(SS) Ramos v. Commissioner of Social Security

I. BACKGROUND

24 On September 28, 2018, Plaintiff filed a complaint challenging the denial of benefits by 25 an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (ECF No. 1.) The Court issued a Scheduling Order 26 outlining procedural steps and corresponding deadlines to be followed in this case. (ECF No. 5-

1 The matter was decided without oral argument based on the parties’ briefs. 1.) In order to promote early settlement in social security cases, thereby saving time and resources for all parties, the Scheduling Order included a requirement that the parties exchange succinct, confidential letter briefs prior to submitting formal briefs with fully developed arguments to the Court. (Id.) This process allows the parties to vet and discuss potential reasons for remanding the matter, so as to obviate formal briefing and adjudication on the merits by the Court if the case can be resolved informally. The Scheduling Order indicates that an opening brief is to be filed with the Court only in the event that the Commissioner does not agree to remand the matter. (Id. at 2.) In this case, the Commissioner did not agree to remand the matter for further proceedings, 9 …