Faubion v. Social Security Administration Commissioner, No. 3:2012cv03056 - Document 12 (W.D. Ark. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Honorable James R. Marschewski on December 27, 2012. (lw)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS HARRISON DIVISION GAIL L. FAUBION v. PLAINTIFF Civil No. 3:12-cv-03056-JRM MICHAEL J. ASTRUE, Commissioner Social Security Administration DEFENDANT MEMORANDUM OPINION Plaintiff, Gail L. Faubion, brings this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), seeking judicial review of a decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration ( Commissioner ) denying her application for disability insurance benefits pursuant to Title II of the Social Security Act. ECF No. 1. Defendant filed an answer to Plaintiff s action on September 14, 2012, asserting that the findings of the Commissioner were supported by substantial evidence. ECF No. 7. On December 7, 2012, the Commissioner, having changed positions, filed a motion requesting that Plaintiff s case be remanded pursuant to "sentence four" of section 405(g), in order to conduct further administrative proceedings. ECF No. 11. Specifically, the Commissioner seeks remand to allow the ALJ to reconsider whether Plaintiff had a severe medically determinable impairment before her date last insured. See Def. s Mot. Remand, 1. The exclusive methods by which a district court may remand a social security case to the Commissioner are set forth in "sentence four" and "sentence six" of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). A remand pursuant to "sentence six" is limited to two situations: where the Commissioner requests a remand before answering the complaint, or where the court orders the Commissioner to consider new, material evidence that was for good cause not presented before the agency. See AO72A (Rev. 8/82) 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). The fourth sentence of the statute provides that "[t]he court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing." Id.; Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 296, 113 S.Ct. 2625 (1993). Here, the undersigned finds remand to allow the Administrative Law Judge to further evaluate the evidence as addressed above, appropriate. Therefore, the Commissioner s motion is GRANTED and the case will be remanded to the Commissioner for further administrative action pursuant to sentence four of section 405(g). IT IS SO ORDERED this 27th day of December 2012. /s/ J. Marschewski HONORABLE JAMES R. MARSCHEWSKI CHIEF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE -2- AO72A (Rev. 8/82)

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