Celkis ex rel. Mixan v. Apfel

987 F. Supp. 1069, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20653, 1997 WL 759835
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. Illinois
DecidedDecember 9, 1997
DocketNo. 96 C 1493
StatusPublished

This text of 987 F. Supp. 1069 (Celkis ex rel. Mixan v. Apfel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Celkis ex rel. Mixan v. Apfel, 987 F. Supp. 1069, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20653, 1997 WL 759835 (N.D. Ill. 1997).

Opinion

[1071]*1071 MEMORANDUM OPINION i\ND ORDER

MORTON DENLOW, United States Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff Melody Celkis (“Plaintiff’) brings this action on behalf of her son, Cory Mixan (“Cory”), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to review the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“Commissioner”) denying Plaintiffs claim for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. 423 et seq., and 1381 et seq. The Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) found that Cory, did not meet or equal the requirements of any.section of the Listing of Impairments in 20 C.F.R. Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1 (“the Listings”) and was not disabled. (Administrative Record (“A.R.”) at 18.)

This matter comes before the Court on cross motions for summary judgment. The issues the Court must decide are: (1) which standard to apply to Cory’s disability determination; and (2) whether substantial evidence in the record supports the ALJ’s finding that Cory did not meet or equal the requirements of any section of the Listing of Impairments. For the reasons set forth below, the Court grants Defendant’s motion for summary judgment, denies Plaintiff’s motion, and affirms the ALJ’s decision.

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Cory was born on August 6,1987, and was almost eight years old at the time of the ALJ’s decision. (A.R. at 69, 19.) Plaintiff first applied for SSI disability benefits for Cory on March 18, 1994. (A.R. at 69.) Plaintiff alleges that Cory was disabled beginning February 23, 1994, due to attention deficit’ hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”). (A.R. at 69, 101.) Cory has never worked. (A.R.‘ at 14.) Plaintiff’s application was denied initially, on request for reconsideration, at the hearing, and by the Appeals Council. (A.R. at 72, 78,14, 4.)

A. Testimony

Cory and his mother testified at a hearing before ALJ Dennis Greene on July 20, 1995. (A.R. at 33 — 68.) Cory testified that, other children’s parents would not allow him to visit in their homes because he acted bad. (A.R. at 45.) He explained that he had been in trouble at school for misbehaving on the bus, arguing and talking back to the teacher, talking out loud in the classroom, and moving around when he was not supposed to. (A.R. at 48-49.) Cory stated that at home he sometimes became angry with his mother, often fought with his brother, that he threw and broke things, and put a hole in the wall. (A.R. at 49-50.) He stated that he took Ritalin, up to three times a day, saw a doctor about once a month or more, and saw a counselor' periodically. (A.R. at 45-47.) Cory testified that he had gone to school at Riveredge for two months and described the “feelings room” there as a place where “you can pound on the walls or something like that when you’re mad.” (A.R. at 47-48.)

Plaintiff, Cory’s mother, testified that Cory is the middle child of her five children. (A.R. at 52.) She began having problems with Cory when he was about three years old and day care refused to keep him after a week. (A.R. at 53.) She had Cory’s hearing tested and had him evaluated for ADHD. (A.R. at 53-54.) Eventually, school officials suggested that Cory be evaluated by doctors at Loyola University. (A.R. at 54.) Dr. Robertson at Loyola started Cory on Ritalin. (A.R. at 55.) The Ritalin helped but was not completely successful. Id. The doctors also tried prescribing another drug for Cory but he was allergic to that medication. Id. Plaintiff stated that Cory had to go to Riveredge because he was misbehaving at school: screaming out, jumping around, and pinching peoplé. Id. Plaintiff discussed the problems she had with Cory at home: throwing objects, breaking windows and other objects, spray painting the house, putting holes in the wall, and fighting with his brother. (A.R. at 56-58.) Plaintiff testified that she will not allow Cory to participate on any athletic team activities because she is afraid he will not be able to control himself and will hurt someone. (A.R. at 58, 65.) She must watch Cory all the time because of such behavior as running out into the street without looking. (A.R. at 60-61.) Cory had been in special education classes and his school, Sunnyside, is a special school. (A.R. at 62.)

B. Medical Evidence

In July 1993, when Cory was five years old, he underwent psychological testing at [1072]*1072Alexian Brothers Medical Center Attention Deficit Disorder Clinic. (A.R. at 129.) John Noto, Ph.D., (“Dr. Noto”) was the clinical psychologist. He concluded that Cory demonstrated “no attention or concentration difficulties and does not present as hyperactive.” (A.R. at 133.) Dr. Noto found that Cory had depressive features and was developing antisocial behaviors. (A.R. at 134.) Dr. Noto diagnosed Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Depressive Disorder and recommended therapy. (A.R. at 134.)

Cory was first evaluated by Raymond E. Robertson, M.D., , (“Dr. Robertson”), Director, Child and Adolescent Program, Department of Psychiatry, Striteh School of Medicine, Loyola University, on February 23, 1994. (A.R. at 142-47.) Dr. Robertson diagnosed ADHD and started Cory on 5 milligrams of Ritalin twice a day. (A.R. at 147, 142.) After Plaintiff reported significant improvement and no side effects, Dr. Robertson increased Cory’s dosage to 10 milligrams twice a day on March 9, 1994. (A.R. at 142, 140.) Dr. Robertson reported on May 26, 1994, that since March 30, 1994, Cory had been taking 15 milligrams of Ritalin three times a day with “no side effects and significant benefits as reported by Cory and his mother as well as school staff.” (A.R. at 141.)

On June 21,1994, a reviewing psychologist, Helen Appleton, Ph.D., (“Dr. Appleton”) filled out an Individualized Functional Assessment (“IFA”) and Case Summary on Cory. (A.R. at 125-28.) Dr. Appleton based her review on the record as it existed at that date. (A.R. at 128.) Dr. Appleton indicated that Cory had less than moderate impairment in cognitive, social, and communicative development, and in concentration, persistence and pace; and moderate impairment in personal/behavioral development and function. (A.R. at 125-26.) Dr. Appleton concluded that Cory’s impairment did not substantially reduce his ability to grow, develop, and attain age-appropriate milestones and to engage in age-appropriate daily activities and that Cory was not functionally disabled. (A.R. at 128.)

On September 9, 1994, Dr. Robertson reported that, Cory was being seen once a month to monitor his response to medication and that ups,to that time, Cory had suffered no side - effects from the medication and had received positive benefits. (A.R. at 137.) Dr. Robertson added that Cory was “asymptomatic with medication, and his performance academically in school has improved one to two levels.” Id.

Despite being on medication, Cory was admitted to Riveredge Hospital on February 20, 1995, due to behavioral problems at school and on the school bus. (A.R. at 162.) Dr. Robertson was the attending psychiatrist, and Dr. Manjari Kumar was the psychiatry resident. (A.R. at 166.) In the Intake Assessment/Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment Plan, the DSM-III-R Symptom inventory was filled out as follows:

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987 F. Supp. 1069, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20653, 1997 WL 759835, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/celkis-ex-rel-mixan-v-apfel-ilnd-1997.