Buchbinder v. Bowen

709 F. Supp. 389, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2516, 1989 WL 23281
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. New York
DecidedMarch 15, 1989
DocketNo. 86 Civ. 7745 (WCC)
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 709 F. Supp. 389 (Buchbinder v. Bowen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Buchbinder v. Bowen, 709 F. Supp. 389, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2516, 1989 WL 23281 (S.D.N.Y. 1989).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

WILLIAM C. CONNER, District Judge:

Plaintiff Ksiel Buchbinder (“Buchbinder”) brought this action under Sections 205(g) and 1631(c)(3) of the Social Security Act (the “Act”), 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), for review of a final determination of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the “Secretary”). The Secretary determined that plaintiff was overpaid $4,387.36 in Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits and that plaintiff is not entitled to a waiver of recovery of the overpayment.

The action is before the Court on defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Rule 12(c), Fed.R.Civ.P. Defendant’s motion is granted in part and denied in part.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff was born on October 15, 1909, and has received SSI benefits for seven or eight years based on age. On November 8, 1985, plaintiff signed a statement that he “had up to $2,600” in a Chemical Bank account “from a gift of $3,000” received in February, 1984. Buchbinder affirmed that he “used this money to make a trip to Argentina in [December, 1984] and to make a trip to Poland in [June, 1985].” Administrative Record at 46.1

On January 6, 1986, the Secretary notified plaintiff that he had received $4,387.36 in excess SSI payments. The notice indicated that Buchbinder was not entitled to SSI from March through December, 1984 because he “received $3,000 cash” in February, 1984, and that from May through September, 1985, Buchbinder received benefits as though he was “living alone” while he was actually “living with his wife.” Administrative Record at 38.

On January 24, 1986, Buchbinder requested a hearing to contest the determination of an overpayment. Plaintiff explained that the $3,000 “was given to me for the sole purpose of finding the next of kin of my deceased nephew, Fred Buchbinder who passed away on [February 15, 1984] . My nephew’s girlfriend gave me the $3,000 to cover my travel expenses to locate his next of kin living in Argentina and Poland because they were mentioned] in his last will and testament.” Buchbinder added that “I did not live with my wife during the period [May, 1985 to September, 1985] . I lived alone then and now.” Administrative Record at 42-44.

Plaintiff received a notice of hearing around March 5, 1986. The notice indicated that the hearing would concern “whether or not the claimant’s resources exceeded the $1,500.00 limit from March 1984 through December 1984.” Administrative Record at 17.

[391]*391A hearing was held on April 22, 1986 before Administrative Law Judge Michael Friedman (the “AU”). At the hearing, Buchbinder testified, through a Spanish interpreter, that the $3,000 was not given to him for his personal use. He explained that Elaine Owen (“Owen”), his nephew’s “girlfriend,” gave him the advance to cover his expenses in locating his nephew’s heirs in Poland and Argentina. Apparently, Buchbinder was unable to contact these people through the American Embassies. Administrative Record at 26. So, after spending nine months locating the relatives, id. at 29, plaintiff attempted to visit them in person. Plaintiff traveled to Poland in December, 1984 and Argentina in May, 1985. He testified that he never intended to “live on” the $3,000 or spend it for his “personal use.” Id. at 29. The funds were used to pay for “expenses to search for the heirs of Fred.” Id. at 30. His testimony was corroborated by the notarized statement of Janet Ingoglia, Owen’s sister: “I witnessed the money exchange of $3,000.00 between Ksiel Buchbinder and my sister Elaine Owen in March of 1984. This money was for family business and not for Mr. Buchbinder’s personal use.” Id. at 57. Buchbinder also produced his passport which indicated that he traveled to Poland and Argentina on the dates in question. Id. at 59-63.

Plaintiff testified that he “never lived” with his wife. Administrative Record at 30. Buchbinder admitted that he “was married on April 24, 1985.” Id. at 31. At that time, plaintiff lived in “a beautiful room” which he had been renting for four years in Manhattan at 231 West 96th Street. Id. at 31-32. His wife was then living in Brooklyn with her sister. Buchbinder inquired as to whether his wife would be allowed to move in with him, but discovered that his building was only for men. Id. at 32. Before the marriage, plaintiff’s fiancé, Marsel Romov (“Marsel”), found a small furnished room in a basement in Brooklyn. Id. at 34-35. Marsel “never told [Buchbinder] the kind of room she was renting,” and Buchbinder never saw it. Id. at 35. Plaintiff signed the lease as a co-tenant with Marsel, Id. at 49-50, but he did not contribute to the rent, and refused to live there. Id. at 33. Buchbinder testified that his diabetes made it impossible for him to move to Brooklyn. Id. at 34. Moreover, Buchbinder preferred to remain in the familiar surroundings of Manhattan. He testified: “I don’t know anybody in Brooklyn. I know [sic] a friend in Brooklyn, have nothing____ She has the family in Brooklyn.” Id. at 35. Apparently, Buchbinder’s refusal to move to Brooklyn with his wife resulted in considerable friction for the couple. Id. at 35.

On May 7, 1986, the AU ruled that Buchbinder was overpaid benefits in the sum of $4,387.36, and that the Secretary had not waived recovery of the overpayment. Administrative Record at 10-14. The AU noted that there was “no written agreement” regarding Buchbinder’s use of the $3,000. He concluded that the funds “represented a resource to the claimant” since Buchbinder “had absolute ownership and was able to use the funds in any way he saw fit.” Id. at 12-13.

The AU found Buchbinder’s testimony that he did not live with his wife “not credible.” Specifically, the AU rejected Buchbinder’s assertion that “sickness” prevented him from moving to Brooklyn in April, 1985, in light of the fact that plaintiff traveled to Poland around that time. Relying on the “lease signed by the claimant indicating that he and his wife were renting a room starting May 1, 1985,” the AU concluded that Buchbinder lived with his wife during the relevant time period. Administrative Record at 13.

The Appeals Council denied plaintiff’s request for review of the AU’s decision on August 5, 1986. Administrative Record at 2. Buchbinder thereafter commenced this action.

DISCUSSION

The Scope of Review

The Act provides that “the findings of the Secretary as to any fact, if supported by substantial evidence, shall be conclusive.” 42 U.S.C. § 1383(c)(3); see Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. [392]*3921420, 1427, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971); Donato v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 721 F.2d 414, 418 (2d Cir.1983). “Substantial evidence” means “ ‘more than a mere scintilla. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.’” Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401, 91 S.Ct.

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Bluebook (online)
709 F. Supp. 389, 1989 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2516, 1989 WL 23281, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/buchbinder-v-bowen-nysd-1989.