Cecil v. Astrue, No. 6:2010cv00009 - Document 36 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Magistrate Judge B. Waugh Crigler on 12/7/11. (hnw)

Download PDF
@k #g@# ggU:, y ;m uq' O gI , pyy ( r A :l err vlr X Y r l Ac -gg k , A u I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FOR TH E W ESTERN DI STRI O F V I I I CT RG N A LYN CHBU RG D I I O N V SI LI V .CECIL, SA F1,I k: ) j 1 1 G/ C1 . U$ Q? . p 71 : RK' . CL x ) . . R CA SE N O . 1 6: 0CV 00009 Pl ntff ai i , M EM O RAN D UM O PW I ON V. MI CHAEL J A STRUE . Com m i s one of Soc a Sec iy, si r i l urt Dee n . f nda t By: B. AUGH CRI W GLER U. M AGI S. STM TE J UDGE Thi a ton i be or t unde sgne i ac or nc wih a Or re e ed on s c i s f e he r i d n c da e t n de nt r Ocobe 5,2011 t raut iyof28U. C.j636b)3) dieci t undesgne t r ove t r ,mde hort S. ( ( , r tng he ri d o es l t pl ntf ' Se e r30,2011moton f at ne 'f sa c t .Fort f l ng he ai ifs pt mbe i or tor ys ee nd oss he olowi r a o , nOr e wil n e OVERRULI t eCo sine ' o jcins GRANTI e s ns a d r l e tr NG h mmiso rs be to , NG pli ifsm oto f ra t ne f esa c t a AW ARDI a tr 'f esi t a antf i n o tor ys' e nd oss nd NG to neys e n he mountof $6, 09.3 a c t i t n oun of$350. 1 5 nd oss n he m t 00. Thepr e u hit y oft sa ton i n y s tf rh i t M a 11 2011Re r a oc dt ul sor hi c i s mpl e o t n he y , po t nd Re o n ain(t e 0 t)e tr db M a itaeJ d eM ih e F. ba s il ( tNo 2 . c mme d to : p r' ne e y gsrt u g c a l Ur n k . Dk . . 3) R ' On Aprl25, i 2007 pli iffld a i ai f dia lt i u a be i sa s e e al , antf ie pplc tons or s biiy ns r nce nett nd upplm nt s urt i o be ft.( por, 4. l ade sone ee onAugus 5,2009an ec iy nc me neis Re tp. ) n cii ntrd t Ad nitaieLa J d eCta J d e'f u dta pantf s fee tef l n s v r mi srtv w u g w u g ' o n h t li if u fr d h ol g e ee ) owi i im e s s olos s dior roft l ba s newiho ne v compr so a t ii, mpa r nt : c i i, s de he um r pi t ut r e es i n, rhrts blsts alr i r i ii, a a h sa a a xeya j sme td s r e t a d e n trq ie t ii, legc h nts he d c e nd n n it/du t n io d r h t o s o e ur r teament (d. TheLa J r t .1 ) w udgec l dt tplitf rti t r sdualf tona ca ct oncude ha anif eaned he e i unci l pa iy (t FC' t pe f m ar ngeoflghtwor i l nglfi /ar ngupt t nt pounds G R. ' o ror a ) i k,ncudi itngc ryi o we y ' udgeU r ns snce has be n el va e t Unie St t s D it i tJ J ba ki i e e t d o t d a e s rc udge. . , ) ç' oc asonaly andt n poundsge nty,a sa ng, ki a sti e h f at a ofsx c i l e que l nd tndi wal ng, nd itng ac or ot l i hou si a e ghtho w o kda pr de t ts ha a s ts a o i t ta l she t c nge r n n i - ur r y, ovi d ha he s i/ t nd pton ha low r o ha po iina wil n a o tn a ne de f rc mfr.(é4 Th La J dg f rh rc ncu e ta sto t la d s fe s e d o o o t 1 e w u e u te o ld d h t pli ifc donl oc sonaly pus a pul wih he l rextemii ;ci b saisand antf oul y ca i l h nd l t r owe r tes lm t r r mps soop,be knee ,c ouc orc a ;butcoul ne rclm b l r ,r sors a f ds n ;t nd, l r h r wl d ve i adde s ope c fol . @d. TheLa J deemi t tplitf s de agei nomor t si t nr uie ) w udge tr ned ha anif houl ng n e witng ha eq rd i t co s o daiy lvi a t ts m us a d e n he ur e f l i ng, nd ha he t voi xpos et wo kplceha r a lmg ur o r a za ds nd t irtnt.(d.a p.5. Hef rhe deemi dt ts wa lmiedt t pef ma eo uns le ria s I t ) u t r tr ne ha he s i t o he ror nc f kild wor c itngofno c k onssi n- omplx, o i r peii t s i a1 sr s e r nm e t tdoes e r utne, e ttve a ks n ow te s nvio nt ha n tiv lewo ka ap o u to r t.(d) T La J d eddno b le plitf c udrtr o n ov r t r d cin ae 1 he w u g i t eive an if o l eu n t he pa t ee al wo k, utha t r weeasg iia t u e o j b i t en to a o r s rlv t r b t thee r in fc n n mb r f o s n h ain l t e conomyt ts c dpef m.(é)Uli t y,t La J ef t tpl ntf wasnot ha he oul ror I tmael he w udg ound ha ai if d sbld.(d) ia e 1 . Pl n ifa ald t Law J e' Augus 5,2009 de ii t t Ap a sCounci, aitf ppe e he udg s t c son o he pe l l but t rques f rviw wa de e (2) Pli ifi tt e a a to i t sCo tonMa c 1 he e t or e e s nid. f antf nsiutd n cin n hi ur rh , 201 ( . 1) 0. DktNo. . Th pat sfld co smo in frs mmayj d me t ( t No .1 ,1 . l he moin e ri ie r s to s o u r u g n . Dk . s 3 5) n r t e o f rs mmayj dg n , litf alg dt ef lo n ;( )Th La J d ed dn t iep o e o u r u me t pan if le e h o lwig 1 e w u g i o gv r p r wei tt t opi on ofhe te tngphyscin,Dr Swa t ( TheLa J gh o he ni r rai i a . rz;2) w udgeerdbyfii t re alng o p o el e laeh rce i ii a d( )Th La J d erle o fa dtsi n fo t e r p ry vau t e rd blt n 3 e w u g eid n lwe e tmo y r m h y; v c to a e p r (VE' i fn i gt a t eeweej b i tenaina e o o t a s ec ul o ain l x e tE ' n id n h t h r r o s n h to l c n my h t h o d t ) per or . f m TheM a sr e J gitat udge f md t tt La J e c r f l c i r d t opi onsofe e ot ha he w udg a e uly onsde e he ni fr d by Dr Swa t a ga t m s . rz nd ve he omewe g . TheM a srt J i ht gitae udge f rhe f undt tt de son ut r o ha he cii nott gi c r lngwei t t ste tng s ur wa s o ve ontoli ght o hi r a i o ce s uppore by s t ntale de e He td ubsa i vi nc . de e ne t tt Law J t nni d ha he udgeha ca e u l c i r t medi le de ea ha a co e d r f ly onsde ed he ca vi nc nd d c unt d f he pan and i im e swhe hec l dt ts waslmiedt lg wo k.The or r i mpar nt n oncude ha he i t o i ht r M agita eJ e c ude t tt La J sr t udg oncl d ha he w udge' c edi lt fnd ng wa s ppore by s r biiy i i s u td antf i l r nt o he our, he itae udge s tnta e denc I a s sngpl i ifsfna a gume t t c tt M ag sr t J ubsa il vi e. n s es i f ound: Thec r tsa eoft a i sr tver c d l ve s m equesi ast whatt VE wa uren t t he dm nitai e or ea s o ton o he s syngi r s o s t t eco se miainb (litf s c u s l Be a eo telc a i n e p n e o h r s-xa n to y p an if q o n e. c us f h a k ofc mi y i t VE' t tm o andt f tt tt Comm iso rbe r t bur n a l t n he s esi ny he ac ha he s i ne a s he de t se fve oft s que i e l ton pr es , he t der i d bele st tt s c e tp i he e ntal va ua i oc s t m s gne i ve ha hi as ne t ber m a d f acomplt t r t ng oft voc tonale de epr de eds o e nde or e e mde sandi he a i vi nc ovi d by t VE . he ( p r, .1 . Re o tp 3) Th p rise c fldtmeyo j cin t teM a itaeJ g ' Re o t ( tNo . 4, e a t a h ie i l b e to s o h g srt ud e s p r. Dk . s 2 e Up nd n v rv e t eprsdngDititJ d ef t ta tep ris o j cinswee o e o o e iw,h e ii src u g omd h t h a t ' be to e r wihoutm e i.Headopt t Re te iel a r m a d t c et t Comm iso r t rt ed he por ntr y nd e nde he as o he s i ne p ls a tt S ne eFo ro 4 U.. j4 5 g . tru n o e tnc u f 2 SC. 0 () O n Se e be 30, 1 pl ntf ' co e t l d t i t ntm o i n f a t eys f es pt m r 201 , ai i f s uns l i e he nsa t o or tom 'e a dc ssp ts a t ot Eq l c s t J tc Ac (t A', 8U. C.j2 2 a, e kn n o t t u n t he ua Ac e s o usie t t r EAJ ' 2 S. ) 41 () s e ig $ ,0 5 i fe a d$ 0i c ss ( tNo. 0. l teb iftldi s p r o h rmo infr 6 1 9.3 n e s n 35 n o t . Dk . 3 ) n h re ie n u po t f e to o a t ne 'f es pl i ifa gue t ts i e ild t r c tor ys e , antf r s ha he s ntte o e overat r ys f esbec us t to ne ' e a e he Co s in rspo i o wa n ts bsa tal usi e .( an ifsS p e e 3 , 01 mo in mmiso e ' st n s o u tnil tt d Plitf e tmb r 0 2 1 to i yj i f ra tr e ' e s heen fe G ' mo in'p. 2 Fu te , h c ne st t h fe s ud o t n ys fe , ri a tr Tls to , 3. rh r s e o tnd ha t e e s ho l o ' ) b a r e a art o $1 33 pe h u , rt h g e t a t sa d r $1 5p rh t .(d) e wad d t ae f 7 .2 r o r a ae ih r h n he tn a d 2 e ol 1 r Fi ly, antf a guest tconsse wih t a sg e s fld wiht c lt a pur ua nal pl i if r ha it nt t he s i nm nt he ie t he otr, nd s nt t Asr ev Ra l f 1 0S. . 5 ( 01 ) tefea r s o db ma ed rcl p ya l t he o tu . tf i 3 Ct 2 21 2 0 ,h e wad h ul e d ie ty a be o r c u s la tri i d tr ne ta s ed e n t a ea yFe ea d b whih i s b e t o o n e, fe t s ee mi d h t h o s o h v n d r l e t c s u j c t c le to (J) olcin. f I hi Op ii n, he Comm iso ra gue t tpli tf f e a ia i s d be n s posto t s i ne r s ha a n ifs e pplc ton houl d ne b c u eteGo r me tsp sto wa s b tn ilyj siido teb ssta ih da e id e a s h ve n n ' o iin s u sa tal u tfe n h a i h t t a r s na ebassi 1w a fc.( ea o bl i n a nd a t Commiso rsOpposto pp.3- ) TheCo si r sine' iin, 7. mmisone as e t t ti t sCour de e m i t tpl ntf i e il t af a r t numbe ofho s s rs ha f hi t t r nes ha ai if s ntted o ee wa d, he r ur s u h s o db r d c d (# a p 79. Fial t Co si n rc n e d ta plitf i o g t h ul e e u e . f . t p. - ) n l he mmiso e o tn s h t an if s y, i c re ti a s ri gt a a yf ea r s o l b p i dr cl t h rc u s l (#. tp 2) n o rc n s e t h t n e wad h ud e ad ie ty o e o n e. f a . . n A cutsoa r atre'fe a de ssoapeal gp r i crancvl cin o rit wad t nys es n ott rvin at n eti iiat s o i / o agans t Unied St t unde t EAJ unl si fndst tt gove n e ' poston wa i t he t aes r he A es t i ha he r m nts ii s s b tn ilyj siido t a s e il ic msa c sma ea a r u j t 2 U. C. u sa tal u tfe r h t p ca cr u tn e k n wad nus. 8 S. j 2 2 d( )A) Th dititc u t ha ed sr to t d tr n ara o bl fea r a d 41 ( )1( . e src o rs v ic ein o eemie e s na e e wa d n whehe t awar s d bem a i e s oft saut y c p.Pir e v Unde t r he d houl de n xce s he t t or a ec . rwoo4 487 U. 5 2 (98 ) l a v Sulv n 9 6F.d 1 6 1 7(t ci.9 ) S. 5 1 8 ; i y . lia , 3 2 7 , 7 4h r1 91 . H a ng r vi w e t r or be or t c ta t pa te 'm e or nda, he t de sgne vi e e d he ec d f e he our nd he ri s m a t m ri d c n ld sta t ep iinof h Co sin rwa n ts bsa tal j siid.Al ug o cu e h t h osto t e mmiso e s o u tnil u t e t h y f ho z antf d d notas i pa numbe st t bre fl d i s ppo tofhe m oton f a tr ys pl i if i sgn ge r o he i f ie n u r r i or to ne ' f es Forea e ofr e e e t unde s g d ha as i ned pa num be st t doc l e . e . s ef r nc , he r i ne s s g ge r o he tm nt 3A pary who w i a r m and pur ua t Sen e Fotroft Soc a Se trt A c ,4 U .S. j t ns e s nt o t nce t he i l c liy t 2 C. 4 5 g ,sap e al pa t f rEAJ p r o e . eS aa av S h #r 5 9U. 2 2 3 0 3 2 0 ( ) i rv ii ry o ng A u p s s Se h ll . c ae , 0 S. 9 , 0 - 0 ( 993) Ther ndi t sca ewa madepuruantt Se e eFotr 1 . ema n hi s s s o ntnc l. neihe M ag srt J e Ur ns nort pr sdi Diti tJ t r itae udg ba ki he e i ng src udges cii ly f md t Law pe fca l ot he J d e sd cso t a t e eaeoh r o si ten to a e o o ta pan ifc udp ro m n t u g ' e ii n h t h r r te j b n h ain l c n my h t litf o l e fr o t bes o uppo td by s bsa ile de e, heunde sgned c l st tt ado edfndi of re u t nta vi nc t ri oncude ha he pt i ngs J udgeUr ns w e et nt mountt s h afndi Atbo t ,i wasde e m i d t tt ba ki r a n o uc i ng. tom t t r ne ha he Comm isone f ie t dic r hi bur n a t fna l ve i t s que ile l to W he s i r a ld o s ha ge s de t he i l e l n he e nta va uai n. n t toc uz ,t diti tcour c t nl coul r ve s t Comm iso rsde i i a e e ha c s he src t erai y d e r e he s ine ' c son nd nt r j d me to b hafo t cama tb c us t r wa i u tce t vie c o frdt rb t u g n n e l f he li n e a e hee s ns f in e d n e fe e o e u i p an ifs i a i c s o d s bl y.Al r tv l,h c u t o l rma dt c s f r litf prmaf ce a e f ia ii t t naiey te o r c u d e n he a e o e f rhe pr e ngs t a f di t Comm isone as c cha t deveop evi ncet t u t r oce di ,hus for ng he s i r e ond nce o l de ha h dn t u c ud s b tn il j siyad na o ,h tfiig fc tep o p c o h vigt a o b t o l u sa tal u tf e il r t a aln , a e h r s e t f a n o y gr ntbe t .Eihe wa t unde sgne c nnotfndt Com misone ' poston a neks t r y, he ri d a i he s i r s ii s sa tal j tfe et e a miitai eyo j iil wh r , sh r ,h c u t a ub tn il usiid, ih r d n sr tv l r udcal ee a ee t e o r h s y y, de e mi t the f ie t dicha gehi bur n a t fna lve oft s nta e l ton t r ned ha a ld o s r s de t he i l e l he eque il vaua i Pr S. OCCS Pl i ifsc e s ksa houry r t of$1 32 pe hourf wor pero me bef e antf ouns l ee n l ae 73. r or k f r d or ti Co r.( ' mo in, 3. Plitf sc t e d tr n dt eh u l rt o $1 3.2b h s u t P1s to p. ) an if oms l eemie h o ry ae f 7 3 y notng t tt c toflvi a r fec ed i t Co lm e Pr c I x f t So h ur i ha he os i ng, s e l t n he nsl r i e nde or he ut ban r gi hasi r a e fom 1 40 i M ac 1 e on, nc e s d r 52. n rh 996, hee f ci da eoft EAJ t 211308 i t f e tve t he A, o . n Au u t2 0 temo t t a amao iyo wok i t ec s wa p ro me .1 . Th sic e s t g s 01 ,h nh h t j rt f r n h ae s e f r d (d) i n r a e o t $1 pe hourlmi on EAJ f e r s t i an houry r t of$1 32 pe hour The he 25 r i t A e s e uls n l ae 73. r . Co s in rh sn t b e tdt panif c ku ain o t eh t l rt , n t u d rin d mmiso e a o o j ce o li tf s a lto f h ol y ae a d he n esg e r fndst tt si ar s bl hotryr t i t sc e i ha hi s em ona e ll ae n hi as . Pli ifsc antf ouns ls ist tt y e nde at a of35. hotr r pr s i t e ubm t ha he xpe d ot l 25 ls e e entng he pl i ifbef r t sCo t W hiet Co misone a guesf ar duc i i t numbe of antf o e hi ur. l he m s i r r or e ton n he r hotr cl i e t unde s g d fndst m i m i l r s bl The C om m i sone s zs a m d, he r i ne i he m nenty ea ona e. s i r' o j cini t i rg r wil eo er ld. be t n h s e a d l b v rue o Fi ly, heCom mi sone oppos sdie tpa ntofa EAJ a r t pli ifs nal t si r e r c yme ny A wa d o antf ' c t e i se do t plitf, es l.Hei tr rt Asr ev Ratf t s p o t i o jcin. oms l n ta f o anif h ref nep es tu . l f o u p r hs be to The e t amoun duet cai r , he t he l mantwa ofs tby s t pl ntf owe t t gove n e t a s fe ums he ai if d o he r m n , nd t Supr me Cour hel t t und t ec r lmsa s t EAJ r quie a tr ys f e be he e t d ha , er hos icl tnce , he A e r s to ne ' e s a r die ty t t ltga t Spe t a l t Cour hed t tt pl n t xtoft EAJ wa ded r c l o he ii n . cik ly, he t l ha he ai e he A rq ie atme s f e bea r e t t l ia t tu s b e tn EAJ f e t ofe o a y e ur s to y ' e s wa d d o he i g n ,h s u j cig A e s o fs t f n t pr e si Fede alde s e xitng r bt . Pl i irsc antt ouns lhasar d t tpli ife c e a a sgn e off est he moto e gue ha antf xe ut d n s i m nt e o r i n, t e e ilng c her by ntti ouns lt die tpa e o r c ymen oft EAJ f esa coss Thi c e s ms t he A e nd t . s as ee d si g s bl o isfcsfo Ral i ta t eei n a s ri nta tepanifo ste itn uiha e n t a t r m tf n h t h r s o se t h t h litf we h o Co sine a yo ep y ns o t elk .M o e v r Ral fd e no p o i t sin n so mmiso r n v r a me t, r h ie ro e , tl o s t r hbia sg me t f f EA J f esa c t t t i a t neysby t s c s ulpl i ifa i tw hom no of s tc n A e nd os s o he r tor he uc es f a ntf ga ns fe a o ti.Atla t woc u t i t i Ditit a eefcu tdfea sg me t a trRalf S e ban e s t o rs n h s src h v fe t ae e sin n s fe tf e Hi l v Asr ,201 W L 390991 ( . Va Se e r30,201 9 nke . tue 0 6 W D. . ptmbe 0) Powe sv Asr 201 WL r . tue, 0 2 7 6 0( . Va J n 2 , 01 ) rh r r ,ts o l b p ne o tha t Co sin r 7 2 6 W D. . u e 2 2 0 .Fu temo e i h ud e oitd u t the mmiso e hit ialy hashonor s h as i e si ot rc s sbe or t t r i ne sorc l ed uc sgnm nt n he a e f e he mde sg d. I t sc s howe ,t unde sgne c n hi a e, ver he r i d annotl ca ea as i e e c e by t o t ny sgnm nt xe ut d he pli ifi t pladi be o et c t Abs nta a sg e ,hea t antf n he e ngs f r he our. e n s i nm nt t tonwys f sa c t ' ee nd oss awar d he e n s d be pai di e ty t pl i i f N ot t t ndi i i w e e pl i i f s de r i houl d r c l o a ntf . wihs a ng, f t r a ntf ' i e i n t a sgn r c r ofEAJ f a c t t he couns l s s d b gi n t nt nto o s i e ove y A ees nd os s o r e, he houl e ve he opporuniy t s m i t t cou ta t Com m i sone , wr te a s gne a s gnm e o f s t t o ub t o he r nd he s i r a i t n nd i d s i nt f ee a cosswihi ar s na etm e.l t teve ,t Commi so i t m a payme a nd t t n ea o bl i n ha nt he s i ner s o ke nt s diecedby s h a sgnme 4 r t uc s i nt. Foral t s r as ns a O r rw ile e GR AN TI pl ntf sm oton f r a t r 1 he e e o , n de l nt r NG ai if i o to neys ' fe i t a e s n he mountof$ 1 53 a cossi t a ou of$350 t be pad i a cor nc 6, 09. nd t n he m nt o i n c da e he e t r wih. The Cl r oft Cour i diec ed t ta m i a c oft s M e or e k he t s r t o r ns t opy hi m andum O pi on t al ni o l c uns ofr c d. o el e or EN TERED : G. M a itaeJ d e s. gsrt u g Q D at e: 4I i beyo t t r i d t t a en afna i li e e tt beofs ta i ti t sl s ts nd he mde sgne ha , bs t i nc a nt r s o f e ga ns n he tm awar ded,t Com m i s onerha a bas st c le t pr i t orva i t ofa as i e of he si s i o ha l nge he opre y ldiy n s gnm nt a EAJ a r I al os goe wihouts yi t tac am a ' a sgnm e off sa c t t n A wa d. t m t s t a ng ha l i nts s i nt ee nd oss o co ele s ntaly as ur cot s lt y a m a l w ilr e vet f e whi h t y ea e i uns s e i l s es m e he c ly l ec i he e s c he m d n r pr s i t c i nt e e entng he le .

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.