-BWC England v. Astrue, No. 7:2010cv00569 - Document 21 (W.D. Va. 2011)

Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge James C. Turk on 11/16/11. (med) (Main Document 21 replaced on 11/16/2011) (med). (Main Document 21 replaced on 11/16/2011) (med).

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z p rsOF IEus A y x R FC A R A & kv c v T oN A x . FI LED I THE UNI N TED STATES DI STRI COURT CT FO R TH E W E STERN D I STR I O F VI G I A CT R NI RO A N O K E DIVISI N O N0# 16 2 1 01 JU I e A B; Y LA U R A A.EN G LA N D , W6 ' E K 4 GR D u#cz u t C i lActon N o.7: cv-569 vi i 10Pl ntf , ai if M EM O M ND U M O PI O N NI V. M ICH A EL J.A STR UE , C om m i oner ofSoci Securiy, ssi al t By:JudgeJam es C.Turk Se or U nie St e Di t i tJudge ni t d at s s r c D ef endant. Pli ifLa aEnglnd tt a ' brug t sa tonf rvi ofDefnda M ihae antf ur a ç Englnd' o ht hi ci or e ew l e nt c l J Asr ' (theCo si r'fna de ii de nghe cl msf s e nt s c iy . tues i t mmisone' i l cson nyi r ai or upplme al e urt ) i omea dia edwi sbe isunde t Soca Se urt Ac (he1 t'.TheCour nc nd s bl dow' neft r he il c iy t t ç ' Ac ) t r f re t mat rt Unie St t M a sr t J ge B. augh Crglrf aRe ta e e r d he te o td aes gita e ud W i e or por nd Re omme to plruantt 28U. C.j636b)1( .TheM a srt J fldhi Re t c ndain, zs o S. ( ( )B) gitae udge ie s por and Re om m e ton,uli a el c l ng t tt Co m i s one ' de s on w ass ppo t d by c nda i tm t y onc udi ha he m s i rs ci i u re s tnta e de .Pli ifEnglndtmeytldobe i t t Re ta ubsa il vi nce antf a i l ie jctons o he por nd Rec m e ton. H a ng r vi w e de nov t Re r a Re m m e ton,t Pl ntf s om nda i vi e e d o he po t nd co nda i he ai if o j cin t eeo a dtep rie t o t n o ter c r ,h Co r a r e wih a da o t i b e to s h rt , n h e t n p ri s f h e o d te u t g e s t , n d p s n n o f l t M ag sr t J e' r c m e ton. A cc di y,D e e nts M o i f Su m a y ul, he i t a e udg s e om nda i or ngl f nda ' ton or m r J udgm e i GR AN TED a Pl i ifsM oto f Su m a y J nt s nd a ntf i n or m r udgm e i D EN I . nt s ED 1. St andard ofR evi w e W h no j cin aema et teM a itaeJ d e sd cso o d s o i v matr,h s e b e to s r d o h gsrt u g ' e iin n ip st e te s ti i Cour rviwst Re ta Re mme tondenov Se 28U. C.j636( ( )( te e he por nd co ndai o. e S. b)1 2006) Fed. ; R. v. o.72( ( ;Or anov Johns 687F. 4 at*48( hCi.1 .A co tmus Ci Pr b)3) pi . on, 2d 4, 4t r 982) ur t de e m i whe he t Com m i s one ' tndi a e s ppor e by s t nta e de a t r ne t r he s i rs i ngs r u td ubs a i l vi nce nd whehe t y wer r c t ough t a i ton oft c r c lgalsa r .Se 42 U. C. t r he e ea hed hr he pplcai he ore t e tnda ds e S. j4 ( )( 0 6 ; fmanv Bo n, 2 F.d51 51 ( t Ci.1 8 ) Ac o dn l a 05g 2 0 ) Cof . we 8 9 2 4, 7 4h r 9 7 . c r igy, rv e n c u t yn ts bsiueis u g n frt a o teCo sin r b tise dmus e iwig o r ma o u tt t tj d me t o h t f h mmiso e , u n ta t def rt t Comm isone ' dee m i tonsi t y a es ppo td by s tntale de e.Ha e o he s i rs tr na i f he r u re ubsa i vi nc ys v Sulv n 9 7F.d 1 3 1 6(t Ci.1 9 ) 4 U. C. 4 () S b tn ile ie c i . lia , Q 2 45 , 45 4h r 9 0 ; 2 S. j 05 g . u sa ta v d n e s defne a û uc r l va e de e asa r s na e m i m i ac e asa qua e t s ppo ta i d s i h e e nt vi nc s ea o bl nd ght c pt de t o u r c n lso . Rih r s n v Pe a e , 2U. 38 , 01( 9 ) S bsa ta e d n ei n t o cu in' c a d o . r ls 40 S. 9 4 1 71. u tnil vie c s o a ' tageorco i rbl a un ofe de e, Pir ev Unde wood,487U. 552,565(98 ,bu çr l nsdea e mo t vi nc ' e c . ' r S. 1 8) t ii i r t namees ntlaofe de (hough)s wha l st aprponde a e, t s t e ha mo r ci il vi nce t ome t es han e r nc ' ' fJwsv Ceeb e z ,368F. 640,642( hCi.1 . '. l rze 2d 4t r 966) Il . Di cus on s si TheM ag sr t J itae udgede e ne t ts t nta e de e s t nni d ha ubsa i l vi nc uppore t Adm i sr tve td he nita i Law J ' (t ' c l i t tdes t Englnd' pana f to llmiai ,t udges & ' oncuson ha pie a s i nd uncina i ttons he ALJ ) m e c r c d f l t doc e t e se eofa c ton t twoul r as bl be dial e or aied o um nt he xit nc ny ondii ha d e ona y e cedt r s ti t a diabiiy fom a lf msofs t nta ga nf e pl ym e .Eng a xpe t o e ul n ot l s lt r l or ubsa i l i ul m o nt l nd o j ce t t eM a itaeJ d e sc n lso p ct l Enga dc tnd t th ALJS be td o h gsr t u g ' o cu in.S e i l ka y, ln one s ha te ' decson wasnots ii uppore by s bsa i le de ebec us t ALJdi noti l a loft td u t nta vi nc a e he d nc ude 1 he lmiai dic s d by t te tngphysc a Dr Humphres a asa r s t t ALJ i t tons s us e he r a i ii n, . i , nd e ul, he i opel f mpr ry onnult hi ownr sdua f tona ca ct (i FC' fndi t denyPl ntf' aed s ei l unci l pa iy I ' i ng'o R. ) ai ifs cl i . am Af e c t r onduc i a de nov r vi w oft r c d i t s c s ,t Cour a pt t tng o e e he e or n hi a e he t do s he M a sr t J git a e udgesR e tand Re om m e ton i f la f ndst tt A LJS fna de i i i ' por c nda i n ul nd i ha he ' i l c s on s 1RFC i de i d ast whih an i vi lr ansa et do de piet Im iatonsc e byt cai a ' s fne hat c ndi dua em i bl o s t he i t i aus d he l m nts i ar nt.2 C.. j 4 4 145a, 69 5*. mp ime s 0 FR. j 0 .5 ()41 .4 4 s ppored b s t ta e de e. I m a ng t sfndi t Cour ove r esEngl nd' u t y ubsan il vi nc n ki hi i ng, he t r ul a s o j cinst t eRe o t n Re o n ain.Th s o j cinsa ea d e sd i tr b lw. b e to o h p r a d c mme d to e e be to r d r se n u n eo A. TheALJi Qualfedt Ases Pl ntf RFC s ii o s s ai irs Engl nd a guest tt A LJ i pr pe l de e m i d herR FC , a he t n r yi on Dr a r ha he m o ry t r ne r t r ha el ng . Humphres as e s e ofhe physc lc pa lte ,be a ea ALJi notquaii d t r era i ' s s m nt r i a a biiis c us n s lte o end m e c opi o r r ng t ef e tPl ntf si pa r e sw oul ha on he a lt t w o k. di al ni n ega di he f c ai i f m i m nt d ve r biiy o r Pl i if sa gum e i i or e ta a m a t rofl w . The fna r ponsbiiy f de er i ng a a ntf r nt s nc r c s te a i l es i lt or t m ni cli ntsrsdualf tona c pa t ($ 'i s ctc lyr s l dt t Co si r 20 ama ' e i unci l a ciy $ RFC' s pe ii al e ewe o he mmisone. ) C. R. j40 1 2 /) 41 9 ( e as Cov r v Ch re , 9 - 45 ,1 95W L 3 6 0 F. j 4.5 7 ; 6.27$.S e lo la d . a tr No. 4 1 7 9 71 2 ( t Ci. u 21 1 95 (t-ed tr n to o acama t rsd a fncinn c pa iyl s 4h r J n. , 9 ) ll eemi ain f li n' e iu l u to ig a ct i h s e wiht ALJ notaphysca a i bae uponalrlva e d e.20C. R.jj40 1 $, t he , iin, nd s sd l ee nt vienc F. 4.5454 404, 46,41 9454 41 9 ( 994)5 .l ed,hedeemi tonofPl ntf sRFC i nota 15 6. $, 6.46 1 .) nde t tr nai ' ai if s me c opi on, rt ri i a a nitai fndi 20C. R.j416.27( .l t sc s , dial ni but ahe t s n dmi srtve i ng. F. 9 e) n hi a e t ALJdi notr nde a me c opi on,butr t ra s s d t r c d e de - i udi he d e r dial ni a he s es e he e or vi nce ncl ng m e c r c ds t m e c ls ce o ni a r pors ofD r H um phr e a t St t A ge y di al e or , he di a our pi ons nd e t . i s nd he a e nc r vi w i phys c a ,and t Pl i i f sown a l tons a de c i i ofhe lm ia i e e ng i i ns he a ntf lega i nd s rptons r i t tons and m a a RFC de e m i ton,a a i s r tve fndi t t ALJ i e e s y a l d t de n t r na i n dm ni ta i i ng hat he s xpr s l lowe o m a by r gulton.I e ha t ALJsm pl r le onDr Hu phresdee m i ton of ke e a i nde d, d he i y ei d . m i tr na i Pl i t f sRFC ,a Pl i ifa guesw a pr pe , he A LJ S a tons woul ha co r di t d Soc al a n if s a ntf r s o rt ' ci d ve nt a c e i Se urt Rulng(t ' 96-p, chsae 'r tngs ceopi onsonis t ta ersr d c iy i (SSR' 5 whi tts ûeai our ) t ni sues ha r ee ve t t Commi sone a ene re il t c r lng wei tors c a sgnii nc 'be a e o he s i r r ve ntted o ontoli gh pe i l i tca e' c us doi so (woul be an abdi i oft Com m isi ' sat or r ponsbiiy. .' Ther ore, ng t d caton he s oner s t ut y es i lt ..' ef t A LJ pr l m ade Pl ntf sR FC det naton. he opery ai if' enui i B. The ALJ Properl A f y forded D r.H um phri O pi on Ksom e W ei ' es' ni t ght' Englnd co e t t ALJe r i no i udi a loft lm ia i f a nt nds hat he red n t ncl ng 1 he i t tons ound b Dr y . Humphre i hi RFC c l i is n s onc uson.Shea s rst tt opi onsby non- xa i ng physc a ,n s e t ha he ni e m ni ii ns i t sca e t St t A ge y r vi w i physci ns s d be a or d l s w ei t n D r hi s he a e nc e e ng i a , houl cc de e s ght ha . Hum phre 'r por and o ni n,who wa t onl physcin t per o ly e m i Englnd.I is e t pi o s he y i a o s na l xa ne a n s ppo tofhe posto Englnd a gue t tt r por ofanon- xa ni non-r tng u r r ii n, a r s ha he e t e mi ng, teai physca s d bedic e a i nots t ntale de whe c r dit d by al ot r i in houl s ount d nd s ubsa i vi nce n onta c e l he e de ei t r or Mine v Sc k r 7l5F. 243,245( hCi.1 4) a poi st vi nc n he ec d, l r . hweie , 2d. 4t r 98 , nd nt o t dif r nce be w e n t St t A ge y r vi w i physci ns c l i a t e ofDr he f e e s t e he a e nc e e ng i a ' onc us ons nd hos . Hu phres Afe adenov r viw oft r co d,hi Cour fndst tt ALJ' de ii t m i . tr o e e he e r t s t i ha he S c son o ac or t omewe g 't Dr Humphre 'opi on wass c dû s i ht' o . i s ni uppore by s t nta e de . td ubsa il vi nce Pli ifsa gume doe notove comet g ne a sa ar t ti or rt begi n antf r nt s r he e r l tnd d ha n de o ve weghtan m e ca e de mus bewel s ppo td a bec itntwih t ot rr or i y di l vi nce t l u re nd onsse t he he ec d e d e.Se Hi sv Ba nhar,453F. 559, (t Ci. vienc e ne . r t 3d 563 4h r 2006)( i t tt oft notng ha wo he c ie i t Com m i s one m us co i rw he e l tng a w e ghi m e c lo ni a e rt ra he si r t ns de n va ua i nd i ng di a pi ons r Che s t uppora lt oft physcan' o ni ' nd (he c it nc oft opi on wih t t tbiiy he i i s pi on'a t onsse y he ni t t he rc d' .l a opi oni nots e or ' f n ni s uppore byt media evi nc ori ot r s i onsse ) td he c l de e s hewie nc itnt w ih t r or i m a be gi n ts g fc l l sw e ght' Cr g v.Char e ,76 F. d 585, t he ec d t y ve ii nii anty es i . ai ' tr 3 590 ( hCi.1 . 4t r 996) A s a i talm a t , he Cour not st tt A LJ ga t opi ons oft St t A ge y n nii ter t t e ha he ve he ni he a e nc rviwi physcinsde sweiht' a eç w e de s wg jt tt cli nti e e ng i a t s g 'bec us ç vi nce ho ed ha he ama s l ne s omewha mor lmie t ndeemi dbyt s c ula s' ( 1 .Sec t ALJ t e i td ha tr ne he e ons tnt. R. 9) ond,he ' c i r d D r Hum phres as e s e t t e e tt tDr Hum phres f ndi w e e ons de e . i ' s s m nt o he xt n ha . i ' i ngs r s uppor e by t r co d m ed c e de t d he e r i al vi nce. Fore m pl , r Hum phresopi d t tPl i if xa e D . i ne ha a ntf 4 c dstorsa wak fronl t rymi tsa atmewiho i er i ( 3 .Thi oul i tnd/ l o y hit nue t i t ut ntrupton. R. 25) s s a e e ,howe r i i t t m nt ve , s ncons s e w ih o he pa t ofDr H u phr e m e c a s s e w he e it nt t t r r s . m i s di al s es m nt r he c l d t tPl i ifha nor sr ngt i he f ure r m ii , d no s c tcmot ror oncude ha antf d mal te h n r o xte tes ha pe ii o s ns y l si t l r e r m ii ,a c d sto w a k f s x hour i an e g - ur e or os n he owe xt e tes nd oul i r l or i sn i htho worda ( 3 -3 .Theefr ,t ALJdi note.i afor ngwei t onl t epa t of k y. R. 21 22) r o e he d l n f di r ght o y hos rs D r Hum phr e 'a s s ent t twe e c i t ntwih hi ove al m e ca as es m e a t . i s s es m s ha r ons s e t s r l di l s s nt nd he o j cieme c l vde c o r c r b e tv dia e i n e f e o d. Subs ant alEvi nce Suppor s t A LJ' R FC D e er i i and Conc us on t t i de t he S t m naton l i hat Pl nt f C an Perf ai i f orm Li W ork ght The A LJ' de er i t o ofPl i if sRFC i c i t ntw ih t r c d e denc . S t m na i n a ntf s ons s e t he e or vi e Spe i i a l t Cour not t f tt tPl i if st e t e f he ba k pai he m a n c fc ly, he t es he ac ha a ntf ' r a m nt or r c n, r i c ant ha be nr i a c e v tvei naur .( 225, 3 .Pli ifdi not ompli , s e outne nd ons r ai n t e R. 298, 02) antf d r po tc r ntus ofphysc lt r py, a s ,aTENS Uni, t us ofm e cai n t r leve e r ure e i a he a m s age t or he e di to o ei s oms ( 1 18 .TheALJnotdt tt Pl nifha noobsr bl physca ympt .R. 79, 4) e ha he aitf d eva e i l m a f t tons ofpa n s h a w e ghtl s m us a a r phy,m us ul rs s s us ofa niesa i i uc s i os , cul r t o c a pa m , e n asitvede ce orpr ongedbe rs.( 1 .Furhemoe,heALJ' a s sme i lr l ssi vi , ol d et R. 8) t r r t S s e s nt s agey c nsse twihDr Ht re ' pn o a t Plitf sp y ia a ii e .( 31 - 2 ) Th o itn t . l is o ii n s o anif h sc l b lis R. 9 3 9 . e mph t ALJd e m i d t Englnd co d t ita c r 20poundsoc a i l a 1 pounds etr ne hat a ul ç f nd ary l c sonaly nd 0 f e nty,s a w a k f 6 hour i a 8r que l t nd/ l or s n n hourpe i a s tf 6 hour i an 8- urpe i rod, nd i or sn ho r od wihbr ksof1 t 1 mi e e r 2hour. ( 1 ) Dr Humplresrpo tsaes 'he t ea 0 o 5 nuts vey s' R. 5 . . ' li e r tt ,i t e m i ewoul belmiedt sti 6ho si a 8xa ne d i t o itng ur n n hourwo kda t s a ng a waki 6 r y, o t ndi nd l ng hour i a 8 hourw or y, o lf i 25 l oc as o l a 1 l f e sn n kda t i tng bs c i naly nd 0 bs r quenty. Fur he m or l' ' t r e, becaus lghtw or i ves lftng no m or t t ent poundsata tm e w ih f equentlftng or ei k nvol i i e han w y i t r ii c ryn o o j csu t tnp u d , C. R. j4 4.5 7 1 41 9 7 ,t sp o e f rte a r ig f be t p o e o n s 20 F. j 0 1 6 4 $, 6.2 *) iwa r p r o h ALJt c udet tPl ntf RFC a l dhert pe f lg wor The e or t ALJ' o oncl ha ai ifs lowe o ronu i ht k. r f e,he S RFC de e m i ton a c l i t tPl ntf co d pe f r a r ng oflgh w o k w as t r na i nd onc us on ha ai i f ul r o m a e i t r s uppore by s t nta e de e. td ubs a i l vi nc 11 1. C oncl on usi A fe a de nov r e oft r c d,t sCour fndst tt A LJ' de s on w a tr o evi w he e or hi t i ha he S cii s s uppore by s t nta e de , atd t tt ALJ a i d t c r d l ls a r . td ubs a i l vi nc z ha he e pple he or e ega t nda ds Ac di y,t sCour a st M a sr t J cor ngl hi t dopt he gitae udge' Re r a Rec s po t nd omm e ton i f la nda i n ul nd o e le En ln so j cin .Ana p o raeo d rs al hsd yis e v m ls ga d' be to s p r p it r e h lt i a su . TheClr i dr ce t sn c p e o t i M e r n u Opiin a da c mp n i ek s ie td o e d o js f hs mo a d m no n c o a yng Or rt a lc de o l ouns ofr c d. el e or ENTER: Thi s 4 da ofN ove r 2011 y mbe , J n. a e C.Tur Jm s k Se o U nied St t D i ti tJ ni r t a es s rc udge

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