Cobbins v. Commissioner of Social Security

32 F. Supp. 3d 126, 2012 WL 960939, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38298
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 21, 2012
DocketNo. 1:09-CV-1305 (FJS/VEB)
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 32 F. Supp. 3d 126 (Cobbins v. Commissioner of Social Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cobbins v. Commissioner of Social Security, 32 F. Supp. 3d 126, 2012 WL 960939, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38298 (N.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

ORDER

SCULLIN, Senior District Judge.

Plaintiff commenced this action on November 23, 2009, seeking judicial review of Defendant’s final decision denying him supplement security income benefits and .disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act. See Dkt. No. 1. Defendant filed an answer on March 8, 2010. See Dkt. No. 8. Plaintiff filed a supporting brief on March 22, 2010, see Dkt. No. 9; and Defendant filed a brief in opposition on March 29, 2010, see Dkt. No. 10.

Proceeding as if both parties had accompanied their briefs with a motion for judgment on the pleadings, see Gen. Order No. 18, Magistrate Judge Bianchini recommended that the Court grant Defendant’s motion and deny Plaintiffs motion. See Dkt. No. 12 at 15-16. The parties did not file any objections to these recommendations.

When a party does not object to a magistrate judge’s report-recommendation, the court reviews that report-recommendation for clear error or manifest injustice. See Linares v. Mahunik, No. 9:05-CV-625, 2009 WL 3165660, *10 (N.D.N.Y. July 16, 2009) (citation and footnote omitted). After conducting this review, “the Court may ‘accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the ... recommendations made by the magistrate judge.’ ” Id. (quoting 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C)).

The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Bianchini’s March 1, 2012 Report and Recommendation for clear error and manifest injustice; and, finding none, the Court hereby

ORDERS that Magistrate Judge Bian-chini’s March 1, 2012 Report and Recommendation is ACCEPTED in its entirety for the reasons stated therein; and the Court further

ORDERS that Plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings is DENIED; and the Court further

ORDERS that Defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED; and the Court further

ORDERS that Defendant’s final decision denying benefits is AFFIRMED; and the Court further

ORDERS that the Clerk of the Court shall enter judgment in favor of Defendant and close this case.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

VICTOR E. BIANCHINI, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

In July of 2006, Plaintiff Percy S. Cob-bins filed an application for supplemental security income (“SSI”) benefits and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”) under the Social Security Act.. Plaintiff alleges that he has been unable to work since October of 2005 due to physical impairments. The Commissioner of Social Security denied Plaintiffs applications..

[130]*130Plaintiff, by and through his attorney, Peter M. Margolius, Esq., commenced this action on November 23, 2009, seeking judicial review of the Commissioner’s decision pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3).

The Honorable Norman A. Mordue, Chief United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for a Report and Recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B). (Docket No. 11).

II. BACKGROUND

The relevant procedural history may be summarized as follows:

Plaintiff applied for SSI benefits and DIB on July 3, 2006, alleging disability beginning on October 9, 2005. The applications were denied initially and Plaintiff timely requested a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). A hearing was held on May 8, 2009, in Abany, New York, before ALJ Terence Farrell. Plaintiff appeared with a non-attorney representative and testified. Testimony was also received from Julie Andrews, a vocational expert. (T at 15, 401-36).1

On May 29, 2009, ALJ Farrell issued a written decision denying Plaintiffs applications. (T at 15-28). The ALJ’s decision became the Commissioner’s final decision on September 30, 2009, when the Appeals Council denied Plaintiffs request for. review. (T at 3-5).

Plaintiff, through counsel, timely commenced this action on November 23, 2009. (Docket No. 1). The Commissioner interposed an Answer on March 8, 2010. (Docket No. 8). Plaintiff filed a supporting Brief on March 22, 2010. (Docket No. 9). The Commissioner filed a Brief in opposition on March 29, 2010. (Docket No. 10).

Pursuant to General Order No. 18, issued by the Chief District Judge of the Northern District of New York on September 12, 2003, this Court will proceed as if both parties had accompanied their briefs with a motion for judgment on the pleadings.2

For the reasons that follow, it is respectfully recommended that the Commissioner’s motion be granted, Plaintiffs motion be denied, and this case be dismissed.

III. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

A court reviewing a denial of disability benefits may not determine de novo whether an individual is disabled. See 42, U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3); Wagner v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 906 F.2d 856, 860 (2d Cir.1990). Rather, the Commissioner’s determination will only be reversed if the correct legal standards were not applied, or it was not supported by substantial evidence. Johnson v. Bowen, 817 F.2d 983, 986 (2d Cir.1987) (“Where there is a reasonable basis for doubt whether the ALJ applied correct legal principles, application of the substantial evidence standard to uphold a finding of no disability creates an unacceptable risk that a claimant will be deprived of the right to have her disability determination made according to the correct legal principles.”); see Grey v. Heckler, 721 F.2d 41, 46 (2d Cir.1983); Marcus v. Califano, 615 F.2d 23, 27 (2d Cir.1979).

[131]*131“Substantial evidence” is evidence that amounts to “more than a mere scintilla,” and it has been defined as “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 1427, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971). Where evidence is deemed susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the Commissioner’s conclusion must be upheld. See Rutherford v. Schweiker, 685 F.2d 60, 62 (2d Cir.1982).

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32 F. Supp. 3d 126, 2012 WL 960939, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38298, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cobbins-v-commissioner-of-social-security-nynd-2012.