Parker v. Heckler

626 F. Supp. 188, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12192, 12 Soc. Serv. Rev. 659
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Tennessee
DecidedDecember 31, 1985
DocketNo. 83-1300
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 626 F. Supp. 188 (Parker v. Heckler) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Parker v. Heckler, 626 F. Supp. 188, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12192, 12 Soc. Serv. Rev. 659 (W.D. Tenn. 1985).

Opinion

ORDER REMANDING CAUSE TO SECRETARY

TODD, District Judge.

Plaintiff, Randy Parker, filed this action to obtain judicial review of defendant Secretary’s final decision denying his applications for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income benefits under Sections 223 and 1611 of the Social Security Act (hereinafter “Act”), as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 423, 1382). Plaintiff’s applications were denied initially and upon reconsideration by the Social Security Administration. The determination that plaintiff did not meet the disability requirements under the Act was affirmed by an administrative law judge (AU) on de novo review. The Appeals Council’s approval on October 21, 1983, of the AU’s determination that plaintiff was not entitled to benefits became the Secretary’s final decision.

Plaintiff then filed this action, requesting that this Court reverse the Secretary’s decision on the grounds that no substantial evidence exists in the record to support the decision of the defendant. Plaintiff also [189]*189contends that the Secretary erred in refusing to reopen or revise prior applications by plaintiff for benefits and in failing to evaluate his applications under SSR 83-15, 83-16, and 83-17. Defendant asserts that her decision is supported by substantial evidence and that her refusal to reopen or revise the prior decisions may not be reviewed by this Court.

Under 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), judicial review in this court is limited to determining whether or not there is substantial evidence to support the Secretary’s decision. Allen v. Califano, 613 F.2d 139 (6th Cir.1980). When the findings of the Secretary are supported by substantial evidence, they are conclusive and must be affirmed. Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 1427, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971).

HISTORY OF THE CASE

At the time of the administrative hearing, plaintiff was a twenty-seven year old male with past work experience as a barber and as an unskilled laborer for a farm, a restaurant and a grocery store. Plaintiff finished the twelfth grade, but attended special education classes for grades nine through twelve. Although plaintiff alleged that he had been disabled since birth, it appears from the record that plaintiff has worked in the past and has been unable to work since October 1981.

The administrative hearing in this case was held on January 28, 1983, at Jackson, Tennessee. Plaintiff was represented by counsel at the hearing and both he and his father testified. He alleged that he was under a disability due to cerebral palsy, a hearing impairment, a nervous condition, and spasticity of his motor functions due to his cerebral palsy.

The ALJ concluded that plaintiff had met the special disability earnings requirements of the Act since December 1978, but that he was not disabled within the meaning of the Act and regulations promulgated thereunder. This latter conclusion was based upon the finding that although plaintiff has severe back and leg problems, he retained the residual functional capacity to do sedentary work except for work involving excessive walking, bending, stooping, reaching, and heavy lifting. These findings were based upon consideration of the record and observation of the plaintiff at the hearing.

ANALYSIS

The Social Security Act defines disability as the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity for claims under both the disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income provisions of the Act. 42 U.S.C. §§ 423, 1382(c). Similarly, the standard for judicial review of the Secretary’s decisions under the Act is the same for both types of claims. 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). Accordingly, the two claims in this case will be considered together and social security disability insurance cases will be cited for both as appropriate.

Under §§ 405 and 1383, the initial burden in an administrative hearing is on the claimant to show that he is disabled from engaging in his former employment. Once this is done, the burden shifts to the Secretary to demonstrate the existence of available employment compatible with the claimant’s disability and background. Gray v. Finch, 427 F.2d 336 (6th Cir.1970). The burden of proving disability rests on the claimant. Ragan v. Finch, 435 F.2d 239 (6th Cir.1970), cert. denied, 402 U.S. 986, 91 S.Ct. 1685, 29 L.Ed.2d 153 (1971).

A. Administrative Res Judicata

As noted above, plaintiff alleged not only that the Secretary’s decision on his present application should be reversed, but also that her decision not to reopen or revise prior decisions denying plaintiff benefits was erroneous. Before considering the present application, the issue raised by defendant’s refusal to reopen or revise the prior applications will be addressed.

After attempting to work following graduation from high school and a vocational training class, plaintiff applied for disability benefits. That application was ap[190]*190proved, and plaintiff received benefits from June 6, 1978, through December 17, 1979. His benefits were stopped at that time by his request, because he wanted to “make it on his own.” After attempting to work for approximately six months, plaintiff then reapplied for disability benefits on June 11, 1980, alleging that his disability had never ceased. That application was denied and an administrative hearing was scheduled on plaintiffs request. Because he failed to give an adequate mailing address, the defendant’s attempts to notify him of the hearing date were returned and the hearing request dismissed. Plaintiff appealed that dismissal to the Appeals Council, however, the Council determined that the dismissal was proper. Plaintiff did not pursue judicial review of that decision.

As part of his present applications and administrative proceedings, plaintiff requested that the AU reopen or revise his 1979 termination and/or the decision on his 1980 application. That request was denied by the AU on the basis of 20 C.F.R. § 416.1488 as not being within the time period authorized by that section for reopening a decision.’ Plaintiff now alleges on appeal that subpart (c) of § 416.1488 permits reopening at any time if the decision sought to be reopened “was obtained by fraud or similar fault.” According to plaintiff, his mental disabilities and the fact that he was not represented by counsel during the period in which he should have appealed the decision constitute such “similar fault” as to justify reopening the decision.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
626 F. Supp. 188, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12192, 12 Soc. Serv. Rev. 659, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parker-v-heckler-tnwd-1985.