Harzewski v. Chater

977 F. Supp. 217, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13865, 1997 WL 577430
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedMay 6, 1997
DocketNo. 95-CV-1003A
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 977 F. Supp. 217 (Harzewski v. Chater) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harzewski v. Chater, 977 F. Supp. 217, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13865, 1997 WL 577430 (W.D.N.Y. 1997).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

ARCARA, District Judge.

On April 1, 1996, this case was referred to Magistrate Judge Carol E. Heckman, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), for report and recommendation on defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings. Magistrate Judge Heckman filed a Report and Recommendation on November 22, 1996, denying defendant’s motion and reversing the determination of the Commissioner of Social Security that plaintiff is not entitled to a waiver of recovery of overpayment of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits.

On December 10, 1996, defendant filed an objection to the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation. Defendant objects to the Magistrate Judge’s recommendation that plaintiff was not at fault in causing the overpayment. Defendant also contends that the Magistrate Judge erred in recommending that recovery of the overpayment be waived where the Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) did not make a determination as to whether recovery of the overpayment from plaintiff would: (1) defeat the purpose of Title XVI; (2) be against equity and good conscience;' or (3) impede efficient or effective administration of Title XVI.1

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), the Court has made a de novo review of the Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation. The Court has also reviewed the submissions of each of the parties and heard oral argument on the matter. Upon de novo review, the Court adopts Magistrate Judge Heckman’s proposed findings and recommendations for the reasons stated in the Report and Recommendation.

Additionally, contrary to defendant’s contentions, remand to the ALJ for determination of whether recovery of overpayment would: (1) defeat the purpose of Title XVI; (2) be against equity and good conscience; or (3) impede efficient or effective administration of Title XVI, is not required. Although remand to the ALJ pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), sentence four,2 may be appropriate where the ALJ did not reach thé issue, remand is not required where, as here, there is sufficient evidence in the record for the Court to make that determination. See e.g. Donath v. Sullivan, No. Civ. 88-461L, 1990 WL 299416 (W.D.N.Y. Oct.26, 1990); Villate v. Sullivan, 862 F.Supp. 514 (D.D.C.1994).

In this case, there -is sufficient evidence to conclude that recovery of the overpayment from plaintiff would be against equity and good conscience. As noted supra note 1, 42 U.S.C. § 1383(b)(1)(B) provides that recovery of an overpayment of benefits will be waived where the individual who received such benefits is without fault in caus[220]*220ing the overpayment and recovery of the overpayment would be “against equity and good conscience.” The phrase “against equity and good conscience” is not defined in Social Security Act (“Act”). The regulations interpreting the statute provide that recovery of an overpayment will be deemed to be “against equity and good conscience” where “an individual changed his or her position for the worse or relinquished a valuable right because of reliance upon ... the incorrect payment itself.” 20 C.F.R. 416.554. However, several courts, including the Western District of New York, have held that this regulatory interpretation of the phrase “against equity and good conscience” is too narrow and is inconsistent with the legislative history of the statute. See e.g. Groseclose v. Bowen, 809 F.2d 502 (8th Cir.1987); Quinlivan v. Sullivan, 916 F.2d 524 (9th Cir.1990); Marchese v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, 690 F.Supp. 162 (W.D.N.Y.1988). Rather, these courts have found that, in enacting the waiver of overpayment provisions of the Act, Congress intended the phrase “against equity and good conscience” to mean “a broad concept of fairness ... one that reflects the ordinary meaning of the statutory language and takes into account the facts and circumstances of each case.” Quinlivan, 916 F.2d at 527. The Court agrees that Congress intended the broader interpretation of the phrase “against equity and good conscience” to be used in determining whether recovery of overpayment should be waived.

Applying this broader interpretation, the Court finds that recovery of the overpayment from plaintiff would be against equity and good conscience. As Magistrate Judge noted in her Report and Recommendation, recovery of the overpayment from future SSI checks is impossible because Larry Harzewski, the claimant and plaintiffs brother, died in March 1995. Therefore, recovery of any overpayment would come directly from plaintiffs own personal funds. Since there is no evidence on the record that plaintiff ever misused the SSI funds or derived any benefit therefrom,3 it seems particularly inequitable to recover the overpayment from plaintiff where plaintiff was without fault in causing such overpayment.

Accordingly, the Court hereby: (1) adopts Magistrate Judge Heckman’s Report and Recommendation for the reasons set forth therein; (2) grants plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings; (3) denies defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings; and (4) reverses the Commissioner’s determination that plaintiff is not entitled to a waiver of recovery of the overpayment of SSI benefits. The Clerk of the Court is hereby ordered to enter judgment in favor of the plaintiff and to take all steps necessary to close this ease, without remand, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), sentence four.

IT IS ORDERED.

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

HECKMAN, Magistrate Judge.

This matter was referred to the undersigned by the Hon. Richard J. Arcara, to hear and report, in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). Plaintiff, acting pro se, brought this action pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) to seek review of the final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner”) that, as the former representative payee for his disabled brother Larry Harzewski, plaintiff is responsible for overpayments of Supplemental Security Income (“SSI” or “Title XVI”1) benefits. Both parties have moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(c). Plaintiff has also applied for appointment of counsel (Item 12).

For the following reasons, plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings should be granted, and defendant’s motion should be denied. Plaintiffs application for appointment of counsel is denied without prejudice.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Marino v. O'Malley
E.D. Virginia, 2025
Silvers v. Colvin
67 F. Supp. 3d 570 (W.D. New York, 2014)
Doyle v. Barnhart
361 F. Supp. 2d 1357 (M.D. Florida, 2005)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
977 F. Supp. 217, 1997 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13865, 1997 WL 577430, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harzewski-v-chater-nywd-1997.