Sperry v. Colvin, No. 7:2014cv00011 - Document 16 (W.D. Va. 2014)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Glen E. Conrad on 11/18/2014. (ssm)
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Sperry v. Colvin Doc. 16 CLERTS OFFI .JS DI k COUQ7 CE ! S. b /--ff-)t $ï 'i 'ï ':'.l. b j. '- i 7- )l1: i% th. : ' $ r F1 7D .7 t Nkk 18 2 1 o i gj I THE UN I N TED STA TES D I STRI CO UR T CT FOR THE W ESTERN DI STRI OF VI NI CT RGI A ROAN OKE DI SI VI ON JUL 'Dt2LtY - Ei# l ; ' - ' '' h. l ' :tx BY' . Uu . , DEPUTY CL ERM ROBERT L.SPERRY,J , R. Ci lAc i N o. 7: 4CV 00011 vi ton 1 Pl i if a ntf , M EM O M N DU M O PI O N NI CA ROLY N W . LV I , ctng CO N A i Comm isone ofSoc a Se iy, si r i l curt By: Hon.Gln E.Co a e nr d Chi fUnied St t DititJ e t aes src udge D e e nt f nda . Pl ntf ha fl t sac i c l ngi t f na de i i n of he Co m i s one ofSoci l ai i f s ied hi ton hale ng he i l c s o t m si r a Se iy de ng pl i ifs c ai s f di a lt i ur nc be ft a s e e als urt curt nyi a ntf l m or s biiy ns a e ne is nd uppl m nt ec iy i omebe ft unde t SocilSe urt Ac,a a nde 42U. C. 41 i a 423, nd42 nc neis r he a c iy t s me d, S. jj 6() nd a U. C.j 1 #1sp.r peci y.J idito oft sc tspurua t 42U. C.j405 g S. 381 . ç ,es tvel urs cin hi our i s nt o S. () a 42U. C. 1 c ( .Thi c t rviw i lmie t adee nai a t whet rt e nd S. j 383()3) s our' e e s i td o tnni ton s o s he her i s t nta e de et s s ubsa i l vi nc o uppor t Comm iso ' c l i t t antf f ie t e t bls the s i ners onc uson ha pli if al d o sa ih e il me t beneksunde t Ac .l s hs t nta evi nc exit,hefnal ii oft ntte nt o f r he t f uc ubsa il de e ss t i decson he Commisone mus bea fr d. Lawsv.Cee e ze 368F. 640 ( h Ci.1 ) Sttd si r t fime lbr z , 2d 4t r 966 . ae brefy,s tntale de ehasbee defne ass h r e n e de e, i rngt r c d i l ubsa i vi nc n i d uc elva t vi nc consde i he e or as a whol as m i t be f e, gh ound a ua e t s deq t o uppor a conc us on by a r s bl m i t l i ea ona e nd. Rihads v. rls 40 U. 38 401( 971 . c r on Peae , 2 S. 9, 1 ) Thepl n if R o r L. r y, r , a bor o M a ch 2,1 ai t f , be t Spe r J .w s n n r 975, nd e ualy co pl t d a vent l m e e t t h gr i school M r.Spen' has been em pl he ent ade n . y oyed as a constucton w or r i ker.He l t as w or d on a r a a s t ned ba i i 2008. O n Fe ua y 4,201 M r Spe r fl ke egul r nd us ai ss n br r 0, . r y ied applca i f di lt i tr i t ons or sabiiy nslancebeneft and s em ent securt i is uppl al iy ncom ebenett Pl nt f i s. ai i f Dockets.Justia.com al ge ha hebe media edf ra1 f m sofs bsa i l i ul m pl le dt t ca s bl o 1 or u t nta ga nf e oyment onNove be 20, m r 2008,due t blndne si hi l teye a kne pr ems Att tm e oft admi sr tve o i s n s ef nd e obl . he i he nita i he rng, ai ifa e dhi a i ai s a r te ta aleg dia lt o e da eofM a 22, a i pl ntf m nde s pplc ton o s el c n l ed s biiy ns t t y 201 ( 69) Mr Spe now mai ai t thehasrmane dia e t t pr e tme.As 0. TR . . ny nt ns ha e i d s bld o he esnt i t hi a ia i f diabiiyi ur nc be ft ,her c dr a st t a ntf m e t i u e o s pplc ton or s lt ns a e ne is t e or eve l ha pli if t he ns r d saus r quie e s of t Ac a al r l nt tm es c r by t fna de son of t t t e r m nt he t t 1 eeva i ove ed he i l cii he Commiso r Se u neal sine . e e rlv,42U. C.jj41 i a 423( . S. 6() nd a) M r Spe r sa ia i we ede eduponi tal onsde atonandr onsder ton. He . r y' pplc tons r ni nii c i r i ec i ai t nrque t andr evedaX novohe rngandrviw befr a Admi srtveLa J e. he e sed ec i ai e e oe n nitai w udg I a opi on dae Aug t7, 2,heLa J ealode e m i dt tpl i ifi notdia e n n ni td us 201 t w udg s t r ne ha antf s s bld. TheLa l ef undt t r Speny s f r fom s ve al e r i par nt ,ncudi biae al w udg o ha M . ufe s r e r s ve e m ime s i l ng lt r kneedior ; iy; ndoptcne opahyr s tngi l kofus f vii i t lf e ( s derobest a i ur t euli n ac eul son n he e t ye. TR 1 ) Be a s o te ep o lms teLa J d er ldta panifsds be f r i p s rlva t 6 . c u e fh s r b e ,h w u g ue h t litf i ia ld o h s a t ee n w or a tviy as a c t uc i l bor r How e r t La J k ci t ons r ton a e . ve , he w udge he d t tM r Spe r t ns l ha . ny e ai s fc e f tonalc pa iy t e ge i a lm ie r nge ofs de a y wor a tviy. The La ufi i nt unc i a c t o nga n i t d a e nt r k ci t w J udgec a t rze pl ntf sr i lf tonalc pact asf l : har c e i d ai if esdua unc i a iy olows Afe c r u c i r i oft e ie r co d,t t r i ned tnds t tt tr a ef l onsde aton he ntr e r he mde sg i ha he cl i a hast r i l unc i na ca c t t pe f m l s t n t f lr nge of a m nt he esdua f to l pa iy o r or e s ha he ul a s ntr wokasdei i 20CFR 404.567()and41 9674 Thecl man ede a y r fned n 1 a 6. *. ai t c n pe f m s de a p lvellfi c nyi sa ng, nd waki butr uies a ror e nt r e itng, a ng, t ndi a l ng, eq r a opporuniy t ha i pl ce pos to s fs a t a lt t r s t s andi n t t o ve n- a ii n hi t nd he biiy o i e o t ng f om a s a e pos ton t s a f ra f w m i e t oug tt da w hie a hi r e t d ii o t nd o e nut s hr hou he y l t s wo k sa i Hei r src e fom kne i c i ng, ndcr wlng; ho da d r tton. s e tit d r elng, lmbi a a i s ul voi une nt r ai ca occ s onaly s oop orc ouc hasno us f l f e vi i but ve e r n; n a i l t r h; e ul e t ye s on, wih t us ofhi rg e ca avoi or nayha r i t wor a e( g. t he e s iht ye n d di r zads n he kplc e. door aa, s j rboxesontoo , ppr c ngpe eorve ce )hec nrador nap l r a oa hi opl hils; a e di r szeprn -s tm e r quii t us ofc r c i lns t a ompls t s i i t ome i s e rng he e ore tve e es o cc ih hi; he s d a d wor i diec s i hta a s a d m or dange ousha r houl voi k n r t unlg nd l o voi e r za ds i t wor a e, uc a unpr e t d he g sorda er usm a hi r n he kpl c s h s ot c e i ht ng o c ne y. ( 17 . Gi n s h a rsdua u tona c pact and a t c i rng pli ifs a TR ) ve uc e i lf nci l a iy, fer onsde i antf ge, e aton,a prorwor e re e,aswe last si ony fom a voc tonale r,t Law duc i nd i k xpe inc l e tm r ai xpe t he J udgede e ne M r Spe e nsc pa eofpe f mi s ver ls cik s dent t nni d . nyr mai a bl ror ng e a pe t e mywor ol kr es e si i sg fca ntmbe i t nai e onomy.Acc di y,heLa J euli t l xitng n i nii nt l r n he tonal c or ngl t w udg tma ey c l dedt tpl ntf i notdia e a t hei note il t be ft unde e t rf de al onc u ha ai if s s bl d, nd hat s ntted o ne is r ihe e r p o rm.S eg n rl 2 C. R. j4 4.5 0 a d41 9 0 g . Th La J d eso iin r g a e e e al 0 F. j 0 1 2 1) n 6.2 ( ) e w u g ' pn o y, wa a ed a t fna de ii n oft Comm isone by t SocalSe urt Admi sr ton' s dopt s he i l c so he s i r he i c iy nita i s Appe sCounci.Ha nge use al a l ea i sr tver al l vi xha td l vaiabl dm nita i emedis M r Spe r hasnow e , . ry appe l d t t s c t a e o hi our . W hie pl ntf ma be dia e f ce t n f m s ofe pl l ai if y s bld or rai or m oymen ,t c ucalf t t he r i acual dee mi toni wheher antf i di a e f al o msofs t nta g nf l tr na i s t pli if s s bld or lf r ubsa il ai u empl ym e .See o nt 42U. C. 423( ( and1 () Theeaef ee nt ofpr whihmus beco i rd S. jj d)2) 382ca . r r our lme s oof c t nsdee i ma igs c a a ay i.Th s ee n saes mma ie a f l ws 1 o j cieme ia n kn u h n n lss e e lme t r u rz d s ol :() b e tv d c l o f csa dci ia fndn s ( ) h o no sa dc n l ins te tngp ysca '3 s b e t e a t n lnc li ig ;2 t e piin n o cuso ofrai h iins ( ) u jci , v e de eof vi nc physca m a f t tonsofi ime s a des lbe t o h ac am a 't tm on , i l niesa i mpar nt , s ci d hr ug l i nts esi y' a ( t cl ma 'e ton, atonalhit y,esduals ls a age Viekv. nc 438 nd 4) he ai nts ducai voc i sor r i kil, nd . t Fi h, F. 11 11 60( hCi.1 ) Unde woodv. biof,298F. 850,851( hCi.1 . 2d 57, 59- 4t r 971; r Ri c f 2d 4t r 962) Afe a r vi w oft r co d i t s c s ,t cou ti c tai d t concude t tt tr e e he e r n hi a e he r s onsr ne o l ha he Comm isone ' fna de ii i s s i rs i l c son s uppored by s t nta e de . M r Spe r e re s t ubsa i l vi nce . ry xpe ince s ve e kne pr ems wih a s alpe i r lt a oft pose i hor oft rghtmedi e r e obl , t m l rphe a e r he t ror n he i al me s us Hehasnous f lvii i hi l f e .A1 oft docor who ha pr de m e ca nic . e u son n s e t ye l he t s ve ovi d di l r pors i t s c e i c t t tpl i ifi c pa e ofpe f ng l s t n a f l r nge of e t n hi as ndia e ha antf s a bl ronni es ha 'l a u s de a y wor D r Er c Young c pl t d aco ula i exa i ton a r por a t be t e nt r k. . i ka om e e ns t tve m na i nd e t t he hes of hesa edia lt a nc Dr Yo opi dt t a n ifc stf a oxi t yf hour t tt s biiy ge y. . ung ne ha pli tf an i or ppr ma el our s i ar g a wo kd y a wela sa o wak fra p o i tl furh u s ( 33 ) Dr n e ulr r a , s l s tnd r l o p r x maey o o r . TR 2 . . Robe tB.St phe on,a boa d c rii orhopa di s g n,ofer d smia fndi a tr r e ns r e tfed t e c ur eo f e i lr i ngs fe e ni Mr Spe ( 442- .Gi n s har sdua f tona c pact t vocai l xnmi ng . ny. TR 43) ve uc e i l unci l a iy,he tona e pete tfe ta h wa u a et ie tf a yj bf rM r S rylse i t eDito r o x r tsiid h t e s n bl o d n iy n o o . per itd n h cinay f Oc upaina Til , c us oft unus ls ibewee sti sa ng, nd/rwaki ( c to l tesbe a e he ua plt t n itng,tndi a o l ng. TR 66) Ho ve ,t Admi sr i La J . we r he nitatve w udger i on rporsfom t none mi ngsae eled e t r wo xn ni tt a nc phys c ans D r J e Duckwal a Dr G ur ha a Si ge y i i , . os ph l nd . c r n ngh,w ho opi t tpl i ifi ned ha a ntf s c pa eofsti up t sx hour i a ei a bl itng o i s n n ghthourwo k da a l ashe i pe mit d t sa r y, s ong s r te o t nd a movea nec s ayt rle tg nes i hi kne s ( 91 347) he prs ntdwiht nd s e s r o eive iht s n s e . TR , .W n e e e t he m or c m onpl c hypot tca e e om ae he i l ncom pa s ng a tsts a opton,' t voc tona expe t si ti/ t nd i ' he ai l r ie tfe s v r l e e tr j b whc Mr S er c udb e pe tdt p ro ( 616 ) d n iid e ea s d n ay o s ih . p ry o l e x ce o ef nn. TR - 3 . Thec tbele t tt Adm i sr tveLa J our ives ha he nitai w udger s na y de e ne t f hi ea o bl t nni d o as on hi fndi a t pli tf sr i lf tona c pa t bas ont i fom t sa eage y s i ngs s o a n if esdua unci l a ciy ed he nput r he t t nc phys ci ns W hiet co t ne r e esdif c t i f ndi s t nta e de t s i a . l he ur ohe xpe i nc fi uly n i ng ubs a i l vi nce o uppor t a La J d esrj ci n o ac n uttv su y i fv ro rp rsfo n n x mi n sae w u g ' ee to f o s laie td n a o f e o t r m o e a nig tt a nc phys c ans t c tdoe no be i ve t tt c ula i r por s i t i t nt c e ge y i i , he our s t le ha he ons t tve e t n he ns a as c l i l esabls t tpl i i fi una et pe f m s de a y w or w ih a st sand o i onc us ve y t i h ha a ntf s bl o r or e nt r k t i/ t pton. N e t rD r Y oung norDr St phe on e a ned why M r Spe r c d no obt n r le f om ihe . . e ns xpl i . r y oul t ai e i f r 4 t sif s a pai ca e bypr o ed sti smpl by sa ngasne s my.l e Dr he tfne s nd n us d ol ng itng, i y t ndi ce s nde d, . St phe on s c fc l not d t tpl i if c d sand t o/hr e ho lspe da i r i ofhi e ns pe ii aly e ha a ntf oul t w t e tr r y n elef s s o ( 442) a t hedoesd ni waki durngt da bec eofhi biatr ymptms TR , nd hat ç mal l ng i he y aus mi s l eal kne pai ' ( 443) e n. TR ' . Stt d dif r ty,t m e ca r or i t sca e i c it twih t La J a e fe en l he di l ec d n hi s s onssen t he w udges ' fndi t t M r Spe c pe f m s de a y wor whih pe t a stsand o i n. A s i ng ha . ny an ror e nt r k c nnis i/t pto r c z d by t Com misone i he m e a e ogni e he s i r n r mor ndum i s n uppo tofhe moton f s ma y r r i or um r j d me tgv nt er a laiywiht ecams dudc to rc s ,hesaea e c h sca s u g n , ie h ifmiirt t h li a j iainp o e st tt g n yp y iin co d be e c e t t de s a wha r s dua f tona ca ciy i nec s r f t ul xpe t d o m r t nd t e i l unc i l pa t s es a y or he pe f m a eofs halm iedr ngeofs ntr wor a r lt t s r quie e st t a t l ror nc uc i t a ede a y k, nd e ae he e e r m nt o he c ua m e ca e de e i M r Spe r s c e. W he as d t c i r wha was a r s bl di l vi nc n . ry' as n ke o onsde t ea ona e as e s ntofpli tf s r sdualf tona ca ciy,i lg ofpl ntf spa tc a medial s s me a n if e i unc i l pa t n iht ai if ri ul r c tndi ,hevoca i le t abl t i ntf s r ls cii wo k r e whih M r Spe i ngs t tona xper was e o de iy eve a pe fc r ol s c . ny c d be e c e t pe f m . l a a st t co tt tt voc tonale r ' e ua i of oul xpe t d o r or t ppe r o he ur ha he a i xpe ts val ton t voc tonal f c o s nd t a s he ai a t r ,a he s umptons t i mder whih t e r dei r t d, a e bot c he xpe t lbe a e r h r as bl a c it wih t e de ofr or I f l t tt Comm isone ' tna e ona e nd onssent t he vi nce ec d. t olows ha he s i rs i l de son de ngM r Spe scam si s cii nyi . ny' li s uppore by s tntale de e. td ubsa i vi nc l afi ng Com m i s one ' t na de i i t c t n fnni s i r s i l c son, he our doesno s ges t tM r Speny i t ug t ha . s f ee ofal pa n,di c f t w ea r l i s om or , knes ,a f tgue. l d,t m edi alr cor co i m s t t s nd a i ndee he c e d ntr ha pli ifs f r fom a knee c ton whi h c n be e antf ufe s r ondii c a xpeced t r ul i pa n,s lng,a t o es t n i weli nd s if s M o eove , r Spe s f r f om l sof s on i hi l f e , hi h de i t l af e t tf nes . r r M . ny uf e s r os vi i n s e t ye w c fnie y f c s hi c pac t f w or a tviy. H ow e r i m us be r ogni d t t i biiy t do wor s a iy or k ci t ve , t t ec ze hat he na lt o k wih u a y s j ciep o lmsd e n to is l rn e acama tttlyd sb e Cri v. to t n ube tv r be o s o f tef e d r li n oal ia ld. az Chae,76F.d 585,5 95 ( h Ci.1 .I lg oft ci c lindi i t spa tc a tr 3 94- 4t r 996) n iht he lnia ngs n hi riulr ea e,i a a st t c t ha t Admi sr tveLa J s t ppe r o he our t t he nitai w udgea dequael c i e al oft t y onsder d 1 he s b e tv fco sra o a l s p o tdb teme ia rc r i a j diaigp an ifscams u j cie a tr e s n by u p re y h dc l e o d n du c tn litf li f be ft . l f l t a lf c t oft Com misone ' fnalde i i a e s or ne is t olows hat l a e s he s i rs i c son r uppored b t y s t i e de e. ubsantal vi nc Asage r nze r s uton ofc lc si t e de e i amaterwihi t pr vi e ne al l , e ol i ontit n he vi nc s t t n he o nc oft Comm iso re n i t c tm i r s ve t c lc sdif r nty. Ri ha ds v. he s i ne ve f he our ght e ol he onfi t fe e l c r on Peals s a;Oppenhem v. nc 495F. 396( h Ci.1 .Fort ras sae t r e , upr i Fi h, 2d 4t r 974) he e ons ttd, he cour fndst Comm isone ' r ol ton oft pe tne c lc si t r c d i t sc et t i he s i rs es u i he ri nt ontit n he e or n hi as o bes ppore bys t i e de .Ac di y,hefnal cii oft Comm isone mus u td ubsantal vi nce cor ngl t i de son he si r t b a fr d.La v. lb e z , u r .Ana p o rae u g n a o d rwi b e trdt i e fime ws Cee rz e s p a p r p it j d me t nd r e l e n ee h s l da y. TheCl r i die t t s nd c ris d c esoft so ni t a lc e k s r ced o e e tte opi hi pi on o 1 ouns ofr co d. el e r DATED:Thi i s G d yo No e e , 2014. a f v mb r Chi fU nie St t s D it i tJ e t d a e s rc udge
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