Smith v. Kijakazi, No. 2:2023cv00147 - Document 12 (S.D.W. Va. 2023)
Court Description: MEMORANDUM OPINION granting Commissioner's 10 MOTION to Remand To Commissioner of Social Security and dismisses this action from the docket of the Court. Signed by Magistrate Judge Cheryl A. Eifert on 8/11/2023. (cc: counsel of record) (lca)
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Smith v. Kijakazi Doc. 12 Case 2:23-cv-00147 Document 12 Filed 08/11/23 Page 1 of 4 PageID #: 1239 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA CHARLESTON DIVISION KENDALL S., Plaintiff, v. Case No.: 2:23-cv-00147 KILOLO KIJAKAZI, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Defendant. MEMORANDUM OPINION This is an action seeking review of the decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (hereinafter the “Commissioner”) denying Plaintiff’s application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 401-433. The case is presently before the court on the Commissioner’s Uncontested Motion for Remand. (ECF No. 10). Both parties have consented in writing to a decision by the United States Magistrate Judge. (ECF No. 11). The court has fully considered the Motion for Remand and GRANTS same. Accordingly, the court finds that the decision of the Commissioner should be REVERSED and REMANDED, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), for further evaluation of Plaintiff’s application as stated herein. Plaintiff, Kendall S., (“Claimant”), completed an application for DIB on June 18, 2020, alleging a disability onset date of April 1, 2020. (Tr. at 207). The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) denied the application initially and upon 1 Dockets.Justia.com Case 2:23-cv-00147 Document 12 Filed 08/11/23 Page 2 of 4 PageID #: 1240 reconsideration. (Tr. at 23). Claimant filed a request for a hearing, which was held on May 26, 2022 before the Honorable Francine Serafin, Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). (Tr. at 40-64). By written decision dated August 2, 2022, the ALJ determined that Claimant was not entitled to benefits. (Tr. at 23-34). The ALJ’s decision became the final decision of the Commissioner on December 28, 2022, when the Appeals Council denied Claimant’s request for review. (Tr. at 1-5). On February 22, 2023, Claimant timely filed the present civil action seeking judicial review of the administrative decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (ECF No. 1). The Commissioner filed a Transcript of the Proceedings on April 21, 2023. (ECF No. 4). Claimant filed a Brief in Support of Judgment on the Pleadings on June 21, 2023 (ECF No. 7). Prior to filing her brief, on August 10, 2023, the Commissioner filed an uncontested motion for remand, indicating that the ALJ’s decision denying benefits merited further evaluation. (ECF No. 10). According to the Commissioner, Claimant concurred that further proceedings would be beneficial. Title 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) authorizes the district court to remand the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security for further consideration at different stages of the judicial proceedings. When the Commissioner requests remand prior to filing an answer to the plaintiff’s complaint, the presiding court may grant the request under sentence six of § 405(g), upon a showing of good cause. In addition, a court may remand the matter “at any time” under sentence six to allow “additional evidence to be taken before the Commissioner of Social Security, but only upon a showing that there is new evidence which is material and that there is good cause for the failure to incorporate such evidence into the record in a prior proceeding.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). When a court remands the Commissioner’s decision under 2 Case 2:23-cv-00147 Document 12 Filed 08/11/23 Page 3 of 4 PageID #: 1241 sentence six, the court retains jurisdiction over the matter, but “closes it and regards it as inactive” until additional or modified findings are supplied to the court. See McPeak v. Barnhart, 388 F.Supp.2d 742, 745 n.2. (S.D.W. Va. 2005). In contrast, under sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), “[t]he court shall have power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.” Because a sentence four remand essentially “terminates the litigation with victory for the plaintiff,” the court enters a final judgment dismissing the case and removing it from the court’s docket. Shalala v. Schaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 299 (1993) (“Under § 405(g), ‘each final decision of the Secretary [is] reviewable by a separate piece of litigation,” and a sentence-four remand order ‘terminate[s] the civil action’ seeking judicial review of the Secretary's final decision.”) (quoting Sullivan v. Hudson, 490 U.S. 877, 892 (1989)). Given that the Commissioner explicitly asks for a sentence four remand,1 the court REVERSES the final decision of the Commissioner; GRANTS the motion to remand, (ECF No. 10); REMANDS this matter pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings consistent with this opinion; and DISMISSES this action from the docket of the Court. A Judgment Order will be entered accordingly. Furthermore, this case does not present either of the factual scenarios that would typically support a sentence six remand. The Commissioner’s motion was not made until after the answer was filed, and neither party has, at this time, offered new evidence that was not previously made a part of the record. 1 3 Case 2:23-cv-00147 Document 12 Filed 08/11/23 Page 4 of 4 PageID #: 1242 The Clerk of this Court is directed to transmit copies of this Memorandum Opinion to counsel of record. ENTERED: August 11, 2023 4
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