Wainwright v. Colvin

Filing 20

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER: it is ORDERED that Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin's Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 18 ) is hereby GRANTED, and Plaintiff George Dennis Wainwright, Jr.s complaint is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. A separate final judgment will be issued in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion and Order. Signed by Honorable Judge Gray Borden on 3/11/2016. (kh, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
GEORGE DENNIS WAINWRIGHT, JR., )
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
CAROLYN W. COLVIN,
)
Acting Commissioner of Social Security, )
)
Defendant.
)

CASE NO. 1:15-cv-639-GMB

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Before the court is the Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for
Summary Judgment (Doc. 18) filed by Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting
Commissioner of Social Security (the “Commissioner”). The Commissioner contends
that the complaint filed by Plaintiff George Dennis Wainwright, Jr. (“Wainwright”) is
due to be dismissed because it was not timely filed. On January 5, 2016, the court
entered an order directing Wainwright to show cause as to why the Commissioner’s
motion should not be granted. See Doc. 19. Wainwright, who is represented by counsel,
did not respond to the court’s show cause order, and the deadline to respond has passed.
Accordingly, after a thorough review of the complaint, the Commissioner’s unopposed
motion, and the relevant law, the court finds that the Commissioner’s motion (Doc. 18) is
due to be GRANTED.1

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Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1) and Local Rule 73.1 of the Middle District of Alabama’s
Local Rules, the parties have consented to have the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge
conduct all proceedings through the entry of a final judgment in this case. Docs. 16 & 17.

I. STANDARD OF REVIEW
Arguing that Wainwright’s complaint is time-barred, the Commissioner seeks to
dismiss the complaint pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or in the alternative for a
summary judgment in the Commissioner’s favor pursuant to Rule 56 of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure.
If, on a motion under Rule 12(b)(6) or 12(c), matters outside the pleadings
are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion must be treated
as one for summary judgment under Rule 56. All parties must be given a
reasonable opportunity to present all the material that is pertinent to the
motion.
Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(d). Matters outside the pleadings have been presented and considered
by the court—specifically, the Declaration of Patrick J. Herbst (Doc. 18-1 at 1–4), the
Notice of Decision−Unfavorable (Doc. 18-1 at 5–19), the Notice of Appeals Council
Action (Doc. 18-1 at 20–22), and the letter from the Appeals Council granting
Wainwright an additional thirty days to file his appeal (Doc. 18-1 at 26). Thus, the court
will treat the Commissioner’s motion as one for summary judgment rather than as a
motion to dismiss.2
Summary judgment is appropriate “if the movant shows that there is no genuine

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Because the Commissioner’s motion was made, from the outset, as an alternative motion for
summary judgment, there is no question that all parties are on notice that the court may treat the
motion as one for summary judgment. The parties are also represented by counsel who “can be
presumed to appreciate the need to file affidavits or other responsive materials and of the
consequences of default.” Howell v. Dep’t of the Army, 975 F. Supp. 1293, 1297 (M.D. Ala.
1997) (internal quotations omitted). “Additional or special protective notice is therefore not
required before the court may proceed to treat the motion as one for summary judgment.” Id.

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dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.”
Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). However, “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could
return a verdict for the nonmoving party,” summary judgment would be inappropriate.
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986).
II. FACTS
On December 19, 2013, an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) issued a decision
denying Wainwright’s claims for a period of disability and for disability insurance
benefits. Doc. 18-1 at 5–19. Wainwright requested review of the ALJ’s decision by the
Appeals Council, and that request was denied on February 23, 2015. Doc. 18-1 at 20–22.
The Appeals Council’s denial letter informed Wainwright that there was “no reason
under our rules to review” the ALJ’s decision and that the ALJ’s decision “is the final
decision of the Commissioner of Social Security in your case.” Doc. 18-1 at 20. In a
section entitled “Time to File a Civil Action,” the Appeals Council’s letter further
informed Wainwright:
•

You have 60 days to file a civil action (ask for court review) [of the
ALJ’s decision].

•

The 60 days start the day after you receive this letter. We assume
you received this letter 5 days after the date on it unless you show us
that you did not receive it within the 5-day period.

•

If you cannot file for court review within 60 days, you may ask the
Appeals Council to extend your time to file. You must have a good
reason for waiting more than 60 days to ask for court review. You
must make the request in writing and give your reason(s) in the
request.

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Doc. 18-1 at 21–22.3 On July 29, 2015, Wainwright requested and received a thirty-day
extension of time to file an appeal in this court. Doc. 18-1 at 26.
Combining thirty days with the presumed five days for receipt of the Appeals
Council’s letter granting the extension, the deadline for Wainwright to file a civil action
in this court was September 2, 2015. Wainwright filed his complaint on September 3,
2015. See Doc. 1.
III. DISCUSSION
A lengthy discussion addressing the merits of the Commissioner’s motion is not
necessary, as there is no dispute that Wainwright did not timely file his claims in this
court. “Congress provided that disappointed [Social Security] claimants must file suit in
district court within sixty days (unless extended by the Secretary) in order to obtain
judicial review.” Stone v. Heckler, 778 F.2d 645, 649 (11th Cir. 1985). The date of
receipt is presumed to be five days after the date of the notice, unless there is a reasonable
showing to the contrary. See 20 C.F.R. § 422.210(c). “The 60-day time limit is strictly
enforced and claims filed even one day beyond the deadline have been dismissed as
untimely.” Madry v. Colvin, No. 8:13-cv-312-T-23-DNF, 2013 WL 5408088, at *3 (M.D.
Fla. Sept. 25, 2013) (internal quotations omitted).
The ALJ’s decision in Wainwright’s case was made on December 19, 2013, and
the Appeals Council denied review of that decision on February 23, 2015, making the
ALJ’s decision final. Doc. 18-1. Wainwright received a thirty-day extension on July 29,
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Both the ALJ’s decision and the Appeals Council’s denial letter were mailed to Wainwright
and his non-attorney representative. Docs. 18-1 at 7 & 22. There is no evidence before the court
indicating these letters were not received by Wainwright.

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2015. Doc. 18-1 at 26. Wainwright has not presented any arguments that his filing
deadline should be equitably tolled, nor does the record reflect tolling would be justified.4
As a result, Wainwright had thirty-five days from July 29, 2015—or until September 2,
2015—to file the instant action. Because Wainwright did not file his complaint until
September 3, 2015, his claims are untimely and must be dismissed. See Madry, 2013 WL
5408088 at *3−4 (dismissing a social security appeal filed in district court one day past
the deadline because “Plaintiff did not file his Complaint within the 60 plus 5 day mailing
time period, failed to request an extension of time, and failed to present any arguments as
to equitable tolling”); Christides v. Comm’r., 478 Fed. App’x 581 (11th Cir. 2012).
IV. CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, it is ORDERED that Defendant Carolyn W. Colvin’s
Motion to Dismiss or, in the Alternative, Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 18) is
hereby GRANTED, and Plaintiff George Dennis Wainwright, Jr.’s complaint is
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.
A separate final judgment will be issued in accordance with this Memorandum
Opinion and Order.
DONE this 11th day of March, 2016.
/s/ Gray M. Borden
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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“The United States Supreme Court has concluded that the 60-day requirement set out in §
405(g) is not jurisdictional, but rather is a statute of limitations which is waivable by the parties
and subject to the doctrine of equitable tolling.” Jackson v. Astrue, No. CA 07-0775-WS-C, 2008
WL 906573, at *2 (S.D. Ala. Apr. 1, 2008) (citing Bowen v. City of New York, 476 U.S. 467,
478−80 (1986)).

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