Pena v. Commissioner of Social Security

• Court: District Court, S.D. Florida
• Decided: February 18, 2021
• Docket: 1:19-cv-25250
• Status: Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORID

CASE NO. 19-25250-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman

CARMEN PENA,

Plaintiff,

vs.

ANDREW M. SAUL, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration,

Defendant. _____________________________/

ORDER

On December 21, 2019, Plaintiff, Carmen Pena, filed a Complaint seeking review of Defendant’s decision denying her disability benefits under Title II and Title XVI of the Social Security Act. (See Compl. ¶ 1 [ECF No. 1]). The matter was referred to Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman for a report and recommendation on dispositive matters. (See Clerk’s Notice [ECF No. 6]). Thereafter Plaintiff filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (“Plaintiff’s Motion”) [ECF No. 20], and Defendant, Andrew Saul, Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, filed a Motion for Summary Judgment (“Defendant’s Motion”) [ECF No. 21]. On February 1, 2021, Magistrate Judge Goodman entered his Report and Recommendations on Summary Judgment Motions (“Report”) [ECF No. 24], recommending the Court grant Plaintiff’s Motion, deny Defendant’s Motion, and remand the case to the administrative law judge to: (1) re-evaluate the evidence to determine whether good cause exists to discount the opinion of Dr. Erik Kimble, (2) determine whether Plaintiff requires the use of an assistive device, and (3) assess the evidence consistent with Judge Goodman’s recommendations. (See Report 1–2). The Report advised the parties they had 14 days to file objections to the Report. (See id. 15). To date, no objections have been filed. When a magistrate judge’s “disposition” has properly been objected to, district courts must review the disposition de novo. FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b)(3). When no party has timely

objected, however, “the court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.” FED. R. CIV. P. 72 advisory committee’s notes (citation omitted). Although Rule 72 itself is silent on the standard of review, the Supreme Court has acknowledged Congress’s intent was to only require a de novo review where objections have been properly filed, not when neither party objects. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985) (“It does not appear that Congress intended to require district court review of a magistrate [judge]’s factual or legal conclusions, under a de novo or any other standard, when neither party objects to those findings.” (alteration added)). In any event, the “[f]ailure to object to the magistrate [judge]’s factual findings after notice precludes a later attack on these findings.” Lewis v. Smith, 855 F.2d 736, 738 (11th Cir. 1988) (alterations added; citing Nettles v.

Wainwright, 677 F.2d 404, 410 (5th Cir. 1982)). The undersigned has reviewed the Report, the record, and the applicable law to assure herself that no clear error appears on the face of the record. In the light of that review, the undersigned agrees with the analysis and recommendations stated in Judge Goodman’s Report, and agrees with Judge Goodman’s conclusion that Plaintiff’s Motion should be granted, Defendant’s Motion should be denied, and the case should be remanded. Accordingly, it is ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the Report [ECF No. 24] is AFFIRMED AND ADOPTED as follows: 1. Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 20] is GRANTED. Case No. 19-25250-CIV-ALTONAGA/Goodman

2. Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment [ECF No. 21] is DENIED. 3. The case is remanded to the administrative law judge for further proceedings under 42 U.S.C. section 405(g) and consistent with the instructions contained in the Report. 4. Final judgment shall issue separately. DONE AND ORDERED at Miami, Florida, this 18th day of February, 2021. (oe Ue VW. hiner. CECILIA M. ALTONAGA UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE cc: Magistrate Judge Jonathan Goodman counsel of record