Freeman v. Commissioner of Social Security

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

LISA FREEMAN,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No: 8:23-cv-478-JSS

COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY,

Defendant. ___________________________________/ ORDER Defendant Commissioner of Social Security (Commissioner) moves, pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), that this action be reversed and remanded to the Commissioner for the following reasons: Upon remand, the Commissioner will reconsider findings at the relevant steps of the sequential evaluation process, including but not limited to a reevaluation of the Plaintiff's ability to perform work that exists in significant numbers on the national economy. (Motion, Dkt. 26.) Plaintiff has no objection to the requested relief. (Id.) Pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), the court has the “power to enter, upon the pleadings and transcript of the record, a judgment affirming, modifying, or reversing the decision of the Commissioner of Social Security, with or without remanding the cause for a rehearing.” 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). When a case is remanded under sentence four of § 405(g), the district court’s jurisdiction over the plaintiff’s case is terminated. Jackson v. Chater, 99 F.3d 1086, 1095 (11th Cir. 1996); Sullivan v. Finkelstein, 496 U.S. 617, 625 (1990) (finding that a district court’s order remanding under sentence four of § 405(g) “terminated the civil action challenging the Secretary’s final determination that respondent was not entitled to benefits”).

“Immediate entry of judgment (as opposed to entry of judgment after postremand agency proceedings have been completed and their resulted filed with the court) is in fact the principal feature that distinguishes a sentence-four remand from a sentence- six remand.” Shalala v. Shaefer, 509 U.S. 292, 297 (1993). A remand under sentence four of § 405(g) “is based upon a determination that

the Commissioner erred in some respect in reaching the decision to deny benefits.” Jackson, 99 F.3d at 1095. Here, the Commissioner concedes error by requesting a reversal of the Commissioner’s decision. See (Dkt. 26.) Accordingly:

1. The Commissioner’s Unopposed Motion for Entry of Judgment Under Sentence Four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) with Reversal and Remand of the Cause to the Defendant (Dkt. 26) is GRANTED. 2. The Commissioner’s decision denying Plaintiff’s application for Social Security benefits is REVERSED.

3. The case is REMANDED to the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings consistent with the reasons stated in the Commissioner’s Motion (Dkt. 26) and this order. 4. The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in Plaintiffs favor, terminate all other pending motions, and close this case. ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on October 30, 2023.

JUEIE $. SNEED UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Copies furnished to: Counsel of Record

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