-BWC Lucas v. Astrue, No. 6:2010cv00049 - Document 23 (W.D. Va. 2012)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Norman K. Moon on March 1, 2012. (sfc)
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CLERK' OFFI U.8. : . S CE Dl T ' ATL YNCHBURQ VA Cour y ' . s. FI LED , .. â . MA2 2 12 1 22 I THE UNI N TED STATESDI STRI COURT CT FoR THE W ESTERN D I STRI OF V I NI CT RGI A Jl BY.. s, .jj . '. . )(L . x .. LERK LYNCHBURG DI SI VI ON * j Dzpu . x cusax CI L ACTI N O.6: CvVI ON 10- 00049 LI NDA H .LUCAS, Plitf anf M EM OM N DUM OPW I ON MI CHAEL J.ASTRUE, Co sine o calSc lr' mmiso r fso i cfl f y, JUDGE NORMAN K . OON M Dee ant f nd . Thi m ater i bef e t cour on consder ton of t f l ng:t partes' c oss s t s or he t i ai he olowi he i r - moto fr s ins o ummay j gme t ( ke nos 1 a 1 ,t Re r a Re omme to r ud n doc t . 4 nd 7) he po t nd c . ndain tce f' ofUnie SttsM a itae J l pol l td ae gsrt udge B.W a h Crglr ( ke no.1 ) Pli ifs ug i e doc t 9; antf' obe to (oc tno.2l t t Re r;a t r po e ( c tno.22 t rt fldbyt j cins d ke ) o he po t nd he es ns do ke ) heeo ie he Commisone ofSoca Se urt (ç mmisone, o t fnd nf'. si r il c iy ç co si r' r l e a ) ' De I hi Re t t ma srt j erc mme st tIatr t Co sine' fn n s por, he gitae udg e o nd ha fim he mmiso rs ial deci i denyi Pl ntf s cl m s f di biiy i ur son ng ai if' ai or sa lt ns ance beneft and s e ent se iy is uppl m al curt i omeund rt Soca Se urt Ac (he: t'.Pli iftmeyfldo j ci t t Re r, nc e he il c iy t t t ' antf i l ie b etons o he po t Ac ) oblgatng t courtt underake a de novo r ew of t e portons of t Reportt whih i i he o t evi hos i he o c oj cinsweema .28U. C. 6 b) Or a v Jo s n,687F.d44, ( hCi.1 2) be to r de S. j 36( ; pino . hn o 2 48 4t r 98 . Ha n c nd td sc a rviw,Ifnd ta t o jcins ae wiho mei a t tt vig o uce u h e e i h t he be to r t ut rt nd ha he ma itaej gewa c rc i tndngt tteCo si rsfna de so i sppore b gsrt ud s ore t n i i ha h mmisone' i l ciin s u td y s t i evi ubsantal dence and t tPl ntf di notm eetherbur ofes a ihi t ts wast aly ha ai if d den t bls ng ha he ot l di abl f om a1 f m s ofs t ntalgai ulem pl s ed r 1 or ubs a i nf oyment Accordi y,f t r ons sat . ngl or he eas t ed heen, wilo m zePli ifso j cinsa wila p t ma srt j ge' Re r i t o. ri 1 l ve l antf b eto nd l do t he gitae ud s po tn ot . 1 . The Comm isi s oner' f ualfndi m us be uphel i t ar s s act i ngs t d f hey e uppored by s t i t ubsantal evi dence and w er r e eached t ough applcaton oft corectl hr i i he r egalsanda d. Cr g v.Chat r,76 t r ai e F. 58 58 (t Ci.1 96 , eealo42U. C.j405g ($ fndi o t Co sine 3d 5, 9 4h r 9 ) s s . S. () <The i ngs f he mmiso r ofSoca Seurt a t a fc,i s re by s tnta e de ,s l be c ncusve' il c iy s o ny a t f uppotd ubsa il vi nce hal o l i .). Subs a i le dence i ls h r evantevi t nta vi s tuc el dence asar ona e m i m i acce asa eas bl nd ght pt dequa e t t o sppo t c l in,' sr v Ap e, F. 1 ,1 (t Ci.2 )( ttono te ) a u r a oncuso 'Ma to . f l270 3d 71 76 4h r 001 ciai mitd , nd consit of ûm or t ss t e han a m e s ntla of e denc but m ay be som ew hat l s t re ci il vi e es han a prpo ea e' Lawsv Cee rz e 3 F. 6 6 ( hCi.1 6) e nd rnc . ' . lb ez , 68 2d 40, 42 4t r 96 . The Com m i s oner i r ponsi e f eval i t m edi evi si s es bl or uatng he cal dence a as sng nd ses i s pt s sgns a fndi t de e m i t f tonalcapaciy oft cl m ant 20 C. R. ym om , i , nd i ngs o t r ne he unc i t he ai . F. jj 40 1 27- 4. 5 Any c lcsi t e d nc a et ber s l e by t Comm iso r 4.5 40 1 45. onfit n he vie e r o e o v d he s ine ( hi dei t,t a nitai lw j ge o ç ',nott c t,andi i i tral or s sgnae he dmi srtve a ud , r 6 ' ALJ) he ours t s mmaei wheher t evi nce wilper i a concl i i t he de l mt uson nconsit wih t of t ALJ. Thomas v. sent t hat he Cee ez ,331 F. 5 ,54 (t Ci. 1 ) The c l ma notr- i c nfitng lbrze 2d 41 3 4h r 964 . ou' y t ewegh o lci e de c ,ma ce biiydeemi to , sbsiueisj gme f t toft ALJ Ha sv. vi n e ke rdi lt tr nains or u ttt t ud nt or ha he . y Sulian,9 F.d 1 ,1 6(t Ci.1 90) I ta t c ur ma onl co i rwhehe t lv 07 2 453 45 4h r 9 . nse d,he o t y y nsde t r he A LJ' fndi t Pl ntf i notdi abl i s S i ng hat ai if s s ed s upportd by s t ntalevi e ubs a i dence and w asr eache d bas upon a corect a i i of t r e ed r pplcaton he el vant l . Crai 76 F.3d at 589. However aw g, , de e ni w heher t e dence pr nt d by t ALJ t s t rmi ng t he vi ese e he o upporthi deci i am ot t t s son mso s antal evi ubst i dence i a ques i of l , a t ef e wil be consder a w . Hi v. s ton aw nd her or l i ed ne cks He ke ,756 F. 1 22, 1 25 ( h Ci. 1 ) ( ogatd on ot r gr ds b Liey v c lr 2d 0 024- 4t r 985 abr e he oun y v l . Bowe 85 F.d 1 7,1 ( h Ci.1 ) Ft t r e C LJ ha adu yt a l eil o t n, 8 2 7 80 4t r 988 . l he mor ,W S ve t o nayz a l f he r re elvantevi nce'and t pr de a sufi ente anaton f t r çatonal i cr tng cerai de o ovi fci xpl i or hei r i e n edii tn evi dence.' Bil Branch Coal Cor v.S r a 21 F. 1 6, 1 0 ( h Ci.2000 ( i to '' l p. pa k , 3 3d 8 9 4t r ) ct ins a omitd) te . Fe ea Rul o Cii Prce ur 7 pe misapat t s mi obe tonst ama itae d rl e f vl o d e 2 r t ry o ub t j ci o gsrt j ge' nzi t t dsrc c t t nf re nda oft ode.Fe R. v. 721)2)s e ud s lng o he itit ourwihi ou te ys he r r d. Ci P. ( , e . alo 28U. C.j 636b) The dititc ur c ucsa # nov rviw oft epori ofa s S. (. src o t ond t c o e e hos tons ma srt srpota rco nd to t whc s cfco j ci weema Fe R. v. gitae' e r nd e mme ain o ih pe ii b e tons r de. d. Ci P. 72b ( ,Or a 687 F. a 48. Ge ea o jcins t a ma srt j e' rpota ()3) pino, ' 2d t n rl be to o gitae udg s e r nd r ecom m endaton,r t atng a i eier i rgum ent aleady pr s r esent l ck t s fciy r r by Rul ed, a he pecii t equied e 72a ha et smeefc a afit et o jc. Ve y v.Asr ,53 F.Su 2d 841 8 nd v he a fe t s all o be t ne r tue 9 pp. , 45 ( 08 . Th e po t oft ma srt j ' rpor a rco ndai t whih no 20 ) os ri ons he gitae udges e t nd e mme ton o c o jcin aema e wilbe u l unls t y aeclal er ouso c tay t lw. Se be to r d l phed e s he r ery rone r onrr o a e Or an 68 F.da 47(ii We bv Cafa 4 F. p.8 83 ( D. ll 79) The pi o, 7 2 t ctng b . l no, 68 Sup 25, 0 E. Ca.9 ). dititc ur ma a c pt rjc,ormodiyt rc src o t y c e , ee t f he eomme e dipostonba e o isden o nd d s ii s d n t ov rviw o t rc e e f he e omme daina t o jci ma e.Fe R. v. 7 b)3 . n to nd he be tons d d. Ci P. 2( () 1l. As l h ve ara o eve ge rlo j cins t a ma itae j e' rpo ta d a le dy bs r d, nea b e to o gsrt udg s e r n r ecomm enda i r t r i ar z ent aleady pr ent l ck t s cik iy r red by Rul ton, eie atng gtm s r es ed, a he pe t t equi e 7 a ha t sme efc asa f l e t o jc. Ve y,53 F.S 2 nd ve he a fe t ai o be t ne 9 ur upp.2 a 8 H e d t 45 re, . Pli ifsobe tonsaec cl o ya lc t rquiies cfct a t ylr eyi opoae antf' j ci r on usr nd a k he e st pe iiiy, s he ag l nc r rt and r peatar ent aleady pr nt , a f l os ct l o jc t t ma itaej ge' e gum s r ese ed nd ait pe i l be t o he gsrt ud s ka y Re r.No t ls,o ofa a po t nehee s ut n bunda eofc uin, wila r s t o j ci t tc ul be nc a to I l dd es wo b e tons ha o d l rlyco t da die tyr s i t t ma srt j ge' Re r. i al nsme s rcl eponsve o he gitae ud s potl be 4. . , Pli ifs s antf' ummay j me moto agu d ta t ALJS deemi to of he r udg nt in r e h t he ' tr nain r çei lfmcina cpa iy'( 6 ' wa notsppore by s tnile de e. S 2 ç sdua t to l a ct' or C ) s r RFC' u td ubsa ta vi nc ee 0 C. R.j 40 1 a ( fni RFC a t twhih a i vi ua i sila e t do de pie t F. 4.5454) dei ng s ha c n ndi d l s tl bl o s t he lmiai c usdbyhe i ime t) Pli ifsagu n wasprmie i pato he bele i ttons a e r mpar ns. antf' r me t e s d,n r, n r if t t opi ons of t physci ns who r vi ed t sat agenc r d wer f abl t he hat he ni he ia e ew he t e y ecor e avor e o r and lm ied t us of he uppe extem ii be i t he e r r r tes yond t t f ha ound by t A LJ. J he udge Crglr, ie rjcig he agu n, e ane i t Re r t t c ntay t Pli ifs agu n, eetn r r me t xpli d n he pot ha, o rr o antf' r me t çli tto o acli n' a lt t pus orpul donotne e srl rs ti lmiai o % lmiains n ama ts biiy o h g l c saiy eul n i ttons n r hi 'and he f herexpl ned how t ALJ' fndi t Pl ntf di notexpere any eac np' urt ai he S i ng hat ai if d ince lm iatonson he abiiy t r i ti r lt o each wass upportd by s t i evi e ubsantal dence i t r d. n he ecor Pli ifo jcs c e igt t antf be t, ontndn ha lm iatonson t abiiy t pus and pul alo r ul i lm iatonson t abiiy t i ti he lt o h l s es t n i t i he lt o r each and us t uppe ext e ii and t ALJ f l t acknow l e he r r m tes he aied o edge t hat pl ntf has s lm iatons wih r d t he upperextem ii i hi deci on. ai if uch i t i t egar o r r tes n s si The sat agency m edi al cons t s opi t pl ntf had biat al upper te c ulant ned he ai if l er extem iy lm iatons and t A LJ f l t acknow l r t i ti he aied o edge t hese lm iatons i hi i ti n s decii ... s on. l e r man e o P an ifso j c insa u tt a me e ra s ri n o t e ag me s i h r s mma y Th e i d r f l itf' b e to mo n o r e s eto f h r u nt n e u r j gme bre, t ycove is a a g nt prvi l pr e e t J Crglr Eve ac s yr e ud nt ifand he r s ues nd r ume s e ousy es ntd o udge i e . n uror eviw r v ast a Pli t f a c n tu td h ro j c in lr ey- i f c, l s e cusv l - b smp yc ti a d e e l h t an i h s o sr ce e b e t s a g l n a t amo t x l iey y i l u t n f o ng p sig s ci n o h r s mmay j g n b ifi t h ro j c ins Th r f r ,te rman ro P an ifs a t c to s f e u r ud me t re n o e b e t . e e o e h e ide f li t ' n o f o j cin mu t ed e d g n r l n n ts cfc b e t s s b e me e e a a d o pe ii . o Howeve Pl ntf f l t pr de any s r, ai if ais o ovi uppor f her cont i t t pus pul t or enton ha h/ l lm iatons ar t sam e as r hi lm iatons because t e i no s s i ti e he eac ng i t i , her s uch uppor. I t ndeed, t us ng'a t lng'aes cfe asi rina lmiai , s e20C. R.j404.569 ( , ç hi ' nd t i ' r pe iid t to l i ttons' e p pul Exe ' F. 1 ab) whee ç e c ng' i i l e i t s cfc ton ofç ras 6 a hi ' s ncud d n he pe iiai r l x rina lmiai , s e C. R.j None e to l i ttons' e F. ' 40 1 69 ()1( ) 4.5 ac()vi. cal ulant i ngs ch Furt mor Pl ntf m i s at t st e agency m edi cons t s' fndi , whi her e, ai if s t es he at s cfc lyft o yt tPlitf ha pus a pullmiainsi bot uppe e te te .( . pe iial omd nl ha anif d h nd li tto n h r xrmiis Tr 6 7 .Net rsaea nc me c lc s la i diae t tPli ifha r a hi lmia ins 3, 9) ihe tt ge y dia on u tnt n c td ha a ntf d e c ng i tto . ( .5 68, 8 . Tr 4- 70- 4) Ac o dngl t sobe tonmus beo rul c r i y,hi j ci t ver ed. B. Pl ntf diput Judge Crgl ' obs vaton t t ALJ' deci on r er t Pl ntf ' ai if s es i er s er i hat he S si ef s o ai ifs ça i i 'at t hearng on Dece ber 1 2009,t s w as not c r l under ng a 6dm sson' he i m 4, hat he ur enty goi ny t at ent f her neck and back pai H ow e , t tans i i cat t s gave t re m or n. ver he r crpt ndi es hat he he f l i r ponsest ques i fom hera t ney: olow ng es o tons r tor Q: An a e y c r nty te tng wih a yo f rt ,t pan i i t ne k d r ou ure l r ai t n ne o he he i n, n he c and i yourback? n A :N otr ghtnow . i Q:Oka .Ar yo i t pr e softyi t t fnd s me ? y e u n he oc s r ng o, o i o one A:W el lha n' s e Dr A epzg)snc Se e r l, ve t e n . i i i e ptmbe . ( . . Tr 42) Thus, t r d docum ent t , i f ,at t tm e of t he i Pl ntf was not he ecor s hat n act he i he arng ai if unde ng a tea m e f he neck and bac pai a had not vi t f at l t t ee rgoi ny r t nt or r k n, nd sied or eas hr m ont t doct w ho had pr ousl t ea ed herf neck and back pai Accor ngl J hs he or evi y r t or n. di y, udge Crglrdi notmisaet rc d,a t obe tonmus beo mze ie d stt he e or nd he jci t ve ld. 11 . 1 Havi undert ng aken a fc novo r ew of t e portons oft Reportt whi s fc f evi hos i he o ch peci o jcinsweema ,1fnd t tPli ifso jcinsaewiho mei. M y rviw oft be to r de i ha antf' be to r t ut rt ee he rc d i c tstatt ma itaej ewa c rc i fndngt tt Commisone' fna e or ndiae h he gsrt udg s ore t n i i ha he si rs i l deci i i s son s upport by s t i evi nce a t Pl ntf di not m eet he bur ed ubs antal de nd hat ai if d r den of es a i hi t s was t aly di bl f om a1 f m s of s t ntal gai ul em pl e . t bls ng hat he ot l sa ed r 1 or ubs a i nf oym nt Ac odi l I wile e a o d r o mzi Plitf' o j ci ,a ptng t ma srt c r ngy, l ntr n r e ve lng anifs b e tons do i he gitae j ge' Re r i t o,grni t Commiso rsmoin fr s ud s po t n ot a tng he sine ' to o ummayj r udgme ,de yig nt n n Pli ifsmoton f smma yj me ,a ds si t sa ton a sdki i fo t antf' i or u r udg nt nd imisng hi ci nd t ng t rm he actve docketoft court i he . t Ent e t s er d hi a ofM a ch,201 y r 2. > NO AN K . OO M UNI TED STATES DI STRI J CT UDGE - 6-
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