Gooden v. Social Security Administration, Commissioner

Filing 13

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Virginia Emerson Hopkins on 10/12/2016. (JLC)

FILED
2016 Oct-12 PM 04:10
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
EASTERN DIVISION
BERNADINE GOODEN,
Plaintiff,
v.
CAROLYN W. COLVIN, ACTING
COMMISSIONER, SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION,
Defendant.

)
)
)
)
) Case No.: 1:15-CV-2217-VEH
)
)
)
)
)
)

MEMORANDUM OPINION
Plaintiff Bernadine Gooden (“Ms. Gooden”), brings this action seeking judicial
review of a final adverse decision of the Acting Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration (the “Commissioner”) denying her application for disability insurance
benefits (“DIB”). Ms. Gooden filed an application for DIB on July 11, 2013.
Thereafter, Ms. Gooden timely pursued and exhausted the administrative remedies
available before the Commissioner. Accordingly, this case is now ripe for judicial
review pursuant to the provisions of section 205(g) of the Social Security Act (the
“Act”), 42 U.S.C. § 405(g).
The sole function of this court is to determine whether the decision of the

Commissioner is supported by substantial evidence and whether proper legal
standards were applied. Bloodsworth v. Heckler, 703 F.2d 1233, 1239 (11th Cir.
1983). To that end this court “must scrutinize the record as a whole to determine if
the decision reached is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence.”
Bloodsworth, 703 F.2d at 1239. Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a
reasonable person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. The court
has carefully reviewed the entire record in this case and is of the opinion that the
Commissioner’s decision is supported by substantial evidence and that proper legal
standards were applied in reaching that decision. Accordingly, the decision of the
Commissioner must be affirmed.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Ms. Gooden was a 56 years old female at the time of her hearing before the
Administrative Law Judge (the “ALJ”). (Tr. 122). She has a high school education,
one year of college at Talladega College, and graduated from Ayer State Technical
College with an optical technician certificate. (Tr. 122). Her past work experiences
have been as an optical mechanic (though more than 15 years ago), a top presser at
Anniston Sportswear, and a small arm repairman at Anniston Army Depot (her last
position). (Tr. 122-23). Ms. Gooden claims that she became disabled on June 25,
2013. Ms. Gooden claims her disability arises from a variety of factors, and her
2

treating doctor has diagnosed her with coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and depression. (Tr. 74, 447).
Her last period of work ended on March 30, 2013.
Ms. Gooden filed her application for a period of disability and DIB on July 11,
2013. (Tr. 68, 146). Her date last insured was through December 31, 2017. (Tr. 71).
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The court’s review of the Commissioner’s decision is narrowly circumscribed.
The function of this court is to determine whether the decision of the Commissioner
is supported by substantial evidence and whether proper legal standards were applied.
Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 390 (1971); Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219,
1221 (11th Cir. 2002). This court must “scrutinize the record as a whole to determine
if the decision reached is reasonable and supported by substantial evidence.”
Bloodsworth at 1239. Substantial evidence is “such relevant evidence as a reasonable
person would accept as adequate to support a conclusion.” Id. It is “more than a
scintilla, but less than a preponderance.” Id.
This court must uphold factual findings that are supported by substantial
evidence. However, it reviews the ALJ’s legal conclusions de novo because no
presumption of validity attaches to the ALJ’s determination of the proper legal
standards to be applied. Davis v. Shalala, 985 F.2d 528, 531 (11th Cir. 1993). If the
3

court finds an error in the ALJ’s application of the law, or if the ALJ fails to provide
the court with sufficient reasoning for determining that the proper legal analysis has
been conducted, it must reverse the ALJ’s decision. Cornelius v. Sullivan, 936 F.2d
1143, 1145-46 (11th Cir. 1991).
STATUTORY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
To qualify for disability benefits and establish his or her entitlement for a
period of disability, a claimant must be disabled as defined by the Social Security Act
and the Regulations promulgated thereunder.1 The Regulations define “disabled” as
“the inability to do any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment 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
twelve (12) months.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1505(a). To establish an entitlement to
disability benefits, a claimant must provide evidence about a “physical or mental
impairment” that “must result from anatomical, physiological, or psychological
abnormalities which can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory
diagnostic techniques.” 20 C.F.R. § 404.1508.
The Regulations provide a five-step process for determining whether a claimant

1

The “Regulations” promulgated under the Social Security Act are listed in 20 C.F.R. Parts
400 to 499, revised as of April 1, 2015.
4

is disabled. 20 C.F.R. § 404.1520(a)(4)(i-v). The Commissioner must determine in
sequence:
(1)

whether the claimant is currently employed;

(2)

whether the claimant has a severe impairment;

(3)

whether the claimant’s impairment meets or equals an impairment
listed by the [Commissioner];

(4)

whether the claimant can perform his or her past work; and

(5)

whether the claimant is capable of performing any work in the
national economy.

Pope v. Shalala, 998 F.2d 473, 477 (7th Cir. 1993) (citing to formerly applicable
C.F.R. section), overruled on other grounds by Johnson v. Apfel, 189 F.3d 561, 56263 (7th Cir. 1999); accord McDaniel v. Bowen, 800 F.2d 1026, 1030 (11th Cir. 1986).
The sequential analysis goes as follows:
Once the claimant has satisfied steps One and Two, she will
automatically be found disabled if she suffers from a listed impairment.
If the claimant does not have a listed impairment but cannot perform her
work, the burden shifts to the [Commissioner] to show that the claimant
can perform some other job.
Pope, 998 F.2d at 477; accord Foote v. Chater, 67 F.3d 1553, 1559 (11th Cir. 1995).
The Commissioner must further show that such work exists in the national economy.
FINDINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE
After consideration of the entire record, the ALJ made the following findings:
5

1.
Ms. Gooden met the insured status requirements of the Social
Security Act through December 31, 2017. (Tr. 68, 71).
2.
She had not engaged in substantial gainful activity since June 25,
2013, the alleged disability onset date. (Tr. 71).
3.
She had the following severe impairments: hypertension, coronary
artery disease, obesity, and status post perforated gastric ulcer. Id.2
4.
She did not have an impairment or combination of impairments
that met or medically equaled one of the listed impairments in 20 C.F.R.
Part 404, Subpart P, Appendix 1. (Tr. 77).
5.
She had the residual functioning capacity (“RFC”) to perform
medium work as define in 20 C.F.R. Part 404.1567(c). (Tr. 78).
6.

She testified that she has a high school education. Id.

7.
She was able to perform past relevant work as a small arms
repairman. (Tr. 82).
8.
Ms. Gooden had not been under a disability, as defined in the
Social Security Act, from June 25, 2013, through the date of this
decision. (Tr. 82-83).
ANALYSIS
I.

Introduction
The court may only reverse a finding of the Commissioner if it is not supported

by substantial evidence. 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). “This does not relieve the court of its
responsibility to scrutinize the record in its entirety to ascertain whether substantial

2

Ms. Gooden does not contest the ALJ’s finding regarding her severe impairments.
6

evidence supports each essential administrative finding.” Walden v. Schweiker, 672
F.2d 835, 838 (11th Cir. 1982) (citing Strickland v. Harris, 615 F.2d 1103, 1106 (5th
Cir. 1980).3 However, the court “abstains from reweighing the evidence or
substituting its own judgment for that of the [Commissioner].” Id. (citing Laffoon v.
Califano, 558 F.2d 253, 254 (5th Cir. 1977)).
Ms. Gooden urges this court to reverse the Commissioner’s decision to deny
her DIB. She asserts that the ALJ improperly relied too heavily upon the opinion of
the consultative physician and did not give enough weight to the treating physician’s
opinion. (Doc. 10). She also contends that the consulting physician’s medical source
statement is less than complete. (Doc. 10 at 2-3). Upon review, this court finds that
the ALJ applied the treating physician rule correctly and that the ALJ’s decision was
supported by substantial evidence.
II.

The ALJ Properly Applied the Treating Physician Rule and Provided
Good Cause for Assigning Minimal Weight to Dr. Kamran’s Opinion.
Ms. Gooden asserts that the ALJ improperly established her RFC on the report

of a consultative physician, Dr. Anand Sathyan Iyer (“Dr. Iyer”), giving minimal
weight to the opinion of the treating physician, Dr. Mohammad Kamran (“Dr.

3

Strickland is binding precedent in this Circuit. See Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d
1206, 1209 (11th Cir. 1981) (en banc) (adopting as binding precedent all decision of the former Fifth
Circuit handed down prior to October 1, 1981).
7

Kamran”). (Doc. 10 at 2). Within the Eleventh Circuit the opinion of a treating
physician “must be given substantial or considerable weight unless good cause is
shown to the contrary.” Phillips v. Barnhart, 357 F.3d 1232, 1240 (11th Cir. 2004)
(internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Lewis v. Callahan, 125 F.3d 1436, 1440
(11th Cir. 1997)).
Good cause for affording only minimal weight to a treating physician’s opinion
exists when:
(1) the treating physician’s opinion was not bolstered by the evidence;
(2) the evidence supported a contrary finding; (3) or the treating
physician’s opinion was conclusory or inconsistent with his or her own
medical records.
Phillips, 357 F.3d at 1241 (citing Lewis, 125 F.3d at 1440). “The ALJ must clearly
articulate the reasons for giving less weight to the opinion of a treating physician, and
the failure to do so is reversible error.” Lewis, 125 F.3d at 1440 (citing MacGregor
v. Bowen, 786 F.2d 1050, 1053 (11th Cir. 1986)); see also 20 C.F.R. § 404.1527(c)(2)
(“We will always give good reasons in our notice of determination or decision for the
weight we give your treating source’s opinion.”). However, when the ALJ adequately
states specific reasons for doing so, and those reasons are supported by substantial
evidence, there is no such error. Moore v. Barnhart, 405 F.3d 1208, 1212 (11th Cir.
2005) (per curiam).

8

On December 3, 2013, Dr. Kamran provided an opinion that Ms. Gooden can
only sit as well as stand/walk for less than 2 hours during an 8-hour workday (Tr.
443). Dr. Kamran further opined that “[i]n [his] professional opinion, [Ms. Gooden]
is permanently and totally disabled!” (Tr. 445). If fully credited, Dr. Kamran’s
opinion would preclude Ms. Gooden from performing her past relevant work as a
small arms repairman.
In assigning only minimal weight to this treating source evidence, the ALJ
found that “Dr. Kamran’s statements regarding the claimant’s physical limitations are
inconsistent with his own medical findings.” (Tr. 81). More specifically, the ALJ
pointed out that while Dr. Kamran reports in his cardiac RFC questionnaire that Ms.
Gooden suffers from a litany of cardiovascular-disabling symptoms, including chest
pain, angina equivalent pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, edema,
palpitations, and dizziness (Tr. 441), these symptoms are controverted by Dr.
Kamran’s underlying treatment records. (Tr. 81-82).
In particular, on multiple visits to Dr. Kamran, Ms. Gooden denied having
cardiovascular pain, shortness of breath, or other heart-related symptoms. (See, e.g.,
Tr. 368 (“The patient denies chest pain at rest, chest pain with exertion, chest pain at
night, and shortness of breath.”) (office visit dated June 25, 2013)); (Tr. 373 (same)
(office visit dated April 8, 2013)); (Tr. 431 (“Patient denies shortness of breath with
9

exertion, swelling of hands or feet, leg cramps with exertion, bluish discoloration of
lips or nails, chest pain or discomfort, difficulty lying down, racing/skipping
heartbeats.”) (office visit dated November 1, 2013)); (Tr. 436-37 (“Patient denies
shortness of breath with exertion, swelling of hands or feet, leg cramps with exertion,
bluish discoloration of lips or nails, chest pain or discomfort, difficulty lying down,
racing/skipping heartbeats.”) (office visit dated December 31, 2013)). Further, on the
visit that immediately proceeded Dr. Kamran’s filling out the cardiac questionnaire,
he reports that Ms. Gooden’s condition is “unchanged” and indicates, without any
urgency, that she should schedule a return visit in 4 months. (Tr. 435).
None of the foregoing treatment records reflects a worsening of Ms. Gooden’s
condition caused by her coronary artery disease. If anything, these notes show that,
under Dr. Kamran’s care, Ms. Gooden has been able to effectively manage her
subjective symptoms attributable to this impairment within her applicable disability
period. Likewise, these same treatment records undermine the conclusion reached by
Dr. Kamran on his cardiac questionnaire that the severity of Ms. Gooden’s anginal
pain “is 10 out of 10” with the “frequency . . . sometimes at rest, when doing normal
routine during day. Pain in chest.” (Tr. 441).
The ALJ did not completely disregard Dr. Kamran’s opinion. If he had, then
the ALJ would not have found Ms. Gooden’s coronary artery disease to be a severe
10

impairment. (Tr. 71). Instead, the ALJ reasonably found Dr. Kamran’s cardiac RFC
relied too much on Ms. Gooden’s “subjective allegations as opposed to his own
objective findings in forming his assessment” and that “there exist legitimate reasons
to question the reliability of [Ms. Gooden’s] statements.” (Tr. 82). A claimant’s
subjective complaints are not an acceptable basis for a medical opinion. See 20 C.F.R.
§ 404.1527(c); Lacina v. Comm’r, Soc. Sec. Admin., 606 F. App’x 520, 528 (11th Cir.
2015) (holding that the ALJ properly gave little weight to the examining physician’s
opinion for several reasons, including that the doctor relied heavily on the claimant’s
subjective report of symptoms and limitations). Thus, the ALJ committed no error in
his application of the treating physician rule as his reasons to give only minimal
weight to Dr. Kamran’s cardiac RFC are supported by substantial evidence.
II.

The ALJ’s Disability Determination Is Otherwise Supported by
Substantial Evidence.
The ALJ considered Ms. Gooden’s own testimony and the testimony of the

consulting physician, Dr. Iyer, in concluding that Ms. Gooden was not disabled and
retained a RFC to perform medium work.
A.

The ALJ properly discounted the credibility of Ms. Gooden’s
subjective statements regarding her limitations.

In order to establish the credibility of her subjective complaints of pain and
other symptoms, Ms. Gooden must prove “evidence of an underlying medical
11

condition and (1) objective medical evidence that confirms the severity of the alleged
pain arising from that condition or (2) that the objectively determined medical
condition is of such severity that it can reasonably be expected to give rise to the
alleged pain.” Landry v. Heckler, 782 F.2d 1551, 1553 (11th Cir. 1986) (citing Hand
v. Heckler, 761 F.2d 1545, 1548 (11th Cir. 1985)). “The claimant’s subjective
testimony supported by medical evidence that satisfies the standard is itself sufficient
to support a finding of disability.” Holt v. Sullivan, 921 F.2d 1221, 1223 (11th Cir.
1991) (citing Hale v. Bowen, 831 F.2d 1007, 1011 (11th Cir. 1987)).
In Wilson v. Barnhart, 284 F.3d 1219, 1226 (11th Cir. 2002), the Eleventh
Circuit reversed the district court’s decision that the ALJ improperly applied the pain
standard and found that the ALJ’s decision was supported by substantial evidence
because “the ALJ made a reasonable decision to reject Wilson’s subjective testimony,
articulating, in detail, the contrary evidence as his reasons for doing so.” Wilson, 284
F.3d at 1226. “The standard also applies to complaints of subjective conditions other
than pain.” Holt, 921 F.2d at 1223 (citing Jackson v. Bowen, 873 F.2d 1111, 1114
(8th Cir. 1989)).
Here, the ALJ found that Ms. Gooden’s statements regarding the disabling
level of her limitations were inconsistent with other parts of the record. (Tr. 80). For
example, the ALJ explained:
12

Although Ms. Gooden indicated in the disability report that she stopped
working because of her conditions and other reasons [Tr. 287], she
testified [instead] . . . that Anniston Depot terminated her in March
2013.
(Tr. 80).
The ALJ also found contradictions with Ms. Gooden’s claim that she
experienced frequent pain, had to elevate her legs 4 to 6 hours a day, that she was
unable to walk more than 10 minutes daily, and that she was unable to exercise. (Tr.
81). These subjective allegations were at odds with Dr. Kamran’s records which
contrastingly report that Ms. Gooden walks “7+” times a week for exercise. (See, e.g.,
Tr. 374 (notes from April 8, 2013, visit)); (Tr. 369 (notes from June 25, 2013, visit)).
The ALJ also emphasized that Ms. Gooden’s self-reported exertional activities of
“watering her flowers, shopping for groceries, and attending church” were
inconsistent with having only a minimal ability to walk and the need to elevate her
legs for an extended period of time on a daily basis. (Tr. 81); (see also Tr. 289, 290
(Ms. Gooden’s describing her activities on her Adult Function Report)).4 Thus, the
ALJ reasonably rejected the extent to which Ms. Gooden claimed her subjective
symptoms were disabling.

4

Ms. Gooden’s statements about the numerous household chores she is able to do such as
“cleaning, laundry, dishes, changes [the] bed, dust, clean mirror” (Tr. 288) also undermine her
walking and leg elevating limitations. (Tr. 79).
13

B.

The ALJ’s Reliance Upon Dr. Iyer’s Opinion Is Not Grounds
for Reversible Error.

Ms. Gooden argues that the ALJ failed to construct a full and fair record, on
the basis that the ALJ only considered the opinion of Dr. Iyer and that his opinion
was incomplete, due to the omission of Ms. Gooden’s heart disease as a diagnosed
impairment. (Doc. 10 at 2-3, 8); (see also Tr. 424 (“There is no past history of heart
disease.”)). Ms. Gooden also argues that Dr. Iyer’s opinion was incomplete because
of its generalized structure as compared to the more specific cardiac RFC completed
by Dr. Kamran. (Doc. 10 at 3); (see also Tr. 425 (“In the current condition, the patient
does not have significant limitation of functions involving: standing, walking,
handling, bending, lifting, twisting, hearing, or speaking.”)).
The ALJ has the obligation to establish a fair and full record. A developed
record not only ensures that the ALJ has fulfilled his “duty. . . to scrupulously and
conscientiously probe into, inquire of, and explore for all the relevant facts,” but it
also enables the reviewing court “to determine whether the ultimate decision on the
merits is rational and supported by substantial evidence.” See Welch v. Bowen, 854
F.2d 436, 440 (11th Cir. 1988) (internal quotation marks omitted) (quoting Cowart
v. Schweiker, 662 F.2d 731, 735 (11th Cir. 1981)).
As the undersigned has previously observed regarding this duty:

14

[A]n ALJ is ultimately responsible for the RFC, which is an
administrative finding, not a medical evaluation. See 20 C.F.R §
404.1527(e)(2) (“Although we consider opinions from medical sources
on issues such as . . . your [RFC] . . . the final responsibility for deciding
these issues is reserved to the Commissioner.”). Although medical
evaluations about a claimant’s RFC are often valuable, they are not
required when making an RFC finding. See Langley v. Astrue, 777 F.
Supp. 2d 1250, 1258 (N.D. Ala. 2011) (“[T]he court concludes that the
law of this circuit does not required [sic] an RFC from a physician.”);
see also Green v. Social Security Admin. 223 Fed. Appx. 915, 922-24
(11th Cir. 2007) (ruling that an ALJ’s RFC can be substantially
supported when it disregards the only medical evaluation made by a
doctor); Castle v. Colvin, 557 Fed. Appx. 849, 853 (11th Cir. 2014)
(“The ALJ discredited [claimant’s subjective complaints of pain] by
explaining that this pain had not require[d] routine or consistent
treatment, and [the claimant] often went for months or years between
complaining of this pain to his physicians.”) (citing Dyer v. Barnhart,
395 F.3d 1206, 1210 (11th Cir. 2005))).
The Eleventh Circuit has afforded significant latitude to the ALJ
in determining whether additional medical evidence is needed to make
an informed RFC determination: the ALJ “has a duty to develop the
record where appropriate but is not required to order a consultative
examination as long as the record contains sufficient evidence for the
[ALJ] to make an informed decision.” Ingram v. Comm’r of Soc. Sec.
Admin., 496 F.3d 1253, 1269 (11th Cir. 2007) (citing Doughty v. Apfel,
245 F.3d 1274, 1281 (11th Cir. 2001) (citation omitted))). The ALJ is
thus expected to interpret the totality of the record, including any
available medical information, and may use her judgment as to whether
an additional medical examination is required.
Tucker v. Colvin, No. 2:15-CV-0629, 2016 WL 3519391, at *8 (N.D. Ala. June 28,
2016) (emphasis added). Therefore, because Tucker indicates that an ALJ can
appropriately formulate an administrative RFC without relying upon any medically-

15

based RFC, he can similarly rely upon a medically-based RFC that omits a reference
to severe impairment so long as his decision is otherwise supported by substantial
evidence.
The ALJ found that Ms. Gooden had the severe impairments of hypertension,
coronary artery disease, obesity, and status post perforated gastric ulcer. (Tr. 71).
While the ALJ afforded greater weight to Dr. Iyer’s medical opinion in terms of
formulating Ms. Gooden’s RFC, he did not fully discount the opinions of Ms.
Gooden’s treating physicians, including her cardiologist, Dr. Kamran (Tr. 81-82).
This is reflected in the ALJ’s inclusion of Ms. Gooden’s coronary artery disease as
one of her severe impairments.
Further, “[i]t is clear from this record that the ALJ did not engage in reversible
error here because []he looked at the totality of the evidence in making h[is] RFC
determination.” Tucker, 2016 WL 3519391, at *8. More specifically, the ALJ
assessed Ms. Gooden’s complete medical history, including the underlying treatment
notes from Dr. Kamran that demonstrate no significantly disabling heart-related
symptoms during Ms. Gooden’s claimed period of disability.
The ALJ also appropriately relied upon Ms. Gooden’s self-reporting statements
that confirmed the absence of physical limitations that would preclude her from
performing medium work. In sum, “due to the relative simplicity of [Ms. Gooden]’s
16

medical record, additional medical testing was not needed and, thus, no reversible
error occurred.” Id. (citing Manso-Pizarro v. Sec’y of Health & Human Servs., 76
F.3d 15, 17 (1st Cir. 1996) (“[W]here the medical evidence shows relatively little
physical impairment, an ALJ permissibly can render a commonsense judgment about
functional capacity even without a physician’s assessment.”)).
The court similarly rejects Ms. Gooden’s argument that the ALJ incorrectly
relied on Dr. Iyer’s vocationally-related opinion because of its more generalized
format. Ms. Gooden cites to no case law that supports this curious contention and this
court is unaware of any such binding requirement. Thus, Ms. Gooden’s position that
the ALJ committed reversible error for this reason is underdeveloped and unavailing.
See Flanigan’s Enters., Inc. v. Fulton County, Ga., 242 F.3d 976, 987 n.16 (11th Cir.
2001) (holding that a party waives an argument if the party “fail[s] to elaborate or
provide any citation of authority in support” of the argument); Ordower v. Feldman,
826 F.2d 1569, 1576 (7th Cir. 1987) (stating that an argument made without citation
to authority is insufficient to raise an issue before the court).
Moreover, as discussed above, the ALJ did not solely base his RFC formulation
on the consultative report provided by Dr. Iyer and a totality of the record
substantially supports the ALJ’s disability determination. Therefore, a remand is
simply not warranted. See Brown v. Shalala, 44 F.3d 931, 935 (11th Cir. 1995) (per
17

curiam) (“In evaluating the necessity for a remand, we are guided by ‘whether the
record reveals evidentiary gaps which result in unfairness or ‘clear prejudice.’”
(quoting Ware v. Schweiker, 651 F.2d 408, 413 (5th Cir. Unit A July 1981))).
CONCLUSION
Based upon the court’s evaluation of the evidence in the record and the
submission of the parties, the court finds that the Commissioner’s final decision
applies the proper legal standards and is supported by substantial evidence.
Accordingly, the decision of the Commissioner will be affirmed by separate order.
DONE and ORDERED this 12th day of October, 2016.

VIRGINIA EMERSON HOPKINS
United States District Judge

18