Myrick v. Kijakazi, No. 3:2020cv00946 - Document 17 (N.D.N.Y 2022)

Court Description: ORDER WITH ATTACHED TRANSCRIPT OF DECISION re 1 Complaint - Social Security Appeal. IT IS ORDERED, as follows: 1) Plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED. 2) The Commissioner's determination that plaintiff was not d isabled at the relevant times, and thus is not entitled to benefits under the Social Security Act, is VACATED. 3) The matter is hereby REMANDED to the Commissioner, without a directed finding of disability, for further proceedings consistent with this determination. Signed by Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles on 1/10/2022. (ds)

Download PDF
Myrick v. Kijakazi Doc. 17 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 1 of 19 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK MICHAEL B. M., Plaintiff, v. Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-0946 (DEP) KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, 1 Defendant. APPEARANCES: OF COUNSEL: FOR PLAINTIFF LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MID-NY 221 South Warren Street, Suite 310 Syracuse, New York 13202 ELIZABETH V. LOMBARDI, ESQ. FOR DEFENDANT SOCIAL SECURITY ADMIN. 625 JFK Building 15 New Sudbury St Boston, MA 02203 CHRISTOPHER L. POTTER, ESQ. 1 Plaintiff’s complaint named Andrew M. Saul, in his official capacity as the Commissioner of Social Security, as the defendant. On July 12, 2021, Kilolo Kijakazi took office as the Acting Social Security Commissioner. She has therefore been substituted as the named defendant in this matter pursuant to Rule 25(d)(1) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and no further action is required in order to effectuate this change. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Dockets.Justia.com Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 2 of 19 DAVID E. PEEBLES U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE ORDER Currently pending before the court in this action, in which plaintiff seeks judicial review of an adverse administrative determination by the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. '§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), are cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings. 2 Oral argument was conducted in connection with those motions on January 5, 2022, during a telephone conference held on the record. At the close of argument, I issued a bench decision in which, after applying the requisite deferential review standard, I found that the Commissioner=s determination did not result from the application of proper legal principles and is not supported by substantial evidence, providing further detail regarding my reasoning and addressing the specific issues raised by the plaintiff in this appeal. After due deliberation, and based upon the court=s oral bench decision, a transcript of which is attached and incorporated herein by 2 This matter, which is before me on consent of the parties pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ' 636(c), has been treated in accordance with the procedures set forth in General Order No. 18. Under that General Order once issue has been joined, an action such as this is considered procedurally, as if cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings had been filed pursuant to Rule 12(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 2 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 3 of 19 reference, it is hereby ORDERED, as follows: 1) Plaintiff=s motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED. 2) The Commissioner=s determination that plaintiff was not disabled at the relevant times, and thus is not entitled to benefits under the Social Security Act, is VACATED. 3) The matter is hereby REMANDED to the Commissioner, without a directed finding of disability, for further proceedings consistent with this determination. 4) The clerk is respectfully directed to enter judgment, based upon this determination, remanding the matter to the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. ' 405(g) and closing this case. Dated: January 10, 2022 Syracuse, NY 3 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 4 of 19 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK --------------------------------------------x MICHAEL BEN M., Plaintiff, vs. 3:20-CV-946 KILOLO KIJAKAZI, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, Defendant. --------------------------------------------x Transcript of a Decision held during a 11 Telephone Conference on January 5, 2022, the 12 HONORABLE DAVID E. PEEBLES, United States Magistrate 13 Judge, Presiding. 14 A P P E A R A N C E S 15 (By Telephone) 16 For Plaintiff: LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF MID-NEW YORK Attorneys at Law 221 S. Warren Street, Suite 310 Syracuse, New York 13202 BY: ELIZABETH V. LOMBARDI, ESQ. For Defendant: SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION Office of General Counsel J.F.K. Federal Building Room 625 Boston, Massachusetts 02203 BY: CHRIS LEWIS POTTER, ESQ. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Jodi L. Hibbard, RPR, CSR, CRR Official United States Court Reporter 100 South Clinton Street Syracuse, New York 13261-7367 (315) 234-8547 JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 5 of 19 21 1 (The Court and all counsel present by 2 telephone.) 3 4 THE COURT: Let me begin by thanking both of you for excellent presentations. 5 I've enjoyed working with you. Plaintiff commenced this proceeding pursuant to 42 6 United States Code Sections 405(g) and 1383(c)(3) to 7 challenge an adverse determination of the Commissioner of 8 Social Security finding that he is not entitled to the 9 benefits for which he applied. 10 The background is as follows: Plaintiff was born 11 in January of 1982 and is currently just short of 40 years of 12 age, he was 35 years old at the alleged onset of his 13 disability on March 1, 2017. 14 5 foot 6 inches in height and has weighed at various times 15 between 205 and 222 pounds. 16 with his -- the record is equivocal as to whether she is his 17 wife or girlfriend, they have been together for some 15 18 years. 19 Plaintiff moved from Iowa in 2018 to be near his father. 20 various times he has been homeless or living in a shelter. 21 Plaintiff has a 10th grade education and while in school was 22 in special education classes in Iowa based on a learning 23 disability. 24 at one point did possess one. 25 Plaintiff stands approximately Plaintiff lives in Binghamton They live in some sort of shared house arrangement. At Plaintiff has no driver's license, although he Plaintiff stopped working in May of 2008. JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 His past Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 6 of 19 22 1 work includes as a part-time dishwasher for a brief period of 2 time, factory laborer, he worked part time in various 3 fast-food settings including at Burger King and McDonald's. 4 Physically, plaintiff suffers from several 5 impairments, including obesity, arthritis, bilateral shoulder 6 pain based on a 2016 motor vehicle accident, he suffers from 7 carpal tunnel syndrome, status post release on the right 8 wrist, asthma, some bowel issues, right hip pain, right knee 9 pain, lower back pain, migraines, seizures, and hypertension. 10 Mentally, plaintiff has been diagnosed with various 11 conditions, including borderline personality disorder, 12 paranoid schizophrenia, general anxiety disorder, bipolar 13 disorder, intellectual disorder, and poly-substance abuse. 14 It appears that he was sexually abused as a child and has had 15 various difficulties over time in various relationships. 16 Plaintiff has received treatment, including from 17 Broadlawn Medical Center in Iowa, from 2000 until 18 November 2014 and then again resuming in October 2016 until 19 he moved in 2018. 20 is Dr. James Hollandt who he began seeing in July of 2018. 21 He also receives mental health treatment from Tioga Mental 22 Health Clinic where he began treatment in April of 2018. 23 sees a couple of licensed clinical social workers and 24 licensed master social worker. 25 one time per month, is Dr. Ejiro Agboro-Idahosa. His primary care physician in Binghamton He His psychiatrist, who he sees JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 7 of 19 23 1 Plaintiff's activities of daily living include his 2 ability to perform basic hygiene, groom, cook, clean, manage 3 finances, he socializes with family and friends, he enjoys 4 music, watching television, he uses medical transportation 5 service as required. 6 incarceration as well as poly-substance and tobacco abuse, 7 marijuana, and methamphetamines. 8 the past two years. 9 Plaintiff has a history of He claims to be sober for Procedurally, plaintiff applied for Title II and 10 Title XVI benefits on March 29, 2018 alleging an onset date 11 of March 1, 2017, and claiming disability in his function 12 report based on paranoid schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, 13 attention deficit disorder, multiple personality disorder, 14 codependency, anxiety, and a learning disability. 15 was conducted by Administrative Law Judge Melissa Hammock on 16 September 6, 2019 to address plaintiff's application for 17 benefits on October 9, 2019. 18 Hammock issued an unfavorable decision which became a final 19 determination of the agency on June 22, 2020, when the Social 20 Security Administration Appeals Council denied plaintiff's 21 request for review. 22 2020, and is timely. 23 A hearing Administrative Law Judge This action was commenced on August 18, In her decision, ALJ Hammock applied the familiar 24 five-step sequential test for determining disability. 25 first noted that plaintiff's last date of insured status was JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 She Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 8 of 19 24 1 2 3 4 March 30, 2012. At step one she found that plaintiff had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since March 1, 2017. At step two she concluded that plaintiff does 5 suffer from severe impairments that impose more than minimal 6 limitations on his ability to perform basic work functions, 7 including paranoid schizophrenia, generalized anxiety 8 disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, 9 intellectual disorder, and poly-substance abuse. 10 At step three, the administrative law judge 11 concluded that plaintiff's conditions do not meet or 12 medically equal any of the listed presumptively disabling 13 conditions, specifically considering Listings 12.03, 12.04, 14 12.05, 12.06, and 12.08, all of which deal with plaintiff's 15 mental health conditions. 16 After reviewing the medical and other evidence, ALJ 17 Hammock concluded that plaintiff retains some residual 18 functional capacity, or RFC, to perform work at a full range 19 of exertional levels but with nonexertional limitations 20 including, he can perform simple routine tasks and make 21 simple work-related decisions in an environment with no 22 production rate pace and no more than occasional changes in 23 the work routine. 24 interaction with supervisors and coworkers and he can have no 25 interaction with the public. He can have occasional superficial JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 9 of 19 25 1 At step four, ALJ Hammock noted that plaintiff does 2 not have any significant past relevant work and then 3 proceeded to step five where, based on the testimony of a 4 vocational expert, plaintiff was found to be capable of 5 performing available work in the national economy citing as 6 representative positions industrial sweeper, laundry laborer, 7 and cleaner II. 8 9 As you know, the court's function in this case is limited to determining whether correct legal principles were 10 applied and the resulting determination is supported by 11 substantial evidence, which is defined as such relevant 12 evidence as a reasonable person would find sufficient to 13 support a conclusion. 14 In this case, plaintiff makes three basic 15 arguments. 16 seizures and obesity should have been included in the finding 17 of severe impairments. 18 weighing of medical opinions and specifically the weight 19 accorded to opinions of Dr. Agboro-Idahosa and Dr. Ferrin. 20 The third argument addresses an alleged conflict between the 21 testimony of the vocational expert and the Dictionary of 22 Occupational Titles, and the failure to resolve and explain 23 the resolution of that conflict. 24 25 She contends first at step two that plaintiff's The second argument focuses on the As you know, as an overarching consideration, it is plaintiff's burden through step four to prove that his JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 10 of 19 26 1 conditions create and cause limitations that preclude him 2 from performing available work. 3 not what the court would do when faced with the record that 4 was developed before the agency, but rather, whether the 5 resulting determination, again, was supported by substantial 6 evidence and resulted from the application of proper legal 7 principles. 8 9 Additionally, the issue is First addressing the step two argument, the governing regulations provide that an impairment or 10 combination of impairments is not severe if it does not 11 specifically limit a claimant's physical and mental ability 12 to do basic work activities. 13 The regulation goes on to describe what is meant by the 14 phrase basic work activities, defining that term to include 15 the abilities and aptitudes necessary to do most jobs. 16 second step requirement, as the plaintiff has argued, is 17 clearly de minimus and intended only to screen out the truly 18 weakest of cases. 19 Second Circuit 1995. 20 however, the mere presence of a disease or impairment or 21 establishing that a person has been diagnosed or treated for 22 a disease or impairment is not by itself sufficient to 23 establish a condition as severe. 24 F.Supp. 50 at 53, Southern District of New York 1995. 25 20 C.F.R. Section 404.1521. The Dixon v. Shalala, 54 F.3d 1019 at 1030, Significantly, and importantly, Coleman v. Shalala, 895 The focus of the argument in this case is upon JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 11 of 19 27 1 obesity and seizures. 2 the rejection of plaintiff's physical conditions, including 3 obesity and seizures, as not being severe, pages 13 and 14 of 4 the administrative transcript. 5 with regard to obesity that there was no indication from 6 plaintiff's respiratory exam, which was normal, that the 7 obesity did not appear to affect that, nor did it affect his 8 mobility or breathing in any notable way. 9 significantly, that with regard to obesity, plaintiff did not 10 mention his obesity at either the hearing or in his function 11 report as a reason why he's not capable of performing basic 12 work activities. 13 plaintiff has pointed to that shouldered the burden of 14 establishing any such limitation. 15 The administrative law judge explained It was noted, for example, I note, And there's no proof in the record that With regard to seizures, plaintiff was not taking 16 anti -- has not taken antiseizure medications regularly. 17 There's no evidence of any observation of any seizures, no 18 encephalogram or objective confirmation of seizures, and at 19 433, the plaintiff told the consultative examiner, 20 Dr. Magurno, that his most recent seizure was in 2015. 21 think that, despite the modest test at step two, the 22 rejection of those physical conditions as being severe is 23 supported by substantial evidence and was proper. 24 25 I Turning next to the medical opinions of record, the date on which this case, or the application in this case was JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 12 of 19 28 1 filed means that the new regulations regarding the weighing 2 of medical opinions applies. 3 ALJ does not have to give any specific evidentiary weight, 4 including controlling weight, to any medical opinions, 5 including those from claimant's medical sources. 6 Sections 404.1520c(a) and 416.920c(a). 7 weigh those opinions using the relevant factors including, 8 significantly, supportability and consistency. 9 articulate how persuasive he or she found each medical 10 opinion and must explain how he or she considered the 11 supportability and consistency of those medical opinions. 12 The ALJ may also, but is not required to, explain the 13 consideration of other relevant factors as appropriate in 14 each case, including the source's relationship with the 15 claimant, including the length of the treatment relationship, 16 frequency of examinations, purpose of the treating 17 relationship, the extent of the treating relationship, and 18 whether it was merely an examining relationship, the 19 specialization, if any, of the source and other factors that 20 tend to support or contradict the medical opinion. 21 Under the new regulations, an 20 C.F.R. Instead, an ALJ must The ALJ must The focus of this argument is on, first, the 22 treatment of Dr. Agboro-Idahosa's opinion from June 24, 2019. 23 That opinion, of course, is extremely limiting. 24 administrative law judge cited and recounted the various -- I 25 should say the opinion is, appears at 456 to 462 of the JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 The Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 13 of 19 29 1 record and is repeated at 986 to 992 with the exception of 2 the last page. 3 opinions in each of the, I'll call them the B domains, and 4 lists various degrees, from none to extreme or inability to 5 function, and that is defined as approximately more than 6 20 percent of the workday or workweek. 7 remembering, or applying information, the plaintiff is rated 8 as extreme in six of the subcategories and marked or serious 9 in two others. The opinion of Dr. Agboro-Idahosa offers In understanding, In interacting with others, he is rated as 10 extreme in two and marked or serious in three. 11 concentrating, persistence, or maintaining pace, extreme in 12 two and five in marked or serious. 13 self, four in extreme and five in marked or serious. 14 Dr. Agboro-Idahosa also opines that plaintiff would likely be 15 absent more than four days per month and late to work more 16 than four days per month. 17 In In adapting and managing That opinion was discussed at page 22 to 23 of the 18 administrative transcript by the administrative law judge who 19 found it to be very limiting and inconsistent with work but 20 found it overly restrictive and not persuasive. 21 cited are fourfold and include that his noted mental status 22 exam findings of record do not support it, but shows that the 23 claimant retained unimpaired attention, concentration, 24 memory, insight, and judgment despite the fluctuating 25 symptoms; two, Dr. Agboro-Idahosa did not provide direct JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 The reasons Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 14 of 19 30 1 citations to his objective notes; three, he appeared to 2 primarily rely on claimant's own subjective reports; and 3 four, was not provided on a function-by-function format. 4 last of those the Commissioner concedes is not a valid reason 5 for rejection of the opinion. 6 The The opinions of Dr. Agboro Idahosa are consistent 7 and supported by, at least in part, by the consultative 8 examination of Dr. Slowik, that's reported at 426 to 430, who 9 finds moderate limitations in several categories, a marked 10 limitation in plaintiff's ability to understand, remember, 11 and apply complex directions and instructions and regulate 12 emotions, marked to -- moderately to marked limitations in 13 the ability to interact adequately with supervisors, 14 coworkers, and the public and sustained concentration. 15 also consistent with the opinions of plaintiff's treating 16 primary care provider, Dr. Hollandt. 17 It is Dr. Agboro-Idahosa is a psychiatrist, a 18 professional in that field. 19 September 2018, has great longitudinal knowledge of the 20 plaintiff. 21 rule was abrogated under the new regulations, there are cases 22 that suggest and I think the relevant factors that I read 23 equally suggest that the fact of a treating relationship is 24 still an important consideration. 25 v. Commissioner of Social Security, Civil Action Number -- He has treated plaintiff since And although it is true that the treating source As was noted in Shawn H. JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 15 of 19 31 1 well, 20 -- I'm sorry, 2-, 2:19-CV-113, it was reported at 2 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123589, it was noted by my good friend 3 and colleague Magistrate Judge John Conroy that under the new 4 regulations, they still recognize the foundational nature of 5 the observations of treating sources, and consistency with 6 those observations is a factor in determining the value of 7 any treating source's opinion. 8 It's a mental health case, and although the 9 administrative law judge cites this as a reason, it is 10 entirely appropriate, and particularly in mental health 11 cases, for a professional psychiatrist to rely on a 12 plaintiff's accounts of symptoms. 13 health case, which this clearly is, the perspective of a 14 treating psychiatrist is important. 15 was decided under the old regulations, I think it still has 16 vitality, Prior v. Commissioner of Social Security, 2020 WL 17 1445963, Western District of New York, March 25, 2020. 18 believe it was error to discount Dr. Agboro-Idahosa's 19 opinions, and the error was harmful. 20 And turning to Dr. Ferrin. And in a complex mental And although this case I Dr. Ferrin, a 21 nonexamining consultant, issued an opinion on June 6, 2018 22 that is found at Exhibits 1A and 2A of the administrative 23 transcript. 24 listings and found only moderate limitations in the ability 25 to understand, remember, or apply information, interacting He addressed the so-called B criteria under the JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 16 of 19 32 1 with others; concentration, persistence, and maintaining 2 pace, mild; and adapting and managing one's self, moderate. 3 In his later mental residual functional capacity finding, he 4 concluded that plaintiff retains the ability to perform 5 basically simple work, he is able to understand and remember 6 simple and detailed instructions. 7 changes in a routine work setting and can use appropriate 8 judgment to make work-related decisions. 9 plaintiff was moderately limited in the ability to understand 10 and remember detailed instructions, the ability to carry out 11 detailed instructions, the ability to maintain attention and 12 concentration for extended periods, the ability to perform 13 activities within a schedule, the ability to complete a 14 workday and workweek without interruption, the ability to 15 interact appropriately with the general public, the ability 16 to accept instructions and respond appropriately and the 17 ability to respond appropriately to changes in the work 18 setting. 19 The claimant can adapt to He found that The administrative law judge discussed the opinions 20 of Dr. Ferrin at page 24 and found them implicitly, I would 21 say that there was clearly no specific statement to this 22 effect, but very implicit in his decision is that he found 23 Dr. Ferrin's opinion persuasive. 24 Dr. Ferrin's opinion should not be relied on because it was 25 based on review of only partial records. The plaintiff argues that JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 17 of 19 33 1 First, let me say I do agree with the Commissioner 2 that under the right circumstances, the opinion of a 3 consultative examiner can trump the opinion of a treating 4 source if it meets the consistency and supportability test 5 under the new regulations. 6 said that in Camille v. Colvin, 652 F.App'x 25 from the 7 Second Circuit 2016. 8 very clearly did not have the benefit of a complete record, 9 and although that does not necessarily disqualify the opinion The Second Circuit as much as However, I also agree that Dr. Ferrin 10 as being relied upon, if there is significant subsequent 11 treatment, particularly if the condition has worsened, then 12 relying upon that opinion that is only based on partial 13 records does not satisfy the substantial evidence test. 14 Here, the -- I'm not sure the administrative law 15 judge's discussion of Dr. Ferrin's opinion is sufficient to 16 permit meaningful review. 17 with Dr. Agboro-Idahosa, Dr. Hollandt, and Dr. Slowik. 18 although it is proper, again, to rely on a nonexamining 19 consultant's opinion, it is particularly weak evidence. 20 Abate v. Commissioner of Social Security, 2020 WL 2112322 21 from the Eastern District of New York, May 4, 2020, another 22 case that was cited under the former regulations but I think 23 equally applicable under the new. 24 25 It is also clearly inconsistent And Significantly, the only records from the Tioga County Department of Mental Hygiene that were reviewed was JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 18 of 19 34 1 the April 2018 intake, did not have the benefit of subsequent 2 treatment records. 3 In my view it was an error, if he did find the 4 opinion persuasive, to rely on that opinion to formulate his 5 residual functional capacity. So I do find error in the 6 weighing of medical opinions. I find that those errors are 7 harmful because those opinions that were rejected are 8 inconsistent with the residual functional capacity and 9 accordingly, the vocational expert's hypothetical and 10 testimony, and it does therefore affect the step five 11 determination. 12 13 14 I note because of this finding, I will not address the DOT conflict issue. The plaintiff has asked that the decision be 15 vacated with a directed finding of disability; I don't find 16 such persuasive evidence of disability that meets the rigid 17 test for taking that step. 18 determination of the Commissioner and remand the matter for 19 further proceedings consistent with this opinion. 20 grant judgment on the pleadings to plaintiff on that basis. 21 Thank you both for excellent presentations, please stay safe. 22 MS. LOMBARDI: 23 MR. POTTER: 24 MS. LOMBARDI: 25 Instead, I am going to vacate the Thank you, your Honor. Thank you, your Honor. Stay safe, everyone. (Proceedings Adjourned, 12:01 p.m.) JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547 So I will Case 3:20-cv-00946-DEP Document 17 Filed 01/10/22 Page 19 of 19 1 CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL REPORTER 2 3 4 I, JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR, Federal 5 Official Realtime Court Reporter, in and for the 6 United States District Court for the Northern 7 District of New York, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that 8 pursuant to Section 753, Title 28, United States 9 Code, that the foregoing is a true and correct 10 transcript of the stenographically reported 11 proceedings held in the above-entitled matter and 12 that the transcript page format is in conformance 13 with the regulations of the Judicial Conference of 14 the United States. 15 16 Dated this 7th day of January, 2022. 17 18 19 /S/ JODI L. HIBBARD 20 JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR Official U.S. Court Reporter 21 22 23 24 25 JODI L. HIBBARD, RPR, CRR, CSR (315) 234-8547

Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.