Perez v. Astrue

831 F. Supp. 2d 1168, 2011 WL 5827799, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133675
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedNovember 17, 2011
DocketCase No. CV 10-9218-JEM
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 831 F. Supp. 2d 1168 (Perez v. Astrue) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Perez v. Astrue, 831 F. Supp. 2d 1168, 2011 WL 5827799, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133675 (C.D. Cal. 2011).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER REVERSING DECISION OF THE COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND REMANDING FOR FURTHER PROCEEDINGS

JOHN E. McDERMOTT, United States Magistrate Judge.

PROCEEDINGS

On December 6, 2010, Martha Perez (“Plaintiff’ or “Claimant” or “Perez”) filed a complaint seeking review of the decision by the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration (“Commissioner”) denying Plaintiffs application for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. The Commissioner filed an Answer to the Complaint on June 24, 2011. On August 29, 2011, the parties filed a Joint Stipulation (“JS”).

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), both parties consented to proceed before the undersigned Magistrate Judge. After reviewing the pleadings, transcripts, and administrative record (“AR”), the Court concludes that the Commissioner’s decision should be reversed and remanded for further proceedings in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion and Order and with law.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Perez is a 38 year old female who filed an application for Social Security disability and disability insurance benefits on October 1, 2007, alleging disability beginning November 17, 2006. (AR 11.) Plaintiff has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since that date. (AR 13.)

Plaintiffs claim was denied initially on July 25, 2008. (AR 11.) Plaintiff filed a timely request for a hearing, which was held on July 9, 2009, in Los Angeles, Cali[1172]*1172fornia, before Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) Alexander Weir III. (AR 11-21.) Plaintiff appeared and testified at the hearing. (AR 11.) Vocational expert (“VE”) Heidi Paul also appeared at the hearing. (AR 11.) Claimant was represented by counsel. (AR 11.)

The ALJ issued an unfavorable decision on September 25, 2009. (AR 11-21.) Plaintiff timely filed a request for review, which was denied by the Appeals Council on September 24, 2010. (AR 1-3.)

DISPUTED ISSUES

As reflected in the Joint Stipulation, the issues Plaintiff raises as grounds for reversal and remand are as follows:

1. Whether the ALJ erred in failing to evaluate whether Plaintiff met or equaled listing 1.02.
2. Whether the ALJ failed to provide clear and convincing reasons to reject Plaintiffs subjective complaints.
3. Whether the ALJ’s hypothetical to the vocational expert included all of the limitations found by the ALJ.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

Under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), this Court reviews the ALJ’s decision to determine whether the ALJ’s findings are supported by substantial evidence and free of legal error. Smolen v. Chater, 80 F.3d 1273, 1279 (9th Cir.1996); see also DeLorme v. Sullivan, 924 F.2d 841, 846 (9th Cir.1991) (ALJ’s disability determination must be supported by substantial evidence and based on the proper legal standards).

Substantial evidence means “ ‘more than a mere scintilla,’ but less than a preponderance.” Saelee v. Chater, 94 F.3d 520, 521-22 (9th Cir.1996) (quoting Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971)). Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson, 402 U.S. at 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420 (internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

This Court must review the record as a whole and consider adverse as well as supporting evidence. Robbins v. Soc. Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 882 (9th Cir.2006). Where evidence is susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the ALJ’s decision must be upheld. Morgan v. Comm’r of the Soc. Sec. Admin., 169 F.3d 595, 599 (9th Cir.1999). “However, a reviewing court must consider the entire record as a whole and may not affirm simply by isolating a ‘specific quantum of supporting evidence.’ ” Robbins, 466 F.3d at 882 (quoting Hammock v. Bowen, 879 F.2d 498, 501 (9th Cir.1989)); see also Orn v. Astrue, 495 F.3d 625, 630 (9th Cir.2007).

THE SEQUENTIAL EVALUATION

The Social Security Act defines disability as the “inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or ... can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” 42 U.S.C. §§ 423(d)(1)(A), 1382c(a)(3)(A). The Commissioner has established a five-step sequential process to determine whether a claimant is disabled. 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1520, 416.920.

The first step is to determine whether the claimant is presently engaging in substantial gainful activity. Parra v. Astrue, 481 F.3d 742, 746 (9th Cir.2007). If the claimant is engaging in substantial gainful activity, disability benefits will be denied. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. 137, 140, 107 S.Ct. 2287, 96 L.Ed.2d 119 (1987). Second, the ALJ must determine whether the claimant has a severe impairment or com[1173]*1173bination of impairments. Parra, 481 F.3d at 746. An impairment is not severe if it does not significantly limit the claimant’s ability to work. Smolen, 80 F.3d 1273, 1290 (9th Cir.1996). Third, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment is listed, or equivalent to an impairment listed, in 20 C.F.R. Pt. 404, Subpt. P, Appendix I of the regulations. Parra, 481 F.3d at 746. If the impediment meets or equals one of the listed impairments, the claimant is presumptively disabled. Bowen v. Yuckert, 482 U.S. at 141, 107 S.Ct. 2287. Fourth, the ALJ must determine whether the impairment prevents the claimant from doing past relevant work. Pinto v. Massanari, 249 F.3d 840, 844-45 (9th Cir.2001).

Before making the step four determination, the ALJ first must determine the claimant’s residual functional capacity (“RFC”)1. 20 C.F.R. § 416.920(e).

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831 F. Supp. 2d 1168, 2011 WL 5827799, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133675, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/perez-v-astrue-cacd-2011.