George W. KRUMPELMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Margaret M. HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Defendant-Appellee

767 F.2d 586, 1985 U.S. App. LEXIS 20925, 10 Soc. Serv. Rev. 238
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedJuly 29, 1985
Docket84-6512
StatusPublished
Cited by54 cases

This text of 767 F.2d 586 (George W. KRUMPELMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Margaret M. HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Defendant-Appellee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
George W. KRUMPELMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Margaret M. HECKLER, Secretary of Health and Human Services, Defendant-Appellee, 767 F.2d 586, 1985 U.S. App. LEXIS 20925, 10 Soc. Serv. Rev. 238 (9th Cir. 1985).

Opinion

TANG, Circuit Judge.

Krumpelman brought suit in district court for review of a decision of Secretary Heckler denying disability insurance benefits. He alleged jurisdiction under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). We affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the Secretary.

FACTS

On May 2, 1980, plaintiff George W. Krumpelman, a 42-year old stage technician, was injured in an accident while working with co-workers in moving heavy trees. On July 28, 1980, Krumpelman filed an application for disability insurance benefits for head, back, and neck injuries commencing on May 3, 1980. The application was denied, and on December 7, 1980, it was again denied upon reconsideration notice. Krumpelman did not seek an administrative hearing nor an appeal on this application.

On May 8,1981, Krumpelman filed a new application for disability benefits. This application again alleged the disability period commencing on May 3, 1980, and again alleged head, back, and neck injuries. This application was initially denied. On December 21, 1981, Krumpelman requested reconsideration, and indicated that he had commenced work on October 6, 1981, and therefore his application was for a closed period of disability from May 3, 1980 through October 6, 1981.

On June 8, 1983, Krumpelman appeared with counsel at an administrative hearing before AU Mallory C. Walker. 1 The AU’s decision was adopted as a final decision of the Secretary. The AU’s decision reviews in detail the additional exhibits submitted by Krumpelman’s counsel and Krumpelman’s testimony at the June 8 hearing. The AU then lists 11 findings. These findings break down into the resolution of two major issues.

First, the AU concluded that the Secretary’s denial of the disability application of July 28, 1980, was a final decision regarding disability for the period of May 3, 1980 through the December 7,1980 date of denial. The AU concluded that because Krumpelman did not pursue administrative review of that December 7, 1980 decision, it was final, binding, and after his review of the submitted evidence found that good cause did not exist for reopening that claim.

The second grouping of findings relate to the issue of whether plaintiff proved disability from January 1981 through October 6, 1981. The AU found that Krumpelman’s impairments did not prevent all substantial gainful work activity for a continuous period of not less than twelve months. Although the AU made findings regarding the credibility of Krumpelman’s testimony and the impact of the medical evidence, it is clear from the findings and additional language in the decision that the AU found that Krumpelman could not prevail because the period of January 1981 through October 1981 failed the 12 month continuous period requirement. 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A).

On cross-motions for summary judgment, the district court adopted a magistrate’s report and granted the Secretary’s motion for summary judgment. The Magistrate’s Report found jurisdiction improper under § 405(g), and that the period for which the prior determination was not conclusive did not meet the 12 month requirement of 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(1)(A). Krumpelman asserts on appeal that this court has *588 jurisdiction to review the AU’s decision, and that the AU denied him disability benefits on findings not supported by substantial evidence.

DISCUSSION

The district court has jurisdiction to review “final decisionfs]” of the Secretary under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). “[T]he Secretary’s decision not to re-open a previously adjudicated claim for social security benefits” is purely discretionary and is therefore not considered a “final” decision within the meaning of § 405(g). Davis v. Schweiker, 665 F.2d 934, 935 (9th Cir.1982). See Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 107-09, 97 S.Ct. 980, 985-86, 51 L.Ed.2d 192 (1977). District courts, therefore, have no jurisdiction to review a refusal to re-open a claim for disability benefits or a determination that such a claim is res judicata. Davis v. Schweiker, 665 F.2d at 935. Krumpelman appeals from the decision which, in part, is a refusal to re-open the prior final determination that Krumpelman was not disabled during the period of May 3, 1980 to December 7, 1980. The district court therefore correctly concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to review this determination, and that the Secretary’s prior decision was res judicata for this period. Id.

Krumpelman challenges the district court’s conclusion of lack of jurisdiction based on exceptions to the rule of Califano v. Sanders, as discussed in Thompson v. Schweiker, 665 F.2d 936 (9th Cir.1982), and McGowen v. Harris, 666 F.2d 60 (4th Cir. 1981). In Thompson v. Schweiker, this Circuit recognized that res judicata principles should not be so rigidly applied as to “contravene an overriding public policy or result in manifest injustice.” 665 F.2d at 940-41, quoting Tipler v. E.I. duPont deNemours & Co., 443 F.2d 125, 128 (6th Cir.1971)). The court further held that

... [wjhere the record is patently inadequate to support the findings the AU made, application of res judicata is tantamount to a denial of due process.

Id. at 941.

The allegations and facts in the present case do not rise to the level of those in the Thompson case. Here, Krumpelman’s allegations of manifest unfairness can be summarized as follows:

(1) The AU did not notify Krumpelman that his claim might be dismissed.on the basis of res judicata.
(2) Krumpelman was denied the opportunity to rebut “adverse hearsay evidence” allegedly considered by the AU.
(3) The AU’s conclusions were not supported by the record.

The Secretary points out persuasively that Krumpelman’s claim as to lack of notification of res judicata fails because Krumpelman does not show any prejudice from the alleged failure to give notice. Second, the challenged hearsay evidence is not identified. Additionally, plaintiff’s counsel was afforded an opportunity to comment on all of the evidence in the record after the hearing.

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767 F.2d 586, 1985 U.S. App. LEXIS 20925, 10 Soc. Serv. Rev. 238, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/george-w-krumpelman-plaintiff-appellant-v-margaret-m-heckler-ca9-1985.