Melvin A. Prince v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security

CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Alabama
DecidedNovember 21, 2025
Docket1:24-cv-00370
StatusUnknown

This text of Melvin A. Prince v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security (Melvin A. Prince v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Melvin A. Prince v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, (S.D. Ala. 2025).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA SOUTHERN DIVISION

MELVIN A. PRINCE, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) v. ) CIVIL ACTION NO. 24-370-MU ) FRANK BISIGNANO, ) Commissioner of Social Security,1 ) ) Defendant. )

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Plaintiff Melvin A. Price brings this action, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), seeking judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security (“the Commissioner”) denying his claim for a period of disability and Disability Insurance Benefits (“DIB”) under Title II of the Social Security Act (“the Act”) and for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), based on disability, under Title XVI of the Act. The parties have consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by the Magistrate Judge, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), for all proceedings in this Court. (Doc. 6 (“In accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73, the parties in this case consent to have a United States Magistrate Judge conduct any and all proceedings in this case…order the entry of a final judgment, and conduct all post-judgment proceedings.”)). Upon consideration of the administrative record, Plaintiff’s brief, the Commissioner’s brief, and oral argument presented at the April 14, 2025, hearing before the undersigned

1 Frank Bisignano became the Commissioner of Social Security on May 7, 2025. Pursuant to Rule 25(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), Frank Bisignano is substituted for Michelle King as the defendant in this action. Magistrate Judge, it is determined that the Commissioner’s decision denying benefits should be affirmed.2 I. PROCEDURAL HISTORY Prince applied for a period of disability and DIB, under Title II of the Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 423-425, on September 23, 2019, alleging disability beginning on September 1, 2019.

(Doc. 10, PageID.235-237). His application was denied at the initial level of administrative review on January 16, 2020, upon reconsideration on March 9, 2020, and, after a hearing, by Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Robert Waller on September 15, 2020. (Doc. 10, PageID.45-64). The Appeals Council denied review of othe the ALJ's decision on January 12, 2021. (Doc. 10, PageID.28-40). On April 19, 2022, the U.S. District Court reversed and remanded the Commissioner's final decision. (Doc. 10, PageID.702-730). The Appeals Council then remanded the decision back to the ALJ on June 15, 2022. (Doc. 10, PageID.790-794). In its remand order, the Appeals Council noted that Prince had filed a subsequent claim for Title II and Title XVI disability benefits on March 17, 2021, and

instructed the ALJ to consolidate Prince's two claim files, associate the evidence, and issue a new decision on the consolidated claims. (Doc. 10, PageID.792). After the remand, Prince testified again before ALJ Robert Waller on January 30, 2023. (Doc. 10, PageID.683-700). ALJ Waller again issued an unfavorable decision on February 15, 2023. (Doc. 10, PageID.806-830). The Appeals Council then remanded the case to a different Administrative Law Judge on September 8, 2023. (Doc. 10, PageID.831-836). In its remand order, the Appeals Council instructed the ALJ to: (1)

2 Any appeal taken from this Order and Judgment shall be made to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. See Doc. 6. (“An appeal from a judgment entered by a Magistrate Judge shall be taken directly to the United States Court of Appeals for the judicial circuit in the same manner as an appeal from any other judgment of this district court.”). consolidate the claims files, associate the evidence, and issue a new decision on the consolidated claims (as directed by the prior remand order), (2) evaluate the nature and severity of the claimant's headaches, and (3) give further consideration to the claimant's maximum residual functional capacity and provide appropriate rationale with specific references to evidence of record in support of the assessed limitations. (Doc. 10,

PageID.834). Prince then testified at a hearing before ALJ Laura Robinson on March 18, 2024. (Doc. 10, PageID.661-682). ALJ Robinson issued an unfavorable decision on June 21, 2024. (Doc. 10, PageID.636-660). Prince filed exceptions with the Appeals Council, but he withdrew his exceptions to pursue his claim in district court, rendering the ALJ’s decision final. (Doc. 10, PageID.625). After exhausting his administrative remedies, Prince sought judicial review in this Court, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). (Doc. 1). The Commissioner filed the social security transcript on January 8, 2025. (Doc. 10). Both parties filed briefs setting forth their respective positions. (Docs. 11, 12). Oral argument was held before the undersigned

Magistrate Judge on April 14, 2025. (Doc. 14). II. CLAIMS ON APPEAL Prince alleges the ALJ committed reversible error in violation of Social Security Regulations 20 C.F.R. §416.945, 20 C.F.R. §404.1545, and Social Security Ruling 96-8p in that the ALJ's residual functional capacity (“RFC”) determination at the fifth step of the sequential evaluation process was not supported by substantial evidence. (Doc. 11, PageID.1372). III. BACKGROUND FACTS Prince was born on June 27, 1979, and was forty years old on his alleged onset date and forty-five years old on the date he was last insured for DIB. (Doc. 10, PageID.235). He has an 11th grade education and past work experience as a deckhand, industrial cleaner, and a construction worker. (Doc. 10, PageID.240). Prince's last date of work was in August 2019 as a deckhand. (Doc. 10, PageID.259, 995). Prince alleged

that he is unable to work due to seizure disorder, migraine headache disorder, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hearing loss. (Doc. 10, PageID.642). IV. ALJ’S DECISION The ALJ considered all the evidence of record and evaluated Prince's claim in accordance with the five-step sequential evaluation process set forth in the regulations. (Doc. 10, PageID.639-653). The ALJ determined Prince last met the insured status requirements of the Act on December 31, 2024 (“date last insured”). (Doc. 10, PageID.642). At step one of the sequential disability evaluation, the ALJ found Prince had not engaged in substantial gainful activity from his alleged onset date through his date

last insured. (Doc. 10, PageID.642). At step two, the ALJ found that through his date last insured, Prince had the following severe impairments: seizures, migraine headache disorder, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and hearing loss. (Doc. 10, PageID.642). At step three, the ALJ determined, through the date last insured, Prince did not have an impairment or combination of impairments that met or medically equaled the severity of one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R.

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Melvin A. Prince v. Frank Bisignano, Commissioner of Social Security, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/melvin-a-prince-v-frank-bisignano-commissioner-of-social-security-alsd-2025.