Williams v. Commissioner of Social Security

District Court, M.D. Florida·Decided February 11, 2021·No. 3:19-cv-01196·Unknown

Opinion

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA JACKSONVILLE DIVISION

DAVID LEE WILLIAMS on behalf of Ronald Alphonso Williams (deceased),

Plaintiff,

v. CASE NO. 3:19-cv-1196-MCR

COMMISSIONER OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,

Defendant. ___________________________________/

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER1

THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Plaintiff’s appeal of an administrative decision regarding his application for a period of disability and disability insurance benefits (“DIB”).2 Following an administrative hearing, the assigned Administrative Law Judge (“ALJ”) issued a decision finding Plaintiff not disabled from April 13, 2016, the alleged disability onset date, through October 18, 2018, the date of the ALJ’s decision.3 (Tr. 16-31,

1 The parties consented to the exercise of jurisdiction by a United States Magistrate Judge. (Doc. 14.)

2 In the Order granting Plaintiff’s Motion to Substitute Party, the Court found that Ronald Alphonso Williams’s claim for supplemental security income (“SSI”) extinguished upon his death. (See Doc. 25 at 3.)

3 Plaintiff had to establish disability on or before March 31, 2022, his date last insured, in order to be entitled to a period of disability and DIB. (Tr. 19.) 39-69, 214.) In reaching the decision, the ALJ found that Plaintiff had the following

severe impairments: disorders of the spine, right shoulder osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy, and obesity. (Tr. 22.) The ALJ further found that Plaintiff had the residual functional capacity (“RFC”) to perform a reduced range of light work.4 (Tr. 23.) Then, at step four of the

sequential evaluation process,5 based on the testimony of the vocational expert (“VE”) and considering Plaintiff’s RFC, the ALJ determined that Plaintiff was capable of performing his past relevant work as a security specialist/guard (DOT number 372.667-034; light, semi-skilled work, with a

Specific Vocational Preparation (“SVP”) of three), because this work did not require the performance of work-related activities precluded by the RFC. (Tr. 30.) Plaintiff is appealing the Commissioner’s decision that he was not

disabled from April 13, 2016 through October 18, 2018. Plaintiff has exhausted his available administrative remedies and the case is properly

4 Specifically, the ALJ found that Plaintiff could perform light work with “no more than frequent reaching, climbing or [sic] ramps and stairs, stooping, kneeling, and crouching,” and he needed “to avoid more than occasional crawling and climbing of ladders, ropes, and scaffolds[,] . . . concentrated exposure to extreme cold, vibration, dangerous machinery, and unprotected heights.” (Tr. 23.)

5 The Commissioner employs a five-step process in determining disability. See 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4). before the Court. Based on a review of the record, the briefs, and the applicable law, the Commissioner’s decision is REVERSED and

REMANDED. I. Standard of Review The scope of this Court’s review is limited to determining whether the Commissioner applied the correct legal standards, McRoberts v. Bowen, 841

F.2d 1077, 1080 (11th Cir. 1988), and whether the Commissioner’s findings are supported by substantial evidence, Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390 (1971). “Substantial evidence is more than a scintilla and is such relevant evidence as a reasonable person would accept as adequate to support

a conclusion.” Crawford v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec., 363 F.3d 1155, 1158 (11th Cir. 2004). Where the Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence, the district court will affirm, even if the reviewer would have reached a contrary result as finder of fact, and even if the reviewer finds that

the evidence preponderates against the Commissioner’s decision. Edwards v. Sullivan, 937 F.2d 580, 584 n.3 (11th Cir. 1991); Barnes v. Sullivan, 932 F.2d 1356, 1358 (11th Cir. 1991). The district court must view the evidence as a whole, taking into account evidence favorable as well as unfavorable to the

decision. Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1560 (11th Cir. 1995); accord Lowery v. Sullivan, 979 F.2d 835, 837 (11th Cir. 1992) (stating the court must scrutinize the entire record to determine the reasonableness of the Commissioner’s factual findings). II. Discussion

A. The Parties’ Positions Plaintiff argues that the ALJ erred in failing to carefully consider and make specific findings regarding the physical requirements of his past relevant work and whether he could return to that work. (Doc. 16 at 3, 7.)

Plaintiff asserts that the ALJ did not address his physical limitations or abilities related to the need to “take down” or “detain” juveniles at the detention center, which was part of his work as a security specialist/guard. (Id. at 8 (citing Tr. 279, 281, 50, 55).) Plaintiff acknowledges that while the

ALJ asked the VE “to classify Plaintiff’s past work at the juvenile detention center, the record is clear that this was done based on the lifting/carrying limitation provided, which only addressed certain aspects of Plaintiff’s past work, and resulted [in] a generalized ‘light exertion’ position from the

Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) that bears little resemblance to Plaintiff’s actual past job.” (Id. (emphasis in original) (citing Tr. 64-65).) Plaintiff explains: Specifically, according to the DOT, the position provided by the [VE] is “GUARD, SECURITY (any industry),” DOT No. 372.667- 034, a light exertion position that primarily “[g]uards industrial or commercial property against fire, theft, vandalism, and illegal entry.” Available online at https://occupationalinfo.org/37/372667034.html. The description of this position in the DOT does contain one reference to the guard’s duties as potentially including: “Warns violators of rule infractions, such as loitering, smoking, or carrying forbidden articles, and apprehends or expels miscreants.” Id. Otherwise, however, the description of the position is clear that the primary duties are patrolling, inspection and observation; in fact, later in the description the DOT clarifies that the guard would “[s]ound[] alarm or call[] police or fire department by telephone in case of fire or presence of unauthorized persons.” Id. In contrast, Plaintiff notes that the DOT also contains positions such as “CORRECTION OFFICER (government ser.),” DOT No. 372.667- 018, which is a medium exertion position and [is] described as follows: Guards inmates in penal institution in accordance with established policies, regulations, and procedures: Observes conduct and behavior of inmates to prevent disturbances and escapes. Inspects locks, window bars, grills, doors, and gates for tampering. Searches inmates and cells for contraband articles. Guards and directs inmates during work assignments. Patrols assigned areas for evidence of forbidden activities, infraction of rules, and unsatisfactory attitude or adjustment of prisoners. Reports observations to superior. Employs weapons or force to maintain discipline and order among prisoners, if necessary.

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Williams v. Commissioner of Social Security, (M.D. Fla. 2021).

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