Western District considers pleading amendments in Social Security cases

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan is thinking about adding some special requirements to its local rules for pleadings in Social Security benefits cases.

The proposed amendments would require specific information about the type of benefit claimed, along with Social Security number of the wage earner on whose record the application for benefits was filed. Claims for supplemental security income benefits would require the plaintiff's Social Security number.

And the court is also considering this requirement:

Except in cases brought by a pro se plaintiff, a responsive pleading under Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(b) shall recite verbatim that paragraph of the pleading to which it is responsive, followed by the response.

The court is inviting comments on the proposed amendments. Click here for the full text of the proposed amendments, and for information on how to submit comments.