Mattox v. O'Malley

Opinion

CLERK'S OFFICE U.S. DISTRICT COURT IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT AT ROANOKE, VA FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA May 16.202 4 BY: s/ S. Neily, Deputy Clerk LILLIE M., O/B/O X.T., a minor child, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) Civil Action No: 7:22-CV-00676 v. ) ) MARTIN O’MALLEY, ) COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, _ ) ) Defendant. ) OPINION AND ORDER This social security disability appeal was referred to the Honorable C. Kailani Memmer, United States Magistrate Judge, for proposed findings of fact and a recommended disposition pursuant to 29 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B). Judge Memmer filed a report and recommendation (“R&R”) on March 5, 2024, recommending that this court deny Plaintiffs summary judgment motion, grant the Commissioner’s summary judgment motion, and affirm the Commissioner’s final decision. Plaintiff filed objections to the R&R and this matter is now ripe for consideration. I overrule Plaintiff’s objections, adopt Judge Memmer’s R&R in its entirety, and grant the Commissioner’s summary judgment motion. 1. BACKGROUND The court adopts the recitation of facts and procedural background as set forth in the R&R. Il. DISCUSSION A. Standard of Review Where, as here, a matter has been referred to a magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1), the court reviews de novo the portions of the report or specified proposed findings

or recommendations to which a timely objection has been made. Elijah v. Dunbar, 66 F.4th 454, 460 (4th Cir. 2023); see also 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). For an objection to trigger de novo review, an objecting party “must object to the finding or recommendation on that issue with sufficient specificity so as reasonably to alert the district court of the true ground for the objection.” United States v. Midgette, 478, F.3d 616, 622 (4th Cir. 2007). “If a litigant objects

only generally, the district court reviews the magistrate’s recommendation for clear error only.” Elijah, 66 F.4th at 460 (citing Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005)). Objections need not be novel to be sufficiently specific. Id. In fact, district courts are “not required to consider new arguments posed in objections to the magistrate’s recommendation.” Id. at n. 3 (citation omitted). In the absence of objections, the district court reviews the R&R for clear error and is not required to explain its reasoning for adopting the report. Farmer v. McBride, 177 F. App’x 327, 331 (4th Cir. 2006) (citing Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 200 (4th Cir. 1983)); Diamond, 416 F.3d at 315. The district judge may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings and

recommendations in the R&R. Id. When reviewing the decision of an ALJ, the court must uphold the factual findings and final decision of the Commissioner if they are supported by substantial evidence and were reached through application of the correct legal standard. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g); Biestek v. Berryhill, 139 S. Ct. 1148, 1152 (2019). “Substantial evidence is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion; it consists of more than a mere scintilla of evidence but may be somewhat less than a preponderance.” Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d 585, 589 (4th Cir. 1996) (internal citations and alterations omitted); see also Biestek, 139 S. Ct. at 1154 (emphasizing that the standard for substantial evidence “is not high”). “In reviewing for substantial evidence, [the court should not] undertake to re-weigh conflicting evidence, make credibility determinations, or substitute [its] judgment for that of the [Commissioner].” Mastro v. Apfel, 270 F.3d 171, 176 (4th Cir. 2001) (quoting Craig v. Chater, 76 F.3d at 589). However, a reviewing court should not “reflexively rubber-stamp an ALJ’s findings,” Lewis v. Berryhill, 858 F.3d 858, 870 (4th Cir. 2017).

B. Analysis

Plaintiff objects to the following aspects of the R&R:

1) The R&R erred by concluding that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision that X.T. had less than a marked limitation in Acquiring and Using Information (Domain I).

2) The R&R erred by concluding that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision that X.T. had less than a marked limitation in Attending and Completing Tasks (Domain II).

3) The R&R erred by finding that the ALJ’s assessment that X.T.’s limitations in Domain I improved between the February and September 2020 teacher questionnaires was supported by substantial evidence even though the ALJ mischaracterized the results of the questionnaires.

4) The R&R erred by finding that the ALJ’s conclusion that X.T.’s limitations in Domain II improved between the February and September 2020 teacher questionnaires was supported by substantial evidence even though the ALJ mischaracterized the results of the questionnaires.

5) The R&R erred by concluding that substantial evidence supports the ALJ’s decision that X.T. had less than a marked limitation in Domain II even though the ALJ did not consider the accommodations XT received at school.

6) The R&R erred by finding that the ALJ adequately explained how he arrived at his conclusion that Lillie and X.T.’s allegations were not entirely consistent with the evidence of record.

7) The R&R erred by concluding that the ALJ properly built a logical bridge between the evidence and his assessment of the Lillie and X.T.’s allegations.

I have conducted a careful de novo review of Plaintiff’s objections, the record, the R&R, the arguments of counsel, and the applicable law, and agree with the magistrate judge’s recommendation. I find that the magistrate judge applied the proper standard of review, that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the ALJ’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, and that the ALJ’s decision is in accord with relevant case precedent. III. CONCLUSION Accordingly, it is ORDERED as follows:

1. Plaintiff’s Objections to the R&R, Dkt. 28, are DENIED; 2. The Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation, Dkt. 27, is fully ACCEPTED and ADOPTED; 3. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. 17, is DENIED; 4. The Commissioner’s Motion for Summary Judgment, Dkt. 24, is GRANTED; 5. The decision of the Commissioner is AFFIRMED, and; 6. A separate final judgment will be entered. Entered: May 15, 2024

Robert S. Ballou Robert S. Ballou United States District Judge