Vance v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 1:2019cv00002 - Document 24 (W.D. Ky. 2019)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER by Magistrate Judge Lanny King on 10/16/2019 denying 22 Motion to Amend or Alter Judgment pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 59(e). cc: Counsel(JWM)
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Vance v. Commissioner of Social Security Doc. 24 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY BOWLING GREEN DIVISION CIVIL ACTION NO. : 9 CV LLK JAMES E. VANCE, o ehalf of MELANIE S. VANCE, de eased PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT v. ANDREW SAUL, Co issio er of So ial Se urity MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER P e iousl , the Cou t e te ed a e a ded this atte to the Co issio e fo al ulatio a d pa the losed pe iod et ee Ju e , the Cou t o the Co Fed.R.Ci .P. e o a du opi io a d o de a d a judg e t, a d Fe ua , hi h e t of past due Title II e efits fo . Do kets # , . This atte is efo e issio e ’s otio to a e d o alte the p io o de a d judg e t pu sua t to e , to hi h Plai tiff espo ded i oppositio . Do kets # , . Legal sta dards gover i g Rule 59 e otio s Be ause g a ti g a Rule e otio te ds to u de i e fi alit of judg e ts, it has ee des i ed as a e t ao di a e ed[ ] ese ed fo the e eptio al ase. Ha ilto . Co Se ., No. : Ci . CV HBB, WL , at * uoti g Foster . DeLu a, . The u de l i g pu pose of Rule , th e is to allo the dist i t ou t to o e t its o lea e o s, spa i g the pa ties a d the appellate ou ts the u de of u Be ore . Co ’r, No. : CV F. d ’r of So . e essa appellate p o eedi gs. , at * iti g Ho ard . U ited States, F. d , th Ci . . The pu pose is ot si pl to gi e u happ litiga ts a ehi le to aise e a gu e ts, p ese t e e ide e, o e litigate old atte s. Id. A Rule e otio a legiti atel e g a ted i fou i u sta es: [ ] the e is a lea e o of la , ... [ ] e l dis o e ed e ide e, ... [ ] a i te e i g ha ge i o t olli g la , ... o [ ] to p e e t a ifest i justi e. Ha ilto . Co ’r, No. : CV HBB, WL , at * uoti g Dockets.Justia.com Ge Corp, I . . A eri a I ter atio al U der riters, Co F. d , th Ci . issio e ’s positio is that the p io opi io o tai s lea e o s of la . Do kets # . The , . Ba kgrou d fa ts a d pro edural history I Ju e , Plai tiff u de e t li e t a spla t su ge a d as su se ue tl ed idde fo app o i atel t o ea s. Ad i ist ati e Re o d AR at The Ad i ist atio te , , . i ated Plai tiff’s e eipt of disa ilit e efits effe ti e Ju e , she as o lo ge ed idde due to edi al i p o e e t, a d Plai tiff appealed the te afte i atio de isio . O o a out Fe ua h po at e ia s , , Plai tiff as hospitalized fo se e al da s due to e u e e of pto s elated to he t a spla t . AR at ith a e . AR at O Ja ua , . I De e e , she as diag osed . , the Ad i ist ati e La Judge ALJ affi ed the Ad i ist atio ’s te i atio de isio due to edi al i p o e e t ut fou d that Plai tiff’s o ditio su se ue tl dete io ated o Fe ua , , su h that she as agai disa led. ALJ’s de isio , AR at a ed out a losed pe iod of o disa ilit et ee Ju e , I Ma h , Plai tiff died. Do ket # . The ALJ’s de isio thus a d Fe ua , . . Dis ussio A judi ial distu a e of the ALJ’s de isio is a a ted if the ALJ’s de isio as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e i the ad i ist ati e e o d; o appli a le legal sta da ds. Ealy . Co ’r, F. d , the ALJ’s de isio did ot o po t ith th Ci . a d o de o luded that the losed pe iod of o disa ilit fou d su sta tial e ide e Do ket # . The Cou t’s p io opi io the ALJ as ot suppo ted at a d also did ot o po t ith appli a le legal sta da ds id. at . The p io opi io o luded that the ALJ’s losed pe iod fi di g as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e e ause [e] e edi al opi io i the ad i ist ati e e o d i di ates that Plai tiff as u a le to atte d o k egula l o pe fo e e lo st ess tasks afte he Ju e et ee pe iod of o disa ilit … due to the side effe ts of eje tio of he t a spla ted li e . Do ket # li e t a spla t ith o i edi atio Plai tiff took to p e e t at . Alte ati el , the p io opi io o luded that the ALJ’s losed pe iod fi di g did ot o po t ith appli a le legal sta da ds set fo th i [“o ial “e u it Ruli g] ““R , o e i g dete , i this ase, Fe ua The Co WL , i atio of the date of e o set of disa ilit ut ot ea lie . Id. at . issio e a gues that the p io opi io e ed i fi di g that the ALJ’s losed pe iod fi di g as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e. Do ket # . A o di g to the a gu e t, the ALJ p ope l eje ted the edi al opi io s [of] disa li g side effe ts due to edi atio take to p e e t li e eje tio du i g the losed pe iod e ause the t eat e t otes failed to ote se e e side effe ts … efo e Fe ua . Do ket # at efe e i g ALJ’s de isio at , . The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo t o easo s. Fi st, the t eati g ph si ia s att i uted disa li g li itatio s du i g the losed pe iod to side effe ts of edi atio take to p e e t o ga eje tio . AR at , , . The t eati g ph si ia s e e ot e ui ed to ha e p e iousl do u e ted these side effe ts i thei t eat e t otes fo thei opi io s to e elie ed. A ALJ a p ope l dis ou t a t eati g ph si ia ’s opi io of de ilitati g s pto s if that opi io is i o siste t ith [the ph si ia ’s] o assess e ts a d t eat e t otes. Pri e . Co the e as o su h i o siste ’r, F. App’ , th Ci . p io . Ho e e , i this ase. The o te po a eous t eat e t otes du i g the losed pe iod ould ot e e pe ted to o tai efe e es to side effe ts that e e al ead ell u de stood, o goi g, a d u ha ged. The Co issio e o fuses e iste e a d do u e tatio of side effe ts a d assu es that opi io s ased o side effe ts a e i o siste t ith sile e i the t eat e t otes ega di g those side effe ts. “e o d, to e e titled to o t olli g eight a t eati g ph si ia ’s opi io eed o l e ell suppo ted ot o pletel suppo ted i e e detail, i the o te po a eous t eat e t otes . C.F.R. § . . The p io opi io did ot ake a lea e o of la i o ludi g that the ALJ’s eje tio of the opi io s of the t eati g ph si ia s as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e. Ne t, the Co issio e a gues that the p io opi io e ed i fi di g that the ALJ’s de isio did ot o po t ith appli a le legal sta da ds e ause of its failu e to follo [“o ial “e u it Ruli g] ““R , WL . Do ket # at . The a gu e t is u pe suasi e fo fou easo s. Fi st, e ause the ALJ’s losed pe iod fi di g as ot suppo ted su sta tial e ide e fo the easo s dis ussed a o e , it is ot of ase dispositi e sig ifi a e hethe that fi di g also did ot o po t ith appli a le legal sta da ds. E e if pe suasi e, the Co issio e ’s ““R e o a d, the efo e, does ot a a t e t ao di a is ot pe suasi e e ause ““R Rule a gu e t ide tifies o l a ha e elief. “e o d, the ““R , . The edi al e ide e se es as the p i a ele e t i the o set dete WL F. d , i atio . ““R , at * . I this ase, the opi io of the t eati g ph si ia s as u o t adi ted that the e as o losed pe iod of o disa ilit . Thi d, hile the Cou t ag ees ith the Co ““R a gu e t des i es the ules fo i fe i g the o set of disa ilit date he a ALJ fi ds that a lai a t is disa led at the ti e of the ALJ’s de isio . Key . Callaha , th Ci . less allo s a ALJ to dete issio e that i e the o set of disa ilit date ithout alli g o the se i es of a edi al e pe t at the ad i ist ati e hea i g he e the e is a la ge a ou t of edi al e ide e f o the ele a t pe iod Do ket # at , that is ot hat o u ed i this ase. Rathe , the ALJ o tai ed edi al e pe t testi o a d the eje ted it. Fou th, the p io opi io ’s appli atio of the ““R ules did ot ise to the le el of a lea e o of la o o poi t autho it , i.e., a te e ause the Co issio e ites a d the Cou t fi ds i atio of e efits ase i hi h a ALJ fou d a losed pe iod of o disa ilit a d the pa ties disputed the date of e o set of disa ilit . At o st, the p io opi io ’s appli atio of the ““R ules i a u ha ted a ea as de ata le. Though u p e ede ted i the asela , ““R p appea s to autho ize su h a losed pe iod of o disa ilit : Ne t, the Co issio e asse ts that the ALJ did ot fi d that [Plai tiff’s] al ohol a use aused Plai tiff’s side effe ts as Magist ate Judge Ki g o te ds. Do ket # at efe e i g Do ket # at . The p io opi io did ot o te d that the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff’s al ohol a use aused he side effe ts. O the o t a , the opi io e og ized that the ALJ fou d that Plai tiff’s al ohol use du i g the losed pe iod as ot a o t i uti g fa to ate ial to the dete uoti g AR at i atio of disa ilit . Do ket # . The opi io e el o se ed that the ALJ’s e te ded dis ussio of Plai tiff’s al ohol use as at odds ith the ALJ’s a k o ledge e t that su h use as i a d that the ALJ’s dete ate ial to his de isio i atio of o disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod appea ed to e ased o a i p ope i depe de t la assess e t of the edi al e ide e i ol i g efe e es to Plai tiff’s al ohol use. Do ket # at , . These o se atio s e e ot of ase dispositi e sig ifi a e a d did ot o stitute lea e o of la . Fi all , the Co issio e a gues that assu i g the ALJ’s fi di g of a losed pe iod of o disa ilit as ot suppo ted p ope e ed dete su sta tial a d/o did ot o po t ith appli a le legal sta da ds the as a e a d fo fu the ad i ist ati e p o eedi gs as opposed to a judi ial i atio of disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod . Do ket # that a judi ial dete at . The p io opi io o luded i atio of disa ilit as a a ted fo th ee easo s. Fi st, the opi io of the I e e [te i atio of e efits] ase he e e fi d that that the e efi ia as ot o ti uousl disa led th ough the date of the appeal dete i atio o de isio , the adjudi ato [ALJ] ust full e plai the asis fo the o lusio ea hed i the dete i atio o de isio . The adjudi ato ill state the o th the e efi ia 's disa ilit e ded, a d, if appli a le, the o th i hi h a e pe iod of disa ilit ega a d a i te e i g o ths du i g hi h the e as o disa ilit . ““R p, WL , at * . Fo e a ple, the ALJ fou d that: D . Be a testified that the a e ia a d ele t ol te distu a e [h po at e ia] ould e due to al ohol a use. … “i e othe auses a ha e esulted i the lo h po at e ia le els, I a u a le to e lude that the s pto s of dizzi ess a d eak ess egi i g i Fe ua e e defi itel elated to the lai a t’s al ohol a use. AR at . t eati g ph si ia s of o losed pe iod of o disa ilit as u o t a ted a d, the efo e, e titled to o plete defe e e. Do ket # . The Co at uoti g Kal a h . Co ’r, F. App’ , Ci . th issio e a gues that the t eati g ph si ia s’ opi io as ot u o t adi ted e ause the o e a i i g p og a ph si ia s offe ed opi io s of o disa ilit i Ad i ist atio ’s te i atio of e efits i AR at , . The opi io s of the p og a ph si ia s did ot add ess Plai tiff’s disa ilit status du i g the losed pe iod et ee aptl states, [ ]eithe [p og a ] ph si ia e ie i g the ase i p ese t o Fe ua , . Do ket # i suppo t of the a d . As Plai tiff ould p edi t [he ] state of health at . “e o d, the p io opi io o luded that a fi di g of disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod as app op iate e ause the ulti ate u de is o the Co issio e i te ha e fou d that su sta tial e ide e does ot suppo t the te . Co ’r, F. App’ , th Ci . . The Co i atio p o eedi gs a d e i atio . Do ket # uoti g Ke edy issio e atte pts to disti guish Ke edy, he ei the e ide e of edi al i p o e e t [ as fou d to e] la ki g. Do ket # Ke edy at . A o di g to the Co at uoti g issio e , i this ase, the e as a ple e ide e of edi al i p o e e t du i g the losed pe iod appa e tl efe i g to the fi di gs of the p og a ph si ia s. Id. Fo the easo s i di ated a o e, those fi di gs did ot su sta tiall suppo t a fi di g of o disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod. Thi d, the p io opi io o luded that a fi di g of disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod as a a ted e ause the e e ists st o g e ide e that the plai tiff's o e eed a listed i pai . Co ’r, i ed i pai e t u de the “o ial “e u it egulatio s. Do ket # at F. App’ , th Ci . e ts eet o uoti g Kal a h . “pe ifi all , the edi al e pe t testified that Plai tiff’s a e a d h o i li e disease et o e ualed the Listi g. AR at . The Co issio e a gues that the edi al e pe t’s testi o ega di g the Listi g sho ed his la k of o p ehe sio , ig o a e, a d la k of u de sta di g of the Listi g. Do ket # at uoti g ALJ’s de isio at AR . E e if the edi al e pe t’s testi o ega di g the Listi g as i su sta tial, the e e ai ed t o alid ases fo a judi ial fi di g of disa ilit i.e., those dis ussed a o e . A judi ial dete i atio of disa ilit du i g the losed pe iod as, the efo e, ot a lea e o o la . ORDER Fo the fo egoi g easo s, the Co judg e t pu sua t to Fed.R.Ci .P. issio e ’s otio to a e d o alte the p io o de a d e Do ket # is he e DENIED. October 16, 2019
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