In re: Marie Becton

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 20-1115

In re: MARIE BECTON,

Petitioner.

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (5:17-cv -00336-D)

Submitted: May 28, 2020 Decided: June 11, 2020

Before NIEMEYER, DIAZ, and QUATTLEBAUM, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Marie Becton, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

2

PER CURIAM:

Marie Becton petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order directing the Social
Security Administration to pay her all the benefits she is purportedly owed, compensatory
damages, attorney’s fees, and costs. We conclude that Becton is not entitled to mandamus
relief.
Mandamus relief is a drastic remedy and should be used only in extraordinary
circumstances. Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Court, 542 U.S. 367, 380 (2004); In re Murphy-
Brown, LLC, 907 F.3d 788, 795 (4th Cir. 2018). Mandamus relief is available only when
the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought and has no other adequate means to obtain
the relief she desires. Murphy-Brown, 907 F.3d at 795. It is not a substitute for appeal.
In re Lockheed Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 2007).
The relief sought by Becton is not available by way of mandamus. Accordingly, we
deny the petition for writ of mandamus. We dispense with oral argument because the facts
and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and
argument would not aid the decisional process.
PETITION DENIED