Carter v. Astrue, No. 3:2011cv00067 - Document 16 (W.D. Va. 2012)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 6/27/12. (jcj)

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CLERK' oF cE u. .Dl r couR' S yl s s-. r A RyN K V . %U T Ol E A x 1 AO l - E . gb D f u . ( JLN 2? 2 1 2 I TH E UN I N TED STA TES DI STRI COU RT CT FO R TH E W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I CT RGW I A CH A RLOTTESVI LLE D I I ON V SI J UUA . UDLEY C ZIK ' R B: D U -, j Y - CA RLEN E N . RTER , CA Ci lAci No.3: CV00067 vi ton 11 Pl ntf, ai if M EM O R AN DU M O PI O N M MI CHA EL J. STRU E, A Co m i sonerof Soc a Se urt m si i l c iy, By: H o r bl Gl n E. no a e e Com 'd a Chi U nie St t D it i tJ ef t d a es s rc udge De e f ndan . t Pl i ifhasfl d t sa to chal ngi t fna de ii oft Comm isone ofSocal antf ie hi ci n le ng he i l c son he si r i Sec t de ngpli tf sc amsf rdia lt i ur nc be f a s e nul e urt i om e miy nyi a n if l i o s biiy ns a e nehs nd uppl me s c iy nc be eisl e t So ilS cli Ac, sn n e , U.. j 41 ()a d4 , nd42U. C. n ft md r he ca e t t ta me d d 42 SC. j 6 i n 23 a ry S. j 1381ç s q.rs ci l Jlidito oft sc tspurua tt 42U. C.j405()a 42U. C. 1 e ,epe tvey. trs cin hi our i s n o S. g nd S. j 1 c)3) Thi c t rviw i lmie t adeemi ton a t whehe t r i s tnta 383( ( . s our' e e s i td o tr nai s o t r hee s ubsa il s e de et s por t Comm iso rsc usont tpli iff ie t esa ih e ilm e t vi nc o up t he s i ne ' oncl i ha antf a ld o tbls ntte nt o be ft t rt Ac .I s h s t nta e de ee ss t fna de ii oft Comm iso r neis mde he t f uc ubsa i l vi nc xit ,he i l c son he s i ne mus beafr d. La v.Ceebez e,368F. 640 ( hCi.1 .Stt brel s tnta t fime ws lr z 2d 4t r 966) aed ify, ubsa il e de e ha bee de i d ass h r e nte denc , ns d r ng t r co d a a whol a m i tbe vi nc s n f ne uc el va vi e co i e i he e r s e, s gh f md a quaet s ot de t o uppor ac t ondusonbyar a ona emi Riha ds n v. r ls, 2 U. 389, i e s bl nd. c r o Pe ae 40 S. 4 0( 9 ) 0 1 71. The pl i if Ca l ne N .Ca tr bor on J y 29,1 a ntf , r e re , n ul 980, e nt ly c pl t d he hi h and ve ua l om e e r g school educaton. M s Cart has w or as a hous i . er ked ekeeper cook, cons nl i hel , t cton per, and lnds a r Shel s wor donar g a a s ti dba i i 2008.l M a of20 pli iffld a c pe . a t ke e ulr nd usane ss n n y 09, antf ie a i a i f s biiyi ur ebe t and s em e al ec u t nco ebe i s l flnghe pplc tons ordi a lt ns anc ne ks uppl nt s t i yi m neft .n i r c am s M s. re a l e t ts be media e f alf l i , Ca tr leg d ha he ea s bld or l onnsofs t nta ganf e o e ubsa i l i ul mpl ym nt on De embe 26,2007 duet r tr d dicsi he ba a r sdual ofc r tveslge y. She c r o uptle s n r ck nd e i s oreci tr r now mant i t t heha r m ane dia e ot pr s nt i Ast he a ia i f dia lt i ans ha s s e i d s bl dt he e e tme. o r pplc ton or s biiy i ur ncebe ft, her c dr veast tM s Ca trme t i ur d sausr r m e soft Ac ns a neis t e or e l ha . re t he ns e t t equie nt he t tr u ht sc n q re o 2 0 , u n t h ra tr S eg n.4 U. C.j 41 ()a d4 ( ) h o g he e o d uatr f 0 9 b t o t ee fe . e e , 2 S. j 6 i n 23 a. Cons que l M s Ca tri e ild t dia lt i ur nc be t onl i s ha e t bls dt t e nty, . re s ntte o s biiy ns a e neks y f he s sa ihe ha s be m edia e f ra1f r ofs bsa i lg nf e oyme on orbe or Jm e30, 09. he cn s bl d o 1 o ms u t nta ai ul mpl nt f e t 20 Se ce , U. C.j423() e n.42 S. a. Pl i ifs ca ms we e de e u antf li r ni d pon i ta c i r ton a r eo i r ton.She t n nii l onsde a i nd e nsde a i he rqueseda rceve aéqnovoheai a rviw befr a Ad nitai La J e t nd e i d rng nd e e oe n mi srtve w udge.l a nn opi on da e Se e r21 201 t La J ni t d pt mbe , 0,he w udgea s dee m i d t tM s Ca tri notdiabld. lo tr ne ha . re s s e TheLa l ef t dt tpl ntf s f sfom de ne a i dicdie e.Be us of hi c ton, w udg om ha ai if ufer r ge r tve s s as ca e t s ondii t La J he w udger l t tpl i ifi dia e f ra1ofhe pas r l va wor r e . Howe r t ued ha antf s s bl d o 1 r t e e nt k ol s ve , he Law J udge de e ned t tM s Ca t rr t nss t i ntf tonalc pa t t pe f m a f lr nge t nni ha . re e ai ufk e unc i a ciy o r or ul a ofs ntr wor a tviy. Gi n a r sdua f tona ca ct f rs ntr e ri n,a afe ede a y k c i t ve e i l unc i l pa iy o ede a y xe to nd tr co i erngpl ntf ag e nsd i ai ifs e, ducai n, to andprorwo ke re ,heLa l i r xpe ince t w udgea idt media pple he cl vo to lgui lnes s as t de e m i t tM s Ca t r r t ns s f c e fm c i lca c t t ca i na de i o o t r ne ha . re e ai uf i i nt t tona pa iy o pe f m s ve al s cii s ntr wor r es e si i sgnii a numbe i t na i l ror e r , pe fc ede a y k ol xitng n i fc nt r n he tona e conomy.See20C. R. 404. 69a 41 969andRul 201. ofAppe x2t Subpa t of F. jj 15 nd 6. e 28 ndi o rP t Admi sr tveReg ai P+ 40 Ac or ngy,heLa l euli t l c ude ha M s he nita i ul tons 4. c di l t w udg tma ey oncl dt t . Ca tr i no di a e a t ts i no e il d t bene i sunde eihe f r lpr r . Se 20 re s t s bl d, nd ha he s t ntte o ft r t r ede a og nm e C. R.jj40 15 g)and41 920() TheLa J F. 4. 204 6. g . w udge' o ni wasa edast fnalde iin s pi on dopt he i cso oft Comm iso rby t Soc a Se urt Adm i sr ton' Ap a sCounc l Ha ngexha t he s i ne he i l c iy nita i s pe l i. vi used a 1a ia e a i sr tve r m e e , s Care ha now a a ed t t s c rt l va l bl dm ni t a i e di s M . t r s ppe l o hi ou . W hie pl ntf m a be dia ed f r c ran f m s of e o e ,t c c a f c ua l ai if y s bl o e ti or mplym nt he m i l a t l de e m i ton i whe he pl i ifi di a e f a1 f m s ofs t nta ga nf e pl m e . Se t r na i s t r a ntf s s bl d or l or ubs a i l i ul m oy nt e 42U. C.j 423( ( a 1 2c() Theeaef l ee nt ofpr whihmus beconsdee S. j d)2) nd 38 a. r r otr lme s oof c t i rd i ma i s c a a ay i.Th s ee n s r s mmaie a f lo :( ) b e tv me c l a t n kng u h n n lss e e lme t ae u rz d s o lws 1 o j cie dia fcs a dci ia fn i s ()h o i o s n c n so s fraigp ysca ;3 s be t e i e c n lnc lidng ;2 te pnin a d o du i n o te tn h iins () u j ci v d n e ve ofphysc lma f tto ofi i ns asde ci dt oug acama tst tmony; ( t ia niesains mpanne t, s rbe hr h li n ' esi and 4) he cai ntsed ai n,voc tona hit r ,r sdua s ls a a Vie v.Fi h,438 F. 115 l ma ' uc to a i l so y e i l kil, nd ge. t k nc 2d 7, 1 5 - 0(t Ci. 9 ) Un e wo dv li io f 2 8F.d 8 0 8 ( t Ci. 9 2 . 1 9 6 4h r 1 71 ; d r o .tbc f, 9 2 5 , 51 4h r 1 6 ) A f e a r vi of t r c d i t s c s ,t cour i co t a ne t c l t t t t r e ew he e or n hi a e he t s nsr i d o onc ude ha he Com misone ' fnalde ii n i s ppo td by s t nta e de e.Them e c r c d co im s si rs i c so s u re ubsa i l vi nc dial e or nfr t tM s Catrs fesfo ba kp o lms I se t ts eij rd h rb c i J l o 2 0 . ha . re u fr r m c r b e . t e ms ha h n u e e a k n uy f 0 7 Bas d on c i ng dic or a t f ilr ofc e v tve te t e m ea ur ,M s Ca t e ontnui s omf t nd he alze ons r a i r am nt s es . rer t d r ntdi nosi pr ed e i Fe u r of2009.Shewa f m e we ag tc oc ur s n br a y s ound t bes f rng fom m uli o uf e i r tl ve de ne a i di c di e e w ih m ode a e t s ve e na r i of t ne al f r m i a e l ge r tve s s as t r t o e r r ow ng he ur o n na nd ge r lze dicbul a L5- wih e r i a i ng m e ont l t s ndi ne v r . ne a i d s ge t S1 t xtuson nd mpi e nt he ef de ce ng r e oot On M a 1 2009, antf unde we l f 14- a L5- 1dic c omi s Folowi ar cu r tve y 8, pli if r nt e t . 5 nd S s e t e . l ng e pe a i pe i M s Ca t ra i c pl i d ofpe s se 1 g pa n.A n M l lo J y 1 2009 de o t a e r od, . re ga n om a ne r i t nt e i t n ul 3, m nsr t d no e denc of di c r c r nce t ug t r w a i c ton of e vi e s e ur e , ho h he e s ndi a i xuber nt s ar ts ue. A CT a c is m ye ogr m o ugu t1 2009 de ons r t d no a m a ii e e f hes rts ue.W hieM s l n nA s 3, m ta e bnor ltes xc pt ort ca i s l . Care ha c i d t c pl i of di c f ti he l e ba a l gs a whie s has tr s ontnue o om a n s om or n r ow r ck nd e , nd l he u d r o ep y ia t ea y a e d r lse odij cinf rr l fo h rs mp o , l me ia n e g n h sc l h rp nd piu a tr i n e to o ei f e y t ms a1 d c l e e mi to c xa nai ns onduc e f l wi t szge yha be n e s nta l neg tve f ra i c ton of t d olo ng he tr r ve e s e ily a i o ny ndi a i mec ni aldef c . Si ehe slge y, physc a te tng orot r s ha s ha c e t nc r lr r no ii n, r a i he wie, s ugge t d t tM s se ha . Ca tri sgnii a l i r d,ort ts i dia e f ralf msofwor aci t l s t t re s i fc nty mpaie ha he s s bld o 1 or k tviy. n hor,he co tbele t tt r i s tntale de e t s ur ives ha he e s ubsa i vi nc o uppor t La J e' fndi t tpl i if t he w udg s i ng ha antf r t i s t i ntfmc i lc pa t f rs n a y wor l f l t tt Comm isone ' fna e ans ufk e t tona a ciy o ede t r k. t olows ha he s i rs i l de son i s cii s upporedby s t nta e de e,a t tt fna de ii m us be a fr ed. La t ubsa i l vi nc nd ha he i l cson t fim ws v.Ce e e ze,s a. l br z upr On a a t t s c ur,pli if c e t tt Admi sr tve La J ppe l o hi o t a ntf ontnds ha he nita i w udge e r i red n dic i he c s ountng r ompl nt ofd s i l rba k a l pai f l ng t s gia pr e e. ai s iablng owe c nd eg n olowi he ur c l oc dur Pl i ifnot t ti hem on hsf l nghe slge y, heha s a ntf es ha nt t olowi r tr r s s ought e c te m ent unde gone m di al r at , r s r ldi gnosi pr e e ,pa tcpa e i ph i a t a and r c i d a epi a se oi eve a a tc oc dur s ri i t d n ysc l her py, e e ve n dur l t r d ij cin. Pli tf c n e d t th refrst sc r le t n b ltrhe ce i ii De pt ne to anif o tn s ha e fo t o e ' e ame t o se r rd bl y. s ie u t plitf sapl ns t c u t s c ncu et a t eLa J d ep o e l a d e sdt es b e tv an if r me t,he o r mu t o ld h th w u g r p ry d r se h u j ci e c ompone sofpli if scli sf rbe f . Onc a i i mus be no edt tno physc a has nt antf am o ne hs e gan, t t t ha ii n s se t tM s Ca tri t aly dia e f r a1 f m s ofwor No m e c ls c aithas ugge td ha . re s ot l s bl d o 1 or k. di a pe i ls i iae t tp anifso j ci me ia c ndto aec n itn wi h rc mpan so tt l ndc td ha lit f be t ve dc l o i ns r o sse t t e o lit f oal i h y d sbl g s b e tv d s o o t l d e al t eme ia su isflo n panifss gc l ia i u j cie ic mf r. n e d, l of h dc l t de olwig litf ur ia n pr d lei ca et tt eha bee no r c r nceofhe mec ni lpr e s a t tt onl oce tr ndi t ha her s n e ure r ha ca oblm , nd ha he y r i esdualc ton co i t ofs a ts ue. ondii ns s s c r i s l i welstld t ti or rf pai t bedia i t r mus beob e tve me c l t s l ete ha n de or n o sblng, hee t j ci dia e de ees a i hi s ec to t tc d r as bl be e c e t pr uc t pai a l ge vi nc t bls ng om ondii n ha oul e ona y xpe t d o od e he n le d. Cri v. ae, 6F.d 5 5 5 2 9 ( t Ci. 9 6 ) se v. c lr 7 0F.d 1 25 1 2 ( t ag Ch tr 7 3 8 , 9 - 3 4h r 1 9 ) Fo tr He k e. 8 2 1 , 1 9 4 h Ci.1 . l t i tntcae,t c tmus c udet tpl ntf e de e flss r i r 986) n he nsa s he our t oncl ha ai ifs vi nc al ho t n e tbls ng t e se of a c ton whih c ul r s bl c us t lvelofdi c or sa ihi he xitnce ondii c o d ea ona y a e he e s omf t des rbe b M s Ca tri he t tmony. c i d y . re n r esi M o e ge r ly,t co tnot t ti as e sng pli ifs c e biiy,a he r i l r ne al he ur es ha n s s i antf r di lt nd r esdua f tona c pa iy,t A dm i sr tve La J unc i l a c t he ni ta i w udge was a e t r l on i bl o e y nputf om a s a e a r t t genc y physc a a wel a pli tf s o t si i in, s l s a n if wn e tmony i de c i ng he physc a viy f l ng he n s rbi r ial di t olowi r s lg r The La J t e y. r w udge c m e e asf l om nt d olows: The c ai a hasdes r be da l a tvii s whi h a e notlm ie t t e e one l m nt c i d iy c i te c r i t d o he xt nt woul e c ,gi n t c d xpe t ve he ompli s ofdia i s ant s blng ympt oms a lmiai .The nd i t tons r c d r fec st t s ty a trunde goi s ge y,heca ma pr de c r f r e or e l t ha , horl fe r ng ur r t li nt ovi d a e o he gr ndm o he ,i l ng lfi he .l fl ton r pors t c am a r pored r a t r ncudi itng r n lnci e t, he l i nt e t pr pa i s m pl m e s da l pe f ng lght c e ni a doi l undr She e rng i e al iy, r onni i l a ng nd ng a y. rpo td g ig s o pig i so e ( hbt 1 E) Thi lv lo f n to i i e re on h p n n tr s Ex ii 3 . s e e f u cinng s i onsse wih he aleg tonsofc m plt dia lt nc itnt t r l a i o e e s biiy. TheSt t age yco ula t , a e nc ns t n s whoa es le ande re di r viwi r co ds r kil d xpe ince n e e ng e r a a s sng t i i nt a lm ia i t ta edoc e e i t er co ds nd s es i he mpa nne s nd i tton ha r um ntd n hos e r , e au td( al f h me ia e i e c a dc n l e ta t cama t sc p bl v lae 1 lo t e dc l v d n e n o cud d h the li n wa a a e ofpef mi af lrngeoflghtwok( bi 1 . Stt a nc c ee ror ng ul a i r Exhi t 6E) The ae ge y ompltd ar sd lf to lca ct ase s ntlmii t cama t g lfi a e iua uncina pa iy s sme i tng he li nt o ) itng nd c nyi 20pot oc aso l a 1 poundsfe nty, tndi a wal ngf a ng mds c i naly nd 0 r que l sa ng nd ki or abou 6 hour i a 8t s n n hourwor y,a sti f r a kda nd it o bout6 holr i a 8ng zs n n hour wor y.Thi a s s nti co it ntwih t e de e ofr c d,a i gi n kda s s es me s nsse t he vi nc e or nd s ve sgnii a we gh i t f m l ton oft sopi o i fc nt i t n he om a i hi ni n. ( 24- ) St eds ci ty,hec t ivest tt Admi srtveLaw J addrsed TR 25 . at uc ncl t our bele ha he nitai udge e s t s b e tv f co si p an ifsc s a dt a t eLa J g ' fn i g o f c aes p re he u j cie a tr n litf a e n h t h w ud e s id n s f a t r u po td by s t n i le de e. ubsa ta vi nc Asafna a g e , antf no est tt Ad i sz lxeLa J i l x um nt pl i if t ha he m nita i w udged d no i ntf by i t de iy wor ttea s cfcs de ayj bswhihhebeive t tM s. re c d silpef m. k il ny pe ii e ntr o c le d ha Ca tr oul tl ror Howe r t c tc ve , he our ondudest tt La J epr ry de e mi t tpli ifs f r fom ha he w udg ope l t r ned ha a ntf ufe s r onl a e to li par nt a t tr f r nc t t m e c lvocai na gui lne was y n xeri na m ime , nd ha e e e e o he di a to l dei s s t i tf pu pos ofde e mi ng he a lt t pe f m ale aewor r es I acl ma ufk en or r es t r ni r biiy o ror tm t k ol . f ai nt ha no none r i li paim e st tpr ve he f om pe f m i t f l r nge ofw or a a s xe tona m r nt ha e nt r r r or ng he u l a k t gi n e ri na l ve , heComm iso rm a r l s l l ont m e ca vocai na g d i t ve xe to l e l t s i ne y ey o ey he di l to l ui elnes o stsyhsb r e o d mo taigtee itn eo atr aej b t ecama t ypef r a aif i u d n f e nsr t h x se c f len t o s h li n ma ro m t n t ffha fna lve oft s q nildia lt a ysss tf t und 20C. R.jj404.520 he it nd i l e l he e ue ta sbiiy nal i e orh er F. 1 a 41 920.Cofma v.Bowe 8 F. 51 51 (t Ci.1 7) Gor v.Sc ke ,71 nd 6. f n n, 29 2d 4, 8 4h r 98 ; y hwei r 2 F. 929, 31( h Ci.1 .Thus t c tfnd noerri t La J ' 2d 930- 4t r 983) ,he our i s ro n he w udges d tr n to t t s Catrrti s f e tf n to l a a iyt pef nnj b wi nte ee miain ha M . re eans ut n u cina c p ct o ro o s t h ki hi s n a y e ri ede t r xe tonalc t gor a e y. Fort r a onssae a ve, hec tc l st tt Com misone ' fna de son he e s tt d bo t our oncude ha he s i r s i l cii i t sc e i s n hi as s uppo t d by s t nta e de e. I f l st tt Gna de i i oft re ubs a i l vi nc t olow ha he l c s on he Com misone m us bea fr d.l afimi t Commi sone ' fnalde son,t c tdoes s i r t fime n fr ng he si rs i cii he our no s ges t tM s Ca tri feeofa1pan,dic or, a s ,a f tg I d, he t ug t ha . re s r 1 i s omf twe kne s nd a i ue. ndee t m e ca r co d c i t tpl ntf hasunde gone a s r o ba k o r to a t ts s il di l e r ontnms ha ai if r e i us c pe a i n nd ha he tl e re e r sdua pr blm sas oca e wih s a ts uea co i ngdege r tvepr e s xpe inc s e i l o e s it d t c r is nd ntnui ne a i oc s . Howe r i mus a n benot dt tno physca hass ese t tM s Ca tri dia e by ve , t t gai e ha iin ugg t d ha . re s s bld vi t ofhe phys c lpr e s ort ts c d r s bl be e pe t d t ex re e s h r ue r i a obl m , ha he oul ea ona y x c e o pe i nc uc s be tv ma ie tto sa t prve t 1 f r o wo ka tvt .l mu tb rc g ie t a t e u j cie n fsain s o e n al o ms f r ciiy t s e e o nz d h t h ia iiyl d wokwi u a ys b e t d so o t o sno o is l r n e acama t oal n b l o o r t t n u j ci ic mf r d e 1 f tef e d r l i n lt l t ho ve y di a e Cr i v. t r s a a 59 95. Onc a i i a s bl d. a g Cha e , upr t 4e ga n, t ppea st t co tt tt r o he ur ha he 6 Ad n srtv La J d ec n iee a1 ftes be tv fco sra o a ys p o tdb t e miitaie w u g o sd rd lo h u j cie a tr e s n bl u p re y h me ia rc r i a j d c tn panifscamsfrb n ft.l f lo ta a1 a e so te dc l e o d n du iaig litf li o e eis t ol ws h t l fc t f h Com m i s one ' fna de i i n ar s s i r s i l c s o e uppor e b s t nta e d e. t d y ubs a i l vi enc A sa g ne a r e r ol i ofc nfi t i t e de e i a m a t rw ihi t pr nc of e r l ul , es uton o lc s n he vi nc s te t n he ovi e t Co mi sone e n i t c t i tr ol t c l csdif r nty. Ri r on v. he m s i r ve f he our m gh es ve he ontit fe e l cha ds Peaes s a;Oppe i v. nc 495F. 39 ( hCi.1 .Fort r as saed,he rl , upr nhem Fi h, 2d 6 4t r 974) he e ons tt t c tfndst Com m i s one ' r o uton oft pe tne c lct i t r c d i t sca e t be our i he s i rs es l i he ri nt onti s n he e or n hi s o s uppo t d by s t tale de e. A c or ng y,t fna de s on oft Com m i s o rm us be re ubsan i vi nc c di l he i l ci i he s i ne t afr d La v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o it j d me ta do d rwil ee trdt i fime . ws Cee r z e s p a p rprae u g n n r e l b n ee hs da y. TheCl r i diece t s nd c rii d c esoft sM e a l Opi on t a1c e k s r t d o e e tfe opi hi mor ndlm ni o l ouns l e ofr c d. e or DATED: s 4/ Thi 1 d yo Jn , 01 a f u e 2 2. Chi fUnie Stt sDititJ e t d a e src udge 7

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