Chenoweth v. Weinberger

421 F. Supp. 955, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12673
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Missouri
DecidedOctober 20, 1976
DocketNo. 73 CV 426-W-1
StatusPublished

This text of 421 F. Supp. 955 (Chenoweth v. Weinberger) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chenoweth v. Weinberger, 421 F. Supp. 955, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12673 (W.D. Mo. 1976).

Opinion

[956]*956MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

JOHN W. OLIVER, District Judge.

In our order of June 18, 1974, Chenoweth v. Weinberger, 376 F.Supp. 1338 (W.D.Mo. 1974), we denied the defendant’s motion to dismiss and remanded the case back to the Secretary to determine whether the requirements of res judicata under 20 CFR 404.937(a) were met, or whether the evidence met the criteria for the reopening of cases under 20 CFR 404.957 and 404.958. The matter is again before us. On remand the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare found that “good cause” did not exist to reopen petitioner’s February 21, 1968 application and further that claimant’s request for a hearing should be dismissed because of the application of the “res judicata doctrine.” This matter presently pends on plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and defendant’s motion for dismissal.

Plaintiff asserts (a) that a review of the merits should not be barred by res judicata; (b) that 20 CFR 404.957 should not bar the reopening of the application; and (c) that the Secretary’s prior finding of no disability on or before June 30, 1967 is not supported by substantial evidence. The government contends this Court does not have jurisdiction to review this case because of the application of Section 205(h) of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S. C.A. § 405(h).

For the reasons set forth below, we find and conclude that review of this action is not barred, as suggested by the Secretary. We further find and conclude that the decision of the Secretary denying benefits to the plaintiff must be reversed. Accordingly, the Secretary’s motion to dismiss will be denied and he will be directed to grant plaintiff’s claim for disability benefits.

I. Background of the Controversy

Mr. Chenoweth is a 56 year old man with only an 11th grade education and no other formal training. On February of 1947 he received a medical discharge from the army as a result of ailments including ulcers and hypertension. He filed his initial pro se application for disability benefits under the Social Security Act on October 2, 1963, alleging his inability to work since August 15, 1962, because of emphysema, heart spasms and nerves. That application was denied on November 18, 1963. A second pro se application was filed on March 16, 1966, alleging inability to work since August 15, 1962, due to emphysema, heart spasms, nervous condition and the complete loss of hearing in his left ear. That application was denied on September 2, 1966. A third pro se application was filed on February 21, 1968, alleging his inability to work since October, 1963 as a result of emphysema, nervous condition, and heart spasms. That application was denied on May 17, 1968. Plaintiff filed a fourth pro se application on July 12,1971 alleging an inability to work since 1961, due to chronic emphysema, ulcers, hernia, and a heart condition. That application was denied initially and again on reconsideration. On November 4, 1972 plaintiff filed a request for a hearing which was dismissed on January 17,1973 on the basis of res judicata. This civil action was filed on July 31, 1973.

II. Applicability of the Doctrine of Res Judicata

In pertinent part, § 205(g) of the Social Security Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), provides as follows:

Any individual after any final decision of the Secretary made after a hearing to which he was a party, irrespective of the amount in controversy, may obtain a review of such decision by a civil action commenced within sixty days after the mailing to him of notice of such decision or within such time as the Secretary may allow. .

The Secretary maintains that the final decision in this case within the meaning of § 405(g) is the decision of the administrative judge’s determination on May 17, 1968. The Secretary contends that such decision became final by the failure of plaintiff to appeal and to file within sixty days of that date, an action seeking review of that deci[957]*957sion in the appropriate federal court. Therefore, contends the Secretary, the dismissal of plaintiff’s July 12, 1971 application for benefits was proper by reason of the application of res judicata doctrine pursuant to 20 CFR § 404.937(a), which provides that the hearing examiner may upon his own motion dismiss a hearing request:

. where there has been a previous determination or decision by the Secretary with respect to the rights of the same party on the same facts pertinent to the same issue or issues which has become final either by judicial affirmance or, without judicial consideration, upon the claimant’s failure to timely request reconsideration hearing, or review, or to commence a civil action with respect to such determination or decision.

Although that regulation would appear to be dispositive of the issues presented in this action, a closer scrutiny of other regulations applicable to the reopening of prior determinations of the Secretary indicates that the Secretary’s argument is not tenable.

20 CFR § 404.957 provides that an initial or reconsidered decision of a hearing examiner or of the Appeals Council which is otherwise final,1 may be reopened in the following pertinent circumstances:

(b) . . . within 4 years after the date of the notice of the initial determination ... to the party to such determination, upon a finding of good cause for reopening or decision, or
(c) At any time when .
(8) Such initial or reconsidered determination or decision is unfavorable in whole or in part, to the party thereto but only for the purpose of correcting clerical error or error on the face of the evidence on which such determination or decision was based.

As used in § 404.957(b), “good cause” for reopening a decision exists when:

(a) new and material evidence is furnished after notice to the party to the initial determination;
(b) A clerical error has been made in the computation or recomputation of benefits;
(c) There is an error as to such determination or decision on the face of the evidence on which such determination or decision is based.

See 20 CFR § 404.958.

The hearing officer’s decision with respect to the 1971 application for benefits was that the additional evidence proffered was not sufficiently new and material within the meaning of § 404.957(g) and § 404.-958(a) to warrant the reopening of the decision which denied plaintiff’s 1968 application.

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421 F. Supp. 955, 1976 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12673, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chenoweth-v-weinberger-mowd-1976.