Popick v. Commissioner of Social Security

32 F. Supp. 3d 157, 2012 WL 1048437, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42682
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedMarch 28, 2012
DocketNo. 1:09-CV-0386 (GTS/VEB)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 32 F. Supp. 3d 157 (Popick v. Commissioner of Social Security) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Popick v. Commissioner of Social Security, 32 F. Supp. 3d 157, 2012 WL 1048437, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42682 (N.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM-DECISION and ORDER

GLENN T. SUDDABY, District Judge.

Currently before the Court, in this action seeking Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”), filed by Milton H. Popick (“Plaintiff’) against the Commissioner of Social Security Commissioner (“Defendant”) under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) and 1383(c)(3), are the following: (1) Defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 18); (2) Plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings (Dkt. No. 21); and (3) the Report-Recommendation of United States Magistrate Judge Victor E. Bianchini (Dkt. No. 24), issued pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B) and Local Rule 72.3(c) of the Local Rules of Practice for this Court, recommending that the decision of Defendant be reversed and the matter be remanded to Defendant for further proceedings consistent with the Report and Recommendation and sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). Neither party has filed Objections, and the time in which to do so has expired. For the reasons set forth below, the Report-Recommendation is accepted and adopted.

I. RELEVANT BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History

Because the parties have demonstrated in their briefs an adequate understanding [160]*160of this action’s procedural history, and neither party has specifically objected to Magistrate Judge Bianchini’s accurate recitation of that procedural history, the Court adopts that recitation, in this Decision and Order, which is intended primarily for the review of the parties. (See generally Dkt. No. 24, at 2 [Report-Rec].)

The Court would add only two points. First, Plaintiffs underlying application for SSI benefits was based on his having an alleged mental disability that began on January 1, 1992. {See Administrative Transcript [“T.”] at 67-69.)1 Second, in his decision of November 19, 2008, denying Plaintiffs application for benefits, the ALJ determined that was not disabled as defined under the Social Security Act, because there was no evidence in the record to substantiate the existence of a “medically determinable mental impairment” pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520. (T. at 8-12.)

B. Briefing by Parties

Generally, in his brief in opposition to Plaintiffs Complaint, Defendant asserts the following two arguments: (1) substantial evidence supports Defendant’s Decision that Plaintiff was not disabled at step two of the five-step protocol for evaluating claims of disability under the Social Security Act; and (2) the ALJ correctly determined that Plaintiffs allegations were neither entirely consistent or credible. (Dkt. No. 18, at Part C.)

Generally, liberally construed, Plaintiffs brief in support of his Complaint argues, inter alia, that Defendant has improperly reviewed Plaintiffs employment history, and may have intentionally altered Plaintiff s employment records. (See generally Dkt. No. 21.)

C. Magistrate Judge Bianchini’s Report-Recommendation

In his Report-Recommendation, Magistrate Judge Bianchini recommends that (1) Plaintiffs motion for judgment on the pleadings be granted, (2) Defendant’s motion for judgment on the pleadings be denied, (3) the decision of the Commissioner be reversed, (4) the case be remanded to the Commissioner pursuant to sentence four of 42 U.S.C. § 405(g) for further administrative proceedings consistent with this Report and Recommendation, and (5) the District Court consider the appointment of pro bono counsel to represent Plaintiff in the proceedings on remand. (Dkt. No. 24, at 13-14.)

Essentially, Magistrate Judge Bianchini recommends that Plaintiffs case be remanded to Defendant for further review based on the ALJ’s failure to employ the “special technique” used to assess the severity of mental impairments (during the second and third steps of the five-step disability protocol) pursuant to 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520a. (Dkt. No. 24, at 8-13 & n. 6.) More specifically, Magistrate Judge Bian-chini found as follows: (1) ALJ incorrectly determined that the state agency’s consultative examiner had merely “suggested” personality disorder when in fact the consultative examiner had actually diagnosed Plaintiffs personality disorder; (2) the ALJ’s dismissal of consultative psychiatrist Dr. Gindes’ diagnosis on the ground that it was based on Plaintiffs self-reports was incorrect because (a) such self-reports are an essential diagnostic tool, and (b) Dr. Gindes’ diagnosis was likely based upon [161]*161observed abnormalities in Plaintiffs behavior, not merely Plaintiffs self-reports; and (3) the ALJ relied on Plaintiffs self-reports to support his decision denying Plaintiff SSI benefits yet failed to account for Plaintiffs other fantastical claims.2 (Id.)

II. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS

. A. Standard of Review of Magistrate Judge Bianchini’s Report-Recommendation

When a specific objection is made to a portion of a magistrate judge’s report-recommendation, the Court subjects that portion of the report-recommendation to a de novo review. Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b)(2); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C). To be “specific,” the objection must, with particularity, “identify [1] the portions of the proposed findings, recommendations, or report to which it has an objection and [2] the basis for the objection.” N.D.N.Y. L.R. 72.1(c).3 When performing such a de novo review, “[t]he judge may ... receive further evidence. ...” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). However, a district court will ordinarily refuse to consider evidentiary material that could have been, but was not, presented to the magistrate judge in the first instance.4

When only a general objection is made to a portion of a magistrate judge’s report-recommendation, the Court subjects that portion of the report-recommendation to only a clear error review. Fed. R.Civ.P. 72(b)(2),(3); Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b), Advisory Committee Notes: 1983 Addition.5 Similarly, when an objection merely reiterates the same arguments made by the objecting party in its original papers submitted to the magistrate judge, the Court subjects that portion of the report-recommendation challenged by those argu[162]*162ments to only a dear error review.6

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Bluebook (online)
32 F. Supp. 3d 157, 2012 WL 1048437, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42682, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/popick-v-commissioner-of-social-security-nynd-2012.