Rice ex rel. T.C.K. v. Astrue

32 F. Supp. 3d 113, 2012 WL 11406113, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190371
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedJanuary 6, 2012
DocketNo. 09-CV-915 (VEB)
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 32 F. Supp. 3d 113 (Rice ex rel. T.C.K. v. Astrue) 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
Rice ex rel. T.C.K. v. Astrue, 32 F. Supp. 3d 113, 2012 WL 11406113, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190371 (N.D.N.Y. 2012).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

VICTOR E. BIANCHINI, United States Magistrate Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

In January of 2005, Plaintiff Lenora Rice filed an application for Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits under the Social Security Act on behalf of her grandson, T.C.K. (“Claimant”),1 alleging disability due to various impairments, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (“ADHD”) and asthma. The Commissioner of Social Security denied the application.

Plaintiff, through her attorneys, Olinsky Law Group, Jaya A. Shurtliff, Esq. and Karen S. Southwick, of counsel, commenced this action seeking judicial review of the Commissioner’s denial of benefits pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g) and 1383(e)(3).

The Honorable Norman A. Mordue, Chief United States District Judge, referred this case to the undersigned for a Report and Recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) and (B). (Docket No. 16). On November 30, 2011, the parties, by and through their respective counsel of record, consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. (Docket No. 20).

II. BACKGROUND

The procedural history may be summarized as follows:

[117]*117Plaintiff is the grandmother and guardian of Claimant, a minor child. On January 21, 2005, Plaintiff. filed an application for SSI benefits on Claimant’s behalf, alleging disability beginning at birth. (T at 50-52).2 The application was denied initially. Plaintiff filed a timely request for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”). On April 14, 2009, a hearing was held in Syracuse, New York before ALJ Patrick Flanagan. (T at 287-334). Plaintiff and Claimant appeared at the hearing without an attorney and testified. (T at 295-334).

On April 29, 2009, ALJ Flanagan issued a written decision denying the application for benefits and finding that Claimant was not disabled within the meaning of the Social Security Act. (T at 16-23). The ALJ’s decision became the Commissioner’s final decision on June 10, 2009, when the Appeals Council denied Plaintiffs request for review. (T at 4-6).

On August 10, 2009, Plaintiff, acting on Claimant’s behalf and with counsel, timely commenced this action by fifing a Complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. (Docket No. 1). The Commissioner interposed an Answer on January 7, 2010. (Docket No. 12). Plaintiff filed a supporting Brief on February 22, 2010. (Docket No. 13). The Commissioner filed a Brief in opposition on April 6, 2010. (Docket No. 15).

' Pursuant to General Order No. 18, as issued by the Chief District Judge of the Northern District of New York, this Court will proceed as if both parties had accompanied their briefs with a motion for judgment on the pleadings.

For the reasons set forth below, the Commissioner’s motion is denied, Plaintiffs motion is granted, and this case is remanded for the calculation of benefits.

III. DISCUSSION

A. Legal Standard

A court reviewing a denial of disability benefits may not determine de novo whether an individual is disabled. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3); Wagner v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 906 F.2d 856, 860 (2d Cir.1990). Rather, the Commissioner’s determination will only be reversed if the correct legal standards were not applied, or it was not supported by substantial evidence. Johnson v. Bowen, 817 F.2d 983, 986 (2d Cir.1987) (“Where there is a reasonable basis for doubt whether the ALJ applied correct legal principles, application of the substantial evidence standard to uphold a finding of no disability creates an unacceptable risk that a claimant will be deprived of the right to have her disability determination made according to the correct legal principles.”); see Grey v. Heckler, 721 F.2d 41, 46 (2d Cir.1983); Marcus v. Califano, 615 F.2d 23, 27 (2d Cir.1979).

“Substantial evidence” is evidence that amounts to “more than a mere scintilla,” and it has been defined as “such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S.Ct. 1420, 1427, 28 L.Ed.2d 842 (1971). "Where evidence is deemed susceptible to more than one rational interpretation, the Commissioner’s conclusion must be upheld. See Rutherford v. Schweiker, 685 F.2d 60, 62 (2d Cir.1982).

“To determine on appeal whether the ALJ’s findings are supported by substantial evidence, a reviewing court eonsid-[118]*118ers the whole record, examining evidence from both sides, because an analysis of the substantiality of the evidence must also include that which detracts from its weight.” Williams v. Bowen, 859 F.2d 255, 258 (2d Cir.1988).

If supported by substantial evidence, the Commissioner’s finding must be sustained “even where substantial evidence may support the plaintiffs position and despite that the court’s independent analysis of the ’evidence may differ from the [Commissioner’s].” Rosado v. Sullivan, 805 F.Supp. 147, 153 (S.D.N.Y.1992). In other words, this Court must afford the Commissioner’s determination considerable deference, and may not substitute “its own judgment for that of the [Commissioner], even if it might justifiably have reached a different result upon a de novo review.” Valente v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 733 F.2d 1037, 1041 (2d Cir.1984).

An individual under the age of eighteen (18) is disabled, and thus eligible for SSI benefits, if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations, and which can be expected to result in death or. which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 42 U.S.C.

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32 F. Supp. 3d 113, 2012 WL 11406113, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 190371, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rice-ex-rel-tck-v-astrue-nynd-2012.