Brown v. Commissioner of Social Security

Second Circuit

Brown v. Commissioner of Social Security

363 F. App'x 86

CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit

DecidedJanuary 29, 2010

Docket08-3759-cv

StatusUnpublished

This text of 363 F. App'x 86 (Brown v. Commissioner of Social Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Brown v. Commissioner of Social Security, 363 F. App'x 86 (2d Cir. 2010).

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Opinion

SUMMARY ORDER

Appellant Bruce S. Brown appeals from the district court’s judgment granting the Commissioner of Social Security’s motion to dismiss his amended complaint. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts, proceedings below, and specification of issues on appeal.

As an initial matter, we note that the district court’s decision granting the Commissioner’s motion to dismiss was based in part on matters that were outside of the pleadings. Accordingly, the court should have converted the Commissioner’s motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d). However, this error was harmless, since Brown was aware of the proposed basis for dismissal, and did, in fact, present a full response. See Reliance Ins. Co. v. Polyvision Corp., 474 F.3d 54, 57 (2d Cir.2007).

This Court reviews an order granting summary judgment de novo and considers whether the district court properly concluded that there were no genuine issues *87 of material fact and that the moving party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Miller v. Wolpoff & Abramson, L.L.P., 321 F.3d 292, 300 (2d Cir.2003). Although we resolve all factual disputes in favor of the nonmoving party, “conclusory statements or mere allegations [are] not sufficient to defeat a summary judgment motion.” Davis v. State of New York, 316 F.3d 93, 100 (2d Cir.2002).

In the present case, we conclude that the Commissioner was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. To the extent that Brown sought review of the Administrative Law Judge’s October 2002 decision, the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his complaint, as he did not seek review of a final decision of the Social Security Administration. See Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 106-07, 120 S.Ct. 2080, 147 L.Ed.2d 80 (2000). To the extent that Brown sought review of the December 1995 or August 1997 decisions of the Social Security Administration Appeals Council, his complaint was filed well beyond the applicable 60-day limitations period and Brown did not allege any facts that would justify equitably tolling the limitations period. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 418, 125 S.Ct. 1807, 161 L.Ed.2d 669 (2005).

AFFIRMED.

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SUMMARY ORDER

Appellant Bruce S. Brown appeals from the district court’s judgment granting the Commissioner of Social Security’s motion to dismiss his amended complaint. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the facts, proceedings below, and specification of issues on appeal.

As an initial matter, we note that the district court’s decision granting the Commissioner’s motion to dismiss was based in part on matters that were outside of the pleadings. Accordingly, the court should have converted the Commissioner’s motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment. See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(d). However, this error was harmless, since Brown was aware of the proposed basis for dismissal, and did, in fact, present a full response. See Reliance Ins. Co. v. Polyvision Corp., 474 F.3d 54, 57 (2d Cir.2007).

This Court reviews an order granting summary judgment de novo and considers whether the district court properly concluded that there were no genuine issues *87 of material fact and that the moving party was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Miller v. Wolpoff & Abramson, L.L.P., 321 F.3d 292, 300 (2d Cir.2003). Although we resolve all factual disputes in favor of the nonmoving party, “conclusory statements or mere allegations [are] not sufficient to defeat a summary judgment motion.” Davis v. State of New York, 316 F.3d 93, 100 (2d Cir.2002).

In the present case, we conclude that the Commissioner was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. To the extent that Brown sought review of the Administrative Law Judge’s October 2002 decision, the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over his complaint, as he did not seek review of a final decision of the Social Security Administration. See Sims v. Apfel, 530 U.S. 103, 106-07, 120 S.Ct. 2080, 147 L.Ed.2d 80 (2000). To the extent that Brown sought review of the December 1995 or August 1997 decisions of the Social Security Administration Appeals Council, his complaint was filed well beyond the applicable 60-day limitations period and Brown did not allege any facts that would justify equitably tolling the limitations period. See 42 U.S.C. § 405(g); Pace v. DiGuglielmo, 544 U.S. 408, 418, 125 S.Ct. 1807, 161 L.Ed.2d 669 (2005).

AFFIRMED.

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