020 Filing 1 COMPLAINT against Commissioner of Social Security Administration Clerk's Note: See 28:636(b)(1)(C)(4)(c)(1) and Local Rule 83.VII.02 regarding Consents to Proceed before Magistrate Judge in Social Security cases. Consent to Proceed before Magistrate Judge forms are available on the Court's website.Filed by Shanon M. McAlister. Service due by 3/30/2021. (sgri) Modified on 1/4/2021 to correct date filed. (sgri)

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Plaintiff: Shanon M. McAlister
Represented By: Beatrice E Whitten
Represented By: William Thomas Milton
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Defendant: Commissioner of Social Security Administration
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Interested party: Social Security Administrative Record
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