Summary
consulting examiner's opinion that plaintiff has no "gross limitation" in her ability to sit does not support the ALJ's finding that plaintiff could sit for eight hours in a given workday
Summary of this case from Brian N. v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec.Opinion
No. 5:05-CV-830 (GLS/DEP).
August 21, 2008
FOR THE PLAINTIFF: CHRISTOPHER CADIN, ESQ., Legal Services of Central New York, Syracuse, NY.
FOR THE DEFENDANT: WILLIAM H. PEASE, Assistant United States Attorney, Hon. Glenn T. Suddaby, United States Attorney, Syracuse, NY.
KIMBERLY L. SCHIRO, Assistant Regional Counsel, Social Security Administration, Office of Regional General Counsel, Region II, New York, NY.
MEMORANDUM-DECISION AND ORDER
I. Introduction
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), Rosemarie DiVetro ("DiVetro") challenges the denial of disability benefits by the Commissioner of Social Security. Pending is the Commissioner's objection to Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles' Report-Recommendation. (See Dkt. No. 23.) Upon careful consideration of the arguments, the relevant parts of the record, and the applicable law, the court adopts the Report-Recommendation in its entirety.
The Clerk is directed to append Judge Peebles' Report-Recommendation to this decision, and familiarity is presumed. (See Dkt. No. 22.)
II. Procedural History
DiVetro filed for disability benefits in or about early 2004, alleging disability as of December 31, 2000. Her application was denied, and a hearing was conducted by an Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ"). On March 25, 2005, the ALJ issued a decision denying benefits, and that decision became the Commissioner's final determination.DiVetro filed a complaint in the Northern District of New York challenging the Commissioner's denial of benefits. (See Dkt. No. 1.) On June 13, 2008, Magistrate Judge David E. Peebles issued a report recommending that the Commissioner's finding of disability be vacated and the case be remanded for further consideration. (See Dkt. No. 22.) On June 19th the Commissioner filed his objections. (See Dkt. No. 23.)
III. Standard of Review
By statute and rule, district courts are authorized to refer social security petitions to Magistrate Judges for proposed findings and recommendations regarding disposition. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A) (B); N.D.N.Y. R. 40.1, 72.3(d); General Order #18.
When a report and recommendation is filed, the parties have ten (10) days from receipt of the report to file specific, written objections to proposed findings and recommendations, and ten (10) days from the receipt of adversary objections to file responses. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b); N.D.N.Y. R. 72.1(c). The local rules further require that the objections must specify the findings and recommendations which are the subject of the objections, and the substantive basis for these objections. See N.D.N.Y. R. 72.1(c).
The district court must review de novo those portions of the Magistrate Judge's findings and recommendations that have been properly preserved by compliance with the specificity requirement. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(C); FED. R. CIV. P. 72(b); N.D.N.Y. R. 72.1(c). " De novo review requires that the court give fresh consideration to those issues to which specific objections have been made. It will examine the entire record, and make an independent assessment of the magistrate judge's factual and legal conclusions." See Almonte v. New York State Div. of Parole, No. 04-CV-484, 2006 WL 149049, at *5 (N.D.N.Y. Jan. 18, 2006) (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).
If a party fails to object in a timely manner, it procedurally defaults and is not entitled to judicial review. See id. at *3. Although failure to object or timely object constitutes procedural default, lack of specificity also gives rise to default. See id. at *4. The local rule requires that objections address specific findings and conclusions. See id. Therefore, a party that limits its specific objections to a part of a report's findings or recommendations procedurally defaults as to the remainder. See id. Frivolous or conclusory objections also fail to satisfy the specificity requirement. See id. Furthermore, mere resubmission of the same papers and arguments as submitted to the magistrate judge fails to comply with the specificity requirement and also results in default. See id.
While a procedural default dissolves a party's right to judicial review, courts may nevertheless elect to conduct such a review. Id. at *5. This court has consistently done so under "a `clearly erroneous' standard, and defines that phrase as follows: a report is clearly erroneous if the court determines that there is a mistake of fact or law which is obvious and affects substantial rights." Id. at *6. "Furthermore, the court will routinely identify issues which have been procedurally defaulted, and articulate the standard of review applied to all issues." Id.
IV. Discussion
The court adopts the factual summary in Judge Peebles' Report-Recommendation. (See Dkt. No. 22.)
A claimant's RFC is determined by considering all relevant evidence, including objective medical evidence and the claimant's subjective complaints of pain. See 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545 and 416.945. On the basis of this evidence, the ALJ "identif[ies] the individual's functional limitations and assess[es] his or her work-related abilities[, including the ability to sit,] on a function-by-function basis." Social Security Ruling ("SSR") 96-8p, Assessing Residual Functional Capacity in Initial Claims, 1996 WL 374184, at *1 (S.S.A 1996); see also 20 C.F.R. §§ 404.1545(b) and 416.945(b). Each finding as to the plaintiff's functional abilities must be supported by substantial evidence because "conclusory statements regarding plaintiff's capacities are not sufficient." Verginio v. Apfel, No. 97-CV-456, 1998 WL 743706, at *3 (N.D.N.Y. Oct. 23, 1998). Only after the ALJ has described the plaintiff's capabilities on a function-by-function basis supported by substantial evidence, "may RFC [then] be expressed in terms of the exertional levels of work, sedentary, light medium, heavy, and very heavy." SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *1; see also McEaney v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec., 536 F. Supp. 2d 252, 258 (N.D.N.Y. 2008).
In the present instance, it is clear that the ALJ misapplied the above legal standards when he found that DiVetro retained the functional ability to sit for 8 hours, as substantial evidence does not support this finding. Indeed, the record is simply devoid of any assessment which would indicate that DiVetro was able to sit for an entire work day. Without a proper functional analysis as to DiVetro's ability to sit, the ALJ had no basis to find that she had the capacity to perform light or sedentary work. S ee McEaney, 536 F. Supp. 2d at 258 ("only after [a proper functional analysis] may RFC be expressed in terms of the exertional levels of work"); SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *1. Thus, it is clear that the ALJ's RFC formulation was improper.
The court further notes that the ALJ's errors here are not mooted by the possible existence of substantial evidence indicating that DiVetro can sit for a time period generally sufficient to perform light or sedentary work. "Where there is a reasonable basis for doubting whether the Commissioner applied the proper legal standard, even if the ultimate decision may be arguably supported by substantial evidence, the Commissioner's decision may not be affirmed." See Barnett v. Apfel, 13 F. Supp. 2d 312, 314 (N.D.N.Y. 1998) ( citing Johnson v. Bowen, 817 F.2d 983, 986 (2d Cir. 1987)). Accordingly, the ALJ's misapplication of the appropriate legal standards here, resulting in an improper RFC finding, mandates remand. Upon such remand, the ALJ should re-examine DiVetro's functional capacity to sit on the basis of the record evidence and develop her RFC accordingly.
V. Conclusion
Having addressed the Commissioner's specific objection de novo, and otherwise finding no clear error in the proceedings below, the court accepts and adopts Judge Peebles' Report-Recommendation in its entirety, for the reasons stated therein and above.
WHEREFORE, for the foregoing reasons, it is hereby
ORDERED that the plaintiff's motion for judgment on the pleadings is GRANTED; and it is further
ORDERED that the Commissioner's decision is VACATED and the case REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this opinion; and it is further
ORDERED that the Clerk provide a copy of this Decision and Order to the parties.